Posts Tagged ‘cities’

My Top Five Small Cities to Visit

For me, traveling consists of really 3 things: (1) destination (2) how to get there (3) what to do when I get to said place.  Of course, there are other factors to consider, but for the most part, it really only comes down to these few things.  When faced with these questions, I have always had a knee jerk reaction to pick the more ‘known’ places.  Whether it be Orlando, Las Vegas, Boston – these places have held their weight when it comes to tourist welcoming spots.  We all know that we are going to find loads of things to do in these places without really too much effort.  Below is a list of places that I thought might take a little bit more imagination but are equally as enjoyable…and educational.

West Monroe, Louisiana.  I know, only show in town is in New Orleans, but if you’re tired of all the crowds pushing their way into the next bar on Bourbon street, this might be a nice change.  Situated on the Ouachita River, West Monroe boasts a population of just fewer than 14,000, but this small town has a big town feel.  The Antique Alley is incredible, restaurants serve up some great Louisiana cooking and the bars are much cleaner without the pushing and shoving.  If you’re in the mood for a little football, then you’re in luck – the highly ranked West Monroe High School Rebels make their home here.

Cloverdale, California – One thing to remember about vacationing to small towns, is to make sure there is a big town close by in case your travel plans change.  In Cloverdale, you many not need it, but San Francisco is a mere 85 miles south.  This place has it all; located in Sonoma County (or wine country for all your aficionados), Cloverdale has everything that a small town should have…old run down buildings that keep their same appeal as they did when they were booming and they have a Citrus Fair every year!  Like hamburgers?  Check out Pick’s as they have some of the best in the business.

Stuart, Florida.  This pirate town has come along way from when it was first incorporated as a town back in 1914, but has never relinquished its history.  These little pirate towns have always fascinated me, and Stuart gives you the sense that you are aboard pirate Pedro Gilbert’s ship as he waited for unsuspecting prey off the coast.  Not to far from Stuart is Hutchinson Island where you can visit The Elliott Museum and the House of Refuge which is the last remaining shipwreck life savings station on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.  If more nautical adventure is what you want; Stuart is also the Sailfish Capital of the World.

Boulder City, Nevada.  After the bright lights of Las Vegas have you seeing Elvis’ spinning around the ceiling, take the 20 mile journey to Boulder City, Nevada to clear the cob webs.  The Hangover gang may have thought that spending the night in Vegas was a good idea, and for those of us that watched the movie, it certainly was entertaining; but for the rest of us, it might make good sense to simply enjoy what Nevada has – other then green felt and spinning slot machines.   Stroll down Main Street and pop into any of the many antique stores – or if a more heart racing activity is something you crave; take a nice desert hike along any of the marvelous trails.  On top of all this, the Hoover Dam and all its grandeur is just a few miles away. 

Belfast, Maine.  If you’re looking for a little piece of Americana, it might be hard to beat the feeling that this little town fills you with.  Located about 100 miles from Portland, Belfast has become somewhat of a haven for artists of all genres.  The tourists haven’t found this place just yet, but its residents know a great location when they see it.  Lines of bed & breakfasts wait to engulf you with the enticing aroma of maple syrup.  As small as this place is, its still on the Maine Coast and, having said that, lobster is all the rage.  The Lobster Pound is the best place to enjoy this delight.

Of course, there isn’t any science behind picking a small town to make a holiday of it.  There are more and more small towns that are popping up on vacation goers more and more.  Maybe it’s the state of the economy or the release of stress from city slickers who just need a break.  Or, maybe its something more then that.  Maybe its just that the traveler has finally figured out that some of these small cities have something that not too many big cities have – a welcoming feel.

If you had to rank the “best big cities” in America, what would your list look like?

I’m doing this research b/c I’m thinking of moving and I want to live in an area that offers big city living. I think the ideal “big city” not only has a large, dense population with a sprawling metro area, but also great nightlife/culture and restaurants, a bustling job market, big time sports, a “global city” reputation w/ lots of diversity, good public transportation and is also a tourist destination. With these parameters in mind, I created a five-tiered list of my own that classifies U.S. cities in terms of their urban appeal. Any feedback or arguments? Which cities should have made my list but didn’t?

