Underrated US Cities

[Gutter King]

First cities that came to mind for me were Mke and Cinci as well. Interesting to see how many people have reiterated that in this thread. Mke in particular has it all, and affordable.

I design and install exteriors on multifamily structures. Back when we were in the **C, we were working on a student housing building on the Cincinnati campus. There is a "Go Uconn" underneath the cladding 14 stories up, looking down on those rubes.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Lake George is horrible - full stop.

The only time I've been was on the tail end of a road trip after high school. Slept in my car (no doors) next to a dumpster because I ran out off money...good times

 

[Deepster]

The only time I've been was on the tail end of a road trip after high school. Slept in my car (no doors) next to a dumpster because I ran out off money...good times

Lake George is stuck in the 50’s with hokey attractions and outdated motels. It’s a cheap, mildly entertaining weekend if your kids are small enough to enjoy the kitsch.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

With all due respect, have you driven across backcountry Greenwich, North Stamford and New Canaan in the last 25 years? The parts of North Stamford that are similar to its neighbors to the east and west are almost impossible to find. Until covid hit, the average home value in North Stamford was $620,000 and $215/sq ft. You can’t sniff a shack in the towns to the east and west for those prices. What is with people on the Boneyard making things up to conveniently support their stories.
Take a drive up Long Ridge and High Ridge north of the Merritt. Mostly homes stuck in the 1980s that languished on the market for more than a year until NYers decided they needed to run from covid.

and almost every single one from nyc, with many from queens, which now magically here has somehow been transformed into paradise on earth (note; i have kin in queens going back at least a century). iffn you know him, the Chief of the long ridge fire department (as you know, that 'semi-private' FD is an interesting story in and of itself -a clash of cultures) is old school Stamford personified, and knows all things. good dude. 2 family houses in queens regularly sell for 1+ million, and folks are beating feet out cuz the crime thing has become intolerable, in addition to the bug thing. of course, all are welcome, and i can't blame them for wanting their children to be in a real live classroom, just check the loud attitude at the state line. it's bad enough that populated fairdale county has morphed into westchester. oops, forgot to mention the tsunami of taxes coming for their wallets any day now, cuz, contrary to a lot of the thoughts here, many folks place a high importance on taxes and such when considering a move. florida has around a 1000 people a day moving in. smart folks. here's the latest:
NYC rents continue to hit record lows (nypost.com)
but some of youse knew this was coming over a year ago, amiright?
mr wayans tv show 'my wife and kids' was set in Stamford. normal guy trying to live a normal life.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Snohomish, WA. Wifey and I spent an anniversary weekend up there few years back and just did a bunch of hikes in the area. Beautiful area but not a lot going on if you're not just there to enjoy the outdoors

 

[superjohn]

I just don’t get the Savannah thing. Pretty rough, lots of sewage smell around town, a little scary after dark even in the nice parts and the good part just isn’t very big.

I've spent a lot of time in Savannah and never smelled sewage and never been scared. The idea that Savannah is a scary place is weird to me, the city is based on tourism. Downtown is all trolleys, people on leisurely strolls, and tour groups. Sure there's poor areas with crime like any other place...I

I've been to the hood during the day but there's no reason to ever go there at night, there's no reason to ever go to any hood at night unless you have to live there. Just use common sense in Savannah like you would any other place and you'll be fine.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Burlington is Asheville for people who don’t suck

This makes me incredibly happy as someone who, despite a surprising number of haters, loves Asheville.

I’m probably moving to Burlington soon and I’ve never been there before.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

With all due respect, have you driven across backcountry Greenwich, North Stamford and New Canaan in the last 25 years? The parts of North Stamford that are similar to its neighbors to the east and west are almost impossible to find. Until covid hit, the average home value in North Stamford was $620,000 and $215/sq ft. You can’t sniff a shack in the towns to the east and west for those prices. What is with people on the Boneyard making things up to conveniently support their stories.
Take a drive up Long Ridge and High Ridge north of the Merritt. Mostly homes stuck in the 1980s that languished on the market for more than a year until NYers decided they needed to run from covid.

It's hard to discern much respect in a phrasing like "making things up to conveniently support...stories," if such a description applied to me.

I based what I wrote on a friend who spent elementary school years in a well-known Park Avenue co-op, before moving out to the family's weekend property of 100 acres on June Rd that were split between her grandparents and their two children. There were horses, fields & woods across varied terrain, and paths to the homes of neighbors with distinction in the worlds of finance, philanthropy, entertainment, and international affairs. Summers were spent on the Ausable River within the Adirondack High Peaks. The kids went to private schools in Greenwich. Property taxes supported the city of Stamford.

