Least favorite city you've spent at least three days in

[FSUTribe76]

Everyone wants to talk about their most favorite city, I'm curious about what is everyone's least favorite city. And don't talk about cities you haven't been to or visited once for a day and left. That's not enough of a base to truly know, I mean least favorite city you know a fair amount about which I've arbitrarily said is three days.

For me the worst American city I've spent some time in is Washington DC and by a pretty wide margin. Outside of the monuments and overthetop governmental buildings it's a pretty ugly city. It's basically sitting in a humid swamp and gets more miserable than Tampa or Miami in the Summer. There's no real local cuisine unless you count the pretty bad "half smoke" or the proliferation of Ethiopian restaurants (which ARE very good). Nearby Richmond and especially Baltimore blow it out of the water on the cuisine front. And the people....gah. Somehow the melting pot of DC doesn't distill the mix of a quarter Yankees, quarter Southerners, quarter former and current military and government office staffers, and quarter tourons and come up with something uniquely good. Instead the people take on all of the worst attributes of one another getting the aggressiveness and lack of common courtesy from the Yankees and blending it with the racism and lack of compassion from the hardest right South.

Every time I go to DC I say it will be the last...until I get roped back in for a cheap flight or work and forced back in.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I haven't spent any time in Detroit or any of the other dead or dying Rust Belt cities so I can't use them to compare to DC, but I will say I much preferred Baltimore to DC at least pre-riot. A great aquarium just behind the Georgia and Monterey aquariums, nice seaport front, tons of great restaurants with a nice culture, a lot of great multilevel family "row houses", etc... I've found Baltimore to mainly get a bad rap.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Philadelphia/Wilmington area generally
Don't much care for Atlanta either

 

[JimboNole10]

Orlando. Woof

 

[LesClaypool]

Panama City by a wide margin. It's a total dump and I loathe anytime I have to go there. Sorry locals.

For major cities though, probably Miami.
Atlanta's not all that great either.

 

[TarponSpringsNole]

Boston. Lived and worked there for 5 years. If it wasn't for the people I'd like it just a bit better. Annoying, pretentious, unaffected population.
Absolutely zero reason for me to ever go back and visit.

 

[ShaolinNole]

Palo Alto. Strange city. You'd think it would be really nice, but it always felt odd. Parking lots in shopping centers were always full, but there was never anyone in any stores or restaurants. Perhaps they were parking for commutes or something, but this was basically any time you went by, early morning to late at night.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Colorado Springs

 

[tommynole3476]

Interesting... can't say I've spent a ton of time in a lot of different cities, probably Jacksonville, New Orleans, London, Montreal, DC, Harrisonburg PA, few small towns in MS, Atlanta, Orlando, WPB, Pensacola, Savannah, St Aug, and Charlottesville are all I can think of right off the top.

But the last one I'd go to again? Probably Pensacola or maybe New Orleans; the former is just boring as eff, and the latter was vastly overrated.

 

[bear1claw]

1. Houston
2. Dallas
3. Newark
4. Atlanta
5. Detroit

And to flip it around, top 3:

1. Boston
2. San Francisco
3. Chicago
4. Portland
5. New York

This of course is US-only, going with the pattern of the thread.

 

[cfbfan23]

I spent 6 months in San Antonio back in the late '90s. Was not impressed.

 

[TexaNole]

I actually love DC, especially for professional opportunity. I do agree that Baltimore has a lot more genuine character to it and is overall more fun.

My least favorite that I've been to at all is without question Memphis, but with the "three days" qualification I'd say Jacksonville followed by Philadelphia. Just all three dirty cities (especially Philly) with a saturating sense of despair.

 

[bear1claw]

I actually love DC, especially for professional opportunity. I do agree that Baltimore has a lot more genuine character to it and is overall more fun.

My least favorite that I've been to at all is without question Memphis, but with the "three days" qualification I'd say Jacksonville followed by Philadelphia. Just all three dirty cities (especially Philly) with a saturating sense of despair.

Agree on DC, great town. Yes, it's hotter than hell, and yes the traffic is horrendous, but if you actually stay in the district and use mass transit, it's a great place.

 

[osceola74]

Boston. Lived and worked there for 5 years. If it wasn't for the people I'd like it just a bit better. Annoying, pretentious, unaffected population.
Absolutely zero reason for me to ever go back and visit.

Totally agree with the people comment. I used to travel there quite a bit and they were not necessarily the friendlest group. The best part was several of the restaurant's in the North End.

