What are you 'Top 5' favorite US cities and World cities?

[chrizow]

i love college towns.  i really want to visit madison, berkeley, boulder, eugene, etc. 

[warwickland]

i love college towns.  i really want to visit madison, berkeley, boulder, eugene, etc. 

Madison is definitely in a league of its own, though berkeley looks interesting, especially being in proximity to SF and Oakland. Unfortunately I didn't have time for Eugene a couple weeks ago, I regret that, though I would have not had time for the Oregon coast at its season peak (mostly sunny (though it did rain  ), mid 70s)...

Boulder is semi-over rated, though not to visit if that makes sense (got to tube boulder creek).

[warwickland]

Chicago honestly didn't do that much for me...

I don't know what you have seen of Chicago, but I do recommend you return, again and again...it's vast and varied. I feel it has the best (most positive) vibe of any "big" to "mega" city I've visited. It also damn near feels/looks western-urban at times on a hearty scale.

[staubio]

I don't know what you have seen of Chicago, but I do recommend you return, again and again...it's vast and varied. I feel it has the best (most positive) vibe of any "big" to "mega" city I've visited. It also damn near feels/looks western-urban at times on a hearty scale.

Seconded. Sadly, so many people know Chicago from the loop. Get out of the loop ASAP. Chicago has such a great variety of neighborhoods close in with varied densities and demographics. Just get on the train and hop off at a random stop. I love Chicago because it is urban but completely unpretentious (well, other than Lincoln Park) -- a welcoming pride and love for the city. People are friendly and being on the streets makes you feel like you are part of something.

I can't really explain it but there is just a vibe, like warwick said. Get back there and dig in.

[Jess]

Seconded. Sadly, so many people know Chicago from the loop. Get out of the loop ASAP. Chicago has such a great variety of neighborhoods close in with varied densities and demographics. Just get on the train and hop off at a random stop. I love Chicago because it is urban but completely unpretentious (well, other than Lincoln Park) -- a welcoming pride and love for the city. People are friendly and being on the streets makes you feel like you are part of something.

I can't really explain it but there is just a vibe, like warwick said. Get back there and dig in.

This was exactly what I was going to say.  People make the error of thinking that Chicago is Michigan Avenue or Millenium Park or Rush Street (or, God forbid, O'Hare, if they're clueless).  Experiencing Chicago means experiencing the neighborhoods. And, yeah, not just Wrigleyville/Lakeview and Lincoln Park.