 

[hank970]

First cities that came to mind for me were Mke and Cinci as well. Interesting to see how many people have reiterated that in this thread. Mke in particular has it all, and affordable.

I design and install exteriors on multifamily structures. Back when we were in the **C, we were working on a student housing building on the Cincinnati campus. There is a "Go Uconn" underneath the cladding 14 stories up, looking down on those rubes.

Edit: It was actually UC guys who wrote "Go UConn." And sure enough, UConn went, taking its little-girl football team with it.

 

[LIuconn]

Worth it for the skyline chili

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I’d include Bozeman, MT but I think the secret is out about it.

It definitely is, at least within the super rich of Fairfield County. A few families at my school have owned property in the Big Sky area for close to a decade now and it's getting cheaper and easier to fly direct to Bozeman from NYC. A co-worker of mine took her spring break trip to Bozeman and her flight was $240, insane as back when my in-laws were in Montana, I've never paid less than $600 to fly into Billings.

On that note, I nominate Butte, MT. Others posted about Missoula, Bozeman, Whitefish, but while these towns/cities might not be super well known, I wouldn't rate them as underrated.

Butte has historically been considered the black sheep city amongst Montanans once the copper boom ended. For decades it was depressed, drug-infested, just sad, but thankfully, its beautiful uptown remained mostly in tact and its experiencing quite a revitalization. Its uptown is the 2nd largest National Historic District in the country (New Orleans is #1) and daring small business owners have really done a nice job cleaning it up. Had one of the best meals of my life at the Uptown Cafe, five courses for $30.

It's also a great location, less than 100 miles from Missoula, Helena (another underrated city) and Bozeman, so it's less of an "island" than other Montana locations.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I'm going to nominate a town where I expected nothing but really enjoyed myself: Duluth, MN. Honestly the friendliest damned place I've ever been. And I had a blast in the two days I was there. Yes, it was summer, so it's a qualified response.

Also, as we used to visit Pirates spring training and hope to again soon, the Bradenton/Sarasota area has a ton of cool stuff. I never thought I'd give Florida a thought as somewhere to live, but we're seriously considering that area. Good local and Latin food, solid microbreweries, cheap golf, beaches (not my thing but they're there), St. Armand's Circle, Cortez (nearby), and minor league baseball, among other things.

And yes to Milwaukee. I live in Pittsburgh, and it has lots of assets, but we have more rainy days than Seattle. And you can't bike safely in the suburbs.

I worked in the New Stanton/Greenburg area for a year. I was surprised about the weather, remembering many T'storm warnings. That and french fries on top of my salad. I liked Pittsburg. Caught some Bucs games and Uconn mens&womens basketball at Pitt. Opening day of hunting season was a holiday?

 

[Chin Diesel]

I just don’t get the Savannah thing. Pretty rough, lots of sewage smell around town, a little scary after dark even in the nice parts and the good part just isn’t very big.

I've spent a lot of time in Savannah and never smelled sewage and never been scared. The idea that Savannah is a scary place is weird to me, the city is based on tourism. Downtown is all trolleys, people on leisurely strolls, and tour groups. Sure there's poor areas with crime like any other place...I

I've been to the hood during the day but there's no reason to ever go there at night, there's no reason to ever go to any hood at night unless you have to live there. Just use common sense in Savannah like you would any other place and you'll be fine.

Last fall Mrs. Diesel and I had back to back days in Charleston and Savannah. Both days had pretty good weather and gave a glimpse of the similarities and differences. Charleston defininitely had more upscale shopping and a cleaner, old south money kind of feel to it. Felt very preppy and pretentious. The college girls had their sundresses and hats and the boys had their proper polo shirt untucked with khaki shorts and boat shoes. Plenty of retirees as well just aimlessly walking outside. Mrs. Diesel's smart watch put us at over 35,000 steps for the day in Charleston. That being said everything was clean, everything was nice. Food was great. You'd need almost a month to get through all the great eateries.

Savannah is almost a cleaner version of New Orleans. That's not necessarily a compliment. You could definitely see and smell trash in the alleyways behind businesses and you could smell weed in quite a few spots. That being said, it was filled with people walking and enjoying a good day. Savannah also let you grab a drink in a bar and take it out on the streets so long as you were in the entertainment district. Definitely never felt endangered or threatened. Food was plenty good. Watching the caramels, pralines and fudge made in front of you in big copper kettles is a fun site.

I would never live in either city, but I could live in the 'burbs around either area.

 

[AdamaNation]

Trustafarians we call them.

 

[Hogoff]

Overrated IMO. Sierra Nevada and New Belgium don’t move my “best craft brewery scene” needle too much. Anyone I’ve met from there is completely smug and full of themselves.

