The 50 best cities in America
21.07.2023 - 07:53
/ roughguides.com
America was once the wild frontier – sweeping lands, big buffalo, and bigger skies – but today the cities rival the natural wonders. From the dazzling lights of Las Vegas – the Strip is said to be one of the brightest spots on earth – to the toe-tapping, country-music bars of Nashville, we’ve tried and tested them all. Here AnneLise Sorensen rounds up the 50 best towns and cities in America’s 50 states.
Birmingham’s tumultuous past may have earned it a place in the history books, but it’s the present that’s keeping it there. Industrial pioneers founded the city, 1960s Civil Rights pioneers launched the nation’s desegregation movement here, and today, cultural and culinary pioneers are leading the way, with innovative theater, museums, and restaurants – don’t miss the baked grits at Highlands Bar & Grill.
Grand Bohemian Hotel — This landmark property, one of the state’s premier luxury boutique hotels, is more than just a place to rest your head – it also features the luxurious Poseidon Spa, an art gallery, a cooking school, wine-blending classes and a seasonal restaurant, Habitat Feed & Social. Opened in 2015, the hotel overlooks the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and has snazzy, contemporary rooms with marble bathrooms.
Get acquainted with an important part of the history of the city and the nation as a whole, on a 3-hour guided Civil Rights Tour.
The best of Alaska converges on seaside Sitka. There’s nature: the mighty Mount Edgecombe, a collection of windswept islands, whale-watching, and kayaking. It has a fascinating history: a rich Russian legacy, presided over by a beautiful Russian Orthodox church. Plus there’s some serious small-town charm by way of an old-fashioned downtown peppered with cozy bars. Best of all, Sitka has smartly managed to stay off the cruise-ship trail. Here, locals still outnumber visitors.
Sitka Hotel — This newly renovated, historic hotel offers a touch of old- fashioned style with some rooms offering harbour views. An in-house restaurant serves up delicious local seafood.
Quintessential Southwest, Tucson is a vibrant blend of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures. Tucson has escaped the bulldozers of modernity (see Phoenix) by determinedly preserving its historic architecture, which is crowned by the glowingly white Mission San Xavier del Bac, the oldest European structure in Arizona. The University of Arizona lends a youthful air to the city, while the Mexican restaurants bring spice and flair (and very good margaritas).
Hotel Congress — Central, bohemian hotel, a short walk from Amtrak and Greyhound, with vintage Art Deco furnishings. Forty plain en-suite guest rooms, with loud music and dancing at night
Combine the fun of the Amazing Race with a 3-hour Tucson