Wilfrid Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 A little in the spirit of the re-reading project I sort of think I should have a list of places I need to visit, this thread specifically being about U.S. cities. Where should I go that I haven't been? Top of mind for me are Detroit, Houston, Portland (Oregon) and St Louis. I am also very aware that I haven't visited the deep south enough, Mississippi and Alabama for example. I would love recommendations. Of course I am interested in restaurants and museums/galleries, but also old taverns and inns and history. The easiest thing is probably to list where I have been, often many times. Where else should I go? (This list is useful for me anyway). Akron (start with the best) Atlanta Austin Baltimore Boston Bridgeport Buffalo Charleston Chicago Dallas Denver Fort Lauderdale Fort Worth Gloucester Hartford Kansas City Las Vegas Los Angeles Memphis Miami Minneapolis Monterey Nashville New Haven New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Portland (Maine) Providence Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Santa Cruz Savannah Seattle St Paul (and finish with not my favorite) Washington DC (accidentally omitted) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Richmond, VA (and/or concurrently Charlottesville, because I believe Monticello to be a must visit, and also a lot of good people there). Pittsburgh - some really great museums, and quite historic. Those 3 rivers were important. We liked Madison (the final flight of Otis Redding) and Milwaukee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Burlington. Gorgeous, on the lake, good food, good markets, much beer. You've been to Memphis and Nashville, but not Knoxville? You may not be missing much. but it's nice. Every little city has its cluster of hipsters trying to do good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Provincetown - because it's the end of the continent (and where the "pilgrims" actually landed), and it's totally crazy. And our mishpucha are now opening a cocktail place, to go along with their 10-year old sandwich shop. Do not go in the summer, but just before and a bit after are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 This is great, thanks. I deliberately omitted a small Wisconsin city from my list because I have even more negative feelings about it than I do about St Paul. I had to go there for business but never had a chance to visit Madison or Milwaukee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I can also have my memory prompted. Have I been to Provincetown? I certainly saw Plymouth Rock somewhere (duh, Plymouth). But on that trip I did go to Gloucester and saw Charles Olson's house so I will add that to the list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywood Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Lake Tahoe Palm Springs San Antonio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I was invited to San Antonio on business this year, but it didn't work out. Definite addition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evelyn Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Defintely Houston and San Antonio for TX. Napa Valley / Sonoma etc. I can be more specific if need be. Birmingham, AL for the Civil Rights District/Trail-and some stellar Southern Cuisine If you are interested in the space program-Huntsville, AL. Food options are limited-but enough for 48 hours. Lexington, KY- horses, racing and good food and cocktails St. Augustine, FL history and dining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywood Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 For something different from the usual city environments, you could explore Honolulu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maison rustique Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) I recently asked on FB about good places to make an overnight trip. Several people recommended Des Moines. Apparently they have some superb restaurants there.Who knew! I keep saying that one of these days I will make a driving trip through Kansas to go see the salt mine and all the funky "World's Largest" type attractions. A kitsch trip if you will. Edited June 1 by maison rustique clarification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) 8 hours ago, Evelyn said: Napa Valley / Sonoma etc. I can be more specific if need be. Birmingham, AL for the Civil Rights District/Trail-and some stellar Southern Cuisine Well, I can certainly start with Healdsburgh up in Sonoma. I think you really have to want to drive to explore Napa and Sonoma, however. Certainly to get over to the Sonoma coast. More civil rights stuff in Greensboro, NC, but once you’ve seen the Woolworth’s and its museum… I’m interested in how many recommendations tend to go south and west of where we are, as opposed to New England and mid-Atlantic. And though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it at this point, DC can be a very nice city, with some excellent food options. Annapolis is beautiful. Edited June 1 by MitchW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 Perhaps a lot of obvious NE destinations are already covered on the list, thanks to my location. I was dumb to omit DC, which I have visited a lot. Will add it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I have traveled around Sonoma; guess it didn't occur to me when I was listing cities. But great suggestions here that I wouldn't have thought about. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloviatrix Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Not a city but a region - the American southwest: Bryce, Zion, Arches National Parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieL Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 4 hours ago, bloviatrix said: Not a city but a region - the American southwest: Bryce, Zion, Arches National Parks. In that vein: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Tucson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywood Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Yes, Santa Fe/Taos is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I know it's just the name that intrigues me, but does anyone have a good word to say about Oklahoma City? Same question, Omaha. Is there anything in the Dakotas? The answer might be no. I am aware there's a swathe of the country I have ignored. Perhaps I should note, for anyone who doesn't know, I haven't driven a car in forever and won't start now. Hence my emphasis on cities. (I had a wonderful time seeing Big Sur and Carmel by asking in my Monterey hotel if anyone wanted to drive me up there for the afternoon; no trouble finding a volunteer.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I have negative feelings about Arkansas. Am I wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 17 hours ago, hollywood said: For something different from the usual city environments, you could explore Honolulu. I admit I never think of Honolulu. Or Anchorage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 I sent my daughter the link and she asked what was so great about Akron. Young people don't get jokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maison rustique Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 40 minutes ago, Wilfrid said: I have negative feelings about Arkansas. Am I wrong? I've not spent much time there (though I have aunt/uncle who live in Mountain Home). But should you decide to go for whatever reason, Eureka Springs is OK. And not too far from there, Crystal Bridges museum is nice. We went when it very first opened and it was not fully open, but I understand now that it is wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 (edited) 1 hour ago, Wilfrid said: I have negative feelings about Arkansas. Am I wrong? No, and I'd put it way down on the list even if you were. Edited June 2 by MitchW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 1 hour ago, Wilfrid said: I have negative feelings about Arkansas. Am I wrong? As Richard Pryor once opined (and maybe not about AZ)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evelyn Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 I generally have to go to Arkansas (football or basketball) at least once a year. And I wish I didn't. So I wouldn't put it on the list. As for Omaha-the only excitement is the Men's and Women's College World Series. Or maybe running into Warren Buffet. I will say you can find a good steak there (and no-not Omaha Steaks brand). I second recommendations for Taos, Santa Fe and Hawaii. Presuming this is a summer trip other than driving around Lake Tahoe or playing golf, there's not a lot to do. And whatever you do-don't stay in Reno. It's awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.