Most famous/iconic/vibrant streets in US (best, state, America)

[Mr Ambitious]

I'm not sure if a thread exactly like this has been done before. If so, mods please feel free to close this one. Which streets in America would you say are the most famous, iconic, and/or vibrant? It would be nice if you can rank them and leave a brief reason why(or not). Examples are the Strip, Mag Mile, Rodeo Drive, Bourbon Street etc. You can give separate rankings for vibrancy and how famous/iconic the streets are. You may include shopping streets as well

Here are a few lists I was able to come across.

Iconic/Famous Streets

1. Beale Street - Memphis, TN
2. Canyon Road - Santa Fe, NM
3. Worth Avenue - Palm Beach, FL
4. Bourbon Street - New Orleans, LA
5. The Strip - Las Vegas, NV
6. Lombard Street - San Francisco, CA
7. Michigan Avenue - Chicago, IL
8. Calle Ocho - Miami, FL
9. Beacon Street - Boston, MA
10. Ocean Drive - Miami, FL
Best Iconic American Street Winners: 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards

1) Wall Street – New York City, New York
2) Pennsylvania Avenue – Washington D.C.
3) Broadway – New York City, New York
4) Bourbon Street – New Orleans, Louisiana
5) Hollywood Boulevard – Los Angeles, California
6) Las Vegas Boulevard – Las Vegas, Nevada
7) Lombard Street – San Francisco, California
8) Rodeo Drive – Beverly Hills, California
9) Sunset Boulevard – West Hollywood, California
10) Michigan Avenue – Chicago, Illinois
The 10 Most Famous Streets in the U.S. – Famous Wonders

1. Beale Street
2. Mag Mile
3. Bourbon Street
4. Worth Ave
5. Rodeo Drive
6. Pennsylvania Avenue
7. Nashville 16th Avenue
8. Ocean Drive
9. Wall Street
10. Mulholland Drive
Tour America's most iconic streets

10. Michigan Avenue
9. Beale Street
8. Madison Avenue
7. Rodeo Drive
6. Hollywood Boulevard
5. Broadway
4. Bourbon Street
3. Las Vegas Boulevard
2. Wall Street
1. Pennsylvania Avenue
Top 10 Most Famous Streets in the U.S. - Listosaur | Hungry for Knowledge

1. Broadway
2. Sunset Boulevard
3. Wall St
4. Bourbon Street
5. Rodeo Drive
Travel Top 5: Most famous streets in America

Best Shopping

(I don't think this list was in numerical order)
Rodeo Drive
Mag Mile
Newbury Street
Nicollet Ave (Minny)
NW 23rd Ave (Portland)
Fillmore Street
King Street
M Street
The Strip
Fifth Ave
America's Best Shopping Streets | U.S. News Travel

1. Fifth Avenue: $3,052 per sq. ft.
2. Madison Avenue: $1,325 per sq. ft.
3. Rodeo Drive: $450 per sq. ft.
4. Union Square in San Francisco: $375 per sq. ft
5. Michigan Avenue in Chicago: $328 per sq. ft.
6. Newbury Street in Boston: $200 per sq. ft.
7. Las Vegas Boulevard: $200 per sq. ft.
8. Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu: $122 per sq. ft.
9. Walnut Street in Philadelphia: $107 per sq. ft
Photo Gallery: 9 Most Expensive Retail Streets in the U.S. | National Real Estate Investor

Vibrancy/ Foot Traffic

I couldn't find any lists for this, but I'm guessing its streets like Fifth Ave, The Strip, Walnut St, Mag Mile, Ocean Drive..etc

[Borntoolate85]

You could say the same for your own city. From my experience, based on visits, this board, and the general world of importance:

For Baltimore:
1. Charles St.
2. Pratt St.
3. Howard St.
4. North Ave. (infamous!)
5. Eutaw St.
6. St. Paul St/Light St.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
8. York Rd./Greenmont Ave.
9. Eastern Ave.
10. Baltimore St.

