The wonderful thing about the USA’s cities is that they are all entirely different. Each of them has their own unique style, quirks, personality and beat. Charleston is known for its rich history and southern charm; Portland, Oregon has hipster style and hangovers thanks to its plethora of breweries (more than any city in the world); Seattle is home to the iconic Space Needles tower (complete with a sky-high Starbucks at the very top); and Savannah is renowned for making iced tea so sweet you’ll be dashing off to your dentist the moment you return home. While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, the USA’s cities lay it on so thick you’ll be hard pressed to stay within your phone’s photo storage limit when you visit. From skyline sunsets and city-wide art instillations to colonial cobbled side streets and grand city halls, the USA’s cities really do live up to the words of the country’s unofficial anthem ‘America the Beautiful’. So, without further ado, here is our list of the most beautiful cities in the USA…
1
Charming Charleston
Small and intimate, but with the offerings and sensibilities of a much larger city, it comes as no surprise that South Carolina’s Charleston tops our list of the most beautiful cities in the USA. Voted as the best city in America by Travel and Leisure readers for nine years in a row, it is constantly lauded for its rich history, hospitable locals, and cobblestone streets lined with pretty pastel-coloured houses and historic colonial-style buildings. A stroll down these romantic rows leaves you feeling like you’ve taken a step back in time. Everywhere you turn, you’ll see couples relaxing on sun-bleached stoups, guests piling into enchanting fairytale churches, and the sound of horse drawn carriages quietly thrumming in the distance. The city’s Lowcountry is not to be overlooked either. Boasting live oaks thick with Spanish moss, secluded seafronts and majestic marshlands, it’s easy to see why author Nicholas Sparks chose to set his cult classic The Notebook here.
2
Scenic San Francisco
Of course, San Francisco had to make the list of most beautiful cities in the USA. Famed for its cable cars, steep streets and characterful quarters, fog-covered San Francisco is nothing if not photogenic. Whether you find yourself in the 210-foot Coit Tower, atop the Twin Peaks, or below the Golden Gate Bridge on Baker Beach, you’re never too far from a picture-perfect view. San Francisco shines all year round too. Never too hot nor too cold, locals can be found picnicking on Alamo Square Park, ambling through the colourful counterculture streets of Haight-Ashbury, which give a true sense of what life was like during the bohemian sixties, and drinking artisan coffee beside contemporary Mission Street murals. It is also home to an eclectic mix of architecture such as the art deco PacBell Building and the Palace of Fine Arts – need we say more…
3
Splendid San Antonio
Easily the most attractive Texan city (and the oldest too) San Antonio is nothing like its younger cosmopolitan siblings. Founded in 1691 by Spanish missionaries, it is home to the legendary Alamo, a symbol of Texan independence, as well as La Villita (Little Town), the city’s original settlement. Now a National Arts District, La Villita’s colourful, cypress-lined waterways, worn humpbacked bridges and terracotta tile buildings are testament to its history. When it comes to contemporary culture, the city’s River Walk is the star of the show. Located below street level beside the city’s teal tributary, it boasts the majority of the city’s dining and entertainment options. Designed to avoid the hot rays of the southern sun, it is the perfect place to enjoy the city’s mission architecture, ogle at young industrial landmarks and bask in the lone star state’s melting pot of culture.
4
Nautical Newport
You didn’t think we’d forget about New England, did you? One of the wealthiest regions in the country, New England is home to extravagant mansions perched atop craggy clifftops and glitzy yachts fighting for mooring space in Narragansett Bay. And when it comes to the area’s crown jewel, Rhode Island’s Newport is the belle of the ball. While it is best known as being a playground for the rich, its tidy well-preserved colonial buildings and quaint cobblestone streets – think Disney World’s Main Street – firmly place it as one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. To truly appreciate Newport in all its nautical glory, go for an amble along the city’s three-mile Cliff Walk, which offers dramatic views over the sweeping shores of Easton’s and Gooseberry Beach, and get into the seaside spirit with afternoon boat rides and yacht lessons.