My "city" doesn't even have a stop light...it is just a cross roads, a post office, a couple of churches and a volunteer fire department.

If you were in my city for one day, and IF you are interested in nature or waterlilies or....possums...I'd reccommend you come see me. :)) Otherwise, I think you would be SOL. :)))

Gee, I could echo much of what Mrsmarv said: transplanted New Yorker . . . love boston . . . live in a rural area. Except I don't have that many specific sites to recommend. People come here a lot to vacation, but mostly to ski, hunt, fish, camp, enjoy the lakes, and breathe our clean air.

As for cities, I'm about 45 minutes from Scranton. Lots of nice Irish bars there . . .

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I enjoy showing our Court House to visitors. The Stained Glass Dome was recently renovated. but this Court Room still has the original 1906 Furniture. It looks like a movie set, it is so unusual.
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Well there's not too much exciting about the city I live BUT if you are will to drive anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, you can have great shopping, beautiful Sierra Mountains, snow skiing, water skiing, the ocean. We are surrounded by quite a bit if you don't' mind driving a little ways.

"Lots of nice Irish bars there . . ."

Kinda like Boston ;o) One of my faves is the Black Rose. Good food, Irish music, and atmosphere (folks swear they're in Dublin)...and DH swears by their Guinness on tap ;o)

If you came to visit me I would suggest coming in May because the cactus are blooming. There is alot to see here and in the surrounding area. We have a hummingbird sanctuary, a chapel on the mountain side which is really nice. Also there is Kartchner Caverns which they say is bigger than Carlsbad Caverns about 20 minutes from here. Tombstone is 20 minutes in another direction. We also have Bisbee about 30 minutes from here where there is an old copper mine and lots of neat shops. Tucson is a little over an hour away. Lots of history in and around our area.

There is nothing to see in my "city", only one traffic light. It's a 2 hour drive to the Ga. coast Jekyll Island and St Simons are nice. Many interesting things to see in Atlanta but it is a 4 and 1/2 hour drive.

My city is a very small town. It used to boast 100 silver mines but now all that's left is history. Very interesting heritage trail if you're interedted in old mining.

I'm about 20 minutes from Pittsburgh and although there is much to see, it's also a city of orange cones...
The view of the city from Mt. Washington is like no other..Also the inclines, 3 rivers, Station Square, great theaters, 2 huge ball parks, University of Pgh. and CMU, lots and lots of big buildings.
St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the largest in the country and is always a fun time in downtown Pgh...And we have the STEELERS!

I would take you to visit the lovely old buildings on our college campus, then to the zoo and to see some historic homes(for which I have done a LOT of sewing). Finally, we would have supper on the beautiful river...complete with a paddle boat cruise to see the city lights come on in the evening!
I also happen to live near a real tourist trap that I could take you to...right Nita?? :^)

Well, all we've got in these parts is the largest mall (amount of retail space) in the US, and Valley Forge Park National park. Within 2 miles of each other.
Enough to occupy anyone for 2-3 days.

THE BEACH,THE Pier,The Harbor,all in S.Calif where the weather is always pleasant!!..I live less than 5 minutes from these.
Kathi

Kennedy Space Center

I'm Holly Springs, NC- there's nothing here but we're 20 min. from Raleigh, 40 minutes from Durham/Chapel Hill. You have to see Duke Chapel and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The nearest beach is about 1 hr. away or so and the mountains are about 3 1/2 hrs. away

Pawprint, I'm an Ohio native, grew up all over, sometimes in the Columbus area, OSU alumni. DS#1 was born in Columbus. I'm with you on their zoo. Wow! You can't even see everything in one day. They constantly improve on it, so there is something new every year. The animal exhibits are great, but the educational information they post for visitors is the icing on the cake. You really learn something there, not just look at the animals. The great ape exhibit is fantastic, my personal favorite. I try to go every time we go back to visit family. If I know of someone going to the area, I recommend the zoo to them.

Now I'm outside Atlanta. Probably the biggest attraction here now is the Georgia Aquarium. But I cannot speak for it, I haven't been yet. I only hear great reviews of the quality of the animal exhibits. The negatives are the crowds and the cost. They allow limited walk-ins each day, but the reality is you need to go on-line and make a reservations days before you plan to go, especially for weekends. Admission is $30 adults, $22 children. I think that's high for a few hours in an aquarium, it would cost me almost $200 for the family.

