Come over here to New York City. It is possibly the most renowned city in the U.S. with many landmarks and things to do and yes, it does get hot during the summer here.
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Which is the best southern US city to visit?
- Thread starter Cromulent
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I also vote for Austin...after all, I'm English and lived there for 8 years.
PLUSES:
1. Great nightlife scene, especially if you are young(er).
2. Cool, friendly people. Lots going on outdoors.
3. OK cultural scene. Pretty good museums - the State Capitol - Various cultural things attached to the huge University in town.
4. Definitely hot enough for you.
5. Great food.
6. No dodgy areas in the city.
MINUSES:
1. Pretty poor public transport. (somewhat mitigated by the purchase of a cheap bike.)
2. Pretty far from everything (except SA is close, so are some places to hike/camp or river raft)
3. Kinda spread-out city (see #1). The interior of town is pretty accessible by bike, but as for tourist-related things...
OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
Since it will be summer, quite a few Northern cities will also be quite hot. Chicago is a good example. Excellent city, good public transport - but definitely has dodgy areas. Minneapolis is also pretty cool.
Although not going to be as hot as you'd like, I'd also recommend Seattle and Portland. Excellent, progressive cities - with a lot to do. I currently live in Portland, so would be happy to answer any follow-up questions and even show you around if you came here.
As for housing - check around craigslist.org (for the city you're interested in) and you can probably work out a cheap short-term living situation which will be so much cooler that an hotel.
PLUSES:
1. Great nightlife scene, especially if you are young(er).
2. Cool, friendly people. Lots going on outdoors.
3. OK cultural scene. Pretty good museums - the State Capitol - Various cultural things attached to the huge University in town.
4. Definitely hot enough for you.
5. Great food.
6. No dodgy areas in the city.
MINUSES:
1. Pretty poor public transport. (somewhat mitigated by the purchase of a cheap bike.)
2. Pretty far from everything (except SA is close, so are some places to hike/camp or river raft)
3. Kinda spread-out city (see #1). The interior of town is pretty accessible by bike, but as for tourist-related things...
OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
Since it will be summer, quite a few Northern cities will also be quite hot. Chicago is a good example. Excellent city, good public transport - but definitely has dodgy areas. Minneapolis is also pretty cool.
Although not going to be as hot as you'd like, I'd also recommend Seattle and Portland. Excellent, progressive cities - with a lot to do. I currently live in Portland, so would be happy to answer any follow-up questions and even show you around if you came here.
As for housing - check around craigslist.org (for the city you're interested in) and you can probably work out a cheap short-term living situation which will be so much cooler that an hotel.
I have many European friends (I've lived in Europe for years) and the one thing they don't understand until they visit is the size of our country. There are very few American cities that are worth a trip unto themselves, and not all of them would be 35C in the summer. You might consider Los Angeles or San Francisco, the former much warmer than the latter in the summer. I'd recommend Seattle as well, unless the warm temperature is very high in your priorities. Chicago's Art Institute is wonderful, and Atlanta's High Museum is quite nice. The east coast is closer to you, and I'm sure that New York would be warm enough for you in the summer. It is has an embarrassment of riches.
Good luck in your planning!
Good luck in your planning!
I'm in Charleston, and definitely recommend it if you're looking to see historic things and go to the beach...it's definitely plenty hot in the summer. There are quite a few clubs and bars downtown, but you'll probably want to be within walking distance of them, which can definitely get expensive.
I'l second (or third) the other recommendations for Washington D.C. It's not the south by most standards, but it's a great place to party, see historical things, and especially museums. You can probably find an apartment for a month by checking on Craigslist or a similar Washington apartment finder. There are plenty of neighborhoods for clubbing, which aren't too far from the areas of monuments and museums. Don't worry, it's warm too in the middle of the summer.
New York, Chicago (my favorite US city), Los Angeles, and San Francisco would also be great vacation destinations. You're more likely to find short term housing (1 month) in a larger city. That being said, Charleston is somewhat of a college town, and during the summer there is no shortage of people trying to rent out their apartments for the summer.
