Your Favorite Cities

[marmar]

April always makes me long for my favorite city.......What are your faves from your travels?





Mine:

1. Paris
2. San Francisco
3. Amsterdam
4. Barcelona
5. New York
6. London
7. Berlin
8. Toronto
9. Chicago
10. Montreal

[HopeHoops]

1. Harrisburg, PA - only city I know of where the fastest way to the other side is right through center

Even in rush hour, it is quickest to go right through the center of the city, past the capitol building, and on to the other side. The "beltway" is the slow route.

Damn good night life on 2nd St. as well.

As for Montreal, my only real experience with it was Saint Catherine St. You'll either understand that reference or not.

[marmar]

2. "You'll either understand that reference or not."

I get it.....Did you take in some 'entertainment'?

[HopeHoops]

27. A bit.

(naughty bits)

[LynneSin]

3. As someone who was born and raised outside of Harrisburg PA

You're kidding me right.

I mean I agree it's faster to cut thru the city to get thru it but in general - I was fine to move away from there.

[HopeHoops]

28. Not kidding at all. I love the area and love the city. Although Carlisle Pike is sort of fucked.

Too much damn traffic out by the 581 intersection.

[CreekDog]

36. Montreal's great

and I understand the reference. anyone who's been to Montreal should understand.

[HopeHoops]

57. That's about all I saw of it outside of meeting rooms. I was on a business trip with an asshole.

Despite allegedly having a girlfriend, that's all he was interested in doing after the meetings. I can't say I didn't enjoy it, but I passed on the lap dances.

[CreekDog]

68. there's much more to Montreal, that's true

lots of cool neighborhoods beyond the tourist area and St. Catherine's.

[geardaddy]

4. Mine in no particular order

London
Paris
Amsterdam
NYC
Chicago
Burlington
Montreal
Cardiff

Beijing

York

[freshwest]

18. Ah, I should have added York (and Edinburgh) to my 'to do' list. Thanks for the pix.

[geardaddy]

43. Edinburgh's great.

Forgot to add that one to my list. :D

[hifiguy]

5. I haven't traveled a lot internationally, but

I loved Paris and Lyon like no other places I have been.

Others I like:

Wellington, New Zealand (an unbelievably cool and beautiful city - I'd live there in a heartbeat)
New Yawk, New Yawk
Toronto
Bahston/Cambridge (three years in law school there)
San Francisco/Bay Area

I also thoroughly enjoy Philadelphia (worked there on a project for seven months once and loved it) because it has all the things I like about Boston and NYC but is easier to navigate, not to mention the ready availability of Lombardi's pizza and Tony Luke Jr's cheesesteaks and the glorious Wanamaker Concert Organ in whatever that department store is called nowdays.

And for some inexplicable reason, I _adore_ Los Angeles.

[TZ]

6. Mine

Oranjestad, Aruba
Toronto,Ontario
Boulder, Colorado
Scottsdale, Arizona
Horsehead/Elmira NY

[freshwest]

19. Wow, what's the place with the mountains and the football stadium? I like that.

[TZ]

22. Colorado University, Boulder, Colorado

That is by FAR the most beautiful college campus I have ever seen. Not just for the mountain scenery either, the buildings are done in a very nice southwestern style.

[freshwest]

38. I was guessing it was Boulder. I've been through CO a few times, on my way to other places...

The amount of green is refreshing, and it seems to be a smaller place than I imagined. Driving up through Denver via 25 on my way to WY years ago wasn't what I expected, it was flat and dry.

At one time I investigated attending college in CO, and checked out Golden. Unfortunately it was in the winter, so it wasn't the greatest time to go through there.

And you're right, I like that architecture there in the picture. And I believe there is a lot of good employment there, as well.

[elleng]

53. Horseheads! Have family there!

[TZ]

55. Only been there once but it made an impression

Very nice.

[Flaxbee]

7. Helsinki, Moscow, New York, St. Petersburg, London. Taipei is fun.

I also am partial to San Diego, where I spent much of my youth.

[geardaddy]

33. I lived in Taipei for four years in the late 80s

It was fun, but oh so polluted. Has it changed a ton?

[Flaxbee]

75. I was there in 2009 in May, and did not notice a huge amount of

pollution - normal "big city" smells and odors but no heavy smog. We also took a ride wayyyy up to a Buddhist retreat/restaurant on the mountain near the city and I didn't see any gray haze going up or coming down. But I was really only there for about 10 days - fun, but not a very in-depth view of the place.

There were TONS of motor-scooters, though. Like a charge of the scooter brigade at every green light.