My personal favorite thing to do in Atlanta is just to go downtown to the Centennial Olympic Park in the summer, take a picnic and let the kids play in the fountains, on Thursdays in summer there are free live concerts. I have some of the best pics of my kids there with the CNN building and international flags in the background. Great way to spend the day in the city. If I'm spending money, I like to go to a show at Fox Theatre.

I live in Connecticut in a town not far away from New York City. Not much to do here but lots to do in the Big Apple.

I live in Long Island (Lawn Guyland). I'd take you to Robert Moses State Park, it's a beautiful, white sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean and only a half-hours drive.

ONCE AGAIN - PLEASE tell us what city AND state you are posting about. I don't know where MOST of these places are - yes, I could google.com them, but it takes away from the train of thought to have to stop and look the city up. Could everyone just type: I live in (city & state), or whatever city + state you are talking about - it's easy!

I live in a Kansas City suburb, and I, too would recommend not staying in the city. We have a very high crime rate in Kansas City - I recommend Lee's Summit, Mo. or Blue Springs, Mo.

We have beautiful parks and lakes in our area. Hiking is the best in our city. We are home to Harry S. Truman, The Kauffman Botanical Gardens, the Kansas City Chiefs football team and the Kansas City Royals baseball team. We have the Kansas City Brigade, a professional indoor arena football team.

Our scenery is gorgeous - we are small enough to be friendly and have the rural flavor, but we are big enough to have a Philharmonic and lots of musical venues, especially jazz.

We are world-famous for our BBQ, we have a theme park called Oceans of Fun and Worlds of Fun, much like Six Flags theme parks.

I-70 runs through the heart of our city, we are at the center point of Mainland USA, and we still know and love our neighbors (most of them!). I guess I would say we are a big town with small town values.

Seattle, WA

Pike Place Market
The Underground Tour
The Seattle Art Museum
The Experience Music Project (music museum)
The Ballard Locks
Seattle Center (The Space Needle)
Discovery Park

Well, I second Whidbey Kathy's suggestion,
and Jenns, too...
BUT, I would leave town and take you to the Quinault Rain Forest!

Fort Worth Texas
Fort Worth stockyards. Tons of history here, see the longhorn cattle crossing 2X a day, ride the Trantula train around town, authentic stone streets, museums, shopping, sit in a saddle chair saloon and enjoy a "colbeer" Take a beer to go as you walk the streets and enjoy the scenery.
Historic hotels, you can stay in a room that was once shared by Bonnie and Clyde.

Billy Bobs. Largest honky tonk in the U.S. bull riding arena, hand prints of all the famous people that have been there, games for kids, shopping, and lots of "colbeer"
Famous name concerts weekly. Just saw B.B King last week.
Texan cowboys for great eye candy, down home dancin'.

Downtown Nite Life.
Local music, outdoor gardens, historic buildings, libraries, wonderful food, indoor ice skating, and lots of "colbeer"

This is just what you can find within 15 minutes of my house.

Did I mention you can find lots of "colbeer" here?

Trin

Jenn, I've spent a lot of time in your city - it is MY choice as the number one city in the USA - beautiful, friendly and CLEAN!

Pawprint - wonderful topic.

Kayjones - oh thank you for requesting the place names, I was lost trying to figure some of them out.

Irishdancersgram - loved your description of my birthplace, born in Pittsburgh, lived in Castle Shannon, marched in the St. Pat's Parade, worked at Krogers, graduated from Pitt, became engaged on top of Mount Washington and my maiden name is Rooney!!!! Go Steelers.

I live in a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia. It's a rather quaint little town with a strong Quaker history and we're only 10 miles from Philadelphia. Elevation 9 feet. I'd take you to Independence National Historical Park where we'd tour the Old Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) where the Declaration of Independence was adopted. We'd see the Liberty Bell (complete with a major crack), the Betsy Ross house, Elfreth's Alley, The Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, oh there are lots of museums!

