Underrated US Cities

[MexicoHusky]

I've had a ton of fun in Madison WI

 

[Drew]

I noticed that Nashville hasn't appeared on this list. I expected it might, but maybe it isn't underrated but properly highly rated. I have not been, but just booked flights last Friday to go down in late September with another couple. Kicking off our quasi empty-nest life.

Should’ve waited until October 9 and watched the Huskies beat a SEC team!

 

[tcf15]

Santa Rosa in Cali. Lived there for a year+. Small walkable city, not too busy, Russian River brewing company, great music and only short drive to some other great cities like Petaluma and Healdsburg. Also 30 minutes from the coast and an hour drive to SF. Loved every minute there.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I used to love going to Toronto at first, but I've been there more than a dozen times now, got to know some of the neighborhoods, and I realized there's nothing about Toronto that screams, "warm and welcoming" anywhere in the city. While there's plenty to do, I never got the sense that there was a particular "character" about the city, its neighborhoods, or its residents, like say Chicago, NYC, Boston or even Montreal. Plus, it's become this giant megaopolis that seems to stretch from Hamilton to Oshawa. Mississagua might be the world's largest city where "there's no 'there' there".

Agreed, it's a big city like a lot of other big cities, but I never got a whiff of any character. In terms of Canadian cities Montreal and Vancouver have it beat. Quebec City is cool but really small. For my money Montreal is the better spot to visit.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Santa Rosa in Cali. Lived there for a year+. Small walkable city, not too busy, Russian River brewing company, great music and only short drive to some other great cities like Petaluma and Healdsburg. Also 30 minutes from the coast and an hour drive to SF. Loved every minute there.

Wine country is terrific. Very nice area. Lots of nice towns up there. The fall is vastly underrated. Cool temps, no crowds, leaves on vines changing colors. Charming.

I have a soft spot for Santa Cruz as well, even if it stinks of BO, weed and Patchouli oil away from the beach and boardwalk. It’s got an attitude that doesn’t give two poops what you think if it. Another spectacular physical setting too. Views from UCSC are amazing.

 

[8893]

Wine country is terrific. Very nice area. Lots of nice towns up there. The fall is vastly underrated. Cool temps, no crowds, leaves on vines changing colors. Charming.

I have a soft spot for Santa Cruz as well, even if it stinks of BO, weed and Patchouli oil away from the beach and boardwalk. It’s got an attitude that doesn’t give two poops what you think if it. Another spectacular physical setting too. Views from UCSC are amazing.

I have great memories of playing frisbee on that campus. What a spot. The Banana Slugs!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I have a soft spot for Santa Cruz as well, even if it stinks of BO, weed and Patchouli oil away from the beach and boardwalk. It’s got an attitude that doesn’t give two poops what you think if it. Another spectacular physical setting too. Views from UCSC are amazing.

Santa Cruz is beautiful - great drive from San Fran too - but it feels like you're about to step into a Dateline episode.

 

[upstater]

I read this whole thread in one sitting. Oof. Just some general comments:

1. Toronto’s downtown is soulless. I am there a lot. But the city’s charm is in its waterfront (a lot of fun) and neighborhoods. It reminds me a lot of Chicago. Not much going on downtown but the neighborhoods are excellent.

2. Since we’re on the subject of Canada I really liked Vancouver and think the city has it all: food, freaks, fun and natural beauty. But it’s expensive as hell and they decided to put up ugly high rises Hong Kong style. Bizarre.

3. Edmonton is the Atlanta of Canada but while Hotlanta is sultry Edmonton is frigid. Downtown if both cities is boring as hell but people are boozing it up in the strip malls.

4. Windsor seems to be a city full of adults stripping and screwing for money.

5. continuing East, Hamilton is Hartford but with some charm and many people

6. Montreal. World class city, great food, great friendly people once they find out you’re American instead of an Anglo Canuck. Beautiful walkable city as well

7. QC I don’t know why people like it. It does have old world charm but it’s a tourist trap and boring as hell. My advice is to go with your parents or grandparents because everyone there is 60+

8. I want to go to Nova Scotia eventually

 

[upstater]

Northeast: great towns Bangor, Portland ME, Portsmouth, Providence, Philly (isn’t it underrated? I certainly like it much better than Pittsburgh where I have spent a ton of time). On the other hand it is very difficult to make dinner reservations in Philly. Can’t see how a restaurant can fail in that town. Must be tight with the liquor licenses. Buffalo over Rochester, Syracuse, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Albany.

 

[upstater]

I hate tourist traps like Saratoga, Lake George, Niagara in the Lake, Traverse City, Niagara Falls ON. Basically any place that seems to exist only for people to lay out dough for stuff they normally wouldn’t pay a penny for. Get me out of Fort Lauderdale and give me Delray Beach. I’m also not a fan of pop-up cities like Columbus, many in California like Santa Clarita. College towns like Boulder and Ann Arbor are great but I wouldn’t want to live there. I can see myself ending up in a place like Westerly or Newburyport when I retire but would probably just as soon stick around Buffalo. Also not all tourist traps are bad. Places like Venice Italy or Santorini Greece are popular for a reason. You just have to figure out how to negotiate them.