 

[OHNole43123]

I know many people who absolutely love Portland, OR. I find it to be a depressing city. It is most always raining. The downtown area along the Willamette River is ugly. The people are not friendly and are especially pretentious in their "hip-ness." And it is expensive for what you actually get for your money.

 

[MIKE_G]

Florida...

 

[TexSkills]

Houston

 

[Bobcat07]

Detroit. Yuck!

 

[noleit]

Albuquerque,Miami,Jacksonville and Gainesville. Half of the TV show 'Cops' were filmed in Albuquerque for a reason! Mijami and Jville are massive s-holes with okay fringe areas; whereas Gainesville just really really sucks especially during summer.

 

[runkpanole]

Orlando.

 

[Bubbz]

Miami
New Orleans is close behind.

 

[Fijimn]

There is probably a bit of work-bias because my list contains cities where I was there for not a particularly fun assignment:

Columbus, OH
Cleveland, OH
Cheyanne, WY
Edmonton, Alberta

 

[LesClaypool]

For the people saying New Orleans...did you not eat while you were there? Or are you vegetarians maybe? New Orleans is a global food destination.

I can totally get not liking the city b/c the French Quarter is a dirt hole, or the city proper is a crime-ridden dump, but if you went to New Orleans, ate virtually ANYWHERE, and didn't have some of the best food of your life, I'd be shocked.

 

[runkpanole]

For the people saying New Orleans...did you not eat while you were there? Or are you vegetarians maybe? New Orleans is a global food destination.

I can totally get not liking the city b/c the French Quarter is a dirt hole, or the city proper is a crime-ridden dump, but if you went to New Orleans, ate virtually ANYWHERE, and didn't have some of the best food of your life, I'd be shocked.

When I visit NOLA, I stay away from the Quarter for the most part. So many great places in NOLA away from the Quarter.

 

[AdNole]

I used to travel a lot for business and not sure I could narrow it down to just one. Most of the bad places I have been seem to have a few areas of the city that are ok but do not make up for the overall crappiness of the entire city. Detroit easily tops the list and then in no particular order I would include Milwaukee, Houston, New Orleans and Philadelphia.

 

[Fijimn]

I'm interested why people list Houston. I have lived here for close almost 20 years and thoroughly enjoy it.

 

[AdNole]

I'm interested why people list Houston. I have lived here for close almost 20 years and thoroughly enjoy it.

Since my travel there was for business, I didn't get to see a lot of the city. I was stuck downtown and it seemed to be one of the emptiest downtowns I have ever been in. The ride to my hotel from the airport looked like it was all ghetto between the airport and downtown. I am only relating my own experience there but it sounds like a lot of people share the same opinion.

 

[Fijimn]

Since my travel there was for business, I didn't get to see a lot of the city. I was stuck downtown and it seemed to be one of the emptiest downtowns I have ever been in. The ride to my hotel from the airport looked like it was all ghetto between the airport and downtown. I am only relating my own experience there but it sounds like a lot of people share the same opinion.

Interesting. Since they put Minute Maid and Toyota Center downtown, it's actually very busy -- especially with the addition of Discovery Green. If you came in from Hobby, then you went through the famous Fifth Ward - birthplace of The Ghetto Boys and Southern Rap -- yep, it's the ghetto. But Houston is a large city and, as with all cities, has is share of poverty.

 

[FSUTribe76]

When I visit NOLA, I stay away from the Quarter for the most part. So many great places in NOLA away from the Quarter.

I usually plan the day from most classy to least. Spending the early day at museums or on Royal or Magazine streets. Grab a great sophisticated dinner somewhere. Then start drinking at the Sazerac Bar and/or Twizzlestick Bar with some sophisticated cocktails. Then mosey over to the Carousel Bar for a few more. Then walk up Decatur Street maybe stopping at Tujaques or Molly's then spend some time drinking and listening to music on Frenchmen. When the music winds down or I get bored, I'll go to just off Bourbon for a hurricane at Patty O's then head to Bourbon Street and start on the sugary sweet tourist drinks especially the handgrenades but occasionally a jester. Then if I'm not in mixed company, we'll make it to the strip clubs and watch the sun come up.

 

[NoleNewsIsGoodNews]

Detroit obviously tops the list as it's basically an abandoned slum...but a really underrated terrible city is St Louis...not sure why it does not show up on more worst of lists

 

[FSUTribe76]

Detroit obviously tops the list as it's basically an abandoned slum...but a really underrated terrible city is St Louis...not sure why it does not show up on more worst of lists

Good BBQ, tavern cut pizza, St Louis style pork steak, butter cake and toasted ravioli means that St Louis can never be the ABSOLUTE worst city. Especially compared to boring places with no culture of their own like DC.

