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We talk a lot about some sort of hidden gems and underrated towns or parks to visit, mainly because we want to experience something new. People have been looking to step into nature, explore the unexplored, and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But we should really be exploring places that have it ALL.
So, what better location than the big, beautiful cities of the United States. You’ve got museums and galleries for culture. Want to get in tune with nature? They’ve all got huge parks that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a forest. And if you’re a foodie, all these beautiful cities have endless options for you to choose from. Let’s find out what the 11 most beautiful cities in our country are!
Wanna find out which ones we’ve chosen? Click “Next” to see them on the next page!
The cubbies, deep-dish pizza, and Grant Park: just three things that put one of our country’s most beautiful cities on the world’s radar. Chicago paints a pretty picture with its skyline and views over shimmering Lake Michigan. The city is chock-full of Art Deco buildings that date back to the Al Capone era in the 20s.
Like the John Hancock Observatory and Water Tower, many are huddled on the prestigious Magnificent Mile. But you can still find breathing space from city life in green havens like Millennium Park, home to the bean-shaped Cloud Gate, or head to the 103rd-floor viewing deck at the Willis Tower to appreciate Chicago’s urban beauty.
If you’re visiting during the summer, check out the festivals this city loves to put on, from Taste of Chicago and Pitchfork Music Fest to the big daddy of them all, Lollapalooza. This windy city hunkers down in the winter unless the Bears are playing football, in which case shirtless guys will brave sub-zero temperatures to cheer on their boys at Soldier Field. No matter what you’re into, Chicago has it all!
What makes this one of the most beautiful cities in the US is its views. Seattle is surrounded by nature and has a wide variety of cultures and traditions. Head over to the Sky View Observatory and take a few snaps with great stills of the Space Needle observation deck. This city is known for its coffee and the nature surrounding its skyline.
You’ve got Mount Rainier’s peaks to the east and the pine forests of Olympic National Park to its west. You also have the mammoth Discovery Park with rugged beaches overlooking the island-studded Puget Sound. The Emerald City’s natural treasures are rounded off by innovative urban designs like the iconic Space Needle and Victorian-era buildings in its Pioneer Square Historic District, which is marked with a 60-foot totem pole.
Even though this is one of those beautiful cities that has been around for hundreds of years, New Orleans seems to still be in the middle of a renaissance, except for the streets, of course, which are the most overcrowded you’ve ever encountered in a significant metropolis.
They relish in dressing up and partying here, so put on a wig and mask and hit the French Quarter for a fantastic experience. Grab a takeaway cup of craft cocktails from one of the city’s most amazing bars, and enjoy the live music for which New Orleans is known.
Then dig even deeper by visiting the Bywater neighborhood, home to a unique mix of art with unbelievable murals on each street, and stop at Bacchanal Wine for a snack, sip, and a song or two. While here, one thing to remember: always look around at the architecture that makes up this one-in-a-million, music-loving city.
We obviously couldn’t get through an article like this without mentioning one of the ULTIMATE beautiful cities of the United States! No place compares to New York City. Here is where you’ll find an incredible melting pot of cultures, neighborhoods, languages, and styles.
A walk down any of Manhattan’s streets is always an intriguing experience. Classical buildings rub shoulders with the ultra-modern ones, constantly remolding the city’s identity.
When in town, you have many Broadway shows to choose from, visit some of the most incredible museums, stroll through Central Park, eat the best bagels NYC has to offer, and don’t even get us started on the cuisine! Drink at a speakeasy, catch a Yankee game or a US Open match and start wondering why you haven’t moved here yet.
Savannah is one of those beautiful cities that stands out from the rest because you also get the feel of the countryside while there. It’s peaceful, letting you have a laid-back vacation away, and the cobble-stoned pathways and antique buildings have rich histories. So, don’t miss these marvels while visiting, and you’ll learn lots about the intricate heritage the city has to offer.
It’s got that old-world Southern charm, where horse-drawn carriages drive down cobblestone streets lined with allegedly haunted antebellum architecture, taking you back to the 1700s. The riverfront exudes romance, and the city’s parks and squares are filled with towering oak trees trickling Spanish moss, as well as antiques from the Civil and Revolutionary Wars.
The sun, sand, and celebrities are often what make Los Angeles a place everyone wants to see in real life. Start off at the Hotel Erwin’s rooftop in Venice for an expansive picturesque view of the entire city, then explore everything from the ocean to the mountains as you drive across one of America’s most beautiful cities.
LA’s famous traffic will probably slow you down a bit, but make sure you head to Malibu for a surfing session, and make a pit stop at the Getty Museum. Then step in the stars’ footprints at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, and blow your shopping budget on Rodeo Drive. Also, head over to Anaheim for a chance to pilot the Millenium Falcon at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge universe.
One of our country’s most beautiful cities, glorious Washington, DC, just keeps getting better. The National Mall is truly a sight to see. The Capitol building stands proud at one end, while the Lincoln Memorial at the other, and the various Smithsonian museums flanking the sides.