EDIT: Whoops. One more thing to mention (as a negative for Charleston) is that there is a serious lack of public transportation after hours. During the day you can get around using the buses (especially the downtown shuttles), but after hours there will be no taxis, buses or anything to get you home if you need it. You can always phone a taxi and they'll come pretty quickly. You might consider hiring a car so you can see all the sights around the city that public transport wouldn't go.
I'l second (or third) the other recommendations for Washington D.C. It's not the south by most standards, but it's a great place to party, see historical things, and especially museums. You can probably find an apartment for a month by checking on Craigslist or a similar Washington apartment finder. There are plenty of neighborhoods for clubbing, which aren't too far from the areas of monuments and museums. Don't worry, it's warm too in the middle of the summer.
New York, Chicago (my favorite US city), Los Angeles, and San Francisco would also be great vacation destinations. You're more likely to find short term housing (1 month) in a larger city. That being said, Charleston is somewhat of a college town, and during the summer there is no shortage of people trying to rent out their apartments for the summer.
EDIT: Whoops. One more thing to mention (as a negative for Charleston) is that there is a serious lack of public transportation after hours. During the day you can get around using the buses (especially the downtown shuttles), but after hours there will be no taxis, buses or anything to get you home if you need it. You can always phone a taxi and they'll come pretty quickly. You might consider hiring a car so you can see all the sights around the city that public transport wouldn't go.
Bollocks! I used to live there, and although it wasn't really my scene, lots of people come to the Phoenix area for year-round warm weather. There's something for everyone out there. If you want the youthful clubbing artist-type scene, head to Tempe. Mill Avenue, between University and the Rio Salado Parkway, has lots of nice clubs and restaurants, as well as artsy stores (my favorite restaurant/pub, Roula Boula, is down there). It's right next to ASU so it's where all the college students hang out. If you want something more sophisticated and upper-crust, go up to Scottsdale. Lots of expensive hotels/spas, fancy boutiques, and expensive restaurants. You'll definitely spend more than $2000 up there, though. Lots of great hiking and nature appreciation places out there, but summer is not the time for hiking in Phoenix. Strenuous activity in such intense heat can be deadly.
If the heat gets to be too much, Flagstaff is only 2 hours to the north up in the mountains. The temperature up there is usually a good 20+ degrees cooler than in Phoenix. And of course, don't forget the Grand Canyon, which is just a little farther north.
If you want to see the ocean and beautiful beaches, Punto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico is only 5 or so hours to the south of Phoenix. If you're driving into Mexico, however, it's always advisable to get extra insurance. There are lots of places in Phoenix that can help you with that.
So anyway, even though Phoenix isn't my choice of vacation destinations, it has a lot to offer to someone who is looking for a vacation in a hot dry place. Lots of great Mexican food too, of course...
EDIT: Several people have also recommended Charleston, SC as a good vacation spot, and I heartily agree. It's a very old city that's chock-full of history. Visiting Charleston is like stepping back in time.
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I vote for atlanta
I vote for atlanta
Although not technically the South [depending on who you ask], I'll vote for the Mid-Atlantic area - DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all nearby, so you'll have three cities' worth of nightlife and monuments to plunder. The countryside is pretty varied, too. You'll find farmland, mountains, ocean/beach, and theme parks all within easy reach. You could spend a couple days just wandering through the various Smithsonian buildings in DC.
Plus, you're only a couple hours away from NYC. I could sit at a cafe in Washington Square and people watch a day away any time.
Plus, you're only a couple hours away from NYC. I could sit at a cafe in Washington Square and people watch a day away any time.
Savannah
Georgia of course!
I second this! I loved Savannah and it was plenty warm.
But to add another option...
I'm biased, but I think Portland, Oregon is one of the best cities in the US. It gets hot in the late summer, but even in August there is a chance it will dip down into the 70's (20's c). It has good public transportation, night life, and touristy things to do. You could also hop on an Amtrak train up to Seattle quite easily.
A couple people mentioned St. Louis, but there's really not much here. It's certainly not a place where I'd spend a month if I were on vacation. Then again, maybe I'm just saying that because everything here is "been there, done that" for me.
