Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Weather Charlotte
Traffic Charlotte
Public Transportation Chicago
Outdoor Recreation Miami
Safety (crime)Austin
Safety (natural disaster) Austin
Job Market Boston
Diversity Chicago
People Boston
True on Miami, it's clearly the winner for the beach city, and that it obviously has a drastically longer (almost non-stop) beach season. Boston itself isn't really a "beach" city, but there are tons of beaches in the Boston area. The beaches near Boston's downtown are nowhere near as iconic in terms of skyline view as Chicago's beaches, which literally are across the freeway from downtown.
I'm one of the people that doesn't get the "oceans are better than lakes" thing. I know there's some things like surfing you can't do on a lake, but why do so many find an ocean far superior to a lake?
Many don’t care to see skyline views at a beach as they go to get away from the city...i can get fresh tuna, swordfish, tons of other fish, clams, oysters, lobster literally off the boat..lakes dont offer that..more varied marine life for fishing, more areas for surfing, varied coastline, and a feel and experience for someone that loves the ocean that couldn’t be replicated on a lake
I'm one of the people that doesn't get the "oceans are better than lakes" thing. I know there's some things like surfing you can't do on a lake, but why do so many find an ocean far superior to a lake?
It makes them sound important. Oceans are BIG. A very coastal attitude.
Chicago is building more large hotels and hotels have reported being the busiest in 16 years. Also, people mainly come to LA for entertainment careers and to move there hoping to make it. Chicago on the other hand benefits from not having any competition in the Midwest with the decline of Detroit.
Chicago is also making so many Best Lists every year and many times are ranked higher than Los Angeles on lists. For example, Chicago was named the Best City in the World in 2017 and 2018 by British based Time Out Magazine after surveying 15k. This year they named NYC number one with Chicago No. 3.
Also, New York City is not even the most toured city in America. Every year Orlando smokes NYC and every city away because of Disney World. Orlando had 75 million tourists last year and 70 million the year before.
Chicago is a city that is loaded with events that draws people since they can't find those events widely available. For example, BTS the popular Korean group chose Chicago and two other U.S. cities to perform in. The very popular Broadway play Hamilton chose Chicago as the second city to perform regularly with a September 2016 debut. The play did not debut in Los Angeles until March 2017. The very popular Pokemon Go festival is in Chicago every year.
I’ve been to Chicago several times...I understand the draw...I just feel that nyc and la would take in so many more international tourists besides American tourists..I don’t see how Chicago could come that close to those cities in tourism even if everyone in the Midwest goes there..I’ve found other visitor reports with different numbers..just skeptical..
Also people visiting Chicago are primarily visiting the city...the Boston number may not include the 6 million yearly visiting the cape or other regional areas and the la number may not include the visitors to Santa Monica, Malibu etc...7 million visit Malibu in the summer months alone
I’ve been to Chicago several times...I understand the draw...I just feel that nyc and la would take in so many more international tourists besides American tourists..I don’t see how Chicago could come that close to those cities in tourism even if everyone in the Midwest goes there..I’ve found other visitor reports with different numbers..just skeptical..maybe I’m wrong
Even in that last Charlotte and Austin having significantly more visitors than Boston which is an international tourist destination seems a bit off.
I think even Louisville reports more tourists than Boston and Philadelphia a year which is a bit absurd.
So yes tourist numbers are nearly useless because every city counts them differently.
Weather - Charlotte
Traffic - Charlotte
Public Transportation - Chicago
Outdoor Recreation - Charlotte/Miami (Most people don't realize just how much there is to do outdoors in the CLT area. Miami has some incredible beaches)
Safety (crime) - Austin
Safety (natural disaster) - Austin
Job Market - Austin/Charlotte
Diversity - Too broad and subjective. They're all "diverse" is their own ways.
People - Charlotte
*I've lived in the Boston area, I live in the Charlotte area, I've been to Chicago and Miami more times than I can count, and I've been to Austin twice.
*I don't hate any of them. Love Charlotte and Chicago. Like Boston. Miami and Austin are OK. Just my personal experience.
*Many C-Ders use sheer size as their measuring stick, which is a flawed way to judge any area. Per capita gives correct/more accurate perspective. For the most part, none of these are "obvious" choices.
*All have clearly have their merits, but my personal preferences in order: Charlotte, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Austin.
Many don’t care to see skyline views at a beach as they go to get away from the city...i can get fresh tuna, swordfish, tons of other fish, clams, oysters, lobster literally off the boat..lakes dont offer that..more varied marine life for fishing, more areas for surfing, varied coastline, and a feel and experience for someone that loves the ocean that couldn’t be replicated on a lake
Interesting points. However, I doubt the huge amount of people on this site who say they prefer oceans over lakes are saying that because they like to go deep sea fishing. I honestly think this idea that oceans are way better than lakes is yet another outdated stereotype by the coastal snobs.
Interesting points. However, I doubt the huge amount of people on this site who say they prefer oceans over lakes are saying that because they like to go deep sea fishing. I honestly think this idea that oceans are way better than lakes is yet another outdated stereotype by the coastal snobs.
Your conclusion is 100% correct. I've never met anyone that actually gets into boats looking for lobsters. It's just some dumb romantic vision people like peddling.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.