The National Constitution Center - that's where Clinton and Obama are debating this evening. The Rocky statue near the steps of the Art Museum. The U.S. Mint, the Franklin Institute.

Oh I just realized that I'm cheating. I'm limited to one day. In that case we'd spend the entire day around Independence National Park soaking up all that history, touring the sites and seeing the colonial parts of the city. And then we'd hit the Irish pubs. Slainte!!

In my city I would suggest the Tech Museum and a Sharks game. Kelley Park has a nice historical museum and a Japanese Tea Garden.

Forget the night life, we have overzealous cops who scare the tourists away with their swat attire,bad attitudes and dogs. Our downtown is really quite safe but for them. Driving after dark is a "crime" in our town that tries to call itself a "city".

I would suggest the surrounding areas. San Francisco is an hours drive. Santa Cruz beach and the boardwalk (ride the world's best old coaster) is a must see at 30 minutes away. Monterey is just a bit over an hour. We have some beautiful country minutes away.

I just saw the one day thing also. In that case I'd recommend you use the time to go outside the city or go with the first two sentences of my post.

Come to St. Catharines and enjoy a Winery Tour with lunch in a vineyard, then visit the Welland Canal and watch the ships go through the locks on their journey between the lakes. After, a short drive to quaint Niagara On The Lake for some shopping and a drive along the Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls for sightseeing, museums and the Casino. Then back to Port Dalhousie to watch the sunset over the harbour.
Actually you could easily spend several days here!

Wildchild, San Fran is MY CITY - I have spent many, MANY hours vacationing there - I could never get enough of the city that holds the key to my heart.

I would retire to Seattle (I lived in Beaverton, Oregon), because I love EVERYTHING about it, but San Fran holds some very personal memories of my younger years, and I wouldn't trade them for anything!

Cleveland Ohio

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame....I've seen it once, that was enought
The Cleveland Indians Baseball
Cavaliers Basket Ball
Can't remember the Hockey team

West of Cleveland is Cedar Point Amusement Park. That would take the whole day if you like that. And I do mean the whole day.

Lots of little parks to enjoy and picnic

Lake Erie to watch or fish

Visit Me!

Tami

My city? What city?

We live in an unincorporated area in WNC, but it does have a name, and a PO. Penrose. Good luck finding it on a map! We have kind of tough time finding things for visitors to do, unless they are into waterfalls, rivers, mountains, all sorts of nature stuff. We have MANY beautiful waterfalls, and lovely hiking trails, in the Pisgah and Dupont forests, as well as the Olmstead nature center, which I THINK was designed as a working environment for those who were working on the Biltmore Estate as well as a teaching environment for those interested in forestry. It's an interesting tour.

A walk through downtown Brevard (the closest town) is a walk through the fifties..go to Hendersonville (about 20 miles away (the seventies)..go to Asheville (about 35-40 miles) the eighties-nineties revisited. Lots of panhandlers and traffic. But there are some lovely restaurants there, I am told, and of course Biltmore House. Worth seeing, but expensive by my standards. We went once, about 15 years ago, and were shocked by the price then. Haven't been since.

Carrboro, North Carolina, just west of Chapel Hill a beautiful university town. Carrboro has been called the "Paris of the Piedmont" but it really does not have much in common with Paris.

One thing worth visiting, about a 30-minute drive outside of town, is the Carnivore Preservation Trust. Not a zoo exactly, but a privately owned and operated facility devoted to the rescue of big cats, many of which are endangered. Guided tours can be arranged by reserving in advance. For feline lovers this is a fascinating place.

our actual city, farmington hills mi, is home to the holocaust memorial. we have several parks, an active art community, and the city we surround, farmington, is home to the governor's mansion. there are charming victorian homes in downtown farmington...

now if you'd like to venture further east, visit the detroit tigers, lions, redwings, and pistons. take a class at wayne state univeristy (have a grad there) we have 3 casinos/hotels.

go south to dearborn for a trip into the past at greenfield village and visit ford museum.

west, you can attend college at u of michigan or 74 miles from my door (2 kids are grads) michigan state, the state capitol in lansing.

finally about an hour north is bronners christmas store, in historic frankenmouth....

