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I'm not sure how you could objectively argue that downtown San Diego is better than downtown Seattle. Based on what criteria?
Also - how does Seattle have the worst food of the three? It currently has one of the most revered culinary scenes in the country (Seattle Episode: The Layover With Anthony Bourdain: Travel Channel), along with outstanding seafood, excellent Asian food, a diverse offering of virtually any ethnic cuisine you could want, the best farmer's market in the country, an emphasis on quality meat and produce. I don't see how San Diego or Atlanta come close, to be honest.
I just spent several days in Seattle and its dining scene seemed eerily similar to Atlanta (I travel for business a lot and this was the first city I would say this about). Atlanta definitely "comes close" to it at least. Both cities have a huge emphasis on farm to table cooking, albeit in different genres. In both cities, typical old-fashioned "fancy" restaurants have fallen by the wayside quite a bit.
I just spent several days in Seattle and its dining scene seemed eerily similar to Atlanta (I travel for business a lot and this was the first city I would say this about). Atlanta definitely "comes close" to it at least. Both cities have a huge emphasis on farm to table cooking, albeit in different genres. In both cities, typical old-fashioned "fancy" restaurants have fallen by the wayside quite a bit.
Admittedly, I have not been to Atlanta since early 2008, so I was basing my statement on my experience during that time. It sounds like things have changed, so perhaps I stand corrected! Although, it would hard for me to believe that Atlanta has Seafood or Southeast Asian cuisine that is comparable to Seattle's.
I was in San Diego last year, and I can safely say it doesn't come close to Seattle (aside from, of course, taquerias and mexican food in general)
Admittedly, I have not been to Atlanta since early 2008, so I was basing my statement on my experience during that time. It sounds like things have changed, so perhaps I stand corrected! Although, it would hard for me to believe that Atlanta has Seafood or Southeast Asian cuisine that is comparable to Seattle's.
I was in San Diego last year, and I can safely say it doesn't come close to Seattle (aside from, of course, taquerias and mexican food in general)
Yes, Atlanta may lag in those areas just as it's hard to imagine Seattle has been at the forefront of new southern cuisine. I mentioned the genres were different. (Atlanta's Mexican food is relentlessly mediocre, for the record.)
And yeah, many or most of the top foodie restaurants today didn't exist 5 years ago. No doubt about that.
Architecture- Seattle - Atlanta - San Diego
Diversity- SD, Seattle, Atlanta
Downtown-Seattle, SD, Atl
Culture-Seattle, SD, Atl
Economy - Future?- Seattle, ATL, SD
Food - Pricing and Diversity- Seattle, SD, ATL
Neighborhoods - Urban and suburban- Urban/Seattle, SD, Atl Suburbs/SD, Seattle, Atl
Nightlife- ATL, SD, Seattle
Parks- Seattle
Safety- Seattle & SD tied, Atl much less so
Shopping- Atl, SD, Seattle
Weather- SD all day, Atl, Seattle
I live near Seattle but rather live in SD if the cost and taxes and jobs were closer. I also like Atl quite well. Even though most of my ratings show Seattle at the top, to me SD is the best city in the US and Seattle is top 5 and Atl top 10...jmo
I just spent several days in Seattle and its dining scene seemed eerily similar to Atlanta (I travel for business a lot and this was the first city I would say this about). Atlanta definitely "comes close" to it at least. Both cities have a huge emphasis on farm to table cooking, albeit in different genres. In both cities, typical old-fashioned "fancy" restaurants have fallen by the wayside quite a bit.
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Admittedly, I have not been to Atlanta since early 2008, so I was basing my statement on my experience during that time. It sounds like things have changed, so perhaps I stand corrected! Although, it would hard for me to believe that Atlanta has Seafood or Southeast Asian cuisine that is comparable to Seattle's.
I was in San Diego last year, and I can safely say it doesn't come close to Seattle (aside from, of course, taquerias and mexican food in general)
Quote:
Yes, Atlanta may lag in those areas just as it's hard to imagine Seattle has been at the forefront of new southern cuisine. I mentioned the genres were different. (Atlanta's Mexican food is relentlessly mediocre, for the record.)