Plus, our public transportation is virtually nonexistant. Our rather small Metrolink system stops at some of the more popular places downtown, but out in St. Louis County, it really doesn't go anywhere too useful. You'd need to rent a car to really get around the St. Louis area.
And with Highway 40 (the main highway that goes across St. Louis City and County) closing for the next 2 years for a massive construction project, you will really need to know your way around the area and know all the side streets to get to places. People who aren't from the area are really going to have a tough time getting around with highway 40 closed (they better have a damn good GPS and sense of direction).
Plus, our public transportation is virtually nonexistant. Our rather small Metrolink system stops at some of the more popular places downtown, but out in St. Louis County, it really doesn't go anywhere too useful. You'd need to rent a car to really get around the St. Louis area.
And with Highway 40 (the main highway that goes across St. Louis City and County) closing for the next 2 years for a massive construction project, you will really need to know your way around the area and know all the side streets to get to places. People who aren't from the area are really going to have a tough time getting around with highway 40 closed (they better have a damn good GPS and sense of direction).
Well, if you don't mind a city not being "southern," NYC has to be it. I love Chicago and DC also, but NYC is IT! Only problems being that while it will be warm in the summer, it might not be 35 C, and it is expensive.
As far as Austin--too spread out. Remember he specified good public transport--Texas is still learning that "public transportation" does not mean a Suburban, Escalade, or 20 guys with shotguns in the back of an F-150.
As far as Austin--too spread out. Remember he specified good public transport--Texas is still learning that "public transportation" does not mean a Suburban, Escalade, or 20 guys with shotguns in the back of an F-150.
I've lived in both cities. Dallas/Fort Worth has great museums but isn't much to look at otherwise. New Orleans is great for debauchery, especially at Mardi Gras
Having been to most of the cities recommended on a brief road trip (and living in Dallas) I would suggest New Orleans.
You could go just about anywhere in the United States during the summer months and get temperatures above 35C (aside Alaska, of course). The largest cities throughout the "south" I can remember going to during the summer months have been Louisville, Knoxville, Virginia Beach, Washington DC, and Cincinnati. Virginia Beach is really nice and gets my vote over any. If you really want a lot of museums then Washington DC for sure, but I have found they have some of the least friendly people there (not to be insulting). If you're going to Virginia Beach and got a beach front hotel it would probably be about $4,000 for a months stay.
I'd add the Bay Area to that (especially San Francisco). It very rarely reaches 95F in SF itself, and even for most of the summer in the outside areas, average temps are between 75 and 85F (unless you go travel ~30 miles east and head towards the valley). SF stays between 65 and 75F for most days of summer.
If you're serious about the warmth requirement, I'd vote for New Orleans. While it won't quite be <35C (~95F), it can easily be 90F with 90% humidity for most of the summer. There's plenty to do, and now that the streetcars are running along (most of) St. Charles again, it's easy to get from uptown to downtown. The buses also run pretty regularly, and the city is plenty easy to bike around in, there are plenty of options for rentals or picking up a cheap used bike - although in July & August, be prepared to sweat buckets while biking. Downtown is the French Quarter, with Bourbon Street and all that, nightlife aplenty, there's also Frenchman and the Maringny, great for music.
How much you'll need for the month will definitely depend on where you're planning to stay and how extravagantly you're planning to eat - there are plenty of great, cheap places, but there are also plenty of restaurants where you can (easily) spend $50/person, before drinks, for dinner.
I'm at school at Tulane right now, which is in uptown NO, which has it's own set of bars/restaurants/nightlife. There are museums in NO, and plenty of guided tours, etc of the Garden District & Quarter.
Otherwise, if you're just looking to come to the states, I'm from NY and there's plenty to do in NYC for a month - and the options for cheap accommodations are probably a little greater (unless you choose to sublet in NO for a month) as long as you don't mind hostel-type rooms. Public transportation in NYC is the best & cheapest in the world ($2 will take you from the top of the Bronx to Coney island), and there are plenty of museums/monuments/etc in the city to occupy you for a month. Same thing goes for nightlife.
