Los Angeles
Los Angeles is on almost everyone’s travel bucket list, thanks to it being the epicentre of the world of entertainment. However, in addition to concert halls, observatories and Universal Studios, Los Angeles also has one other thing in spades, and that’s traffic. Sometimes called the most gridlocked city in America, it’s only a worthwhile destination for people who love drive-thru and being stuck between radio stations.
Napa
Napa is deep in wine country, and so is usually thought of as a beautiful escape full of sprawling orchards, pleasant weather and romantic villas. Unfortunately, the city has done almost too good of a job marketing itself, and so it is often crowded and rowdy during the summer months and desolate and disappointing outside of peak wine season.
New Orleans
There’s no denying that New Orleans is full of life, excitement and culture, with the French Quarter, Mardi Gras and food that cannot be beaten. Unfortunately, locals and long-term residents report that the city isn’t as go-go-go as tourists might think, with the area becoming much less fun and action-packed during the working week.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city with scores of amazing landmarks, unique architecture and vibrant history. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive places to live in the entire United States, and so much of the grassroots organisation and culture that once made it such a hotbed of creativity has fizzled out in recent years.
New York City
If you could draw a straight line from the number of nicknames it has to how enjoyable it is, then New York City would be a no-brainer vacation destination. Unfortunately, for as much as there is to do in the Big Apple, it is surprisingly difficult to avoid the tourist traps and find the actually stellar entertainment, food and accommodation.
Boston
Boston has a reputation for being one of the trendiest places in the US, and for good reason. It’s less overexposed than many of America’s major cities, but it still has a thriving music scene, plenty of great food and a lot of art. Unfortunately, Boston seems to resent this reputation, as it was recently called the “least friendly” city in the United States.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, the city in the middle of the desert, is an impossible place sustained by impossible fantasies. To put it plainly: it’s unlikely that you’re going to holiday there and make your fortune, attend the wildest parties of your life or see the most glamorous shows on the planet. In actuality, you’ll probably just spend too much money and eat too much lobster.
Miami
Miami is supposed to offer the best beach vacation anywhere in the country. It allegedly boasts the clearest water, the most exciting nightlife, and the hottest sun. However, what the brochures fail to mention is that it’s also one of the most expensive vacation destinations in the country, and there’s very little to do if you don’t love to party.
Seattle
Seattle was once the city of grunge music and great coffee, with an amazing cabaret and vaudeville scene to boot. However, nowadays it plays host to more tech giants and former hipsters than it does genuinely boundary-pushing art and culture, and the hotel prices reflect that. If you want to visit Seattle in its heyday, you’ll have to ask Silicone Valley to construct a time machine.
Orlando
Orlando is the best city in the United States… if you’re a Disney Adult. However, if the prospect of Mickey Mouse-shaped cinnamon buns, lightsaber construction workshops and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios doesn’t fill you with boundless delight, then you probably won’t get much out of a vacation to Orlando. Except maybe an up-close-and-personal sighting of an alligator.