Tier 1
-New York
-Los Angeles
-Chicago

Tier 2
-Boston
-San Francisco
-Washington, DC
-Miami
-Dallas

Tier 3
-Houston
-Philadelphia
-Atlanta
-Seattle
-San Diego

Tier 4
-Denver
-Phoenix
-Minneapolis
-Baltimore
-Las Vegas
-Detroit

Tier 5
-Pittsburgh
-Cleveland
-Austin
-St Louis
-Portland, OR
-Charlotte
-Nashville
-Milwaukee
-New Orleans

A culinary tour of the world’s tastiest cities

A culinary tour of the world’s tastiest cities
Culinary tourism is becoming increasingly popular and so Travelocity.ca has compiled a list of some of the top world destinations for foodies.

Read more on The Delta Optimist

A Cities Nightlife is its Heartbeat

You will find many different bars, nightclubs, lounges, and pubs across the country; you will also find just as much competition among owners and managers to make their club the most sought after entertainment experience.The nightlife of a city is its driving force. Not only are the clubs vastly different from city to city but there is also a huge sense of competitions among the various types of clubs within these cities.
If you have specific interests or nightlife desired there are many nightclubs that will meet those needs amazingly well, for this reason it is a good idea to do a little research before hitting any of the many LA nightclubs so that you know what to expect once you walk inside. Just remember that there are all kinds of night clubs in California that will meet a wide variety of needs such as laughter in comedy clubs if you know where to find them. For this reason you should take the time to find out what various Orange County night clubs are about before you stumble inside.

The sooner you understand that what is good entertainment for others may not necessarily be good or entertaining for you-this is why it is important to learn a little about Hollywood nightclubs before visiting. From upscale New York nightclubs to the down and dirty Detroit nightclubs and countless others in between there is a great race for dominance on the club circuit. Keep your city attractive to the young and those who still believe themselves to be young by providing an active nightlife to keep them happy and coming back for more. This means that it is very important for owners of nightclubs and managers to do whatever is in their power to do in order to get their nightclub’s name in lights. The only way to bring big business to your nightclub is to make it to the top of the “A” list of nightclubs on a local and national level.

Nightclubs are often easily identified according to region: while New York nightclubs often have a cultured aloofness; Miami nightclubs are anything but and Hollywood nightclubs are somewhere in the middle. Do not for one second think that ownership of nightclubs doesn’t have the potential to be profitable-the money is there or the competition wouldn’t be nearly as fierce, which is why you must make your nightclub’s name stand out.

Pay attention to the differences between Chicago nightclubs and San Francisco nightclubs or Las Vegas nightclubs, those differences are often the differences between success and failure in a new venue. When you own nightclubs it is important that you watch the competition as closely as you monitor your own business affairs. If you are honestly interested in having plenty of business night after night the best way by far is to have your name recognized as the place to be when it comes to nightclubs. For this reason you need to get the name of your Los Angeles nightclubs recognized by those who are currently visiting Philadelphia nightclubs, DC nightclubs, and various other nightclubs across the county. Name recognition has for many decades been the only advertisement for gay nightclubs and many of these are wildly successful and profitable. If you haven’t checked out their strategies for gaining exposure there is no better time than the present.

Pave the way for the successful futures of your nightclubs by insuring that their names are recognized across the country from Miami nightclubs to Dallas nightclubs. Get your club listed at RateClubs.com and watch local business and tourists alike pour into your nightclubs and the money pour into your till-if that doesn’t bring a smile to your lips perhaps nothing will.

Where FOR ME are the top 5 cities to visit in USA?

Before answering take in to consideration the following.

I like vibrant cities
I like diffrent, bizzare, charactor
I like culture
I like nightlife
I like friendly people
I like interesting food
I like WOW factors
I like amazing views
I like to be on a coast (not a must)
I dont like places which are hard to get around without a car
I dont like places where street after street are just the same
I dont like places that are too spread out I like things to be central/ish

Other important things:

Im not into gambling however I do love good nightlife (ill leave las vegas decision up to you)
I wont have a car.

Survey: Las Vegas ranks No. 11 on ‘drunkest’ cities list

Survey: Las Vegas ranks No. 11 on ‘drunkest’ cities list
Seeing someone in Las Vegas with a tall alcoholic beverage in hand is rarely surprising — at least on the Strip — but that doesn’t mean Las Vegas made the top 10 in a new ranking of America’s “drunkest” cities. However, it wasn’t far behind.

Read more on Las Vegas Sun

What towns and cities along the road from Chicago to Las Vegas are best for nightlife?

Bearing in mind that we are travelling midweek!!