Monday, November 21, 2011
Top 50 Cities, Re-visited
Five years ago I posted about the top 50 cities by population and how many of them I had visited. It was 24 of 50 back then. Now, five years later, using the same source list (updated through 2010) I can say I’ve been to 29 of 50 - a five-city improvement!
Of those I had not visited from the 2006 list, I have since been to San Francisco, Memphis, Nashville, Portland (OR), and New Orleans.
Now some of the cities I’m not counting are what we would consider parts of other cities and generally have no reason to visit. I’m talking about Long Beach, CA, Mesa, AZ, and Arlington, TX. (So I can probably say I’ve been to 32 on the list because I’m sure I’ve been to these places as part of LA, Phoenix, and Dallas respectively.)
Of the remaining list, I can only see myself going to specifically see these cities:
Houston - I’ve researched it and I’m not in love except that NASA is there.
San Diego – I think it has enough attraction to be the purpose of a visit.
Boston – I was there as a kid, but leave it off because I need to go as an adult. It’s probably not just one visit.
Las Vegas – I did drive through it once on the way to Utah but have not experienced it yet. I’m fairly sure it’s worth one visit. I’m fairly sure that it’s only worth one visit.
Kansas City – I’ve done some research and it’s a bit thin. I’ve heard good things about the BBQ.
Miami – A definite on my list.
Detroit – Sounds like a shithole but it still deserves a visit.
These others will have to be for another reason - near a national park I want to go to, visit a friend or attend a wedding, or for work. I can’t see myself just going to them for their own sake.
San Jose – Is this significantly different than a trip to SF?
Jacksonville – I’ve done only a little research, but it doesn’t sound promising and it’s not near anything that I would be at that would make a trip here a logical extension.
Indianapolis, Columbus (OH), Charlotte – I’ve done some research for these but I still can’t find a real reason to go to them for their own sake. Indy and Columbus are only 2 ½ hours from each other so maybe one trip could be worth it for the two (but I doubt it).
Louisville – This may be like KC in terms of there is enough to do something, but I’ve done no real research. It is only 2 hrs (probably less) from Indy, so it could be part of a triangle of uninteresting cities with Columbus.
Fresno, Omaha, Tulsa, Oakland, Wichita – I haven’t a clue what is there.
If you have any information to improve my view of any of these cities, let’s hear it. Please, defend your cities.
Of those I had not visited from the 2006 list, I have since been to San Francisco, Memphis, Nashville, Portland (OR), and New Orleans.
Now some of the cities I’m not counting are what we would consider parts of other cities and generally have no reason to visit. I’m talking about Long Beach, CA, Mesa, AZ, and Arlington, TX. (So I can probably say I’ve been to 32 on the list because I’m sure I’ve been to these places as part of LA, Phoenix, and Dallas respectively.)
Of the remaining list, I can only see myself going to specifically see these cities:
Houston - I’ve researched it and I’m not in love except that NASA is there.
San Diego – I think it has enough attraction to be the purpose of a visit.
Boston – I was there as a kid, but leave it off because I need to go as an adult. It’s probably not just one visit.
Las Vegas – I did drive through it once on the way to Utah but have not experienced it yet. I’m fairly sure it’s worth one visit. I’m fairly sure that it’s only worth one visit.
Kansas City – I’ve done some research and it’s a bit thin. I’ve heard good things about the BBQ.
Miami – A definite on my list.
Detroit – Sounds like a shithole but it still deserves a visit.
These others will have to be for another reason - near a national park I want to go to, visit a friend or attend a wedding, or for work. I can’t see myself just going to them for their own sake.
San Jose – Is this significantly different than a trip to SF?
Jacksonville – I’ve done only a little research, but it doesn’t sound promising and it’s not near anything that I would be at that would make a trip here a logical extension.
Indianapolis, Columbus (OH), Charlotte – I’ve done some research for these but I still can’t find a real reason to go to them for their own sake. Indy and Columbus are only 2 ½ hours from each other so maybe one trip could be worth it for the two (but I doubt it).
Louisville – This may be like KC in terms of there is enough to do something, but I’ve done no real research. It is only 2 hrs (probably less) from Indy, so it could be part of a triangle of uninteresting cities with Columbus.
Fresno, Omaha, Tulsa, Oakland, Wichita – I haven’t a clue what is there.
If you have any information to improve my view of any of these cities, let’s hear it. Please, defend your cities.
