The USA 50/50 Challenge: Top Ten Cities
I lost count of the many, many cities I visited during The USA 50/50 Challenge.
It was a near impossible task to narrow it down to only ten.
These were the ones that I wanted to revisit the most, in alphabetical order, with an honourable mention at the end for a city not in a state.
This eco-friendly town has a geo-thermally heated capitol, white-water rafting in the middle of town and a very healthy and active population who buy locally grown food and are always outdoors.
Home to Ferris Bueller, fabulous architecture and a canal system that lets you see it by cruise; deep-dish pizzas and their own way with a hot dog, plus plenty of attitude.
This lovely city on the banks of the Ohio River captured me with its history and the Over The Rhine neighbourhood – in the process of being gentrified – while proudly maintaining is cultural roots.
The smaller brother of the much flashier Dallas that quietly gets on with its many cultural programs celebrating cowboy culture and history.
Or as I like to call it ‘Gotham West’ for its amazing Art Deco architecture and the mile long main street which runs through historical periods and cultural districts.
The most European city in the United States. It’s like visiting Paris without needing a passport. Here they’ll feed you, entertain you and get you dancing with hardly any effort on their part.
Home to the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Their MidWest hearts are as wide open as the landscape and they will show you a fine old time.
City of Brotherly Love, cheesesteaks and many museums. They like to eat, drink, party and cheer on their sporting teams.
Gracious lady of the South, a charming town with twenty-two lush squares that invite you to sit a spell and watch the world go by.
This metropolis in the Pacific Northwest is at once bustling and mellow, which is no mean feat. A young city that appreciates nature.
Bonus City: Washington, DC
The District of Columbia is not a state – so it technically didn’t qualify in the Challenge – but I had to visit this culturally rich city, stealing time from my week in West Virginia. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype!