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But now that you're older and have become exposed to other cities, you're well aware that it's actually not the standard, so you adjust your expectations accordingly. I grew up with Charleston in my back yard and visited quite frequently but was also pretty well-traveled as a kid so I knew not to expect every other city to pack as much as a punch as Charleston did. Thus I understood that Charleston excelled, particularly since it was afforded several advantages other cities its size (and even larger) weren't, and other cities were more or less in line with where they should be.
We'd be some really messed up adults if we carried every perception of places (heck, and even people) we had in childhood into adulthood without adjustment.
I honestly don't think it's that cut and dry. No, you don't carry all of your childhood values into adulthood, but some of them are valid.
I can't help feeling slightly underwhelmed by my visit to many large American cities.
I've agreed with you up until this. You are turribly wrong on these points.
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Originally Posted by afonega1
40 million people visit Atlanta for a reason.All the attractions and museums stay full.Why do you think more are being built?
40 million people visit because of business and conventions. No one goes to Atlanta for vacation unless they are a days drive away. People go to New Orleans from China, Russia, Australia, Germany, Canada, Brazil, etc. Atlanta gets business, not tourists. That's a good thing for both cities but please don't mistake those numbers for people coming to Atlanta for Atlanta.
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There is more to do in Atlanta than in New Orleans.Once you have seen the French Quarter,its pretty much a wrap.Sorry but New Orleans is nice but we are talking about a small part that most people cannot afford to live.Food is better for sure ,but Atlanta culinary represents more than just one region well.
A wrap? Once you've seen downtown Atlanta there's nothing to do in Atlanta. We can all make broad sweeping generalizations of cities we know nothing about. I can' begin to list the many museums, parks, shopping districts, swamp tours, double-decker bus rides, cemetery tours, river boat tours, Carnival Cruise ships, and historical sites that people come here to see. I don't remember Buckhead being all that great. Atlanta doesn't even have a typical tourist trap. New Orleans represents more regions of the world in it's cuisine and it's authentic. Houston is more diverse than Atlanta and it's food scene couldn't hold a candle to Louisiana's. I have yet to find a region of this country who loves food as much as we do.
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Actually Canal Street in N.O. reminds me of Atlanta's Downtown.Atlanta has very similar neighborhoods to N.O.
For instance, Ponce De Leon stretch from near Va-Hi to Decatur is very reminiscent of N.O.I believe it also is where the Atlanta streetcar used to run.
What does Canal St remind you of in Atlanta? Peachtree? Lol. Downtown Atlanta is really nice compared to most southern cities but it doesn't really stack up well to downtown/CBD New Orleans. Ok I Earth'd Ponce De Leon and I don't see didly that is reminiscent of New Orleans. I don't want to seem as if I'm bashing it but it looks like a suburban road to me.
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Anyone who really knows Atlanta will tell you that while it has not a huge inventory of historic buildings,it does have many historic neighborhoods like the Westend,Inman Park,Candler Park and Grant Park.
One of my friends owns a house that was built in 1890.Its in Inman Park
Here are some pics I took of Atlanta's Westview Cemetary.
Anybody that can walk through Candler Park and say Atlanta has little to no remnants of history or charm is lying.
Every city can say that.
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Originally Posted by Mutiny77
City population growth is one thing; metro population growth is quite another and on that front, Atlanta and New Orleans are nowhere close to being in the same category.
Difference is, people who move to New Orleans actually want to live in the city. People are moving to the suburbs but New Orleans is unique in that it gives you city life that is far cheaper than SF, NYC, Philly, and Boston, but far more impressive than Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Miami.
NEW ORLEANS has a better food scene than Houston. The rest of Louisiana? Please.
I've already stated that New Orleans is a force to be reckoned with, when it comes to culture and vibrancy, but for expansive urbanity and world class amenities, it is no match for Houston or Atlanta. Do not be mistaken. Downtown New Orleans is more impressive than any other southern town, but the majority of the city is not.
I can't help feeling slightly underwhelmed by my visit to many large American cities.
I think that's quite sad, and not because of any deficiencies on the parts of the cities themselves. But it is what it is.
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Originally Posted by annie_himself
Difference is, people who move to New Orleans actually want to live in the city. People are moving to the suburbs but New Orleans is unique in that it gives you city life that is far cheaper than SF, NYC, Philly, and Boston, but far more impressive than Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Miami.
This is true for the first time in a long time for NOLA which is definitely a good thing, but city life in Atlanta is also becoming more and more attractive. And of course, the suburbs aren't going anywhere.
People act like people visit New Orleans for things outside of the French quarter LOL. At least with cities like NYC and SF, people visit for the cities for more then simply 2 square miles of land. What is there in NOLA outside of it's core CBD that's about 3 square miles? Nothing. You overlook everything else because a city has a nice historic, vibrant 3 square mile core? Cities like NYC/SF not only have a charm, but also have a business side to them. That's where NOLA LACKS.
