Your Top 5 US Cities to Visit - Exclude Your Own (2 Viewers)

[Smack Tripper]

Charleston will disagree. 

Charleston isn’t a city.  It’s a lovely area though 

 

[General Malaise]

Anyone bashing the Dakotas needs to spend some time in the Black Hills and Badlands region of SD, and Medora and Teddy Roosevelt National Park in ND.

True, I would love to hit all of those one day.  Was just making the point that a cool city isn't a short drive away...

 

[The General]

Anyone bashing the Dakotas needs to spend some time in the Black Hills and Badlands region of SD, and Medora and Teddy Roosevelt National Park in ND.

Love all that. Why is it 2 states?

 

[General Malaise]

Love all that. Why is it 2 states?

Simple answer?  The people in the south didn't like the people in the north and vice versa.  

 

[The General]

Simple answer?  The people in the south didn't like the people in the north and vice versa.  

Can't we all just get along...seriously though they have 4 Senators, California gets 2. Get over yourself Dakotas 

 

[General Malaise]

Can't we all just get along...seriously though they have 4 Senators, California gets 2. Get over yourself Dakotas 

The fine citizens of the Southern Dakota territory (which outnumbered their northern peers by 3/1) felt as though the citizens to the north were far too rough around the edges for their liking and didn't want to be lumped in with those rugged fur traders.

 

[The General]

The fine citizens of the Southern Dakota territory (which outnumbered their northern peers by 3/1) felt as though the citizens to the north were far too rough around the edges for their liking and didn't want to be lumped in with those rugged fur traders.

“I’ll never stand with those big city folk down in Pierre with their fine china and horse-drawn carriages”

 

[BoltBacker]

Zephyr Cove, NV (Lake Tahoe) - my new home as of my Nov 30th retirement.

Carmel, CA

Manitou Springs, CO

Moab, UT - best mountain biking in the country? and great National Parks

La Jolla

This is probably my favorite list in the thread.

I would add Bellingham, WA..... as long as you go between July-September. The weather is perfect for enjoying the outdoors, summer skiing, sailing, great hiking. Excellent fresh seafood. I'm not into fishing/hunting but a great place for either salt-water or freshwater fishing with plenty of lakes/rivers/Puge Sound. I honestly don't know why I've never lived there. Maybe one day.

 

[Zegras11]

Victoria

Going Aug 2 for the first time for a little break.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Mississippi at least touches the coast, which I think is an upgrade to states like Kansas or Iowa that don't.  Plus, depending on where you live (let's use Jackson here) you're a 3 hour drive to New Orleans going south and 3 hours from Memphis going north. What cool cities are you 3 hours from in, say, the Dakotas or Nebraska?  

And, there's no way Kansas or Iowa has anything remotely cool or as pretty as the Natchez Trace.  

The poverty, crime, politics, ignorance, racism and suffering summers drag Ms down, but I'd live there before both Kansas and Iowa.

You make a compelling argument. I give the Dakotas a pass, as the western edge of both states contain stellar national parks, plus they’re adjacent to great Rocky Mountain states WY and MT. And for a city slicker like yourself, Denver isn’t too far from Nebraska.

As far as I can, tell there is nothing redeeming about KS and IA. Bad weather extremes, boring terrain, no good cities or proximity to awesomeness. 

 

[General Malaise]

You make a compelling argument. I give the Dakotas a pass, as the western edge of both states contain stellar national parks, plus they’re adjacent to great Rocky Mountain states WY and MT. And for a city slicker like yourself, Denver isn’t too far from Nebraska.

As far as I can, tell there is nothing redeeming about KS and IA. Bad weather extremes, boring terrain, no good cities or proximity to awesomeness. 

Yeah, I'd like to hit some of the Dakotas for those reasons.  Montana I like a lot.  

Mississippi has really pretty forests, big magnolias and some great history...Vicksburg is an incredible civil war monument to visit. 

 

[identikit]

Yeah, I'd like to hit some of the Dakotas for those reasons.  Montana I like a lot.  

Mississippi has really pretty forests, big magnolias and some great history...Vicksburg is an incredible civil war monument to visit. 