[hobbit709]

8. Mine

1. Vienna
2. Prague
3. Istanbul
4. London
5. Naples
6. Munich
7. San Francisco
8. Santa Fe before the yuppies moved in
9. Salzburg
10. Athens

[Curmudgeoness]

9. I have been made totally inadequate to even post here, but

I will post just in case there is another unworldly person reading this. I have rarely been out of the US, and on top of that, I must hate big cities since every city that I have visited that is listed here I would be happy to never see again. Cities are dirty, noisy, crowded, smelly places.

I only came up with two cities that I enjoy-----Santa Fe NM and Austin TX. Now, ask me to name the National Parks that are my favorites, or even state parks and rural areas, and I have more to add.

[begin_within]

11. I have to agree... I don't like cities much.

Even though I live in a big city (San Diego) I'm starting to despise the noise, traffic, crowds and expense. And I was sorely disappointed in Hong Kong... old, dirty, smelly, crowded, hot and ugly were my impressions of it.

[Curmudgeoness]

23. That does surprise me about Hong Kong, but not for long.

I just always have this assumption that big cities in other countries are not as disgusting as ours---and maybe this is from my limited experience between the US and Canada. But as I think of what you say, I suppose that would be expected. Huge population in a small area.

[Kali]

47. rural or wild landscapes for me too

although for the purpose of this thread I have to give San Francisco my vote.

[geardaddy]

44. I loved Hong Kong.

Especially the old, dirty, crowded parts.

[begin_within]

66. I do have to admit the food was excellent.

I went to a buffet that was something like $7 when translated to US dollars, and it had dozens of choices, all fresh, tasty, interesting, delicious and satisfying. I'll give them that: they do food right. But otherwise it was grungy in an unpleasant way, not a hip or cool way.

[freshwest]

20. Austin, TX is getting too big, but I understand the national park thing. I've more memories of them.

I don't go for the really big cities, they intimidate me. You really have to know your way around, know some people there, etc.

And the USA is big enough.

Although I always wanted to travel internationally, particularly Europe, but Canada is as close as I got.

Maybe you could start a thread on your favorite national parks? I'd have some places to add.

[madmom]

42. I so totally agree, so I would also have to say Santa Fe along with

Albuquerque simple because of their proximity to Chaco Canyon.

[BrendaBrick]

49. Austin, TX - some great music comes out of there....

PBS used to broadcast: "Austin City Limits" GREAT SHOW!!! (I still have some old videos where they played one of my favorite all-time musicians - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble....SRV moved to Austin when he was 17, from what I understand.) Awesome!!!!

Please do tell about the State Parks/rural areas...Florida has a whole slew of State Parks ~

[freshwest]

56. Yep, I used to listen to SRV on Austin City LImits. Juanes too. So many musicians there.

The only place I liked better than Austin was Galveston and Bolivar. Can't get there from the ferry now.

Just talked with my best friend who's planning to buy a ranch now and get out of Houston.

And she just invited me to be part of the familia. I might make a huge change of scenery soon, heat and all.

[BrendaBrick]

59. Invitation sounds sweet!

....especially if you really connect and get along with her and everyone else in the circle.

Sometimes aligning ourselves with other like-minds, irrespective of location might really be the way to go - all things considered - you know?

I don't think that you can EVER go wrong when ya follow your heart ~

[freshwest]

63. Thanks and I'm writing you, too.

[rbnyc]

70. +1

[tigereye]

10. San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, New York

Hope to see London and Paris some day, as well as Tokyo and Barcelona!

[RebelOne]

12. London, Inverness in Scotland, Steamboat Springs in Colorado

and of course, the city near where I live, which is Atlanta, GA.

[Initech]

13. Mine: LA, SF, New York, Amsterdam, Boston, Detroit, Denver, Lexington, Vancouver

I'd also add Bruges, Belgium, Maastricht, Netherlands, and Washington DC to the list.

[GoCubsGo]

14. Mine, in no special order, except for the first one.

Chicago
Victoria/Vancouver, BC--I would move there yesterday if I could. I would probably feel the same about Seattle if I got to see more of it than the airport.
Santa Fe/Taos
Wailuku, Maui
Halifax, NS
Dublin, Ireland
Scottsdale, AZ
Boulder, CO
Tucson, AZ
Reno

[freshwest]

17. Always fascinated by Chicago, have had family and friends who lived there. If I didn't...

Have family obligations, I would have moved to B.C. years ago.

[freshwest]

15. Thanks for the great pictures. My list...

Sidney, Richmond and Victoria (B.C.)