People act like people visit New Orleans for things outside of the French quarter LOL. At least with cities like NYC and SF, people visit for the cities for more then simply 2 square miles of land. What is there in NOLA outside of it's core CBD that's about 3 square miles? Nothing. You overlook everything else because a city has a nice historic, vibrant 3 square mile core? Cities like NYC/SF not only have a charm, but also have a business side to them. That's where NOLA LACKS.
Many tourists may confine themselves to just the French Quarter, but that's their loss because there's a ton to see and do outside of that. The aquarium, the zoo, the botanical gardens, the historic sites, the museums, the cemeteries, the parks, the universities, the plantations, the neighborhood districts, the casino, etc. Here's a good overview of the city as a whole and even it doesn't come close to being exhaustive.
Saying there's nothing outside of NOLA's CBD is one of the most outrageous and inaccurate things I've ever read on this forum. And I live in Atlanta and my vote is overall for Atlanta.
NEW ORLEANS has a better food scene than Houston. The rest of Louisiana? Please.
I've already stated that New Orleans is a force to be reckoned with, when it comes to culture and vibrancy, but for expansive urbanity and world class amenities, it is no match for Houston or Atlanta. Do not be mistaken. Downtown New Orleans is more impressive than any other southern town, but the majority of the city is not.
I didn't find Houston food all that great. Diverse, yes, but it never tickled my fancy to eat in Houston. Not very unique and you can get 95% of the food in any sizeable city. I am biased so I'm sure someone from another region would be wowed.
Expansive urbanity? Please don't make me embarrass Houston, I love it but it's not an urban city and it's urban areas are dead as far as pedestrians go. You can't even stroll down Washington Ave with out cars flying past 5ft away from you. World class amenities is what NO loses at, but not by much. Majority of the city is actually urban unlike Houston. Atlanta is more urban than Houston but less than NO. For example, Houston has nothing that compares to Magazine St, St. Charles Ave, Frenchman St, Tulane Ave (and it's future), Oak St, or Freret St. All of these corridors are outside of CBD/Quarter and Houston has NO match. Kirby isn't walkable, Rice Village is set up for cars, Montrose is wide and has subdivision sized sidewalks, Main St is dead outside of TMC, West Gray is set up for cars, Midtown has immense urban potential but there are no busy corridors yet. Let me know if I am missing something but urbanity is NOT Houston's strong point, not even if you put the word expansive in front of it. Houston is nicer as far as looks but terribly suburban and little pedestrian activity even within the loop.
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Originally Posted by Ant131531
People act like people visit New Orleans for things outside of the French quarter LOL. At least with cities like NYC and SF, people visit for the cities for more then simply 2 square miles of land. What is there in NOLA outside of it's core CBD that's about 3 square miles? Nothing. You overlook everything else because a city has a nice historic, vibrant 3 square mile core? Cities like NYC/SF not only have a charm, but also have a business side to them. That's where NOLA LACKS.
This is about Atlanta and New Orleans. Why are you comparing New Orleans just to New York City and San Francisco?
I've agreed with you up until this. You are turribly wrong on these points.
40 million people visit because of business and conventions. No one goes to Atlanta for vacation unless they are a days drive away. People go to New Orleans from China, Russia, Australia, Germany, Canada, Brazil, etc. Atlanta gets business, not tourists. That's a good thing for both cities but please don't mistake those numbers for people coming to Atlanta for Atlanta.
A wrap? Once you've seen downtown Atlanta there's nothing to do in Atlanta. We can all make broad sweeping generalizations of cities we know nothing about. I can' begin to list the many museums, parks, shopping districts, swamp tours, double-decker bus rides, cemetery tours, river boat tours, Carnival Cruise ships, and historical sites that people come here to see. I don't remember Buckhead being all that great. Atlanta doesn't even have a typical tourist trap. New Orleans represents more regions of the world in it's cuisine and it's authentic. Houston is more diverse than Atlanta and it's food scene couldn't hold a candle to Louisiana's. I have yet to find a region of this country who loves food as much as we do.
What does Canal St remind you of in Atlanta? Peachtree? Lol. Downtown Atlanta is really nice compared to most southern cities but it doesn't really stack up well to downtown/CBD New Orleans. Ok I Earth'd Ponce De Leon and I don't see didly that is reminiscent of New Orleans. I don't want to seem as if I'm bashing it but it looks like a suburban road to me.
Every city can say that.
Difference is, people who move to New Orleans actually want to live in the city. People are moving to the suburbs but New Orleans is unique in that it gives you city life that is far cheaper than SF, NYC, Philly, and Boston, but far more impressive than Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Miami.
I like how there are two threads of THE SAME DAMN TITLE right on top of each other LOL
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LOL