For DC:
1. Pennsylvania Ave.
2. Constitution Ave.
3. Massachusetts Ave.
4. Connecticut Ave.
5. Independence Ave.
6. M St (NW).
7. K St (NW).
8. Wisconsin Ave.
9. Georgia Ave/7th St NW/SW.
10. 14th St (NW and SW)

For Philadelphia:
1. Broad St.
2. Market St.
3. Walnut St.
4. Ben Franklin Pkwy.
5. South St.
6. Chestnut St.
7. Roosevelt Blvd.
8. Passyunk Ave.
9. Vine St.
10. Frankford Ave.

For NYC (Manhattan):
1. Broadway
2. Wall Street
3. Fifth Avenue
4. Park Avenue
5. 42nd St.
6. Madison Ave.
7. 34th St.
8. Houston St.
9. Central Park West
10. Lexington Ave.

For Boston:
1. Newbury St.
2. Beacon St.
3. Washington St.
4. Tremont St.
5. Boylston St.
6. Massachusetts Ave.
7. Commonwealth Ave.
8. Charles St.
9. Huntington Ave.
10. Congress St.

For Cleveland:
1. Euclid Ave.
2. Carnegie Ave/Lorain Ave.
3. Superior Ave/Detroit Ave.
4. Chester Ave.
5. Prospect Ave.
6. St. Clair Ave.
7. 9th St.
8. Ontario St.
9. Mayfield Rd.
10. W 25th St./Pearl Rd.

For Detroit:
1. Woodward Ave.
2. 8 Mile Rd. (infamous!)
3. Gratiot Ave.
4. Grand River Ave.
5. Michigan Ave.
6. Grand Blvd.
7. Washington Blvd.
8. Jefferson Ave.
9. Cass Ave.
10. John R St.

For Chicago:

1. Michigan Avenue
2. Lakeshore Drive
3. State St.
4. Clark St.
5. Madison St.
6. Wacker Dr.
7. Rush St.
8. La Salle St.
9. Western Ave.
10. Halsted St.

For New Orleans:

1. Bourbon St/Carondolet St.
2. Canal St.
3. Royal St/St. Charles Ave.
4. Magazine St/Decatur St.
5. Poydras St.
6. Tchoupitoulas St.
7. Chartes St./Camp St.
8. Dauphine St./Baronne St.
9. Orleans Ave.
10. Tulane Ave.

For Los Angeles, I'd rank it as follows:

1. Hollywood Blvd.
2. Sunset Blvd. (includes Sunset Strip)
3. Rodeo Dr.
4. Santa Monica Blvd.
5. Melrose Ave.
6. Wilshire Blvd.
7. Vine St.
8. Beverly Blvd.
9. Mullholand Dr.
10. Highland Ave.

For San Francisco:

1. Lombard St.
2. The Embarcadero
3. Market St.
4. Montgomery St.
5. Haight St.
6. Asbury St.
7. Geary St. and Blvd.
8. Columbus Ave.
9. Mission St.
10. Van Ness Ave.

I'm surprised Peachtree St. didn't make the list given how many spinoffs were created, by far the most iconic for Atlanta. Fewer people probably would know where Canyon Rd., 16th Avenue in Nashville, or Calle Ocho are.

[Mr Ambitious]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

You could say the same for your own city. From my experience, based on visits, this board, and the general world of importance:

For Baltimore:
1. Charles St.
2. Pratt St.
3. Howard St.
4. North Ave. (infamous!)
5. Eutaw St.
6. St. Paul St/Light St.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
8. York Rd./Greenmont Ave.
9. Eastern Ave.
10. Baltimore St.

For DC:
1. Pennsylvania Ave.
2. Constitution Ave.
3. Massachusetts Ave.
4. Connecticut Ave.
5. Independence Ave.
6. M St (NW).
7. K St (NW).
8. Wisconsin Ave.
9. Georgia Ave/7th St NW/SW.
10. 14th St (NW and SW)

For Philadelphia:
1. Broad St.
2. Market St.
3. Walnut St.
4. Ben Franklin Pkwy.
5. South St.
6. Chestnut St.
7. Roosevelt Blvd.
8. Passyunk Ave.
9. Vine St.
10. Frankford Ave.