I agree. If anything, it’s way over rated. It wasn’t always that way. It’s changes as it’s population has changed.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Last fall Mrs. Diesel and I had back to back days in Charleston and Savannah. Both days had pretty good weather and gave a glimpse of the similarities and differences. Charleston defininitely had more upscale shopping and a cleaner, old south money kind of feel to it. Felt very preppy and pretentious. The college girls had their sundresses and hats and the boys had their proper polo shirt untucked with khaki shorts and boat shoes. Plenty of retirees as well just aimlessly walking outside. Mrs. Diesel's smart watch put us at over 35,000 steps for the day in Charleston. That being said everything was clean, everything was nice. Food was great. You'd need almost a month to get through all the great eateries.

Savannah is almost a cleaner version of New Orleans. That's not necessarily a compliment. You could definitely see and smell trash in the alleyways behind businesses and you could smell weed in quite a few spots. That being said, it was filled with people walking and enjoying a good day. Savannah also let you grab a drink in a bar and take it out on the streets so long as you were in the entertainment district. Definitely never felt endangered or threatened. Food was plenty good. Watching the caramels, pralines and fudge made in front of you in big copper kettles is a fun site.

I would never live in either city, but I could live in the 'burbs around either area.

That's a fair take. The historic district Squares part of Savannah is plenty clean enough though, just like the Garden District and Uptown are in New Orleans. Down by the river it's less nice. There's not much in the way of "suburbs" of Savannah. Bluffton, SC is booming, just inland from Hilton Head.

Charleston definitely has a preppy side too it. That said, while at the Charleston Classic two years ago, I was surprised by the transformation of King Street. In the evening it was wealthy folks heading to upscale restaurants. But thanks to that overtime game we walked back after midnight. That was very different. There were trucks selling those frozen booze drinks, lots of young people wearing not enough clothing, drunks staggering around, some violence...it was a little bit Bourbon Street like.

 

[TIP-IN]

People are actually nice in the upper Midwest, as opposed to the South where they hide behind the friendly accent.

I am a Yankee, grew up in the Northeast. I have lived in California, Arizona, South Carolina, Florida, as well as the Alabama gulf coast.
There are phony people everywhere, the South, the North, the East & the West. My experiences have proven to me that I have found all types of people in all sections of the country. People in the South are no more phony, than in Hartford or Medford. People are people, geography plays little to no part in it in my experience.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I am a Yankee, grew up in the Northeast. I have lived in California, Arizona, South Carolina, Florida, as well as the Alabama gulf coast.
There are phony people everywhere, the South, the North, the East & the West. My experiences have proven to me that I have found all types of people in all sections of the country. People in the South are no more phony, than in Hartford or Medford. People are people, geography plays little to no part in it in my experience.

Excellent point and I totally agree. "Authenticity" is not relative to location, it just might be more evident in certain areas due to its micro-culture and/or people's proximity to each other.

 

[oldanintheway]

Kansas City, Mo. First job out of Grad School, with K.C. Convention & Visitors Bureau so I'll spout talking points...., more Boulevard than any other city except Paris, more fountains than any other city except Rome. The Plaza, Westport, area on the Missouri River, and the Royals Chiefs complex off I-70, amazing how well the complex has aged, close to 50(?) years old now. Easy(relatively) entrance-exit.
Ist Pig Roast experience there way back, can get get damn hot in Summer and Freezing in Winter but a good town with good people.

 

[QDOG5]

First cities that came to mind for me were Mke and Cinci as well. Interesting to see how many people have reiterated that in this thread. Mke in particular has it all, and affordable.

I design and install exteriors on multifamily structures. Back when we were in the **C, we were working on a student housing building on the Cincinnati campus. There is a "Go Uconn" underneath the cladding 14 stories up, looking down on those rubes.

Hopefully you put it on Calhoun Hall, which is located on Calhoun Street. My daughter lived there her freshman year.

 

[storrsroars]

I liked Pittsburg.

Obviously not enough to include the 'h'. That kind of carelessness will get you ostracized here in a hurry ;-)

 

[Sibeerian]

Having multiple breweries to choose from is a must in my opinion. And don't forget, not every region does it well. You can't get a NEIPA in North Carolina or Arizona. I don't go to breweries outside of New England...they just are not the same. Call me a regional beer snob. And people have been predicting the bubble pop for awhile now...perhaps that's just what beer and consuming it has become. More people I know are into it every year it seems.

Hope the microbreweries are here to stay. Feels like breweries have become to America what Irish pubs are to Ireland.

 

[NJHusky]

I enjoyed my visit to Steamboat Springs but good lord it is not easy to get to (flew into Denver).

