I've been long wandering how I could put down the things I did and the places I visited in a better way, an interesting one, an easy-to-digest way. I was scanning the web doing some research and I came across one of the many "top 10" kind of articles. I told myself, "I might as well add my own!", and here I am in the mix.
I will try to post my own charts, first of all of places throughout the U.S.A.
My scampers throughout the States brought me to 42 of the 50 states of the Union, and I can say I've been to quite a few cities around the country. It's now time to pick my top 10 of them.
I'll start with the big cities - those ones where you definitely need a map or better, a navigator, or you'd eventually get lost, driving madly on and off the interstate looking for that junction you'll never find.
It's hard to rank a city. I always keep in mind, while expressing my opinion, factors like architecture, green areas, social life, parks, history, whether it's liveable enough, if I'd personally live there or not, weather, things to do and so on. There's a lot to bear in mind. A city like L.A. it's a great spot to be if you're looking for sunshine and a career as an actor, but then what? (I'll tell you straight away: L.A.'s not on the top 10!). Eventually, I came to weigh more my overall experience in town than factors like the weather or whether or not I'd live there (that's material for a future top 10 maybe!)
I tried to balance everything. I had a great time in all of these cities, walking on the streets, meeting people, enjoying amazing food and some social events. East and West, North and South, every corner of the country has a top city to offer.
Ready to tackle this top 10?! Let's roll!
P.S.: Visiting a big city is a daunting task for me (and I hope I'm not the only one out there that feels like this). I always had a limited amount of time, and a very limited amount of patience driving around unknown neighborhoods, taking wrong turns, hitting one-ways and suchs. Therefore, the amount of photography produced while cruising around town has always been on the low side. Pardon me for the photographic material on this issue, if you don't find it satisfying feel free to check out my photography here! Don't miss on it!
Emanuele Canton Photography:
10. San Antonio, Texas
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| Restaurant on the riverwalk |
My first big city in the big state of Texas wasn't a bust. I arrived in San Antonio sweaty and country (coming from 4 days in Big Bend national park), and I plunged myself into the heart of the riverwalk for a nice, chilled, pleasant afternoon that I came to love. Beside the historic Alamo fort -actually, an old mission - the city has plenty to offer, starting with its famous riverwalk. Food plazas, riverside bars, hotels, shady trees, boat trips, live music: there's all you need to enjoy a perfect Texas afternoon. You hot? I bet there's a bar no more than 200 feet from you that serves awesome ice-cold margaritas!
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Philly streets |
I remember that day: it was my 26th birthday and I was sick as a dog. I drove into town on a Saturday morning (sweet, free parking), parked the car and had cold pizza leftovers from the night before and my usual cold powdered coffee with sweetener for breakfast. No pills, nothing. I just got out of the car and started to walk some 15 miles around town - yes, because you have more chances to walk longer distances in a city than in the woods sometimes. I loved the atmosphere. After taking a selfie with the Rocky Balboa statue - something I dreamt of since I got to know that statue was real - I realized how fit people were. They were all running, jogging, doing push-ups or some other calories-burning activity. Crazy! Did the movie do all that? I might guess so. Anyway, the city itself it's pretty cool, it felt less chaotic and stressed than other metropolis I've been to, and shady parks and squares are strategically distributed for your own enjoyment. Plus... man, those cheesesteaks!!
8. Austin, Texas
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| Austin skyline from Zilker park |
Austin is one of the very, very few big cities where I'd always go back, at any moment, with any kind of weather, alone or with company. I had a special time there, probably because it's Texas. This is something a non-Texan might look suspiciously, and probably just shrug off: Texans are great people. When it comes to socialize, have a good time, that's my kind of people. I made more friends and in less time in Texas than anywhere else. On top of that, you have the vibe of this college city (which is state capital too), often referred to as "the new Portland". Even though I wouldn't really compare it to Portland - I haven't seen that many hipsters around town! - Austin rocks. 6th street is the place to go at night (that you choose conventional 6th or so-called "dirty" 6th) and food will get straight to your heart. It happened to me as well.
7. Savannah, Georgia
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| One of many tree-covered squares in downtown Savannah |
Welcome to the South! Pack in light clothes to properly enjoy a stroll in downtown Savannah, you might otherwise regret the warm, southern sun. Also in your pack should be a map, particularly useful to help you navigate the maze of squares sometimes hard to distinguish between one or another. Other than that, just walk, sometimes aimlessly, just covering as much ground as possible, picturing the old days when gentlemen walked the streets in white shirts and hats, a pistol hanging from their belts, and took off their hats to greet ladies strolling with their elegant umbrellas. Of those days the very thing that survived, beside the buildings, are the trees. All covered in spanish moss, they create a sublime atmosphere that will definitely catch you. Last but not least: try the riverfront. Although sometimes spoiled by new hotels, it's alive and offers an enjoyable alternative to downtown's streets.
