What small-medium city offers the best big city and urban feel? (airport, transit)

[ColdAilment]

In this thread I am only asking for cities that are under the 3 million mark for metropolitan areas.

Straight forward question, which small (300,000 metro) to medium (under 3 million metro) offers the best big city and urban feel, with plenty of amenities and other attractions that mainly truly large cities tend to offer.

[steel03]

St. Louis probably

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by steel03

St. Louis probably

I would give St. Louis a definitive nod. I'd also throw in Cleveland, Cincy, and Indy (if you stick to downtown).

[flyingcat2k]

Denver which is still under 3MM. It has mass transit, ganja lovers, trustafarians, 4-6 major sports teams, an international airport and rush hour gridlock. It would be difficult to top it for "big city" feel.

[RaymondChandlerLives]

Baltimore

[kidphilly]

Nola, Baltimore, Cincy, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, St L

Some smaller ones like Lancaster, Bethlehem, Providence, Trenton, Richmond can all feel city like in certain parts

Don't know much about places like Omaha etc but it seems like they may have a central core more similar to a city like aspect too

[mjtinmemphis]

The great thing about the older midsized midwest cities is the pack a great value for their amenities.

Louisville, Providence and Rochester should be on the list too.

[nightlysparrow]

Sacramento, CA

[nep321]

St. Louis or Baltimore.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Small cities, I'd say New England does well like...

Portland, ME
Providence, RI
Burlington, VT
Albany, NY

Medium sized...

St. Louis
Portland, OR
Omaha
Cleveland
Richmond, VA