Favourite NA cities

[Azim]

Among larger cities in Canada and the U.S, what are your favourites? Where do you most like to visit, and where could you see yourself living (this could produce different answers for sure). It could be based on any criteria that is important to you, whether it’s the ‘fun’ factor, the physical beauty and landscape, the friendliness of its people, climate, accessibility of public transportation and walking/biking trails, crime, attractions in its vicinity or the intangible ‘vibe’ you get from going there. Whatever it may be, you might even have some bias toward certain places because you were there during a particular time in your life.

Lets try and stick with relatively larger cities to level the playing field (ie. the metropolitan area has a population of one million or more), as its hard to decide if you prefer a Victoria B.C over a Montreal. If you decide to include your hometown, please put a * beside it so we know there may be some bias involved. J

Here’s mine:

1) Calgary*
Perfect sized city, not too big, not too small. Mountains are right there. People are friendly.Modern yet still has that simple old western feel to it. And its my hometown!
2) Chicago
Just an overall awesome city. Has something for everyone, and one of the few big US cities with a downtown that’s safe to walk in. Very high on the ‘intangibles’rating.
3) Montreal
Europe meets North America. Beautiful women and rivals Miami for party city status. Probably the most unique big city on the continent.
4) San Francisco
Jumping very high on my list after a visit there recently. Stunningly beautiful, cosmopolitan, fun and amazing weather (never too hot or too cold).
5) Vancouver
Haven’t been here in a while, but on physical beauty alone its up there. Outdoor activities also a big plus.
6) Boston
Smaller version of Chicago in some ways, has that dignified aura to it.
7) New York
Possibly should be higher, but a little too big for my tastes. In terms of things to do and how long it would take to get bored there, it has to be at or near the top.
8) Toronto
Multicultural, lot of stuff going on and probably the best place to be in North America during the World Cup.

[jolinar of malkshor]

I always love going to Las Vegas. Never get tired of it.

[troutman]

Besides Calgary:

1) San Francisco
2) Vancouver
3) Seattle
4) San Diego
5) Portland
6) Missoula - flyfishing

[Clarkey]

I haven't been to a lot of them but I was just in Seattle and Vancouver and they are very impressive cities. Toronto is interesting for it's diversity but also has some negatives that I won't expand on. Maybe I'm biased but Calgary has everything I would want in a big city (except for a large body of water), it's the biggest small town in the world.

[BlackEleven]

My favourites (in no particular order) are Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, Miami

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Love Vancouver. Haven't found many other cities I'd want to live in. Of course I have yet to go to Montreal, San Fran, Chicago or New York (out of the cities listed so far). I have a feeling I'd like Montreal.

[Staypuft]

I always thought that Denver would be an amazing place to live, just because of pictures I've seen etc. Has anyone on the board been to Denver? What's it like?

[habernac]

I haven't been to enough of them on a regular basis to really rank them. Montreal was fantastic, Vegas is a blast, Seattle is nice too.

[StoneCole]

Other than Calgary:

Pittsburgh
Miami
New York
Minneapolis
Philly

Not a huge fan of west coast cities actually (and I've been to all the bigger ones).

[Red Mile Style]

Overall best city: New York
Most unique/best night life: Montreal
Landscape: Vancouver
Best vacation city: San Francisco
People: Halifax and I gotta go with my hometown, Regina... I know, I know, not large metropolises, but a lot of down-to-earth people.

[Frank the Tank]

Besides Calgary and London......Montreal is fantastic. Beautiful city, lots to do, amazing restaurants......Windsor is also mucho fun with its proximity to Detroit.

[Azim]

Originally Posted by Staypuft

I always thought that Denver would be an amazing place to live, just because of pictures I've seen etc. Has anyone on the board been to Denver? What's it like?

I've always been interested by Denver as well .. I imagine it shares some similarities with Calgary with the mountains nearby and the outdoor stuff. Actually I always thought of Calgary as being a slightly smaller hybrid between Denver and Dallas/Houston.

Originally Posted by FranktheTank

Besides Calgary and London......Montreal is fantastic. Beautiful city, lots to do, amazing restaurants......Windsor is also mucho fun with its proximity to Detroit.

Really Windsor? It has its charms .. but I would say being close to Detroit is a negative .


Azim

[The Goon]

New York City, NY
Austin, TX
San Diego, CA
Toronto, ON

[Engine09]

#1 - NYC, wish I was there right now
#2 - Los Angeles, lots of fun, Hollywood, Venice Beach, etc.
#3 - San Fran, never enough time
#4 - Calgary, it's home, close to the mountains and teh Flames
#5 - Montreal, great food and great looking women.
#6 - Vancouver, great place to visit

Denver and Quebec City are nice. Same with Sante Fe

Least favorites;

Toronto, I never have to go back there for the rest of my life. Same deal with Winnipeg. I've been to Vegas 3 times and don't care for that place at all.


Places I really want to go;

Miami
Boston
New Orleans, too late there

Wouldn't mind seeing Halifax, NS. I was a couple hours away once.

[JBR]

Denver is a wonderful city. It's Calgary in 20 years. Easy to get around and beautiful scenery. A little closer to the mountains and lots of great day hikes.

My favorites. (Calgary excluded. It is #1)

1) Phoenix
2) Denver
3) New York
4) Seattle
5) LA
6) Chicago
7) Las Vegas
8) San Francisco
9) Winnipeg (seriously)
10) Vancouver

Worst 5
1) Edmonton (world largest trailer park)
2) Oakland
3) Miami
4) Dallas
5) Toronto

[Calgary Flames]

Honolulu - Big City in Paradise
San Francisco - Love the architecture, the bay, and the bridges
Los Angeles - Fun place, lots to do
Seattle - Cool town
San Jose - Alot like Calgary, worker bee town, very clean in comparison to SF and Oakland. I'd love to live there one day.
Phoenix - The Desert is just so unique I find, with the Red rock mountains
Vancouver - Canada, love the downtown and the coast
Calgary - Home
Las Vegas - The place gets old FAST No more than a 2 day trip maximum. But it's got a fun atmosphere.

Wanna see:

-New York City
-Miami
-Boston
-Chicago
-Raleigh NC

[Deelow]

San Diego is probably my favorite. Great weather, vibrant but didn't have LA's problems. I also loved New Orleans a few years ago. Can't speak for it now...and Montreal has always been a favorite for me.

[JiriHrdina]

New York really does have a special vibe to it. Great people, tremendously passionate about their city but so friendly as well.

[looooob]

interesting thread.

if I'm picking city to visit (to live is a totally different dynamic), and if I'm judging on the 'urban//city experience' (as opposed to places like Tampa and San Diego, where I love the weather , but the city vibe is nothing special)

I think I'd rank 'em

1. Montreal
2. NYC
3. SF


4. New Orleans (can only go on my pre Katrina experience tho)
5. Chicago
6. Boston

7. Seattle
8. Halifax (small, but fun)
9. Vancouver
10. Minneapolis

cities I haven't visited but might make the list if I had would include St John's, Las Vegas, Miami

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Azim

Really Windsor? It has its charms .. but I would say being close to Detroit is a negative .


Azim

Detroit always gets a bad rap. Its a ridiculously fun city with tons of culture.