What city is good for a 4-day vacation?

Question

I'm taking a 4-day trip in the end of July with my brother.

We won't have a car, so the city needs to be VERY walkable with good public transportation.

We live in New York City. We've been to San Francisco before, so these two cities are out of the question.

I'm thinking Chicago. I'm pretty sure Chicago could fill 4 days, and it seems to be very walkable.

Second choice on my list is Minneapolis. I have a personal fascination with the Twin Cities so I'd like to see it. I don't know if it could fill 4 days, though. Are the twin cities walkable? How is transportation?

Third on the list is Vancouver, Canada. I don't know much about the city but my brother wanted to go there for awhile.

Okay, out of these three, which would be best?
Open to all other suggestions too!

Answer 1

You can't miss with Vancouver. But you didn't specify what you wanted in a city. You want to go for the ease and comfort.

Canada has lots of places.Montreal or Quebec City or Halifax. One cheap alternative is Thunder Bay.

You know I know of such a city in Canada which is a national secret. It has great weather all the time. Few bugs. A transit system. Its in the mountains with hiking all around. Few americans know about it. Its called Kelowna.

If you wanted a larger city I would recommend easily Calgary or Edmonton. Most Canadian cities have good public transit and have large city cores.

Of course there is always that standby Toronto but the hotel rates are astronomical. There are lower cost hotels and have hostels if you don't want fancy. One is on Bay Street. Another is called the Downtowner on 117 Pembroke Street.

I am biased but my choice would come down to either Kelowna or Toronto at that time period. Caribana the great festival is on around that time in Toronto which is close to New York which means travel costs and times are minimal. I will leave a reference link.

Answer 2

I've been to Chicago and Vancouver.
Chicago is surprisingly nice, and the lake is a lot prettier than I'd thought. It's like a city on the ocean. And it's great for city walks, with great restaurants, etc.

Vancouver was one of the coolest cities I've ever been. It's up there with San Fran. i had flown to Portland and rented a car and drove up there, once there didn't really need the car.

You might also be surprised the Toronto is totally cool, kind of like London in variety and diversity but clean and safe. Vancouver's that way too, and would probably be the cheapest for hotels. I stayed in the Kingston hotel (in 2000)
Perfect location and very cheap, but not 1st class. Reasonbly clean, shared bathrooms, but perfectly located right in the middle of the action.
1-888-713-3304 was their number in 2000.
Chicago would be cheap and easy to get to.
Another option is Quebec City. That was cool. I felt like I was in Europe more than N. America.
If you're adventurous and want something really odd check into going to Iceland. They have packages for about $500 sometimes that include a trip to the geothermically heated pools that you soak in.
I don't know about MinnyPaul. It would have the least variety and be the least wild of all the places mentioned.
Have Fun.
I vote for Vancouver if u get a cheap flight.
Otherwise, Toronto, then Chicago, then Quebec, then Montreal.

Answer 3

Chicago would be a great 4 day vacation. Downtown is very walkable and public transit can get you anywhere within the city. You can even take the train from the airports. Venetian Night is usually the last weekend of July, it is a parade of boats at night with lights and stuff, followed by fireworks over Lake Michigan. You can catch a Cubs or Sox game, both stadiums are VERY close to train("El") stops. I would recommend Wrigley Field myself.
Go up in the Hancock or Sears Tower, Hancok is better IMO. You can go up to the 98th floor for free if you buy a drink or some food, there is also a VERY nice restaurant up there. Oberservation deck is on the 97th floor, but you have to pay to just stand there, might as well get a drink for your money. Check out the progress on Trump's new skyscraper by the river.
There are street festivals every weekend in various neighborhoods with music, food, and drink.
Navy Pier seems to be popular with the tourists, big *** ferris wheel, boat rides, over priced crap restaurants, not really my cup of tea, but it's worth a look.
Deep dish pizza at Giorrdano's
Steaks at Gibson's
Itialian Beef anywhere
Brookfield Zoo is nice, Lincoln Park zoo is close to downtown, Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest in the world, The Art Institute is top notch.
I think Minny/St Paul would be ok for 2 days, but you may get bored in 4.
Vancouver is supposed to be really cool, but I think it is quite spread out, a car might be useful. Flights are usually $400 to Vancouver too.

I may be biased because I live in Chicago, but I have yet to be bored in the 3 years I have lived within the city.

Answer 4

Orlando. Disney and Universal are close and most hotels have transport. Have fun.

Answer 5

Washington D.C. there is great public transportation and lots of stuff to do...