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If you were a tourist from somewhere outside of North America and you wanted to spend a month in the United States touring and visiting the country in an attempt to get the most authentic understanding of what the United States is really like, what cities would be must visit cities for you?
I ask because for better or for worse NYC is not an accurate representation of what the rest of the United States is like, but NYC is a highly visited city by foreigners. So if a tourist wanted to get an accurate representation of what the country is really like, what Five Cities would a tourist have to visit??
New York - power center of the country that displays the size, influence, and diversity of the United States
Los Angeles - de facto capital of the western United States; arguably the center of American soft power and pop culture
Detroit - The best example of a fallen U.S. city that more or less tells the story of the American Midwest and provides an understanding of the factors that produced a President Donald Trump
Dallas - probably the best example of American suburban culture and the rise of the Sunbelt
Atlanta - the heart of African American history, power, and pop culture
Cleveland - Old Industrial city with bones and a history that is turning the corning and was once a true gem in what America is today
San Jose - A new tech west coast hub, a modern incarnation of tech and education clustering
Ok City - A new south growing city, trying to displace old stereotypes and growing
Orlando - A Florida city that grew from basically a small town only 50 years ago
Maybe either a Boston or Philly - old school historic NE cities (not NYC) historic, storied and lots of identity but changing with the times
still to me is tough as a new south or mountain city are left out and maybe to little WC representation but just some thoughts on different types of places that present an image of America past, present and future
I'll give 5 choices, including alternates that have similar qualities:
Philadelphia - because of the history (it's where the USA officially got started, after all), but also it's the best representation of an "old" European-style American city. Plus, the contrast between its elegant old-money and hardcore working-class aspects is sociologically interesting. (alternate: Boston)
Savannah - a showcase of the charm of an old Southern town. (alternate: Charleston)
New Orleans - a monument to the French & Spanish influence in our history, as well as being the birthplace of the quintessential American art form of jazz. (alternate: Nashville)
Cleveland - with the caveat that I haven't been there, it seems a good exemplar of a Rust Belt city that fell on hard times, but preserved good urban "bones" and a cluster of first-rate cultural institutions, which should help it make a comeback. (alternate: St. Louis)
San Francisco - cuz you should see one West Coast city that is actually a traditional city. (alternate: Seattle)
1) MIDWEST: Indianapolis - a relatively big city that has a small city vibe, with down-to-earth people
2) NORTHEAST: Boston - captures the historical side of the US and also a gritty city, representative of the rest of the region
3) SOUTH: Atlanta - city on the rise, large African-American population, representative of the south.
4) WEST: Los Angeles - while it can seem glamorous, there are truly many different walks of life represented here. Be sure to explore outside of Hollywood/Santa Monica, etc.
5) GREAT PLAINS: Lincoln, Nebraska - you could interchange Lincoln with a lot of other small cities, but the reality is geographically, most of America is small cities and rural areas and you'd have to get out there to experience America outside of the hustle and bustle of the big metros
New York - power center of the country that displays the size, influence, and diversity of the United States
Los Angeles - de facto capital of the western United States; arguably the center of American soft power and pop culture
Detroit - The best example of a fallen U.S. city that more or less tells the story of the American Midwest and provides an understanding of the factors that produced a President Donald Trump
Dallas - probably the best example of American suburban culture and the rise of the Sunbelt
Atlanta - the heart of African American history, power, and pop culture
I don't think Dallas and Atlanta are different enough to both warrant a place on this list. It should be either or. Or split the difference and put Houston on in instead.
The fifth city then should be something representing the Southwest or Pacific west.
Just my opinion of course.
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