Many airlines have seasonal service into Steamboat...United did pre covid

 

[Waquoit]

Yard Goats tickets on sale today. Try the Bud Sky Bar, all the fun of Monster seats at 1/10 the price!

 

[Hoophound]

I've spent a lot of time in Savannah and never smelled sewage and never been scared. The idea that Savannah is a scary place is weird to me, the city is based on tourism. Downtown is all trolleys, people on leisurely strolls, and tour groups. Sure there's poor areas with crime like any other place...I

I've been to the hood during the day but there's no reason to ever go there at night, there's no reason to ever go to any hood at night unless you have to live there. Just use common sense in Savannah like you would any other place and you'll be fine.

Savannah definitely has the sewage/urine/trash smell going in summer here and there around town. It has even been a news story multiple times and is commented about on TripAdvisor often. It is also fairly sketchy in the evening. Lots of loiterers in front of pizza shops, homeless on sidewalks etc. It is one of those places where you can be the only person out and about at 9pm and will then suddenly have to walk by some very unsavory looking people to get where you are going. My youngest daughter wanted to go to Savannah. She was disappointed. Her exact words were, “I don’t really feel safe here”.

 

[TyroneShoo]

Milwaukee

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I didn't like Sedona either. I can't really tell if it was just because it was so GD hot though. The hikes were awesome... less so the town.

The scenic nature of Sedona is the attraction. If you don’t find the red rock spectacular than I feel sorry for you. The town itself is a tourist trap. The Golf course in Oak Creek is amazing. The front nine rises 3000 feet
The views from the 9 and 10 are great.
I actually parred the uphill 9 only to be destroyed coming down the hill . Club selection on a drop like that is key.
The town attracts a wide assortment of eccentrics . There is a tour that guarantees you will see a UFO
But my wife thinks it more e spectacular than the Canyon. A little of both places go a long way for me. But it’s a shorter drive.
Actually I prefer Flag as quick summer getaway as it’s cooler or a trip to see snow and you could always take 89a back which takes you through Sedona.
You can go to snow cover as you start your decent to 60 in Sedona in the winter. 7000 to 4000 feet.

 

[husky429]

The scenic nature of Sedona is the attraction. If you don’t find the red rock spectacular than I feel sorry for you. The town itself is a tourist trap. The Golf course in Oak Creek is amazing. The front nine rises 3000 feet
The views from the 9 and 10 are great.
I actually parred the uphill 9 only to be destroyed coming down the hill . Club selection on a drop like that is key.
The town attracts a wide assortment of eccentrics . There is a tour that guarantees you will see a UFO
But my wife thinks it more e spectacular than the Canyon. A little of both places go a long way for me. But it’s a shorter drive.
Actually I prefer Flag as quick summer getaway as it’s cooler or a trip to see snow and you could always take 89a back which takes you through Sedona.
You can go to snow cover as you start your decent to 60 in Sedona in the winter. 7000 to 4000 feet.

I loved the hikes and the red rocks in the area. I had already been to Arches, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef at that point, so I may just have been "red rocked out." There was a great swimming hole I went to though I'm forgetting where or what it's called. The town itself is super lame.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

I loved the hikes and the red rocks in the area. I had already been to Arches, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef at that point, so I may just have been "red rocked out." There was a great swimming hole I went to though I'm forgetting where or what it's called. The town itself is super lame.

A couple summers ago I flew into Denver and stayed with family and drove to grand junction to do the national monument. Then drove to Arches, Canyonlands, dead horse, stayed in Moab. And then drove across to Capitol Reef and then up to Salt Lake city to see another buddy. I def got canyoned out after going to those places in a row in the middle of July (not the ideal month to be staying in the desert). Arches is swamped with tourists especially since you can drive to each view point and see everything (exception is delicate arch). Canyonlands is so massive, the only way to really see it is to actually get in there either hiking or ATV. Capitol Reef is def an off the beaten path park in Utah that isnt as popular as the other but is really cool.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

A couple summers ago I flew into Denver and stayed with family and drove to grand junction to do the national monument. Then drove to Arches, Canyonlands, dead horse, stayed in Moab. And then drove across to Capitol Reef and then up to Salt Lake city to see another buddy. I def got canyoned out after going to those places in a row in the middle of July (not the ideal month to be staying in the desert). Arches is swamped with tourists especially since you can drive to each view point and see everything (exception is delicate arch). Canyonlands is so massive, the only way to really see it is to actually get in there either hiking or RV. Capitol Reef is def an off the beaten path park in Utah that isnt as popular as the other but is really cool.

' I def got canyoned out ' hehe.