Among larger cities in Canada and the U.S, what are your favourites? Where do you most like to visit, and where could you see yourself living (this could produce different answers for sure). It could be based on any criteria that is important to you, whether it’s the ‘fun’ factor, the physical beauty and landscape, the friendliness of its people, climate, accessibility of public transportation and walking/biking trails, crime, attractions in its vicinity or the intangible ‘vibe’ you get from going there. Whatever it may be, you might even have some bias toward certain places because you were there during a particular time in your life. Lets try and stick with relatively larger cities to level the playing field (ie. the metropolitan area has a population of one million or more), as its hard to decide if you prefer a Victoria B.C over a Montreal. If you decide to include your hometown, please put a * beside it so we know there may be some bias involved. J Here’s mine: 1) Calgary* Perfect sized city, not too big, not too small. Mountains are right there. People are friendly.Modern yet still has that simple old western feel to it. And its my hometown! 2) Chicago Just an overall awesome city. Has something for everyone, and one of the few big US cities with a downtown that’s safe to walk in. Very high on the ‘intangibles’rating. 3) Montreal Europe meets North America. Beautiful women and rivals Miami for party city status. Probably the most unique big city on the continent. 4) San Francisco Jumping very high on my list after a visit there recently. Stunningly beautiful, cosmopolitan, fun and amazing weather (never too hot or too cold). 5) Vancouver Haven’t been here in a while, but on physical beauty alone its up there. Outdoor activities also a big plus. 6) Boston Smaller version of Chicago in some ways, has that dignified aura to it. 7) New York Possibly should be higher, but a little too big for my tastes. In terms of things to do and how long it would take to get bored there, it has to be at or near the top. 8) Toronto Multicultural, lot of stuff going on and probably the best place to be in North America during the World Cup. Azim da Dream
New Orleans . For what used to be. I like Tucson a lot... wouldn't mind living there... probably the biggest city I would consider. I do like to visit San Fran and Chicago... great towns. DC is great if you're interested in politics and single... scads of intelligent single women. Of course there's always the big ones in Texas... Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Ft. Worth, and one other I can't seem to remember because it sucks.
Metro Tucson is about to break the 1 million mark. There may come a time in the next 20 years where there is nothing but suburbia from Phoenix, down 1-10 and I-19, all the way to the border at Nogales, except for where the interstates cross the Gila and San Xavier Indian reservations.
I love replying to myself. I haven't traveled that much but some of the cities I have seen: Tucson - liked it enough to make it home San Antonio - love to visit the Riverwalk San Diego - best weather in the continental U.S. Philadelphia - I was pleasantly surprised by downtown Philly Chicago - fun town NY (Manhattan) - Overwhelming Sacramento - I liked it because it wasn't as huge as the other California cities, Arco is a nice place to watch a basketball game Austin - hippie capital of the southwest, going to the Fiesta Supermarket on a friday night to people watch is an experience in itself St. Louis - parts of the city do look like a nuclear bomb went off, but I lived there so I know where to have fun Houston - I was born there, but it has changed a lot since I have left, for the better I might add
Um, this is a blast from the muthertruckin' past! I thought for sure someone had bumped some old thread!
Besides Houston, my faves are....in no particular order..... Boston New York Baltimore Atlanta Chicago San Francisco San Diego
I live in the Chicago Loop right now, and I'd have to disagree with you there. During the day, yes most parts of downtown are pretty safe, but a different breed of people come out at night...
Does that mean this topic was already covered recently or that you're just surprised an old CC.net has-been started a thread? sLaNd BaLLa - you're probably right .. I should rephrase, 'has a downtown relatively safer compared to other big U.S cities'. finalsbound - i thought I would be the only one here to have actually visited Calgary (with the exception of I believe either RM95 or DREAMer who made a western canadian road trip)! Note: only reason I didn't put any of the Texas cities on is because I actually have never had the fortune to visit. Although I hear a lot of good things about Austin and San An. Azim da Dream
The latter...and I've never been to Calgary. My faves, in no particular order: Houston Albuquerque Milwaukee Chicago San Francisco Austin St. Louis
san fran austin (though the weather in the summer often makes me wonder why) tahoe salt lake city (though i've only spent 4 days there and the booze laws might drive me crazy). SLC is way more diverse than I had imagined. santa cruz Pagosa Springs Vancouver I'm going to Chicago for my first time in a few weeks, and based on what i've heard, it will likely be high on my list.
I've never been to Canada, so I can't comment, but I hear a load of good about all the major cities there. I'd have to go with 1. New Orleans-- I almost went there instead of Israel ifor grad school. I think I have terrible luck. But if eating, drinking, music, culture, history and free living are your thing, it can't really be beat. 2. Austin -- The influx of NorCal yuppies and the traffic problems make it a downer...but it's still one of my favorite places ever. 3. New York -- The cost of living there and the harsh weather are my only gripes. 4. San Francisco -- Everytime I went out drinking there I met amazing people. Also, if you are brave enough to go to Castro alone, you will find the greatest retial clothing expereince. How else would I know all my life I wore the wrong sizes and wrong colors? But only a masochist would rollerblade there. 5. Monterrey -- As in Mexico. The intellectual capital of Mexico. Only 4 hours south of Corpus Christi. Decker would appreciate the Blade Runner feel, the underground mall and all the leather everyone wears. Plus, lots of cheap beef...which is nice i you are a steak-a-holic. Also, no threat of smoking being banned any time soon. 6. LA -- The town I hate to love, but it was home for nearly a decade. Mostly for the ease of finding odd work that pays well (I made $400 a day in cash selling blinking santa hats on the sidewalk there), and the eccentric people who I became friends with. Also, two NBA teams, so it's easy to see basketball games. It is however, the closest to a third world country in North America, barring maybe Tijuana or Mexico City. The disparity between rich and poor is awful.
Absolutely 100% correct, and the dividing line is around $100,000/year. It's even worse than NYC in that respect.