It is really hard for me to figure out what my "city" would be. When people ask where I live, I give the name of the county seat town the border of which is within a mile of me because they will likely have heard of it. For that town, there is a lovely museum of Japanese Artifacts and fine German porcelein that was donated to the town by a local personality. The street that I live on is within the borders of another named town that has no post office. The only attraction here would be the convenience store that was once a trolly station. My mailing address is of yet another town whose main attraction is the post office.

For excitement, we go to Pittsburgh. There is a lot to see there as others have mentioned. The Phipps Conservatory is a must see as is the National Aviary.

I could think of a lot of reasons NOT to come to Washington, DC, but I sure do know many a reason to come here. I was born and raised in DC. Each city has its flaws but you can't beat some of the attractions we have to offer. DC is a small city in comparison to other city's having the same offerings. So yes, there are issues such as crime and A LOT of traffic. But the city's size probably makes it appear more noticeable than in other city's having the same issues.

I live in MD now but frequently I worked in VA. Every time I travelled across the bridge back into the city, I would become awestruck at the beauty of DC. DC has something for everyone, and I think the focus on this is growing. If you enjoy history, we have the the museums a plenty, including the brand new newseum that just opened, and where else would you be able to sit in the very places that shape and govern our laws. Where else could you experience where these laws are created and legislated, and watch first hand the judicial system at work in the supreme of ALL courts. I haven't been but I understand from others, that the Holocost museum, and the Viet Nam memorial and even the Native American museum are especialy moving. If you enjoy science and aeronautics, NASA and the Smithsonian are hands down, among other places and attractions. If you enjoy music and the arts, there are numerous venues, both indoors and out. No, we don't have Disneyland and -World, but we have the Discovery HQ which is amazing. Come on down and see out nations special attractions at our Zoo. There are also a variety of places to just sit and do nothing but relax on your vacation. Not too far down the pike, you can also day-trip and bask in the sun-drenched beaches. Most cities have a few large attractions, but DC and it's surrounding areas have an awful lot to offer everyone. I think it's a good bet for sure.

I live on Chocolate Bayou between Liverpool and Amsterdam, Texas...not too far from Houston and Galveston. But, like I said before...there is nothing in my "city"...but if you came to see me I would entertain you. :) But...if you aren't easily entertained...Houston and Galveston have plenty to offer.

My city is so small we don'r even have a stoplight but, we do have a 4 way stop. There isn't much going on there. A half hour away is Rochester, Mn home of the Mayo Clinic. They have some fantastic works of art on display. A half hour the other direction is the Mississppi River with cool towns to explore like Red Wing, Frontenac, Lake City.

Ron

hands down, the Tulsa Garden Center, for an unusual eatery, Ollies Restaurant and if you were a bike rider I would take you for a ride on the river trails. :)

Moni

I live on the beautiful central coast of California in the little town of Nipomo. We had the historical Dana Adobe, fields and fields of strawberries, a winery that makes primarily Champagne type sparkling wine and one of the best steak houses in the US....Jocko's. There are also many commercial nurseries, several very good golf courses and the Kaleidoscope Inn, a small bed and breakfast place.
Our county, San Luis Obispo, has so many places to see I cannot begin to list them all. My two favorites are Hearst Castle and the elephant seal preserve.

Up here on Vancouver Island I would take you whale watching, then to Cathedral Grove to see trees that are 800+ years old, then up to Tofino to surf in the ocean and then perhaps ask you to look upwards to see all the eagles. Oops, can't forget a walk in the rainforests that surround us either!!

We have a pretty bridge here in San Francisco.

Justlinda, that sounds like my kind of place! I'm booking my flight NOW! Watch for me, ok?!

I I live really close to Providence which is a really nice small city. A favorite thing to do is go to one of the Italian restaurants on Federal Hill. If you go during good weather, you can sit outside and soak in the atmosphere...just like being in Europe. A walk or drive on college hill is a must as well. The architecture and interesting neighborhoods near Brown and RISD are truly amazing.

I think we should hire a big bus and take a tour of all the cities....A big country and lots and lots of great things to see.....Anyone else ready to travel?