I haven't been to Detroit or Columbus but in reading about them, they have little individual character either. Detroits only unique items are square pizza (which looks like a lot of Midwest pizzas) and almond boneless chicken which sounds like a Chinese take on chicken schnitzel.

 

[321Nole]

Rochester, NY in the winter.

Orlando year round.

 

[nolejam99]

Not sure if its my least favorite but surprisingly I didn't love San Francisco. Been there twice and each time for a few days. I enjoyed the food and the giants game I went to but the rest of the city didn't impress me. Maybe my expectation were too high but I preferred going 60 miles north to Napa where people were friendly and the weather was nice.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Guess I'm the only person that's been to Fresno. Felt like I had to watch my back every time I stepped out, hell even in a car at stoplights, face tatted prisoner types would stare you down. Saw a mother walking her sons and dog get slapped down by a guy in broad daylight and bystanders laughed. There was a shootout inside a daycare a block from where I was working downtown, a casino parking lot mugging, and a gang turf shooting all in one day. The hottest girl was shaped like a weeble wobble and had a faint mustachio, but she had a pretty eye and made the softest tri tip torta. Shout out to Carmen! What up gurl? If you readin this, hit a honky up!

 

[Fijimn]

Guess I'm the only person that's been to Fresno. Felt like I had to watch my back every time I stepped out, hell even in a car at stoplights, face tatted prisoner types would stare you down. Saw a mother walking her sons and dog get slapped down by a guy in broad daylight and bystanders laughed. There was a shootout inside a daycare a block from where I was working downtown, a casino parking lot mugging, and a gang turf shooting all in one day. The hottest girl was shaped like a weeble wobble and had a faint mustachio, but she had a pretty eye and made the softest tri tip torta. Shout out to Carmen! What up gurl? If you readin this, hit a honky up!

LOl...what you described is the good area in my hometown of Bako....

 

[TexaNole]

I'm interested why people list Houston. I have lived here for close almost 20 years and thoroughly enjoy it.

In my experience, Houston's either love it or hate it. I lived in the (far) southern 'burbs till I was about 12 and still really enjoy any opportunity to head back there, though I'm admittedly more partial to the San Antonio/Austin corridor.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Not sure if its my least favorite but surprisingly I didn't love San Francisco. Been there twice and each time for a few days. I enjoyed the food and the giants game I went to but the rest of the city didn't impress me. Maybe my expectation were too high but I preferred going 60 miles north to Napa where people were friendly and the weather was nice.

The best parts about San Fran is the food and the proximity to absolutely amazing places like Napa (1 hr), Sonoma (1 hr), Yosemite (3 hrs), Big Sur (2.5 hrs), Monterey (2 hrs), Sausolito/John Muir Woods (0.5 hrs), Pacifica (0.5 hrs), Bodega Bay (1.5 hrs), Point Reyes National Seashore (1 hr), and etc... It's probably the most beautiful area in the US outside of the Four Corners/Big Five area.

 

[FSUTribe76]

In my experience, Houston's either love it or hate it. I lived in the (far) southern 'burbs till I was about 12 and still really enjoy any opportunity to head back there, though I'm admittedly more partial to the San Antonio/Austin corridor.

I've only visited it for a period of time usually for work, but I've always found Houston very blah and uninteresting. Nothing horribly wrong with it so I wouldnt put it on my worst list but I wouldn't want to live there and I definitely do not care to visit.

 

[Fijimn]

That's fair. some of the local chefs have been working hard to change Houston to being more of a destination city. The latest issue of Saveur has an article with Chris Shepherd and Houston. I find to be one of most diverse cities in the south and the cuisine matches that diversity. But the trouble is that the city a very blue-color, busy, work hard play hard type place and does not keep or hold on to architecture or historical places. You have to be pretty much an art connoisseur to say "hey, I have to go to Houston to see the Menil exhibit"

 

[JLORYFSU!]

Detroit obviously tops the list as it's basically an abandoned slum...but a really underrated terrible city is St Louis...not sure why it does not show up on more worst of lists

Did a 3 day business convention in Detroit about 5 yrs ago....what a hell hole....the drive from the airport to my hotel was like a war zone....abandoned buildings everywhere.....