Top 10 MUST-SEE American Cities for First U.S. Trip
Jun 20 '00
If I were a tourist from a foreign country visiting the United States for the first time, what places would I most want to see? Let's face it, the U.S. is far too big to even think about getting a truly accurate picture in a few days or weeks. Heck, I've lived here for 40 years and can't claim to have seen everything I'd like to!
I count myself lucky to have moved around and travelled quite a bit over those 40 years, and I've got some thoughts about places that I'd recommend as best bets for a foreign visitor making a first trip to the U.S. -- or even for my fellow citizens looking to do a little domestic travel...
Every one of these cities offers dozens of "must-see" sites -- museums, monuments, forts, movie studios, shopping districts -- you name it! Far more stuff than I could hope to touch on in such a short summary article. Fortunately, there are tons of great epinion reviews on each of these cities to guide you a bit closer to the places YOU really want to see!
1. New York
Big, brash, crowded, cosmopolitan, cultured, dirty, expensive -- no matter what you may think about it, there's no denying that New York is probably the single most exciting, most varied, most vital city in the United States. Besides being the most important financial center of the country, it's also the most important cultural center with its wide range of theatrical and musical venues, art galleries, and tier-1 musuems (like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of Modern Art). New York has always had a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, with immigrants from many countries settling here as their first home in the U.S. With its huge range of restaurants, shopping, and sightseeing attractions, New York deserves to be on every tourist's "must-see" list.
2. Washington, D.C.
If it were only our country's center of government, I would probably rank Washington lower on my list of "must-see" sites, but it's really much more than that. As the home of the Smithsonian Institutions, Washington has dozens of the nation's top museums all clustered together in an open, park-like setting. While hotels and restaurants are often expensive in D.C., travelling here can be cheaper overall than in many U.S. cities because almost every major attraction is free! There is generally no admission charge to government facilities, nor to any of the museums of the Smithsonian, nor to local parks or the zoo. Walk around the monuments, visit the Capitol or the White House, stroll through the museums -- you can't help but come away with a sense of our nation's history and political structure.
3. Chicago
One of the most colorful, storied cities in the United States, Chicago brings images of industrial power, mafia corruption, elevated trains, and downhome middle America. Chicago has one of the most impressive downtown skylines of any U.S. cities, dominated by the towering Sears Tower (no longer the tallest in the world, but always a marvel of modern engineering), not to mention the beautiful lakefront area along Michigan Avenue. With some top-flight museums, like the Field Museum and the Art Institute, it's also got plenty to keep a tourist busy for a few days.
4. Las Vegas
European casinos might ooze elegance and sophistication, but in America's gambling capital, they ooze wonderfully sleazy, tacky, ostentatious glitz. Neon lights, strobes, glitter, and the clinking, ringing, clanking noises of the casinos beckon one and all. Big hotels along the strip compete to see who can be the most outrageous, the biggest, the loudest, or the most gimmicky. Forget about history or culture! Vegas is American tackiness at its finest!
5. Miami
Often known as the gateway to the Americas, Miami is one of the most important cities in the south. With its huge number of immigrants from Cuba and South America, Miami is more than half hispanic and has become a cultural center for latinos. It's also the operations base for most major cruise lines doing business in the Caribbean, though I would probably prefer heading to one of the many nearby beaches, or maybe taking a swamp tour of the Everglades.
6. New Orleans
I think New Orleans is the most fascinatingly unique cities in the United States with its blend of French, Spanish, and southern black cultures. Birthplace of jazz, Delta blues, and zydeco music (not to mention cajun and creole cuisine), the city is loaded with live music venues, top-flight restaurants, and a perpetual party mentality. There's also a genteel southern character to the place, both in the upscale downtown Garden District and in the outlying plantation areas. There's more to New Orleans than Mardi Gras! (See my epinion reviews on New Orleans for more info).
7. San Francisco
Probably the most interesting city on the Pacific coast, San Francisco has a colorful history of Spanish settlers, Asian immigrants, and of course, the heady gold rush days. Famous for the Golden Gate bridge and the Fisherman's Wharf, some of the more interesting points include dinner in Chinatown, or a cable car ride on Nobs Hill.
8. Los Angeles
Los Angeles is undeniably an important city in the U.S., though I find it less interesting than many cities of smaller size. It doesn't have quite the caliber of museums, monuments, or historical attractions that other major U.S. cities have, although there are certainly some interesting places to visit. Most popular are probably the movie studio tours in Hollywood (these cost about $30), or maybe a visit to the Queen Mary, a drive down Rodeo Drive, or a jaunt out to Catalina Island.
9. Seattle
I feel rather bad listing Seattle here since there are many other U.S. cities of comparable size and importance, many with better museums or more interesting historical sites. I list Seattle though because it's the most important city in the Pacific Northwest, and its got a good range of natural attractions, with recreational opportunities not only on the water, but in the nearby Cascade mountains. Probably the most interesting things to see in town include the Space Needle and Pikes Place Market.
10. Grab Bag
There are far too many mid-sized and small-sized cities and towns in the U.S., many with fascinating historical or cultural attractions, for me to pick just one as my last "must-see" sight. I'd recommend either picking one midwest or eastern industrial city to visit, or maybe one small town that exemplifies some aspect of typical American life.
Mid-sized industrial cities (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis)
Many of the mid-size industrial powerhouse cities of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the midwest experienced decline and job flight from 1950 to 1970 and almost complete economic collapse during the Reagan administration. Yet despite their countless acres of abandoned factories and warehouses, many of these cities resolutely clung to life and have even enjoyed a minor rennaissance. There are some fascinating industrial tours in some of these cities, and there are often modern upscale restaurants, shops, and hotels housed in the old industrial buildings. Many of the cities also have unique sights that give them their own identity, like the incline cable cars in Pittsburgh, or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. It's easy to pass at least a few interesting days in just about any mid-size American city. I wish I could review them all!
Small town America (south, appalachia, midwest, plains)
Small towns are really the heart and soul of America, and I don't know anyone who doesn't have fond memories of at least one. While I grew up in mostly urban and suburban areas, I have wonderful memories of spending summers with my grandmother in the nondescript but wonderful little town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. I've also spent time in small towns in rural Virginia, or along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. All of these towns had their own identity and their own way of life. A weekend in a small town, holed up in a small bed and breakfast inn can offer up a small slice of what life is like for millions of Americans.
Just a Glimpse...
The United States is far too big and complex to really see and appreciate in just a short time, and it's only by necessity that I haven't mentioned the hundreds, if not thousands, of other great places that deserve mention and attention. I hope that if you are one of the millions of foreign visitors who come the U.S. each year, that you'll take a little time to explore beyond the top attractions, and maybe even post some opinions of your own here. Happy trails!
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