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1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Boston
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Philadelphia
7. Seattle
8. Portland
9. San Diego
10. New Orleans
11. Los Angeles
12. Denver
13. Baltimore
14. San Antonio
15. Atlanta
16. Minneapolis
17. Houston
18. Dallas
19. Nashville
20. Salt Lake City
21. Charlotte
22. Pittsburgh
23. Sacramento
24. Austin
25. Cleveland
Good list.
I'd only switch Portland with San Diego; San Antonio with Atlanta.
I can only list downtowns that I've spent the night in, here is how it would break down for me:
1- NYC
2 - SF
2 - Philly
3 - Seattle
4- Denver
5- Mpls
6 - Portland
7 - DC (i found it to get really quiet at night)
8 - SD
9 - LA
10 - Cleveland
11 - Nashville
12 - Memphis
13a - Phoenix
13b - Hartford
15 - Salt Lake City
Downtown is a really vague term, so it really depends on what you consider "downtown"...In NYC do you only consider Lower Manhattan? Can you lump in "downtown" Brooklyn? Or can we consider Midtown? Most downtowns are just business districts, like in DC, could you consider Dupont Circle "downtown"? in Chicago is River North Downtown?
Based on the most vague definition, I would put them in this order:
1)New York City
2)Chicago
3)Boston
4)San Francisco
5)DC
6)Philadelphia
7)Seattle
8)Portland OR
9)Baltimore
10)New Orleans
11)Denver
12)San Antonio
13)Pittsburgh
14)Minneapolis
15)Providence
16)Detroit
17)Atlanta
19)Milwaukee
20)Cleveland
21)Nashville
22)Los Angeles
23)Salt Lake City (I always forget about this place for some reason)
24)Indianapolis
25)Cincinnati
Once I got passed about 15 I felt that many of them were interchangeable and that you could make a case for many other cities that didn't make the list. I wish there was a size restraint too, because many smaller cities have excellent downtown areas as well (Newport RI, Annapolis MD, Asheville NC, Portsmouth NH, etc). Anyway, that's my list, take it or leave it.
1)New York City
2)Chicago
3)San Francisco
4)Philadelphia
5)Boston
6)DC
7)Seattle
8)Baltimore
9)Pittsburgh
10)Milwaukee
11) Cleveland
12)Atlanta
13)Portland ME
14) Charlotte
15)Indianapolis
16) Tampa
17) Houston
18) Detroit
19)Buffalo
Outside the to ten it's pretty difficult. I've actually been to all these places. One place that's constantly underrated is Philly. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are fairly similar, though Pittsburgh's compact, highly walkable downtown certain is in need of some nightlife but it's much more vibrant during the workday than many others, including Cleveland and Milwaukee.
heck, you could probably put Brooklyn on there too. It's more impressive than buffalo's.
1. New York
2. Chicago
3. Boston
4. San Francisco
5. D.C
6. Seattle
7. Philadelphia
8. Portland
9. Philadelphia
10. San Diego
11. New Orleans
12. Baltimore
13. Minneapolis
14. Denver
15. Atlanta
Not a criticism, but I'm curious as to how Portland ME made the list?
The reason I ask is because I spent the last 4 years living in Portland. It's a very nice little area, but to me the downtown area reminded me more of a mid-sized town rather than the center of an urban area. It's relatively walkable (mostly because of the small size), but I left it off my list because I don't think it has the elements that compete with the larger cities even though it is a nice little area. Just asking!
1. Denver
2. Washington, DC
3. San Antonio
4. Chicago
5. Portland
6. Nashville
7. Minneapolis
8. West Palm Beach
9. San Diego
10. Fort Lauderdale
11. Austin
12. Miami Beach
13. Manhattan (Harlem to Hell's Kitchen)
14. Providence, RI
15. Charleston, SC
16. Miami
17. St. Louis
18. St. Pete, FL
19. Sarasota, FL
20. San Francisco
21. Indianapolis
22. Columbus, OH
23. Chattanooga, TN
24. Greenville, SC
25. Boston
When I get past 15, there's not a whole lot separating which ones I like more.
1. Denver
2. Washington, DC
3. San Antonio
4. Chicago
5. Portland
6. Nashville
7. Minneapolis
8. West Palm Beach
9. San Diego
10. Fort Lauderdale
11. Austin
12. Miami Beach
13. Manhattan (Harlem to Hell's Kitchen)
14. Providence, RI
15. Charleston, SC
16. Miami
17. St. Louis
18. St. Pete, FL
19. Sarasota, FL
20. San Francisco
21. Indianapolis
22. Columbus, OH
23. Chattanooga, TN
24. Greenville, SC
25. Boston
When I get past 15, there's not a whole lot separating which ones I like more.
Whoa...what are you ranking this on??? Feeling safe?
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