6. Charleston, South Carolina
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| Downtown Charleston |
I arrived in Charleston with my mind still wandering Savannah's streets, and I found that something even better was awaiting me. It was a Sunday, and after Mass, I started my usual on-foot tour of the city. When the sun was fighting his way through the clouds and a light rain, I walked the streets to find cobblestone drives, palm trees and fascinating colonial villas, with doric columns and neatly kept gardens. I took some time to go on a visit to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Although the place itself wasn't extremely interesting, I was on my way to Appomattox so a stop made sense. When the sun finally reached through the clouds, and inundated the city, I resumed my stroll, this time along the seaside. It was just as good as it gets: sun, a light breeze, a cool drink, happy people enjoying life, beautiful old homes everywhere along the street. Some cannons here and there between the palms. To me it felt like the best place I could have ever been on that very Sunday!
5. New York, New York
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| A panoramic view of Manhattan, New York city |
I know somebody will hate me for this pick, this soon, especially considering the next cities to come, but hey, I warned y'all at the beginning! But even though NY to me represents traffic, legalized chaos, capitalism to its worst, people full of themselves and on and on, I have to say that after all, not everything is to be dismissed of this city. It's still New York. The skyline is unique. It's one of the most famous if not THE most famous city in the world, and it has plenty to offer under every point of view. It has so many sights, and as soon as you reach a decent height - say, the Empire State building or the Rockefeller center - the view is breath-taking. It has a certain charm as well, especially at night, when you almost forget that money is what made and drives this place. It's kind of romantic. I came to it prepared to the worst, and left with nice memories.
4. San Francisco, California
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| Sliding down winding Lombard Street |
I swear I was listening to "If you're going, to San-Fran-cisco" when I crossed the Bay bridge. It was on my "to do list". It got me ready for the city. Frisco (a nickname that I hope won't offend anyone - there's a whole history behind it!) is a beautiful city, perfectly apt to be cruised by bicycle, with plenty of tasty food, curious personalities and famous sights. Alcatraz, the Golden Gate, China Town, Pier 39, Lombard Street, the cable cars, you name 'em. On a sunny day I'd say it's one of the very few almost-perfect big cities America has to offer. Now, forget about parking a car. I have to forget myself I had my own towed (300$) and that thanks to an Oracle meeting in town I couldn't find a bed for less than 105 damn dollars. But that's fine. Part of the experience. Means the rest was extremely cool!
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
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| Bellagio and Caesar's Palace hotels |
One day somebody told me "Vegas: just once". And that's what I did. But I didn't forget it. Going to Vegas it's one of those things you have to do once in a lifetime. It's an over-the-top experience, especially if you're just with your buddies, kind of "The Hangover" thing. In daylight, it's just a city (I'm talking about the strip, of course. I guess nobody's interested in the crime-affected neighborhoods) with an endless array of lodging possibilites, actually every kind of hotel you might think of. A castle, a pyramid, an amusement park, a fake Venice: you pick & choose. Vegas has 'em. At night, it becomes what it's famous for: a hyper-illuminated, overactive, simply crazy mile and something of pure entertainment. You can gamble, watch the Bellagio's fountains, feast on bottom-less buffets, watch the city play hard from the balcony of your hotel room (if you can afford it - but in Vegas the cheap thing is lodging). You can do almost everything, and unless the cops will get involved... everything will stay in Vegas!
2. Washington, District of Columbia
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| The White House, probably the place you've seen more often on TV when things got screwed around the world |
Washington isn't an incredibly pretty city, or outstandingly famous for its vibe, or for its food. What it lacks, it makes up with an unmatchable amount of monuments, historical places, famous buildings, museums. It's one of those places where you have great chances to see TV crews around town - you know, having something like the White House, the Capitol, the Federal Reserve, the Mall, surely helps. You can swing from the Lincoln memorial, to the Jefferson's, to Martin Luther King's. You can spend a day walking the aisles of the various buildings of the Smithsonian. A side trip, which is actually a must, is Arlington cemetery, the "shrine of tha nation". This is what to me a cemetery in America has always looked like: a perfectly mowned lawn and simple white graves. Lots of them. Arlington is the place where famous or brave souls like JFK or Robert E. Lee rest, and to stroll along its green walkways it's a touching experience. Final curiosity: a security officer working at the White House told me that there are 2000 people (yeah, like a small town population) responsible for security measures working inside or around the building. Would you believe it?!
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
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| St.Louis cathedral in downtown NOLA, one of the oldest cathedrals in the U.S.A. |
Yes, New Orleans, what else could it be? The vibe, the people, the food, the music, the city streets, it all adds up to make it a wicked mix. Arriving to NOLA - how it's handily referred to - from the surrounding swamps and bayous, is like drinking an energy beverage. You are right-off caught in the vibrant life of this very special place, that tempts you with delicious cajun food, foot-high daiquiris and exotic nightlife. If you somehow manage to resist all of them, or even one of the bunch, you can spend your time walking along the mighty Mississippi, maybe taking a little cruise, or enjoying live music at effervescent Bourbon Street. It's all lively, it's all crazy, and dipped in Southern hospitality! You just might want to watch your wallet closely, and be aware of where you are at night. As in every other big city!
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