I'm planning to retire In Ms when I retire.

Mostly for financial reasons.

Good to read some positive reviews.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Yeah, I'd like to hit some of the Dakotas for those reasons.  Montana I like a lot.  

Mississippi has really pretty forests, big magnolias and some great history...Vicksburg is an incredible civil war monument to visit. 

OK, I'm convinced. So which state is number 50? I say KS edges IA based on size of suckiness.

 

[Don Quixote]

OK, I'm convinced. So which state is number 50? I say KS edges IA based on size of suckiness.

I would go for Iowa. Dwight D Eisenhower birthplace > Herbert Hoover birthplace.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

:unsureofmessage:  Oh, that's right.  Carmel is awful.  Tourists should totally stay away and leave the locals to themselves.  

The locals are the worst part.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

3. Fresno

Oh shut up

 

[JaxBill]

I definitely want to hit Charleston.  Have heard nothing but terrific things about that city. 

I lived in Savannah for 5 years. They always talked about Charleston being a sister city. Like Charleston was the more elegant and refined sister who was looking to marry a doctor. Savannah was the attractive but somewhat quirky younger sister looking to party.

 

[msommer]

Where ever the beer is great.

 

[Ilov80s]

Where ever the beer is great.

and the girls are pretty

 

[Jayrod]

OK, I'm convinced. So which state is number 50? I say KS edges IA based on size of suckiness.

Eastern KS isn't bad (mostly due to its similarity to MO).  Western KS is awful.  The drive through the state on I-70 to Colorado is the worst, longest, most boring stretch of highway in the country.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Eastern KS isn't bad (mostly due to its similarity to MO).  Western KS is awful.  The drive through the state on I-70 to Colorado is the worst, longest, most boring stretch of highway in the country.

it reminds me of Rte 50 in NV (termed the loneliest road in America) in that it's bleak and has irritating hump after irritating hump. i remember going to CO once and a KS state trooper apparently had nothing better to do than track me. i would use my being over these humps first to pick up distance on him, hoping he'd give up. but he followed me for ten humps and, when i finally put two humps between us, i did what he'd been waiting for and was down on me like a fox to give me the only speeding ticket i ever had.

 

[tri-man 47]

The locals are the worst part.

Ah ...got it.  

 

[Zow]

Oh, going to San Diego Xmas-New years for my SILs wedding.  Can't wait to take the family there. 

Is Ocean Beach still awesome? 

Yes. And I’ll confirm it still is when I stay there next week. 

@tommyGunZ

 

[tommyGunZ]

Yes. And I’ll confirm it still is when I stay there next week. 

@tommyGunZ

First beer on me this time Woz; I believe I drank on you and your buddies tab last fall.  You staying in a similar AirBNB?  Ping me when you get in town.  

GM - hit me up if/when you make it to OB. Woz can confirm that I’m good for a quick beer and hello, and I don’t linger awkwardly when you’d rather be hanging with your family.  

 

[TripItUp]

Where ever the beer is great.

Top mircrobrew towns

1.  Portland

2.  San Diego

3.  Denver

4.  Austin

5. ??

 

[msommer]

Top mircrobrew towns

1.  Portland

2.  San Diego

3.  Denver

4.  Austin

5. ??

Ashleigh, NC? Detroit, MI?

 

[General Malaise]

OK, I'm convinced. So which state is number 50? I say KS edges IA based on size of suckiness.

I try to find the good in every state I visit, including ones that are getting beaten up a bit.  Oklahoma is a weird place with politics I disagree with and it's really ugly in the western part.  But OK also has terrific spots to hike, camp, explore all of which I did when I was younger.  I'll say the same for Arkansas.  Backwasswards with some cities you'd never want to break down in (looking hard at your, Pine Bluff) but also rich with outdoor fun - Ozarks, rafting, etc.  Already defended Mississippi.

I haven't spent enough time in Kansas to put them number 50, but flat cornfields aren't my thing and their politics also scare me.  Anybody have anything nice to say about Nebraska?  