 

[huskypantz]

I hate tourist traps like Saratoga, Lake George, Niagara in the Lake, Traverse City, Niagara Falls ON. Basically any place that seems to exist only for people to lay out dough for stuff they normally wouldn’t pay a penny for. Get me out of Fort Lauderdale and give me Delray Beach. I’m also not a fan of pop-up cities like Columbus, many in California like Santa Clarita. College towns like Boulder and Ann Arbor are great but I wouldn’t want to live there. I can see myself ending up in a place like Westerly or Newburyport when I retire but would probably just as soon stick around Buffalo. Also not all tourist traps are bad. Places like Venice Italy or Santorini Greece are popular for a reason. You just have to figure out how to negotiate them.

Philly has a lot of culture and identity. It’s also a place where you can be walking down south st touristing or scoping out UPenn one moment and the next you’re smack in the middle of urban blight. It’s a place where you really need to watch yourself and your surroundings. Spent 4 years there. I do go back every few years but I know where to go, when and how to get there.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I have great memories of playing frisbee on that campus. What a spot. The Banana Slugs!

Santa Cruz is beautiful - great drive from San Fran too - but it feels like you're about to step into a Dateline episode.

That frisbee spot is just down from Cowell college where my girlfriend lived. It’s pretty wild that she had redwoods 10 feet from her window and across the hall they looked down across that field on Monterey Bay. Spent a lot of time there. Highway 17 is dangerous as hell.

Dateline was probably just there because of all the damned vampires.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I read this whole thread in one sitting. Oof. Just some general comments:

1. Toronto’s downtown is soulless. I am there a lot. But the city’s charm is in its waterfront (a lot of fun) and neighborhoods. It reminds me a lot of Chicago. Not much going on downtown but the neighborhoods are excellent.

2. Since we’re on the subject of Canada I really liked Vancouver and think the city has it all: food, freaks, fun and natural beauty. But it’s expensive as hell and they decided to put up ugly high rises Hong Kong style. Bizarre.

3. Edmonton is the Atlanta of Canada but while Hotlanta is sultry Edmonton is frigid. Downtown if both cities is boring as hell but people are boozing it up in the strip malls.

4. Windsor seems to be a city full of adults stripping and screwing for money.

5. continuing East, Hamilton is Hartford but with some charm and many people

6. Montreal. World class city, great food, great friendly people once they find out you’re American instead of an Anglo Canuck. Beautiful walkable city as well

7. QC I don’t know why people like it. It does have old world charm but it’s a tourist trap and boring as hell. My advice is to go with your parents or grandparents because everyone there is 60+

8. I want to go to Nova Scotia eventually

I spent several days in Ottawa for work. It’s has all the charm of Brockton Mass. just a dreadful, dreary place.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I’m also not a fan of pop-up cities like Columbus, many in California like Santa Clarita.

Do people visit Santa Clarita? I think of it as a place for people who have to live in Southern California but their heart belongs in Omaha.

 

[storrsroars]

8. I want to go to Nova Scotia eventually

Hope you like eating no later than 6pm. Outside Halifax, the whole province shuts down at 8 (and Halifax at 9, lol). The Cabot Trail is beautiful if you're not stuck behind an RV, and Digby scallops are the best, but three days in NS will feel like a week and a half.

Noticed you didn't mention Calgary. Only reason to go there is the Stampede, but Banff is gorgeous.

As long as we're in Canada, if you've ever thought to yourself, "There's a few hours I'll never get back," that describes any time you spend in Thunder Bay.

 

[uconnfan68]

I still have close to 15 years of working life left. And I'll never live in Hilton Head.

The years go by much faster as you get older.

 

[uconnfan68]

Hope you like eating no later than 6pm. Outside Halifax, the whole province shuts down at 8 (and Halifax at 9, lol). The Cabot Trail is beautiful if you're not stuck behind an RV, and Digby scallops are the best, but three days in NS will feel like a week and a half.

Noticed you didn't mention Calgary. Only reason to go there is the Stampede, but Banff is gorgeous.

As long as we're in Canada, if you've ever thought to yourself, "There's a few hours I'll never get back," that describes any time you spend in Thunder Bay.

Second Banff. Did a lot of Trans-Canada coming home from San Diego. Took the scenic route up the coast, back through Canada until money started getting low. Western Canada in July was spectacular.

 

[FriarJ]

Smaller places that I loved

Oxford, MS Walla Walla, WA Tiburon, CA Healdsburg, CA Cape May, NJ Cannon Beach, OR Homer, AK Portsmouth, NH Ketchum, ID Whitefish, MT

 

[uconnfan68]

I read this whole thread in one sitting. Oof. Just some general comments:

1. Toronto’s downtown is soulless. I am there a lot. But the city’s charm is in its waterfront (a lot of fun) and neighborhoods. It reminds me a lot of Chicago. Not much going on downtown but the neighborhoods are excellent.