I live in Irvine, CA. A fairly large city (200,000+), broken up into 25 neighborhood Villages. I live in Woodbridge, two blocks from one of our two manmade lakes (see link).

Irvine, home of actor Will Ferrell, tennis player Lindsay Davenport and Olympic Gold Metal swimmer Amanda Beard.

A lot of homes, business parks and high-rises but no one major attraction within the city limits unless you count The Irvine Spectrum Shopping and Entertainment Center which is huge and popular.

The ocean (Laguna Beach and Newport Beach) are about 8 miles away. Disneyland is 14 miles. Knott's Berry Farm is about 20.

Great weather, nice people. Come visit!

Jodi-

I guess we would drive to Shanksville and visit the site where United 93 crashed on 9/11. That way you could also see some of the magnificent beauty that is W. PA.

Love the responses!

When I started this, I never thought anyone would have people stay out of their city.
Thats funny!

Most of the places mentioned I've never heard of, which is the main reason I asked. There are many things to see on this earth that are off the beaten path.

I'll remember to stay out of DC!

Iowa-
My city is small and in Iowa it is known as a town. Have a 4 way stop in the middle of Main Street. If a stranger comes into town and asks directions for a street address I just ask who are you looking for. Sounds like Mayberry! We do have really nice,friendly people so we could have a picnic in the park. Iowa folks just love to eat.LOL.
Lois

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California's oldest amusement park founded in 1907. Then the Wharf for lunch or dinner. And also just hang out on the beach and watch the surfers and sea lions.

There is also Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which is California's oldest State Park established in 1902, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. A scenic drive up Hwy 1 on the coast to San Francisco or south to Carmel and Big Sur.

Of course there are a lot of great restaurants and the night scene and any kind of music concerts. Plus tons of shopping. Not to mention all the wineries for wine tasting. Lots to see and do around here.
Clare

No city here, I live outside of town, pop of about 525. Very few businesses around the square. Do have a Veteran's memorial walkway with flags lining it. Families of veterans have bought the flags in memory of their loved ones.

Go 12 mi. east and you can visit Alley Spring Mill and park, also a old one room school house. They have tours in the summer time.

Leaving Alley Springs you will have to back track to take a different on east, as this road going up and out of Alley Springs got a lot of damage from all the rain we've had recently.

Windsor has a lovely waterfront and some beautiful public gardens. Along the riverfront we have the Odette Sculpture Garden that can compete with the best. Our Casino Windsor is now operated by Ceasar's of Las Vegas and a lot of changes have been made inside but we are more than just a Casino city. LOL

If you are interested in history Windsor was a stop on the Underground Railroad and we have the North American Black Historical Museum which is worth going to. There is also the Francois Baby House Museum and Fort Malden is very close by in historic Amherstburg. Windsor was known at one time for its Rum Runners during Prohibition.

You can take a tour of the distillery which makes Canadian Club and have a sample at the end. It used to be known as Hiram Walker's but a European country owns it now. I'm not sure if it is British, German or French owned now. LOL

We have some great Festivals in the summer like the Multicultural Festival and the Blues Fest and Festival Epicure.

We are within a short driving distance to Jack Miner's Bird Sanctuary in Kingsville and also Colosanti's Tropical Gardens. Drive through to Leamington and you will end up at Point Pelee National Park which is the southern most point of Canada. We lost the sand spit last year from erosion but it seems to be coming back. Also in Kingsville you can visit the Barn Sale. 3 barns filled with every collectible item imagineable. Just make sure you leave your coat in the car because the aisles are a tight squeeze. LOL This guy must buy up estate sales because he has anything and everything with items even hanging from the ceilings and every dresser drawer is filled. LOL

Travel the county roads to Leamington and make a few winery stops. Take a tour and taste some ice wines. We have the Colio Winery, D'Angelo Winery and Pelee Island Winery. I think there may be a few other small winery's

Come this June - the Red Bull Air Fight will be performing over the Detroit River. I can't wait for that.

Downtown Windsor has lots of kiddie bars and a couple of nice restaurants and the Casino but that is about it. Oh! Shanfield's China shop is a big hit with US visitors but rarely will you see a Windsorite step in there unless they are hard up to find a piece of china that is discontinued. LOL

We are surrounded by water with a few uninhabited islands and some great marinas - Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie so travel by boat or bring it along with you.

