Most Interesting "Second Tier" City east of Missouri (largest, homicide)

[Fitzrovian]

Hopefully this hasn't been done before, otherwise please let me know...

So I've been lurking around on Google Streetview the last few days, "exploring" Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and I was pleasantly surprised (almost shocked) by how much beautiful historic architecture these cities have. This got me to think that there might be many other underrated gems that I never even thought of that might be worth a visit.

For purposes of this discussion, I am throwing out the high profile cities: the big 4 of the East Coast, Chicago, Miami and New Orleans.

So which "second-tier" cities east of the Missouri line do people think are most interesting/underrated?

MY criteria:

Character, historical pedigree and architecture
Dense, gentrified urban neighborhoods
Culture (museums, galleries, sports and music scene)
Nighlife

Feel free to rank, but please discuss each city you list as to what you think makes it interesting/special.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

So which "second-tier" cities east of the Missouri line do people think are most interesting/underrated?

MY criteria:

Character, historical pedigree and architecture
Dense, gentrified urban neighborhoods
Culture (museums, galleries, sports and music scene)
Nighlife

.

Richmond VA has all those things. There is really a lot to see. The historical part has to do with the Civil War mostly.

Otherwise I like Charleston SC for it's historic architecture.

[slengel]

you'd probably be blown away by st. louis as well.

[steel03]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Richmond VA has all those things. There is really a lot to see. The historical part has to do with the Civil War mostly.

Richmond was also my first thought reading this thread. I mean it has a canal system... who knew?

[Neworleansisprettygood]

Atlanta?

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

Hopefully this hasn't been done before, otherwise please let me know...

So I've been lurking around on Google Streetview the last few days, "exploring" Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and I was pleasantly surprised (almost shocked) by how much beautiful historic architecture these cities have. This got me to think that there might be many other underrated gems that I never even thought of that might be worth a visit.

For purposes of this discussion, I am throwing out the high profile cities: the big 4 of the East Coast, Chicago, Miami and New Orleans.

So which "second-tier" cities east of the Missouri line do people think are most interesting/underrated?

MY criteria:

Character, historical pedigree and architecture
Dense, gentrified urban neighborhoods
Culture (museums, galleries, sports and music scene)
Nighlife

Feel free to rank, but please discuss each city you list as to what you think makes it interesting/special.

Huh? I would think "high profile" would be: NYC, Chicago, Miami, ATL, DC, Boston, Philly? And I guess put in NOLA because getting rid of those cities NOLA wins.

So saying that cities which come to mind right away are Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Chalreston SC also, not a large city at all but a lot of history and culture there.

[Fitzrovian]

Originally Posted by FlyMIA

Huh? I would think "high profile" would be: NYC, Chicago, Miami, ATL, DC, Boston, Philly? And I guess put in NOLA because getting rid of those cities NOLA wins.

You just named the same 7 cities I did plus Atlanta. I would not include Atlanta in that group as it's pretty weak on at least two of my categories.

Agreed on Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Charleston is beautiful of course but i wouldn't call it "second tier" to be honest, it's just too small (as is Savannah for example).

What else? Any opinions on Buffalo, KC, St Louis, Minneapolis, etc. ?

[goat314]

St. Louis

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

Hopefully this hasn't been done before, otherwise please let me know...

So I've been lurking around on Google Streetview the last few days, "exploring" Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and I was pleasantly surprised (almost shocked) by how much beautiful historic architecture these cities have. This got me to think that there might be many other underrated gems that I never even thought of that might be worth a visit.

For purposes of this discussion, I am throwing out the high profile cities: the big 4 of the East Coast, Chicago, Miami and New Orleans.

So which "second-tier" cities east of the Missouri line do people think are most interesting/underrated?

MY criteria:

Character, historical pedigree and architecture
Dense, gentrified urban neighborhoods
Culture (museums, galleries, sports and music scene)
Nighlife

Feel free to rank, but please discuss each city you list as to what you think makes it interesting/special.

Indianapolis as always is overlooked. I'm not sure it qualifies as "second tier" though given that it's surprisingly the 12th largest city in the US.

[Natural510]

I've been to many of them and none has that "wow" factor, but Baltimore fascinates me. Must be that BMore culture we learned through The Wire and Homicide:Life on the Street.