For NYC (Manhattan):
1. Broadway
2. Wall Street
3. Fifth Avenue
4. Park Avenue
5. 42nd St.
6. Madison Ave.
7. 34th St.
8. Houston St.
9. Central Park West
10. Lexington Ave.

For Boston:
1. Newbury St.
2. Beacon St.
3. Washington St.
4. Tremont St.
5. Boylston St.
6. Massachusetts Ave.
7. Commonwealth Ave.
8. Charles St.
9. Huntington Ave.
10. Congress St.

For Cleveland:
1. Euclid Ave.
2. Carnegie Ave/Lorain Ave.
3. Superior Ave/Detroit Ave.
4. Chester Ave.
5. Prospect Ave.
6. St. Clair Ave.
7. 9th St.
8. Ontario St.
9. Mayfield Rd.
10. W 25th St./Pearl Rd.

For Detroit:
1. Woodward Ave.
2. 8 Mile Rd. (infamous!)
3. Gratiot Ave.
4. Grand River Ave.
5. Michigan Ave.
6. Grand Blvd.
7. Washington Blvd.
8. Jefferson Ave.
9. Cass Ave.
10. John R St.

For Chicago:

1. Michigan Avenue
2. Lakeshore Drive
3. State St.
4. Clark St.
5. Madison St.
6. Wacker Dr.
7. Rush St.
8. La Salle St.
9. Western Ave.
10. Halsted St.

For New Orleans:

1. Bourbon St/Carondolet St.
2. Canal St.
3. Royal St/St. Charles Ave.
4. Magazine St/Decatur St.
5. Poydras St.
6. Tchoupitoulas St.
7. Chartes St./Camp St.
8. Dauphine St./Baronne St.
9. Orleans Ave.
10. Tulane Ave.

For Los Angeles, I'd rank it as follows:

1. Hollywood Blvd.
2. Sunset Blvd. (includes Sunset Strip)
3. Rodeo Dr.
4. Santa Monica Blvd.
5. Melrose Ave.
6. Wilshire Blvd.
7. Vine St.
8. Beverly Blvd.
9. Mullholand Dr.
10. Highland Ave.

For San Francisco:

1. Lombard St.
2. The Embarcadero
3. Market St.
4. Montgomery St.
5. Haight St.
6. Asbury St.
7. Geary St. and Blvd.
8. Columbus Ave.
9. Mission St.
10. Van Ness Ave.

I'm surprised Peachtree St. didn't make the list given how many spinoffs were created, by far the most iconic for Atlanta. Fewer people probably would know where Canyon Rd., 16th Avenue in Nashville, or Calle Ocho are.

Thanks for the very in depth reply. I was expecting to see Peachtree on one of the list as well. Great lists as well and I agree that most of what you posted is spot on.

[qworldorder]

OP, I think your 2nd listing is the most spot on. Borntoolate85, great listings. I would only swap out Houston St for Canal St, and maybe Lexington for 125th St or 72nd.

[anonelitist]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

For San Francisco:

1. Lombard St.
2. The Embarcadero
3. Market St.
4. Montgomery St.
5. Haight St.
6. Asbury St.
7. Geary St. and Blvd.
8. Columbus Ave.
9. Mission St.
10. Van Ness Ave.

I'm surprised Peachtree St. didn't make the list given how many spinoffs were created, by far the most iconic for Atlanta. Fewer people probably would know where Canyon Rd., 16th Avenue in Nashville, or Calle Ocho are.

For SF I don't think there are 10 truly famous/well known streets (well known outside of residents). My list would be slightly re-arranged.

1. Lombard (obviously only the curvy part, most of Lombard is ugly and generic)
2. Haight St (definitely #2 for serving a role in the hippie movement)
3. Asbury St (see above)
4. Market St (maybe)
5. Fillmore St (maybe)

Outside of Lombard and Haight/Asbury, streets in SF aren't actually famous or well known.