Bellingham, Seattle, the mountains and islands (WA)

Astoria, Eugene, Bend, the mountains and beaches (OR)

San Franscisco, Laguna Beach, the deserts, beaches & mountains (CA)

Harmony, CO

St. George, UT

Nampa, ID

Tucson, Sedona and Flagstaff, AZ

Santa Fe, NM.

Stephenville, Gonzales, Galveston, the forest and beaches (TX)

Want to visit: Cardiff, Worthing, Chichester, London, the Lake District (UK) and my friends want me to come.

Also want to visit Trondheim (Norway) to see friends there.

I've been through the south and up as far as D.C. but don't want to go back. I'm interested in CT, VT and NH but don't plan on it.

[Curmudgeoness]

24. Ah, I forgot about St George UT. I really loved that city.

I have not been to some of your favorites, but I have the feeling that I would like many of the ones I have not seen based on the ones that I have seen (except San Fran, which I hated---may be because it was foggy all day every day or that it was too freedom restricted, I felt like I couldn't do anything right. I eat meat (oh my), wear leather (oh my), smoke (forget about it).

[freshwest]

39. I planned to move to SF in 1980. It freaked me out and it's a long story. Haha.

It was probably the biggest and oldest city I'd ever seen in my life and I decided it was *way* past my speed.

I spent the night in St. George's on my way to Seattle from the south. The rest of Utah was just too much desert.

The weather in SF, like Seattle, is perfect for me.

And I love B.C., it's the only other place I'd like to live.

Thanks for the comment , I didn't expect anyone to have heard of such an out-of-the-way place as St. George.

Some of the most interesting people in the world post here.

:hi:

[Curmudgeoness]

61. St George UT was on the way from Vegas, where I flew in, to

Zion/Bryce Canyon/Capitol Reef National Parks. We stayed there on the way to and from these parks and I kept thinking that was a place I would have liked to live. To me, that is what I call a favorite city---a place I could see myself living.

Again, do you notice the theme of not really liking cities, and preferring the outdoors?

[freshwest]

64. Yes, and I think it's fine. I love living in the city now, but I want to get closer to the Earth.

I miss the rhythms of the seasons and the feel of grass under my feet, those quiet pleasures that come from gardening and a slower pace.

But I don't want to feel a sense of oppression as some rural places have made me feel. It's been a wonderful surprise to see so many rural Democrats here.

If one was to believe MSM, they all live in urban ghettoes of 'effete, liberal insanity.' Don't take that the wrong way, though, I'm so far left/liberal my heart bleeds over anything, haha.

Somehow, I just knew there were more of us in the purple regions!

[LiberalEsto]

16. In general, I hate cities but

1. Tallinn, Estonia
2. Tartu, Estonia
3. Rome
4. London
5. Asheville, NC

[freshwest]

21. Haha, you need to get out more. Just kidding. But you've seen a lot already!

[LiberalEsto]

32. I've lived in or visited many other cities

These are ones I spent at least 24 hours in or visited more than once.

NYC (born there)
Washington DC (live in the DC suburbs)
Boston
San Francisco
Savannah (liked)
Tampa
New Orleans (actually I loved NO come to think of it)
Montreal
Quebec City
Philadelphia
Newark NJ
Paterson NJ
Red Bank NJ
New Brunswick NJ
Asbury Park NJ
Trenton NJ
Newark Del.
Gaithersburg MD
Rockville MD
Baltimore MD
Chicago
Worcester, Mass
Greensboro NC
Boulder CO
Fort Collins CO
Denver CO
Naples Italy
Padua Italy
Florence
Venice
Pisa
Helsinki, Finland
Valga, Estonia
Parnu, Estonia
Rapla, Estonia

[freshwest]

40. You sound like my brother who worked for the DOD. He traveled around the world and retired...

Off in the most remote place he could find. Really hard to get there.

Thanks for your huge list!

[LiberalEsto]

52. My parents were immigrants

from Estonia, and they didn't like to travel outside the NY-NJ area for some reason. Once I got to college, I was determined to see places around the U.S. like Washington DC. I drove cross-country a couple of times and to Florida. I'm not counting cities I merely drove through, like Salt Lake City, Nashville, Hartford CT, Albany NY, Atlanta, Miami, Albuquerque, etc.

Looking at a list of the largest US cities, I found a few more.

Jersey City, NJ
Elizabeth NJ
Manchester NH
Cambridge MA
Pittsburgh PA
Arlington VA
Alexandria VA
Clearwater FL
Orlando FL
Phoenix AZ
Tempe AZ
Torrance CA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

[Throd]

25. Sacramento

Yeah, it's a bit slow and gets bloody hot in August, but it is where I live and I'm happy here.

