Cities in the states that have a unique experience?

[manlymatt83]

I've traveled a lot. In fact, I've been to almost every major city in the country. But it was at a time where I wasn't really into "going out". I've spent a lot of time hiking - love Arizona, Virginia for the skyline trail/AT, New Hampshire for the Whites, etc. When I travel to cities, it kind of seems like the "same old same old". If you go there on a weekend, you're going out to bars and partying, and even with the locals, it all seems to be the same kind of thing.

Are there any cities in the country that have a truly unique night life? One place I can think of is New Orleans. What else? I live in Boston, if that helps to compare. I haven't spent much time in San Francisco or Portland, and while I hear they're good places, I'd assume the night life and day to day living is similar. Or am I wrong? Any suggestions on new places to try?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Austin Texas has a pretty unique nightlife.

 

[vi edit]

Lexington, KY - Go to Keeneland in October. It's not "nightlife" per se. But it's a range of people ranging from college age, 30 something families, on up to old rich people tailgaiting for hours in church clothes, being totally polite to one another and then going and betting on horses and cheering for them. It's during the day, but totally worth it to experience at least once.

Oh...and bonus points for smoking hot college girls hooched out and drunk in fancy dresses

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Most major cities have some unique quality. New York City, LA, Chicago, Miami... the night life is going to be different in all of them. But the obvious answer is Vegas; nothing in the world compares (for better or for worse).

 

[NuclearNed]

Asheville, NC has a pretty unique feel. I would call it Hillbilly/San Francisco fusion.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Why would you travel to cities? That sounds so unappealing.

What do you define as NOT "same old same old".

It's mostly bunch of steel/concrete/smell and too many people.

Travel to see the nature, not places that people ruined!

 

[NoCreativity]

You could always hit up Detroit for the "Escape from New York" kind of feel.

 

[LevelSea]

Barrow, AK?

 

[BurnItDwn]

New Orleans for sure belongs on that list. It looks like another country, another world.
Asheville is fan-friggin tastic as well, but it still feels like the USA. (We had great fun there in Dec 2014)
Vegas feels very phony, like a superzsied conglomeration of all the crap you see at tourist traps.
Grand Rapids has an awesome night life, but it feels like USA, just happens to have a million awesome brewpubs/beer bars, sort of like Asheville, but without mountains...

 

[BurnItDwn]

Why would you travel to cities? That sounds so unappealing.

What do you define as NOT "same old same old".

It's mostly bunch of steel/concrete/smell and too many people.

Travel to see the nature, not places that people ruined!

Thats one of the best things about Asheville, Smokey Mountains, Cherokee National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc ... Immense natural beauty in every direction

 

[purbeast0]

as mentioned, you simply will not beat vegas in the states for night life.

 

[pete6032]

Why would you travel to cities? That sounds so unappealing.

What do you define as NOT "same old same old".

It's mostly bunch of steel/concrete/smell and too many people.

Travel to see the nature, not places that people ruined!

Nature is mostly plants/bugs/dirt and not enough excitement.

Travel to see the city, not the places where nothing is going on!

 

[BurnItDwn]

Nature is mostly plants/bugs/dirt and not enough excitement.

Travel to see the city, not the places where nothing is going on!

I believe you have "farms" confused wit nature ...

 

[Blackjack200]

Asheville, NC has a pretty unique feel. I would call it Hillbilly/San Francisco fusion.

Cool, my brother lives in Asheville. Now I feel like I never need to go to San Fran.

 

[herm0016]

Boulder, CO and Moab UT are pretty unique. by "night life" do you mean clubbing or what? you should branch out and go to yellowstone or moab.

 

[feralkid]

Unique is an absolute; there is no "pretty unique".

It is or it isn't.

Just a friendly fyi.

 

[Naer]

All cities are unique pal

 

[Vdubchaos]

Nature is mostly plants/bugs/dirt and not enough excitement.

Travel to see the city, not the places where nothing is going on!

Nothing is peaceful and quiet. It's what I enjoy.

I believe you have "farms" confused wit nature ...

To me, farmlands still looks way better than cities.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

hey matt. how ya been?

edit:
i thought sf had a similar feel to boston, just much bigger (and nicer)

 

[xaeniac]

San Francisco is on another level compared to Boston.

 

[maddogchen]

maybe its time you go outside of the country. London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Tokyo...

 

[tynopik]

learn to appreciate the uniqueness of every experience you have

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Austin Texas has a pretty unique nightlife.

How so? It's the same generic bars as any other college town, the fact that you can stagger from one to the other doesn't make it different. Slightly more convenient maybe, but otherwise the same.

 

[Carson Dyle]

The US becomes increasingly homogenized with every passing year. We're a very mobile, intermixed society, with fewer and fewer people staying close to the home town where they grew up.

If you're mostly talking about going out to bars and rubbing elbows with the locals, you really need to get out of the US, otherwise it's pretty much all the same.

 

[manlymatt83]

hey matt. how ya been?

edit:
i thought sf had a similar feel to boston, just much bigger (and nicer)

Good! You?