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.
Using the criteria I've developed for this sort of thing:
1. Urban Form/Neighborhoods: Mexico City, easily
2. Arts/Culture: Mexico City and Washington DC are roughly tied for high culture, IMO, both are Top 10 in the world
3. Attractions/Entertainment: Mexico City, DC does well, but not quite there.
4. Safety/Comfort: Ottawa might feel the safest on a uniform basis. I don't feel too bad in any, though.
5. Traffic/Transit: 3 different answers. Mexico City easily the most expansive transit system, DC the best combination of good transit and not being overly congested in parts, and Ottawa the least trafficky.
6. Location/Day Trips: Washington DC, because NYC is 2 hrs. away, etc. Mexico City is right there behind though, and would be ahead were I not factoring in NYC and the Acela corridor for the traveler.
7. Parks/Scenery: Mexico City, easily
8. Food/Drink: Mexico City, by an absolute landslide.
9. Overall Preference: Mexico City can be an imposing place to visit, particularly to someone who hasn't traveled abroad much. And, Ottawa isn't bad, and DC might be a more important global city and on a certain level due to it's bureaucratic layout, more unique. That said, neither of them offers near as dynamic an experience to the visitor as Mexico City does IMO. There's big city attractions and vibrancy... and then there's Mexico City attractions and vibrancy.
Thanks for sharing your criteria. Definitely makes it easier and clearer for those of us that may not be familiar with either of these cities so again thanks.
It appears you mean the cities, not the buildings. The word "Capitol", with an "o", specifically means a governmental building.
I will change the thread title to "Capital" because I have the power to do so.
To answer your question, since I've been to DC a number of times, and hope to do so again (It's only a four-hour drive) I would next like to visit Ottawa. I've flown in and out of it but did not have enough time to explore the city.
Definitely Mexico City! I spent 2 days there a long time ago and have always wanted to go back. It's one of the largest cities in the world with tremendous history that DC and Ottawa can't match.
I've been to DC on the grade school history tour and go there a few times a year on business. Little interest in spending my tourist time there.
No desire to visit Ottawa. Seems nice enough but not a tourist draw.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
7,409 posts, read 6,547,418 times
Reputation: 6682
Mexico City....went there for the first time for Dia de los Muertos (Halloween and beyond) last year.....stayed in Polanco which is quite a fashionable and posh section of the city. Good restaurants and top notch shopping will almost have you thinking you are still in the States. Seemed to be quite a bit of new, low - midrise condos under construction. Nearby Chapultepec is an amazing urban park....spent a little time in Roma and Condesa (some very cool boutique hotels there). Surprised it took me so long to visit.
not listed as a North America option was Havana, though I've been there a dozen times (was a huge cigar aficionado at one point) and the city has gone downhill from the 90's when I first visited (let alone vs its glory days pre-Castro).
Last edited by elchevere; 06-08-2020 at 03:30 PM..
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,749 posts, read 23,813,296 times
Reputation: 14660
Mexico City looks mighty intriguing. Lots of museums there on my bucket list and would love to visit sometime and at this point, I'd pick it over any US/Canada city for a visit.
Been to both DC about three times. I appreciate DC and the obligatory trip as a US Citizen on my first visit was met with fulfillment, emotion, pride, and good memories. It's a lot to take in, but it's somewhere I have on the back burner for a good while before I consider visiting again. I do love that DC feels a lot like a city inside of a big park. it's a remarkably very green city with a lot of attractive parkland.
Ottawa, like much of Canada is a low key capital. It's the one I'm most familiar with since its just a three hour drive away. National capitals are usually always good destinations for museums and Ottawa is no exception as there are some interesting ones I've been to. It's a very pretty city built on a high bluff above a big river, Gatineau Park across the river is very scenic. Ottawa has enough to do to stay a couple nights and full day. Of course nearby Montreal is a lot more fun.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 06-08-2020 at 05:26 PM..
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.
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.