See them all if you have the time and you won’t be disappointed! Beyond politics, monuments, and museums, DC boats some cool, emerging neighborhoods like the Wharf, where you should try out Officina or Del Mar de Fabio Trabocchi, and the Southeast, which is where the Nationals play ball, and craft beer dominates at Bardo Brewing and Bluejacket closeby.
Things are constantly sizzling in the Miami area, where Latin beats and eats swirl in an Art Deco lover’s dream. South Beach is the spot for laying in the sun all day on the white sand and hopping from restaurants to clubs throughout the night. The active, touristy strip of Ocean Drive has been closed off to cars and converted into a pedestrian-only area.
It’s allowed restaurants to take over sidewalks, spill onto the street, and give rollerbladers and cyclists the perfect space to cruise safely. Art Basel Miami offers a swirl of creative installations, parties, and intellectualism for the true lovers of art.
History and modern times are joined at the hip, making Boston one of the most beautiful cities in the US. It’s the place where federal architecture goes back to the 1600s, and cobbled-stone streets meet glass-enclosed shopping galleries. And speaking of architecture, make sure to see the famous Back Bay row houses that are eye-catching and a must-see.
From chowder to lobster rolls, the city also loves its seafood. So while here, visit the city’s best raw bars and lobster shacks. Uncover Boston’s past while enjoying its modern edge. Enjoy the brewmasters, pedal-powered swan boat rides, or high-speed catamaran whale watches. Shop artisanal markets or chic boutiques.
Spend the afternoon at a sidewalk cafe or dine at one of the popular food trucks found throughout the city. Enjoy star-studded concerts, some under the stars, and take a stroll on the vibrant waterfront or cruise the historic harbor. There’s always something to do in Boston.
Did you know that the first shots of the Civil War were actually fired in Charleston? War cannons and memorials decorate the city’s parks as a constant reminder of its torrid history, alongside elaborate fountains and beaches. The French Quarter and Battery districts are filled with Southern history, with their pastel antebellum houses and rooftop bars loved by Charleston’s locals.
Former plantation houses like Middleton Place respectfully tell the city’s slave-era history. This place is truly one of America’s most beautiful cities, steeped in the nation’s history while boasting a thoroughly modern attitude toward the arts, culture, and cuisine. City Market sells the city’s signature sweetgrass baskets, and dinner at chef Sean Brock’s Husk is an incredible experience.
Many people state that this is one of the most beautiful cities in California. We might have to agree! San Diego has the very best all-around weather across America, with its 70-degree temperatures, low humidity, and sunny skies all year long.
Add in that beautiful bay and its beaches, the famous zoo and the disarming madness of Comic-Con International, the annual Godzilla of comic conventions that brings out cosplay enthusiasts by the thousands every July, and it’ll become impossible not to love this wonderful California city. It’s a foodie’s heaven with the seafood and Mexican cuisine cooked to perfection here.
While others flock to Pechanga and Viejas, the two posh Native American casinos nearby. Kids come for Legoland, and everyone hits KAABOO, the massive music, art, comedy, and culinary festival taking place in September.
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View Comments
No Philadelphia?
You should put Pittsburgh ,Pa, on the list.
Not San Francisco?!
I like the list in general, but I didn't know that you intended to include relatively small cities like Charleston and Savannah. The One Giant Omission is San Francisco which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in The World.
Thank you for those lovely cities. I am a native of Chicago and enjoyed your view of
the city. I now live in South Carolina and enjoy visiting Charleston and Savannah in
Georgia. I am familiar with most of these cities and your description of them makes
one wish to visit. Luckily I have a son living in San Diego which gives me a reason to
visit.
I've seen and lived in both the New York and Las Angeles area and they are concrete jungles and not lovely! You would have to be in a park itself to make sense, but most of those cities by and large are sad and tragic! Wonderful theater and arts culture for both, but Charleston, South Carolina they are not.
You are CORRECT. LA is a PIT. As in armpit YUK
Agree with You. I have been to 10 of the cities.
I didn't see Pittsburgh, PA on the list. Having lived there in the 40's and 50's when the steel industry made it a smokey, sooty, malodorous city, more recent visits reveal a clean and picturesque vista with the three rivers and rolling hills overlooking the confluence. I look forward more to the aerial views of Point Park during Steeler games than the games themselves. Beautiful!!
I agree with you wholeheartedly!! Grew up not far from the Steel City.
At least 2/3 of the cities on your list, I would not go if I had free airfare and accommodations to them.
Miracle Mile Beautiful - but the Crime and killings weekly -ypu dont want to be there
How about Newport News ,Virginia: best small community in America
Yes ,I agree completely the cities are wonderful.
Have you been to these cities lately? I have been to all of them. The crime in some is out of control. San Francisco used to be the most beautiful, like a European city. Now it's not even on the list. Everyone knows why. I would agree with San Diego, Charleston and Savannah and Boston. Very sad to see what years of liberal mayors have done to many once great cities, in my humble opinion.