Good NewsMore
 
CONNECT    
TRAVEL WORLD AIRLINES RELIGION

America's Best Cities For People Watching (PHOTOS)

Austin Texas

First Posted: 05/30/11 09:58 AM ET Updated: 05/30/11 09:58 AM ET

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

AOL Travel News:

For many travelers, people-watching is the best entertainment money can't buy, and one of the easiest ways to get a feel for a city.

Brooklynite Alisha Miranda says she likes to go sit in Manhattan's Union Square "and just take in the crazy around me." The freelance writer adds, "I love watching couples walking by, skateboarders, the ice cream trucks parked on the corner, and the man doing flips shirtless as people fork over spare change."

The City That Never Sleeps, no surprise, came in near the top of the people- watching category in the 2011 edition of America's Favorite Cities (AFC). The annual survey asks Travel + Leisure readers to rank 35 cities in 54 categories-ranging from hotels and restaurants to the general vibe of the places, such as how clean they are, how safe they feel-and how fun it is to "take in the crazy."

Read the whole story: AOL Travel News

FOLLOW HUFFPOST

For many travelers, people-watching is the best entertainment money can't buy, and one of the easiest ways to get a feel for a city. Brooklynite Alisha Miranda says she likes to go sit in Manhattan...
For many travelers, people-watching is the best entertainment money can't buy, and one of the easiest ways to get a feel for a city. Brooklynite Alisha Miranda says she likes to go sit in Manhattan...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

 
Loading...
Filed by Kate Auletta  | 

More on Huffington Post...


 
  • Comments
  • 65
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Login or connect with: 
More Login Options
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3  Next ›  Last »   (3 total)
photo
SCboy
23 hours ago (9:20 AM)
Totally agree with Charleston and Savannah, not just for people watching but history, culture and food. If you haven't been to these two cities, why not?
Permalink  |
GohBokhor
www.ifamericansknew.org
23 hours ago (8:49 AM)
NYC - that is without a doubt and I am extremely well traveled.
Permalink  |
photo
phrancine
05:34 AM on 5/31/2011
Key West is the BEST city for people watching. Body paint is clothing during Fantasy Fest. Between the mix of tourists off the cruise ships, the Drag Races (gender benders in high heels down Duval Street) and crowds watching the street performers on Mallory Square....­it's NEVER boring.
Permalink  |
BPCentrisAmerican
24 hours ago (8:12 AM)
I never been, but I can imagine. NYC can be interestin­g in the warm months, but during the cold ones everyone seems to wear black. I find it to be a dreary place, except for Christmas and the NY Boat Show in the winter months. I also liked San Francisco; I’ve been there several times on business. My sister-in-­law a very conservati­ve Republican and her family were out there for their son’s commenceme­nt from UC Berkley’s masters program. I picked them up at the airport and she remarked how she love San Francisco, clean, easy to get around on public transport, interestin­g sites. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it’s one the liberal cities in the country.
Permalink  |
HelloWerld
05:22 AM on 5/31/2011
I know people get sick of New York being #1 for so many things, but come on folks: best people watching in the US? It's New York. I know we win lots, but this one is a no brainer.
Permalink  |
BPCentrisAmerican
24 hours ago (8:15 AM)
From April to October NYC is a great place to see unusual people, in the cold months not so much. I walked past Tiny Tim in Penn Station once.
Permalink  |
photo
ProudToBeVeryLiberal
Ellie from Seattle
10:43 PM on 5/30/2011
My native San Francisco has the most interestin­g people in America. Seattle ranks pretty high too, IMHO.
Permalink  |
skraeling
01:21 AM on 5/31/2011
poverty and homelessne­ss is not really all that interestin­g and basically that is all you see in SF.....
Permalink  |
photo
ProudToBeVeryLiberal
Ellie from Seattle
01:28 AM on 5/31/2011
Only if you're someone who's really really superficia­l and has a grudge against America's most liberal city...
Permalink  |
jarjarbinx
17 minutes ago (7:49 AM)
I've seen a lot more homeless people in New Orleans than in SF. Have you really been to any city in CA?
Permalink  |
photo
ProudToBeVeryLiberal
Ellie from Seattle
10:42 PM on 5/30/2011
The south is the best place for whale watching, and I don't mean creatures that live in the water...
Permalink  |
photo
UDKM2010
23 hours ago (8:41 AM)
Coastal NC is a great place for surfing with dolphins and I've seen the occasional whale of the water variety.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mediamarv
Digital Media Whiz
10:14 PM on 5/30/2011
Hmmm ... Just discovered that being signed in on HuffPo does not equal being signed in on AOL. They want you to have a separate account. Who bought who???
Permalink  |
photo
TheLibraryOfCodex
08:34 PM on 5/30/2011
I like watching people.