And yeah, many or most of the top foodie restaurants today didn't exist 5 years ago. No doubt about that.
If you check out Anthony Bourdain's Atlanta Layover edition which aired recently, http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-show...isodes/atlantayou will see that it is true that there are similarities in the cities dining. It's just that, like stated above, Seattles forte seems to be Seafood and Asian, Mexican cuisine while Atlanta's is more Southern but there is much authentic Asian and Mexican (see part on Buford Highway Market and Sweet Auburn) to be found here as well. Plenty of Farm fresh products to the table in both, which shouldn't be a surprise in Atlanta considering Georgia is one of the countries biggest and most varied agricultural producers.
These are three cities I've lived in. Overall, I'd say Seattle is the best to visit while Atlanta is the best to live in. I wouldn't mind to visit or even live in SD again, but I probably won't if I don't have to (the Navy sends me there). I think Atlanta has the best weather of the three, since it has changing seasons but with mild winters. Seattle is too rainy and SD is too dry. One downside of ATL is that it is a lot more dangerous the other two, and it has racial/class tensions (which is probably the main cause of the crime problem).
I will go down the list of criterea, but seriously- who in their right mind would "vacation" in Atlanta???? Charleston I get. But Atlanta is more along the Dallas/Charlotte/Indy grouping of big money towns were business is abundant but things to do and natural attractions are nearly nonexistant.
Architecture- Seattle
Diversity- Do people select a location for a vacation based upon diversity???
Downtown- Seattle
Culture- Seattle
Economy - Future?- What does that have to do with vacation? What's the future of Santa Fe, New Mexico? WHo cares, it is a great place to visit. Similarly, I'd bet North Dakota has a good future, but I wouldn't visit it.
Food - Pricing and Diversity- I think it's a wash.
Neighborhoods - Urban and suburban- Again, confused as to why suburban housing would factor into a vacation. I get people enjoying walking in urban neighborhoods on vacation (NYC, parts of SF), but who looks towards suburban neighborhoods to vacation?
Nightlife- depends on your definition and your racial background.
Parks- Seattle or San Diego. Seriously, there isn't anything natural in Atlanta that is noteworthy.
Safety- Seattle or San Diego.
Shopping- I'd say Seattle b/c of its centralized downtown.
Weather- San Diego, unless you like humidity. Seattle is nice in the summer as well. Atlanta is, well, oppresively humid and unpleasant.
In short, only Seattle and San Diego are even reasonable vacation options. I live in San Diego, so I'd pick Seattle. If I didn't live in San Diego, I'd probably pick San Diego. But I'd probably pick Hawaii, or a place like Montana or the central coast of California for vacation over any of these cities. Paris, NYC, and Washington, D.C. are the only cities I'd plan a vacation around. Otherwise I'd opt for a region or nature.
These are three cities I've lived in. Overall, I'd say Seattle is the best to visit while Atlanta is the best to live in. I wouldn't mind to visit or even live in SD again, but I probably won't if I don't have to (the Navy sends me there). I think Atlanta has the best weather of the three, since it has changing seasons but with mild winters. Seattle is too rainy and SD is too dry. One downside of ATL is that it is a lot more dangerous the other two, and it has racial/class tensions (which is probably the main cause of the crime problem).
Finally someone I think got it half right. People keep talking about the racial tension in Atlanta but I think it's really about class tension. The problem is poor people in Atlanta love robbing wealthier people. That goes for poor blacks robbing wealthy blacks too not just whites.
In Atlanta just like every other major American city blacks are more likely to be poor than whites but there is an abundance of middle class and wealthy blacks in Atlanta too and for the most part middle class and wealthy whites and blacks get along well so it's not a race issue it's a class one.
I have lived in Atlanta and San Diego and visited Seattle multiple times. I would choose Seattle during the perfect late summer and early fall months, atlanta in late October when the leaves change, SD the rest of the year. Best line I ever heard about Atlanta: it's a lousy place to visit, but a great place to live.
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