What Are the Best Downtowns Across the U.S.? (live, better, compared)

[RaymondChandlerLives]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

its not like Philly has independence hall or anything, lol

Not only that, the "Rocky Steps" lead to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is world class. Funny stuff.

[Mister Miaugie]

My pick would be downtown Newport News, great schools, thriving communities, warm welcoming people, awsome and safe night lifes, and a great shoping outlets. IMO you cant go wrong here!

[Psykomonkee]

Originally Posted by San Jose's Finest

Psycho, again, where's San Jose? It's the top 5 or better! I guess you've never been to San Jose to qualify your opinion of this city.

You know what...? I've lived in San Fran and East Palo Alto as a child, but I don't EVER recall visiting downtown San Jose. So, No, I can't have an opinion of San Jose. Maybe I have as a child, but then again how could I even compare it to other cities that I've had adult fun in even if I could remember? So you're right... Is it a nice/fun/interesting downtown?

I've always wanted to visit the Winchester Mansion. Is that downtown?

[Psykomonkee]

Originally Posted by Slyman11

No I don't consider Philly more fun than the seven downtowns ahead of it, I consider it less fun than some you put in your eleven to twenty list. Not saying you should place it higher or lower on your list, its your list for crying out loud I don't care but you listed the 'rocky steps' as an attraction. An attraction for whom? Fat people that workout running up and down the steps.. Philly has more attractions than the rocky steps in its downtown that are more deserving IMO

Yeah, I get that. And maybe I did rank it too high... Honestly, I may have given Philly the benefit of the doubt, trying to recall good times there. I have had some fun downtown there (and had the greatest Guacamole dip in the world there!!!!), but I may have overshot it just a bit.

And the "Rocky Steps," LOL... That's hilarious! I'm very slim, but I've had some fun on those steps. More fun than I had walking around the Independence Hall area... Maybe it's not such a deserving attraction, but it's was fun (once. Can't really do it more than once). There are also a LOT of interesting vintage shops around town.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

Yeah, I get that. And maybe I did rank it too high... Honestly, I may have given Philly the benefit of the doubt, trying to recall good times there. I have had some fun downtown there (and had the greatest Guacamole dip in the world there!!!!), but I may have overshot it just a bit.

And the "Rocky Steps," LOL... That's hilarious! I'm very slim, but I've had some fun on those steps. More fun than I had walking around the Independence Hall area... Maybe it's not such a deserving attraction, but it's was fun (once. Can't really do it more than once). There are also a LOT of interesting vintage shops around town.

Well if placed in category with the Austins of the wolrd unless you are an undergrad (even then debatable) most would not consider it to over stated. Philly seems to be in the general concensus of being a top 5 or 6 DT with some ranking it as high as second. Though all this is subjective and to the others point, these are your rankings, so are correct to you

[Psykomonkee]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Well if placed in category with the Austins of the wolrd unless you are an undergrad (even then debatable) most would not consider it to over stated. Philly seems to be in the general concensus of being a top 5 or 6 DT with some ranking it as high as second. Though all this is subjective and to the others point, these are your rankings, so are correct to you

WELL PUT!!!!!!
I give you a BIG round of applause!!! So many people here get SO offended when "their" city is placed in someone else's opinion as being on top... I didn't even place my own home (Atlanta) in my top 10 favorites...

YOU sir are a class act!

When I make my rankings, I leave them open for change... I may feel like Philly is ranked 8th now, but if I go back and someone who knows the town better shows me the ropes, then maybe I'll see differently. I see that many place Philly AND Boston up so highly, and as of right now, I just haven't seen it myself in my own experiences. Thanks for not being offended. I would like to like other cities more, but not EVERYONE can be in EVERYONE's top 10 list.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by San Jose's Finest

Psycho, again, where's San Jose? It's the top 5 or better! I guess you've never been to San Jose to qualify your opinion of this city.

San Jose does have a nice clean new looking downtown with a trace of historical structures. You should post some pics and give us a dose of what makes DT San Jose special. Lets not only "talk the talk" lets "walk the walk."


Here are a few of San Antonio that I think put it in the top ten best downtowns in the U.S.

photo credit
All sizes | San Antonio Riverwalk | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbcastro/2640887935/sizes/z/in/photostream/ - broken link)

photo credit
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3643263478_c3e05e94bd_z.jpg


photo credit
All sizes | Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecrochetdude/3467720903/sizes/z/in/photostream/ - broken link)


photo credit
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/...a1aef269_z.jpg

[daortiz]

San Antonio looks nice!

[daortiz]

Is that a natural river running thru San Antonio?

[daortiz]

I will not say that downtown LA is the best or even among the top
5 best downtowns in the US but I think it is a part of LA that is defenitely underated

Bunker Hill Steps by wehardy, on Flickr
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Grand Central Market , Los Angeles by Trader Chris, on Flickr
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California Plaza (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33803664@N06/5628123195/ - broken link) by SarahO44 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33803664@N06/ - broken link), on Flickr



City Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/victorpics/5441002266/ - broken link) by Victorrochajr (http://www.flickr.com/people/victorpics/ - broken link), on Flickr



The Plaza - El Pueblo de los Angeles - Los Angeles, California (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pwaully/5487850912/ - broken link) by Pwaully73 (http://www.flickr.com/people/pwaully/ - broken link), on Flickr



Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 4/22/2010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgin12/4545258674/ - broken link) by dgin12 (http://www.flickr.com/people/dgin12/ - broken link), on Flickr



Disney concert Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marge__napier/4315705491/ - broken link) by MargaretNapier (http://www.flickr.com/people/marge__napier/ - broken link), on Flickr



Little Tokyo, Los Angeles (http://www.flickr.com/photos/traderchris/6030894159/ - broken link) by Trader Chris (http://www.flickr.com/people/traderchris/ - broken link), on Flickr



LA Live courtyard, after Lakers game. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddahliaphotos/4456867552/ - broken link) by red.dahlia (http://www.flickr.com/people/reddahliaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr




Staples Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-yunker/5822989193/ - broken link) by ChrisYunker (http://www.flickr.com/people/chris-yunker/ - broken link), on Flickr



Los Angeles Central Library (5) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellyes/2462972583/ - broken link) by Poppyseed Bandits (http://www.flickr.com/people/hellyes/ - broken link), on Flickr



Los Angeles, California - China Town (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vratsab/2257428897/ - broken link) by vratsab (http://www.flickr.com/people/vratsab/ - broken link), on Flickr



Ice Skating at Pershing Square (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70663066@N00/3165036519/ - broken link) by nc90813 (http://www.flickr.com/people/70663066@N00/ - broken link), on Flickr