2. Since we’re on the subject of Canada I really liked Vancouver and think the city has it all: food, freaks, fun and natural beauty. But it’s expensive as hell and they decided to put up ugly high rises Hong Kong style. Bizarre.

3. Edmonton is the Atlanta of Canada but while Hotlanta is sultry Edmonton is frigid. Downtown if both cities is boring as hell but people are boozing it up in the strip malls.

4. Windsor seems to be a city full of adults stripping and screwing for money.

5. continuing East, Hamilton is Hartford but with some charm and many people

6. Montreal. World class city, great food, great friendly people once they find out you’re American instead of an Anglo Canuck. Beautiful walkable city as well

7. QC I don’t know why people like it. It does have old world charm but it’s a tourist trap and boring as hell. My advice is to go with your parents or grandparents because everyone there is 60+

8. I want to go to Nova Scotia eventually

Ditto #8. PEI too.

 

[superjohn]

Smaller places that I loved

Oxford, MS Walla Walla, WA Tiburon, CA Healdsburg, CA Cape May, NJ Cannon Beach, OR Homer, AK Portsmouth, NH Ketchum, ID Whitefish, MT

Tiburon is absurdly expensive.

 

[uconnfan68]

Smaller places that I loved

Oxford, MS Walla Walla, WA Tiburon, CA Healdsburg, CA Cape May, NJ Cannon Beach, OR Homer, AK Portsmouth, NH Ketchum, ID Whitefish, MT

I see a lot of duty stations in that list. My division Master Chief retired to Whitefish, and took a job as bartender at the local VFW (or American Legion).

 

[storrsroars]

Tiburon is absurdly expensive.

You pay for the view.

 

[superjohn]

You pay for the view.

An old college friend lives in an ugly 2,000 Sq. foot house out there, it's valued at like $2.75 million. It's totally insane out there.

 

[FriarJ]

Tiburon is absurdly expensive.

Luckily, I wasn't buying a house there.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I really find the canadian cities I visited very under-rated by Americans. Canada definitely does a better job with cities. Im a city guy and love mass transit, love cycling - I commute year round on my bicycle from the BX to UES in NYC

I found Montreal an amazing, enjoyable, clean and complete city. Midnight bicycle riding across the entire island and up to Mount Royal is probanly one of my most memorable city experiences. In addition to the fresh food markets, bars, ethnic enclaves, the F1 race track, olympic heritage, etc

I got engaged in Ottawa during its winterfest festival ice skating down the canal and the city was a lot of fun despite the brutal cold conditions.

Quebec City felt like movie studio - too clean, too perfect but the falls nearby and the overall natural landscapes, river, etc sorrounding the city makes it a worthwhile visit

Halifax, NS was a nice small city too

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Quebec city is the bomb. It's the only place in North America you feel like you're in an old European city. Great food (poutine!), super fun around Christmas time with the market.

Summer Festival also super fun.

Great for bicycling in & in multiple directions out from town. Biking has also been the daytime focus for my Montreal visit.

 

[upstater]

Hope you like eating no later than 6pm. Outside Halifax, the whole province shuts down at 8 (and Halifax at 9, lol). The Cabot Trail is beautiful if you're not stuck behind an RV, and Digby scallops are the best, but three days in NS will feel like a week and a half.

Noticed you didn't mention Calgary. Only reason to go there is the Stampede, but Banff is gorgeous.

As long as we're in Canada, if you've ever thought to yourself, "There's a few hours I'll never get back," that describes any time you spend in Thunder Bay.

Haha. Thanks for the advance notice. Have a friend who loved NS.

Ihave been to Calgary, and Banff was great--but I actually liked Jasper better. Less touristy, still gorgeous Rockies and waterfalls and lakes with high cliffs for jumping, but the downtown had that old cowboy town feel. Banff felt like a resort.

 

[upstater]

Do people visit Santa Clarita? I think of it as a place for people who have to live in Southern California but their heart belongs in Omaha.

I was at the California Institute of the Arts for a week--a place funded by Disney. And Six Flags is there so people actually do make a trip.

The highlight was the Vazquez rocks where this scene was filmed:

 

[Dogdeacon]

Murph's is the rare bar that was really good as both a townie dive, which it was in the early 80s, and an after work professional meet up (when they added "Townhouse"), which it became. I spent a decade at 999 Summer and went there for years in both incarnations.

Yep, used to go there after work at the Rusty Scupper in early 90's. They poured very stiff drinks.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Yep, used to go there after work at the Rusty Scupper in early 90's. They poured very stiff drinks.

i went to Rusty Scupper a few times as a kid for Easter, loved that buffet there.