Way back in 2016, Katrina Brown Hunt wrote about a readers’ vote for America’s favorite city in Travel + Leisure. I kept the results because the #1 choice was Buffalo, New York. America’s FAVORITE city? Another poll (destinationtips.com) asked people to name the most beautiful city in the world. Venice was #1. Media and travel websites love lists.
In 2017 Travel + Leisure asked the same question it did the year before and Norfork, Virginia, was #1, New Orleans was #2, and Buffalo slipped to #3 even though it had the reputation for best pizza and ice cream.
In its February/March, 2018, issue National Geographic Traveler rated America’s best small cities and sang the praises of Pittsburgh. New Orleans placed 2nd. Pensacola, Florida, was voted “most dog friendly”. If you go there, watch where you step.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, asked people last year to name the best cities for families and Overland Park, Kansas, won despite the fact that New York had the most playgrounds. When rating the best cities for family vacations, TripAdvisor advised parents and children to go to Anaheim, California, and Washington, DC, came in 7th. However, Parents Magazine ranked Washington #3, and they should know. #2 for Parents was weird Portland, Oregon, and #1 was San Diego. Travelpulse.com chose Washington, DC, #1. I tend to agree with Travelpulse.
The Hub Team (hub.united.com) tackled America’s most underrated cities. Providence, Rhode Island, was #1. I was very pleased that St Louis came in 2nd followed by the other and non-weird Portland (the one in Maine). I’m from St. Louis and return frequently. I agree that it’s underrated by travelers. By the way, its Gateway Arch and Grounds reopen on July 4, 2018, after an extensive refurbishment that took a couple of years.
I was once asked, “If you had to spend the rest of your life in one city, what would that city be?” It took me 2 hours to mentally move to Melbourne, Australia.
Hank
