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I want to go on a vacation somewhere in the US that is very historic, well-preserved, and full of old urban architecture to explore. I also like forgotten places and little-known gem cities (somewhere I can fly, drive, or bus to from Pittsburgh).
Here are some cities that I am considering (but still have not made up my mind):
New Orleans, LA (I want to see the "old south," think Gone With the Wind, but Atlanta is not historic these days)
Savannah, GA
Butte, MT (I want to see the "old west" in one of its larger old cities)
Harrisburg / York / Lancaster / Gettysburg, PA (would plan to stay in York and take day trips to the others)
Buffalo, NY
Cities I have been to and loved:
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Wheeling, WV
Youngstown, OH
Jackson, MI
St. Louis, MO
Tulsa, OK
I'm not really into places that are modern or sanitized. I like old stuff and grit. So please suggest some places for me to visit. Thanks!
Memphis has a lot of beautiful old buildings and a rich history. There are free walking tours of downtown Tours (http://www.architecturemonthmemphis.org/www.architecturemonthmemphis.org/Tours.html - broken link) or paid tours Blues City Tours
How could you overlook New England? If you liked Philly, you'll also like Boston. If you are looking for smaller cities (in lieu or in addition to Boston), Providence, Portsmouth, Portland and Burlington are outstanding.
You want historic cities with great architecture and you are interested in the "Old South" feel too? Definitely hit-up Charleston and Savannah - you could even do both in a week and will NOT be disappointed given your interests!
Albany NY has been a city since 1686 and is probably exactly what you are looking for.
Another city in Upstate NY you might love is Oswego, which was involved in the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Underground Railroad.
Syracuse could fit and you'd probably like Hanover and Armory Squares, Columbus Circle and the Little Italy section of the North Side. Can't forget Tipperary Hill on the West Side and the ruralish parts of the Valley neighborhood on the South Side. Get some Gannon's Ice Cream if you are in the Valley neighborhood. There are some nice old money neighborhoods like Sedgwick on the Northside, Strathmore in the SW corner of the city and Scottholm on the East Side.
Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. They all sound great!
The only thing making me reluctant about a trip to Savannah, Charleston, Memphis, or New Orleans is the thought of excessive August heat (I will want to walk around and explore a lot). Butte would probably be cooler, but my flight would require two stops (has anyone taken a two-stop flight before? Is it crazy?). Detroit and Cleveland I have been to before (I'm from Michigan). Boston, Albany, Portland (Maine), or Burlington all sound great. Cincy, too. So many choices!
Anyone know of any cool haunted hotels?
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Thanks!