 

[General Malaise]

I lived in Savannah for 5 years. They always talked about Charleston being a sister city. Like Charleston was the more elegant and refined sister who was looking to marry a doctor. Savannah was the attractive but somewhat quirky younger sister looking to party.

Savannah > hey! 

 

[General Malaise]

First beer on me this time Woz; I believe I drank on you and your buddies tab last fall.  You staying in a similar AirBNB?  Ping me when you get in town.  

GM - hit me up if/when you make it to OB. Woz can confirm that I’m good for a quick beer and hello, and I don’t linger awkwardly when you’d rather be hanging with your family.  

Hell yeah, man!  I don't know where we're staying yet (my SIL had an ABnB on Mission Bay but was afraid it was too full of bros/Jersey Shore for families and is moving us).  Anyhow, I'm there 25th-1st so let's plan on getting beers and watching football.  Is Moondoggies on PB still there (I'm going off of 20 years of memories here).

 

[General Malaise]

Top mircrobrew towns

1.  Portland

2.  San Diego

3.  Denver

4.  Austin

5. ??

5.  Not sure if I should list Detroit, Grand Rapids or another city in Michigan, but the craft beer scene in the mitten is superb.  

Also, I was blown away by how great the beers were in Chicago.  

 

[Terminalxylem]

Eastern KS isn't bad (mostly due to its similarity to MO).  Western KS is awful.  The drive through the state on I-70 to Colorado is the worst, longest, most boring stretch of highway in the country.

 The visual monotony is bad enough, but the omnipresent stench of manure really secures KS a spot at the bottom. 

 

[Zow]

First beer on me this time Woz; I believe I drank on you and your buddies tab last fall.  You staying in a similar AirBNB?  Ping me when you get in town.  

GM - hit me up if/when you make it to OB. Woz can confirm that I’m good for a quick beer and hello, and I don’t linger awkwardly when you’d rather be hanging with your family.  

Yes, yes, and yes.  

 

[Zow]

Top mircrobrew towns

1.  Portland

2.  San Diego

3.  Denver

4.  Austin

5. ??

I’d toss Minneapolis in there. 

 

[rascal]

Only listing big cities...

Nashville

Denver (but that was before all the damn Californians moved there)

Boise

San diego

Portland

Minneapolis if the winters weren't so awful...so go global warming???

 

[rascal]

Eastern KS isn't bad (mostly due to its similarity to MO).  Western KS is awful.  The drive through the state on I-70 to Colorado is the worst, longest, most boring stretch of highway in the country.

Armpit of America.

 

[Don Quixote]

 Anybody have anything nice to say about Nebraska?  

I think their tourism slogan “It’s honestly not for everyone.” So, at least they are self-aware.

 

[General Malaise]

They host the CWS.

That's a good point.  

Can I ask a follow up question?  

Why?  Why Omaha?  What on earth has that city or state done to capture the CWS for infinity?  

 

[rustycolts]

Most of mine are still in Florida what can I say I'm a cracker plus I try to avoid places that get below 70 degrees.

Cedar Key - Fishing and partying a sleepy little drinking town with a fishing problem.

Key West - Partying and fishing.

Ozello - Get away from people and fishing of course I would be alone.  My wife says she is not going to live in a swamp so thats something to look forward to.

Jackson Hole - Furthest I have ever been west beautiful and all the folks were nice.  Of course I could only live there about 3 months out of the year.

Gatlinburg - Beautiful and people are extremely friendly.

So after writing all this it s not live its visit still wouldn't change my list.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Anybody have anything nice to say about Nebraska?  

I loooove the breaks of the North Platte (spent a lot of time in the hobo jungles there as a runaway kid) and some of the Sandhills country in the western part of the state. and the smalltown folk are finestkind - a highlight of my xcountry US20 trip in the early 90s. If it had a better climate, it would be a retirement option

 

[General Malaise]

I loooove the breaks of the North Platte (spent a lot of time in the hobo jungles there as a runaway kid) and some of the Sandhills country in the western part of the state. and the smalltown folk are finestkind - a highlight of my xcountry US20 trip in the early 90s. If it had a better climate, it would be a retirement option

Thought about you today.  Couple of local radio guys were flying down to LA and one of them sat next to a gal who works for a 20/20 or Dateline type murder porn show.  Anyhow, she was coming back from Salem and was working on a project involving the Boxcar Killer Robert Joseph Silveria, who murdered a train hopper there years ago (it was a Salem detective that unravelled the case).  Did you once say you ran into this serial killer or was somebody else?