I guess our waterfront is our best asset. The Detroit Skyline is spectacular and we share a world class fireworks display with Detroit over the Detroit River every June/July. We have miles of waterfront to enjoy the view.

We are a good place to visit because we are in close proximity to other interesting places to visit. LOL

We are a foreign country that you don't have far to visit and we are just like you - well almost. You have to leave your firearms at home. Our money is colourful and we carry loonies and twonies in our change purses but we will gladly accept your US Greenbacks. Cross the border by tunnel, or bridge.

Dances and I live here so what more could you ask for. LOLOL

Anne

Southwold, Ontario (near London) has a 5-way "Stop" signed corner, Ron.

Post office is small - about 20' on each side.

There's a building that used to be a store, but now is closed. A truck backs up to the back sometimes and when I ask what goes on there ... they tell me that they raise bait worms.

There's a trucking company about 200 feet south.

The aboriginal settlement nearby is having a big furniture sale next week ... on Ball Park Road. They are not a reservation - part of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Oneidas bought their own land, many years ago.

My landlord would explain how sod-farming works - he says that it takes two or three days for some companies to roll out a trailer-load of sod ... I think about 36 skids ... but his guys and he lay one in one day.

I could show you my garden ... that I must clean up, now that snow's gone.

While I was hitch-hiking to the "Old Farts (Senior Men's) Coffee Hour" at church yesterday, (a young aboriginal woman with a baby in the back seat gave me a ride) I found a lot of beer and pop cans along the side of the road.

We can take a dozen garbage bags, you travelling one side of the road and I running the other ...

... at 10 cents a can recycling fee for beer cans and liquor bottles and about 2 cents scrap price for a pop can ...

... we could collect enough in an afternoon to go out to dinnner ... well, maybe lunch ... (coffee, maybe: if Starbucks, just us, but we could invite some friends if we go to Tim's).

Then home to rub liniment on the sore muscles ... before bed. A bit short of space - there's another single in my bedroom (I'd have to clear the flying clothes off) and a double in the guest room. We could put up another single in the family room.

If there's another person, you could have my bed and I'd use the sleeping bag on the chesterfield (couch) ... or the floor: I think that the air mattress still holds air.

We could take a tour (about two miles away) of Toronto's new "landfill" (that's a double four-letter word for "dump") that's a couple of miles away, over by Highway 401, the Windsor-Toronto-Montreal Expressway. I expect that they'll build a new exit for the 140 or so trucks that will stop travelling to Michigan and drop their stuff near here, in a couple of years.

Nearby London has Storybook Gardens, headquarters of John Labatt Brewery (used to be locally owned ... now somewhere in Europe). They sponsored the civic-owned John Labatt Centre, arena for Junior hockey that provides players for the N H L. There's an Agricultuiral Exhibition Centre, TV station and some flee markets ...oh, something wrong with the spelling, did you say? Used to be a biscuit/candy factory, but they closed. Oh - there's a cookie factory (Archway, Hollandia - similar to Voortmans) in a nearby village - they make great cookies, sometimes have 5-lb. boxes on sale.

There's a motor vehicle licensing testing centre on a highway just on this side of London, should anyone be interested. If you're still around next Monday you could go with me for my next test - but you and my licensed required co-driver would have to sit in the centre, as no one allowed in the car but the tester (and me). When they test guys riding motorcycles, they give the guy being tested a radio collar (sorry - "headset") and the tester rides alongside with a transmitter to give instructions.

Another driver-instruction session slated for after church on Sunday.

Our London has a Thames River ... and ours has two branches, which meet downtown, with parks nearby and the former jail (now a municipal office bulding).

I didn't say that we've become so civilized that we don't need a jail any more.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

ole joyful

Lynn_d, we were just there!! About a month ago! If I'd have know we were that close to you......

I hope they don't ruin the atmosphere there when they build the memorial. I kind of like it the way it is. Yes, we need to remember the people and thier families, but I hope they keep it simple and personal, not elaborate and fancy. It just wouldn't fit, or feel right.

I am enjoying reading about all of your cities.

Tami