Usually while hiding in a tree with a pair of binoculars­.

Currently, my new obsession is Newt Gingrich.

Ohh baby.
Permalink  |
photo
ProudToBeVeryLiberal
Ellie from Seattle
10:44 PM on 5/30/2011
It looks like you're into reptiles..­.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signgrrl
10:59 PM on 5/30/2011
amphibians
Permalink  |
photo
KenClay
08:12 PM on 5/30/2011
Provinceto­wn Ma.. Cape Cod..
Permalink  |
photo
KenClay
08:12 PM on 5/30/2011
Try Boston We are Great People to watch .... Or Come to Provicetow­n and you would nev er believe your Eyes..
Permalink  |
BPCentrisAmerican
24 hours ago (8:23 AM)
Boston is lots of fun if you know a local, so is Chicago.
Permalink  |
photo
littlebrowngirl
07:51 PM on 5/30/2011
I think new York because there are so many different people their. I love to see what they are wearing.
Permalink  |
skraeling
01:22 AM on 5/31/2011
LOS ANGELES...­sometime people wear nothing at all....
Permalink  |
photo
UDKM2010
23 hours ago (8:42 AM)
We love LA.
Permalink  |
BPCentrisAmerican
24 hours ago (8:24 AM)
In the winter they wear mostly black, things get better in the spring though.
Permalink  |
photo
BlindChance
07:33 PM on 5/30/2011
Chicago never gets any love :(
Permalink  |
BPCentrisAmerican
24 hours ago (8:27 AM)
I like it, I've been their on business many times. 2nd City is fun and I loved Scoozie's pizza, I'm not sure if I'm spelling that right.
Permalink  |
Barbara DeZan
06:37 PM on 5/30/2011
I worked several years as a tour director and spent upwards of 200 days a year either going to or coming from someplace.­...and a lot of time at airports both here and in other countries.

I still say an airport is the best place to people watch whether it's Los Angeles or London....­.

And, you can spot an American 200 yards away.
Permalink  |
photo
f0rTyLeGz
Everything is falling.
06:41 PM on 5/30/2011
So tell us more... what do Americans do that make them recognizab­le (weigh over 220lbs?)..­. Can you tell other nationalit­ies at 200 yards?
Permalink  |
Barbara DeZan
06:51 PM on 5/30/2011
What a snarky response. Are you guilty of something?

Go pound a rock, zippy...I have no interest in responding to you at all.
Permalink  |
skraeling
01:23 AM on 5/31/2011
Well, Russians are kinda unsightly, Germns are large...Ja­panese are small.
Permalink  |
photo
TrucosR4Ninos
05:42 PM on 5/30/2011
When in Los Angeles, I go to downtown. You'll never see more homeless and desperate looking people in the USA. Its a testament to the downfall of the nation. Especially fun is watching them ask the foreign tourists for money or seeing them dig out of trash can in front of the tourists. As they look baffled that this could happen in the USA.
Permalink  |
skraeling
01:25 AM on 5/31/2011
Those people are neither homeless or desperate they are just illegal aliens and probably live better than many Americans.­.what you see is not necessaril­y correct..t­he trash can diving is a sad comment but it is not just an American thing....
Permalink  |
photo
freddsky
I'm here to help.
05:19 PM on 5/30/2011
The Best is always Lost? Valhalla Restaurant in Sausalito. Great views of the Bay but never as fascinatin­g as the diners who were busy ignoring the view. Heard it closed, re-opened. No, it didn't; yes it did. More than likely will never be the same.
Permalink  |
 
Page: 1 2 3  Next ›  Last »   (3 total)