[ceile]

26. No particular order

Austin
Houston (yes, Htown is a great place)
Cork City, Ireland
Kinsale, Ireland
Innsbruck, Austria
Taos, NM
Durango, CO
New Orleans

[angel823]

41. thanks

for the H-town shout-out!

[dawg]

29. Well, I'm a yokel without a passport.

But here are some of my favorite places:

New York City
San Antonio, TX
Asheville, NC
Charleston, SC
St. Augustine, FL
New Orleans
Washington, DC
and
Athens, GA

[Curmudgeoness]

54. Dear fellow yokel, how did I forget DC? Thanks for the reminder. nt

[freshwest]

58. Aw, what a sweetie. Is that a Holstein pug? Just kidding.

[MiddleFingerMom]

30. Hmmm...

.
.
.
Tucson and Bisbee, AZ
.
Philadelphia, PA
.
Washington, D.C.
.
Moab, UT
.
Cape May, N.J.
.
Munchen (Munich) and Nurnberg (Nuremberg), Germany
.
NYC... ... ... ... kinda
.
.
.

[KamaAina]

31. New Orleans, San Francisco, Honolulu, NYC, Boston, DC

and I've lived in the first four!

[SteppingRazor]

34. Top 5: Prague, Istanbul, Vienna, NYC and Miami, not necessarily in that order n/t

[XemaSab]

35. San Cristobal de las Casas

:)

[CreekDog]

37. This list will be changing after this summer:

1. New York
2. Montreal
3. Vancouver
4. Los Angeles
5. Toronto

But later this summer, I'll go to Berlin, Munich, Paris and possibly Amsterdam. I'm pretty sure my list will change A LOT!

[TZ]

46. No Philadelphia on this list?!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...I'm telling!!!!

[CreekDog]

48. SF isn't even on this list!

:rofl:

[sfpcjock]

45. San Fran Disco and

South Lake Tahoe. The latter is so close to the back country. SF. because it's in the Wonderful West. Yes, I was born there and grew up in Marvelous Marin.

[BrendaBrick]

50. I really liked the vibes in Portland, OR...

...though I must say I did happen to notice that the calves of many of the locals were, shall we say....well-defined! Is it IFC that has a fairly new (tongue-in-cheek) show: "Portlandia"

Good vibes I got there!

[elleng]

51. Was just there, in your #1!

[Ohio Joe]

60. As much as I hated Ohio, Columbus is a pretty cool city

I was always astounded at the amount of musical talent in Columbus. Every night of the week you could go out somewhere and see a great local band, there were just tons of them. ComFest was always a great time and Red, White and Boom is a hell of a fireworks show. German Village and Victorian Village are both home to some really awesome restaurants. Plus, there are lots of great people there :D

[JonLP24]

62. Haven't really lived in a lot of places.

1. Denver
2. Phoenix area
3. Las Vegas
4. Flagstaff
5. Los Angeles
6. Tacoma
7. Seattle
8. San Diego
9. Mesa, AZ
10. Loveland, CO
------------------------

All of these are cities I'm very familiar with or lived in. I've been to and through Portland and Albuquerque a few teams, much more for Albuquerque. I was in parts of Missouri for 9 months, only was at the airport in St. Louis. Airports in Iceland and Germany. I've been to Tijuana one time. Only large cities I've passed through in Southwest Asia are Kuwait City and Baghdad.

[freshwest]

65. Hey, I beg to differ with you. That *is* a lot of places! Thanks for the list.

[abq e streeter]

67. Santa Fe

[sakabatou]

69. In no particular order

San Francisco
New York
London
Jerusalem

[applegrove]

71. Amsterdam, Montreal, Halifax, Boston, Paris, Sienna, not in that order.

[nolabear]

72. New Orleans, Venice, Rome, Chicago, NYC.

Wish I'd been to more. Oddly I don't include Seattle, where I live. I like it, but twenty odd years of "nice" are geting on my last nerve.

[provis99]

73. Halifax and Vancouver. full of tidy, polite Canadians.

very sophisticated cities, too; lots of well dressed people and handsome architecture.

[Dappleganger]

74. We don't have much money so can't go far...

but my favorites are Savannah, St. Augustine (more like a town though), Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

And OLD New Orleans. The one with poor people in it.

[Cid_B]

76. Glorious Charleston SC

Also Munich...

Fuck Paris, San Fransisco and Philadelphia...

[Broken_Hero]

77. Seattle, Portland,

Sacramento, Lexington Ky, Lawrence Ks....