Live Well, Live Hip in the 17 Coolest Cities in the USA
The hubs of the world used to be in the Vatican, in Paris, in London, in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Berlin. That notion is dated. The beauty of the United States, and the reason it still stands as one of the great melting pots of the world, is that it promises to bring freedom for all. It promises to the huddled masses yearning to breathe free a place where we would all be enriched by the presence of others. Though there are some who would build a wall against those glorious masses, the truth is that they are already here, and are the very thing that make America great. The diversity in the home – adopted or otherwise – of the brave has created a rich tapestry with the most incredible cities in the world.
To sample from the most incredible cultures on the planet, and see, taste, and experience a whole wide world, an American barely needs a passport. Simply hopping around this single nation can give a rich mixture of the best the world has to offer, with hubs in a few of the most incredible cities the world has ever known. For those seeking a simple set of destinations that will sweep them into a whole new world, and a whole new state of mind, one need only enjoy the 17 most awesome cities in the U.S. of A.
via travelsouthusa.com
This is an easy one, as The Big Easy has long been on the vanguard of what is cool. The birthplace of jazz and home to some of the finest food you ever had in your life, it's French done the American way. Though riddled with poverty, that has created a sense of powerful community and tradition among those who survive nigh the bayou, sprinkled with a little voodoo and lots of alcohol.
A real sleeper, people tend to equate Cleveland with one of the saddest football teams around, and the city is largely considered to be the homeland of urban decay. Parts are that are true, but there's no better underdog city than Cleveland, and no people know how to have more fun on the cheap than those who concocted the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
via austin-electrician.com
A shockingly cerebral city thanks to the collegiate influence, Austin is a land of contradictions, where the red and blue of the nation meet to clash, debate, and rejoin on a daily basis. Then there's the undeniably delicious steak houses and distinctly broad, American way of approaching life – grab it by the balls – that makes this the lone star of the state.
Hippy-dippy liberal to a fault and wet as wet gets, Portland has all the greenery you could ever want in an outdoorsy atmosphere and all the weird granola enjoyment you could ever dream up. Hit the rooftop gardens, the delicious vegan markets, and then ride their glorious monorail for an experience that is more like another planet than a different town.
via lonelyplanet.com
Whatever you're into, you've come home in the city by the bay. Truly accepting of every race, color, creed, gender, identity, orientation, or insanity, there's a lifetime of layers to be had here that no paragraph can justify. See it for yourself and you'll understand why a bright orange bridge is the least of the local attractions.
via bunewsservice.com
Bean town has gotten a bad rap thanks to the tough mentality that pervades its streets and the wicked accent that marks its citizens. Rough and rollicking or gentrified and genteel, there's genius and madness in Boston, with a rich mix of both, all soaked in Irish whiskey.
via travelchannel.com
The Windy City was built on the backs of the working class who define it, but is also replete with erudition for those who want to get some silver lining with their jagged edges. It's a peculiar paradise that has midwestern sensibilities and a sense that anyone enduring the cold is family.
via pexels.com
A hulking monstrosity, New York has so many people that nothing is unique and nothing is shocking there. At once terrifying and terrific, living a lifetime here will not begin to show you all its many faces.
via seattletours.us
A technophile's dream given form, Seattle truly strives to be the city of the future, and manages to accomplish that in a distinctly film noir, cyberpunk way. The club scene is incredible, as is the food, which brings the bounty of the sea to bear in each and every dish.
via torrilegalservices.com
Most people view this as the hive of scum and villainy that is the ruling governmental body. Thankfully, once you get off Capitol Hill and down into the streets, you find a powerful culture that's built by people from all corners of the globe who are working to transform the American dream into something anyone can reach.
Just because it's a city doesn't mean it needs to be a bustling nightmare. There's still a laid-back surfer vibe overlaid with island culture that makes it unlike anywhere on the globe. It's American abundance done in a third world way, with natural beauty that daunts, astounds, amazes, and terrifies.
via visitcalifornia.com
The wonders of nature give greatly to San Diego with glorious weather, and the technology inherent there leads a life of its own. There's a reason it is the host of the largest Comic Con in the world, where the geeky come to play in the land of craft beer, fish tacos, and beautiful, beautiful people.
via businessinsider.com
The arcade of America, the darkness, sin, and vice around every corner also breed some of the kindest, wisest people in the world. A tough town, to be sure, it hones your wiles and offers fun at every turn; ready to eat the unwary.
via miamiandbeaches.com
Florida is constantly lauded for its strangeness, but that's not something to shun. Proof that the ideology of the south and the exposure to Latin influences can make a mystical brew, it's a place to haul out your freak flag, fly it high, and realize that in the grand scheme of things, you're pretty normal.
via homeadvisor.com
Barbecue is the gateway drug of Kansas City, which might have the name of the most boring flyover state in the title, but puts that distinction well behind it. Concerts, antique festivals, and any number of local happenings are all within a few miles of wherever you are. It's truly where north meets south, east meets west, and America's heart can be found.
via denvercoluxuryhomes.com
The mile high city allows access to skiing, but that's just the tip of the mountain. Dig down and the innumerable one-way streets will lead you to a counter-culture that proves punk isn't dead, nor is passion, art, or science, along with fanatical sports fans that manage to be kind and classy while also frothing mad about balls and pucks.
via bookriot.com
There's two weeks out of the year dedicated strictly to Elvis. Then there's all the food from the coast, as well as southern traditions and hospitality that will make you blush. Suave and friendly, riddled with music emanating out from Nashville, and able to entice the most solemn, believe that you haven't yet begun to scratch the surface of this rich landscape.
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