If you want more info, especially on NO, feel free to PM me and I can point you in the direction of more information.
How much you'll need for the month will definitely depend on where you're planning to stay and how extravagantly you're planning to eat - there are plenty of great, cheap places, but there are also plenty of restaurants where you can (easily) spend $50/person, before drinks, for dinner.
I'm at school at Tulane right now, which is in uptown NO, which has it's own set of bars/restaurants/nightlife. There are museums in NO, and plenty of guided tours, etc of the Garden District & Quarter.
Otherwise, if you're just looking to come to the states, I'm from NY and there's plenty to do in NYC for a month - and the options for cheap accommodations are probably a little greater (unless you choose to sublet in NO for a month) as long as you don't mind hostel-type rooms. Public transportation in NYC is the best & cheapest in the world ($2 will take you from the top of the Bronx to Coney island), and there are plenty of museums/monuments/etc in the city to occupy you for a month. Same thing goes for nightlife.
If you want more info, especially on NO, feel free to PM me and I can point you in the direction of more information.
I've heard Myrtle Beach, South Carolina can be fun (beach town). $2k would barely be enough to afford a cheap motel for a month. You'll really need to research motel/hotel prices of wherever you decide to visit and plan accordingly.
I've grown up and lived in the south my entire life and have been to almost every single major city that there is. In order to gain the entire experience I would suggest the following which depends on what time of year:
Memphis: First weekend in May is the Beale Street Music Festival great time good party lots of great bands, also that part of Memphis is pretty cool, but crime is pretty bad.
Austin: Pretty much all the time great city, but more artsy then southern. Still great place and fun people. 6th street is fun and there is a ton of stuff going on all the time.
San Antonio: You can visit here anytime and stay on the river walk. This is a great area and you can have a good time here any weekend of the year.
Dallas/Fort Worth: I live in this area and we love it. Dallas has some hot women and great places to visit. Fort Worth will give you that feeling of how the west is. Great place to visit or live.
The ozark mountains in Northwest Arkansas: Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, this area is great. Beautiful place to visit and plenty of outdoors stuff to do as well. Fall is usually the best time of year to visit. I call this place home and wish I could find a job there.
New Orleans: I different type of south and a way different type of culture, great place to visit year round. You should really check out the culture here.
Other great cities in the south are: Nashville, TN Biloxi, MS Mobile, AL
Memphis: First weekend in May is the Beale Street Music Festival great time good party lots of great bands, also that part of Memphis is pretty cool, but crime is pretty bad.
Austin: Pretty much all the time great city, but more artsy then southern. Still great place and fun people. 6th street is fun and there is a ton of stuff going on all the time.
San Antonio: You can visit here anytime and stay on the river walk. This is a great area and you can have a good time here any weekend of the year.
Dallas/Fort Worth: I live in this area and we love it. Dallas has some hot women and great places to visit. Fort Worth will give you that feeling of how the west is. Great place to visit or live.
The ozark mountains in Northwest Arkansas: Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, this area is great. Beautiful place to visit and plenty of outdoors stuff to do as well. Fall is usually the best time of year to visit. I call this place home and wish I could find a job there.
New Orleans: I different type of south and a way different type of culture, great place to visit year round. You should really check out the culture here.
Other great cities in the south are: Nashville, TN Biloxi, MS Mobile, AL
New Orleans I'd recommend for the restaurants alone. The only drawback is that it can be extremely dodgy. You also have to be OK with the sub-tropical humidity.
I'd personally take a road trip through the southwest. New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, etc. and end up somewhere in Southern California. It's hot, dry and the scenery is gorgeous.
Don't forget to try Mexican food. You can't get that in Old Blighty.
Only Germans go to Death Valley in the middle of the summer.
I'd personally take a road trip through the southwest. New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, etc. and end up somewhere in Southern California. It's hot, dry and the scenery is gorgeous.
Don't forget to try Mexican food. You can't get that in Old Blighty.
Only Germans go to Death Valley in the middle of the summer.
i love miami, i have family there, so i might be a little biased, but seriously, there is a lot to do there!!!!