Also surprised Peachtree isn't on any lists. It's famous for being one of dozens of Peachtrees in Atlanta...the running joke, and it is a pretty major spine street in a well known major city.

[dude1984]

The only streets that come to mind to me automatically are:
-Bourbon Street in NO;
-Sunset Boulevard in LA;
-A variety of streets in Chicago (State, Michigan, Congress PKWY, and LSD)...

OT: Avenida 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires as well because it is the widest street in the world. It is crazy to see in person. It is 110 meters wide (~361 feet wide).

[qworldorder]

Originally Posted by anonelitist

For SF I don't think there are 10 truly famous/well known streets (well known outside of residents). My list would be slightly re-arranged.

1. Lombard (obviously only the curvy part, most of Lombard is ugly and generic)
2. Haight St (definitely #2 for serving a role in the hippie movement)
3. Asbury St (see above)
4. Market St (maybe)
5. Fillmore St (maybe)

Outside of Lombard and Haight/Asbury, streets in SF aren't actually famous or well known.

Also surprised Peachtree isn't on any lists. It's famous for being one of dozens of Peachtrees in Atlanta...the running joke, and it is a pretty major spine street in a well known major city.

What's the street in San Francisco with all the Chinese lantern decorations? Or is that a majority of them?

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by anonelitist

For SF I don't think there are 10 truly famous/well known streets (well known outside of residents). My list would be slightly re-arranged.

1. Lombard (obviously only the curvy part, most of Lombard is ugly and generic)
2. Haight St (definitely #2 for serving a role in the hippie movement)
3. Asbury St (see above)
4. Market St (maybe)
5. Fillmore St (maybe)

Outside of Lombard and Haight/Asbury, streets in SF aren't actually famous or well known.

I think Haight/Ashbury is probably number one (and I lump them together). Lombard number 2 on the tourist radar just because of the one famous segment.

I'd disagree that other streets aren't well know. Market Street is essentially "Main Street" San Francisco and even if you haven't heard of it before you arrive in town, you quickly become acquainted since the F-Line runs along the surface, and MUNI Metro and BART run beneath. It's very obvious that Market is the city's major thoroughfare.

I think the Embarcadero jumps out because its location on the waterfront and its role as the primary pedestrian point between Market and the Ferry Building and Pier 39/ Fisherman's Wharf.

Powell is pretty famous because of the shopping along Union Square and the Cable Car. "Powell" (along with Hyde" are plastered all over images of Cable Cars.

California Street is pretty famous too. It's the main drag along Nob Hill (running by some of the most notable landmarks in the neighborhood) and it also has a Cable Car line.

Fillmore's one of my favorite streets in the city, but I don't know how may people outside of the bay area are familiar with it. It's definitely a shopping/dining center, but I think it's secondary on most visitor itineraries.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

For Boston:
1. Newbury St.
2. Beacon St.
3. Washington St.
4. Tremont St.
5. Boylston St.
6. Massachusetts Ave.
7. Commonwealth Ave.
8. Charles St.
9. Huntington Ave.
10. Congress St.

I'd probably name Boylston number 1 for Boston. Not only is it the closest thing that modern Boston has to a "Main Street" (running from Fenway to Chinatown), it's also where the finish line to the Boston Marathon is. Newbury is an understandable choice due to the shopping, but Boylston is my pick. Newbury would be number 2. The rest would look like this:

3. Comm. Ave.
4. Tremont Street
5. Charles Street
6. Hanover Street
7. Charles Street
8. Beacon Street
9. Acorn Street
10. Huntington Avenue

*Washington St. doesn't make my list because the district (Downtown Crossing) is more well known than the name of the street. In fact, there are a few different "Washington Streets" in Boston.

[Chicago60614]

Top streets that come to mind:

Las Vegas Strip
Broadway in NYC
Bourbon Street in New Orleans
Michigan Ave in Chicago
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills