I’m a city girl. (At least, 57% of me is. The other 43% or so belongs to small towns and the countryside, respectively.) I love cities for their character and personality. Each one is different and unique, with its own charming quirks. And while I haven’t been to every major city in America, I’ve been to enough of them to start having favorites. From my home city of Milwaukee, to the great NYC, here are some of my favorite cities to visit in America.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Obviously, my home city is going to be my mostest favoritest; one of the greatest cities to visit in America. (In my completely unbiased opinion, why do you ask?) Nothing can beat Milwaukee’s industrial charisma. Built on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is full of picturesque scenery and tons of things to do. There are hiking trails, a variety of museums, unique, classy hotels, and so much more!

Where to visit

• Milwaukee Public Market: a great place to experience the culinary wonders of the city.
• Pabst Mansion: an important part of historic Milwaukee, and a great place to experience the heritage of the city.
• Milwaukee Art Museum: located right on Lake Michigan, this art museum is itself a work of art, built to resemble a bird in flight.
• Discovery World: the perfect interactive science museum for families with kids of all ages.
• Bradford Beach: a popular spot to relax (or play volleyball) in the summer.
• The Harley-Davidson Museum: a great place to experience Wisconsin’s great contribution to the world of motorcycling.

Chicago, Illinois

Another great Midwestern city, Chicago is full of fun attractions, from the Field Museum to Navy Pier. I’ve been to Chicago hundreds of times, as I only live around an hour away. My favorite place to visit? Chinatown, where I get my kawaii plushies and boba tea.

Where to visit

• The Field Museum: a massive museum dedicated to natural history, with iconic exhibits such as Sue the T. Rex.
• Adler Planetarium: a great attraction for space enthusiasts.
• Navy Pier: a great place to visit in the summer, featuring shops, places to eat, and dozens of attractions, including a Ferris Wheel!
• Millennium Park: an icon of Chicago, this park features a famous art installation dubbed “The Bean,” a perfect spot to take photos.
• Chinatown: full of shops and restaurants, Chinatown is a destination you don’t want to miss!

New York City, New York

New York City is an icon of America. Classy, elegant, vibrant, and everything in between. This city is full to the brim of things to do. There are museums of all sorts, featuring artifacts and art known all over the world. (My personal favorite museum is The MET, so massively huge that I promise you that you won’t be able to get through it in a day.)

But museums aren’t all. There are parks, landmarks, monuments, and so much more. Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, and The Chrysler Building are just a small fraction of things to see in this enormous city. For those who can brave the large crowds and are attracted to the business and bustle of a big city, NYC is one of the best cities to visit in America.

Where to visit

• Brooklyn Bridge: a beautiful, iconic, bridge with a pedestrian walkway, perfect for photo opportunities.
• Grand Central Terminal: from a whispering gallery to a zodiac constellation ceiling, Grand Central Station is a great (free!) attraction in NYC.
• The Chrysler Building: a classic example of Art Deco architecture.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: a massive museum featuring art from all periods of time and all corners of the world.
• 9/11 Memorial: a memorial, consisting of the North and South Pools, remembering the lives lost during the 9/11 attacks.
• Rockefeller Center: a great place to go shopping!
• The Oculus Center: shopping mall and architectural marvel.

Nashville, Tennessee

I LOVE Nashville. I’m a huge country music fan. And country music fans go hand in hand with Nashville. From the Country Music Hall of Fame to Honky Tonk Highway, the streets of Nashville are filled (often quite literally) with the sounds of country music. Even if you hate country music, Nashville will still have something for you.

Where to visit

• Country Music Hall of Fame Museum: featuring relics of country music (guitars, costumes, etc.), as well as the Hall of Fame Rotunda, featuring the greatest names in country music.
• The Parthenon at Centennial Park: a full scale replica of the Parthenon from Athens, featuring a museum and a statue of the goddess Athena.
• The Goo Goo Cluster Store: the perfect place for chocolate lovers, this store is home to Nashville’s very own Goo Goo Cluster.
• Honky Tonk Highway: a stretch of honky tonks and neon signs located on Lower Broadway.
• Hatch Show Print: a print shop known for making iconic music posters for the city of Nashville.
• The Johnny Cash Museum: a museum featuring artifacts and exhibits from the life of the great Johnny Cash.
• RCA Studio B: a recording studio known for developing what is known as the “Nashville sound.” Artists who recorded music here include Elvis Presley and Chet Atkins.
• Ryman Auditorium: world-famous auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Phoenix, Arizona

If you’re looking for a warm city to visit, look no further than Phoenix. Built in the middle of the Arizonan desert, you can’t get much warmer than this. Phoenix is full of unique destinations and beautiful desert scenery. From mountains to museums to adorable shops, Phoenix has so much to do, making it one of the best cities in America. You can visit Phoenix all-year round, but if you want to avoid the scorching heat, the best time to visit would be during late autumn or winter.

Where to visit

• Musical Instrument Museum: a great place for music lovers, featuring thousands of unique instruments from all over the world.
• Desert Botanical Garden: displaying the beauty of desert flora.
• Camelback Mountain: great for hikers looking for panoramic views of the desert landscape.
• Taliesin West: an architectural landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• Heard Museum: discover the heritage and art of the American Indian tribes of the Southwest.
• Castles N’ Coasters: a fun amusement park for all ages!

Rapid City, South Dakota

For those who want a smaller city with just as many things to do, Rapid City is perfect. Situated in the picturesque Black Hills of South Dakota, Rapid City is located near iconic American landmarks, such as Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Visiting Rapid City is like stepping into a Western film, with all the appropriate scenery and people with cowboy hats. Known as “The City of Presidents,” Rapid City is full of adventures.

Where to visit

• Mt. Rushmore: an iconic American landmark, featuring the faces of four great American presidents.
• Custer State Park: a great spot to view wildlife and take in the beautiful scenery!
• Crazy Horse Memorial: visit the museums and see the monument as it is being built!
• Fort Hayes Chuckwagon: a film sight for the Western, Dances With Wolves, Fort Hayes is a great place for the entire family to visit!
• Dinosaur Park: a fun park featuring life-sized concrete dinosaur sculptures!
• President statues: walk around the block of downtown Rapid City to see the statues of all of America’s presidents!

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is a historic American city, having played a key role in the making of the nation. From Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was approved, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Rocky triumphantly ran up the steps, Philadelphia is full of things to do and places to visit, making it one of the best cities in America. And don’t forget to try a Philly cheesesteak!!!

Where to visit

• Philadelphia Museum of Art: home of the famous “Rocky Steps” and statue, as well as several well-known works of art by artists like Van Gogh and Monet.
• Independence National Historic Park: featuring Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other historic monuments.
• LOVE Park: celebrating the City of Brotherly Love, LOVE park contains a reproduction of Robert Indiana’s 1970 LOVE sculpture.

Conclusion

The United States of America has so many cities, and all of them have their bright spots. I hope you enjoyed this post. Happy adventuring!