 

[wikkidpissah]

Thought about you today.  Couple of local radio guys were flying down to LA and one of them sat next to a gal who works for a 20/20 or Dateline type murder porn show.  Anyhow, she was coming back from Salem and was working on a project involving the Boxcar Killer Robert Joseph Silveria, who murdered a train hopper there years ago (it was a Salem detective that unravelled the case).  Did you once say you ran into this serial killer or was somebody else?

My guy's name was Norman (never got the last), tho i called him Numbers cuz he had a huge Army trenchcoat with like 50 pockets, all of which held the remains of at least one joint "oo, think i got a number here", he'd say.  I had coincidentally hooked up with him briefly a couple times hitchin' or hoppin', during which he gave me a ton of pointers, was real nice to me when i got a case of the 'cries' (i was 16) and taught me the most valuable life lesson i ever got - a self-hypnosis technique he learned in stir. So, seeing me when i stopped for a meal at the huge jungle outside the NPlatte trainyard, he came over to say hey. We hung out for a number or two. Asked me where i was headed (it was Holland MI), said he was going to Chicago and do i want us to team. I said "sure", we got a ride to Council Bluffs (across the riv from Omaha) and were let off @ a truck stop. It was raining like ####, he wandered around, said he got a salesman going to Minny, i said i werent goin thataway, he said he wanted to get out of the rain, so we parted ways.

Month or so later, i'm making my way back west when i stop again @ the NPlatte jungle. Everybody's surprised as hell to see me, so i ask why. They say Norman had taken off from there w a LOT of young boys and i was the first one they ever saw again. Somebody recounted a Norman 'confession' which i only half believed, but the consensus was he liked me too much to mess w or kill me and that he had probably taken out his frustration on the Minny salesman. Thx for reminding me of my serial killer - always a pleasure to cogitate. Never researched Norman, so i dont know. This woulda been Sept '71.

 

[General Malaise]

My guy's name was Norman (never got the last), tho i called him Numbers cuz he had a huge Army trenchcoat with like 50 pockets, all of which held the remains of at least one joint "oo, think i got a number here", he'd say.  I had coincidentally hooked up with him briefly a couple times hitchin' or hoppin', during which he gave me a ton of pointers, was real nice to me when i got a case of the 'cries' (i was 16) and taught me the most valuable life lesson i ever got - a self-hypnosis technique he learned in stir. So, seeing me when i stopped for a meal at the huge jungle outside the NPlatte trainyard, he came over to say hey. We hung out for a number or two. Asked me where i was headed (it was Holland MI), said he was going to Chicago and do i want us to team. I said "sure", we got a ride to Council Bluffs (across the riv from Omaha) and were let off @ a truck stop. It was raining like ####, he wandered around, said he got a salesman going to Minny, i said i werent goin thataway, he said he wanted to get out of the rain, so we parted ways.

Month or so later, i'm making my way back west when i stop again @ the NPlatte jungle. Everybody's surprised as hell to see me, so i ask why. They say Norman had taken off from there w a LOT of young boys and i was the first one they ever saw again. Somebody recounted a Norman 'confession' which i only half believed, but the consensus was he liked me too much to mess w or kill me and that he had probably taken out his frustration on the Minny salesman. Thx for reminding me of my serial killer - always a pleasure to cogitate. Never researched Norman, so i dont know. This woulda been Sept '71.

Boxcar was early 80s, according to Murderpedia.  You've got some crazy stories, man. 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Boxcar was early 80s, according to Murderpedia.  You've got some crazy stories, man. 

crazy time, esp on the road. from hobo jungles to hippie communes and a whole lotta 'Mer'ca inbetween. then, within 2 yrs of my last homeless day, i'm on the road w Bonnie Raitt. just gimme luck, good or bad, and i'll make sumn of it.