If its annual influx of 46 million tourists is any indication, word has gotten out: New York is the best place to go for a good time. And the masses actually have it right, for once.
The Big Apple beats out every other major metropolitan area (Broadway, pictured).
The Big Apple beats out every other major metropolitan area when considering the amount of culture, nightlife and other readily available activities. Chicago comes in at a close second with its scores of bars, restaurants and sporting venues. Los Angeles ranks third with--among its many diversions--seven major league sports teams, which is matched only by New York.
Overall, the East Coast dominates the list, its cities claiming more than half of the top 10. Washington, D.C. and nearby Philadelphia both have heaps of restaurants, museums and live theater.
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"We have a great theater scene," says Cara Schneider, spokeswoman for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. "There's a lot of collaboration between theaters, and mentorship between seasoned and younger talent. We also have a fantastic music scene--always have."
New York swept the rankings because of its sheer number of hot spots. With its 3,844 bars, 35,421 restaurants and 734 museums, it ranked No. 1 for every category except major league sports teams. In a city of 8.4 million, it's not surprising that opportunities for amusement abound.
In Miami, it's all about the nightclubs (208 of them, many beachside); in Atlanta, it's the restaurant scene (8,609 of them in the 132-square-mile metropolis). But there's a diverse range of distractions in other cities across the U.S., including an array of arts and outdoors activities in San Francisco, and even a vibrant theater scene in Dallas to go along with the city's sports focus (38 venues).
