There’s something uniquely enchanting and exciting about city life. From major metropolises such as New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco to smaller cities such as Austin in Texas, there are plenty of examples of places that offer the full urban experience. Thanks to the web, meanwhile, everything from an online Hollywood casino to the recipe for a New York cheesecake can be accessed in just a few clicks. Whether you’re planning to immerse yourself into life in Manhattan for a week or you’re intending to explore somewhere off the beaten track, this article is for you.
Big metropolises
The US is home to some of the world’s biggest and most exciting cities. Immersing yourself in New York City, for example, is a great way to have an urban experience: from the famous sites of Times Square and Central Park to the grittier and more hipster locations of Brooklyn and Harlem, there’s plenty to see and do here if you want to get that city feel. On the other coast, meanwhile, Los Angeles is a favorite choice for many, home to Hollywood and also to some of the finest urban beaches in the country, such as Venice Beach and Santa Monica.
Heading to a big metropolis, however, can be daunting, especially if you haven’t been to one before. Luckily, this is where the internet can step in and help: by offering travelers the chance to check out streets on Google Maps, for example, the web can help give a simulated urban experience before the real journey begins.
Specialist cities
While some cities are defined by their size, then, others are defined because of their specialties. One such example of a place like this is Las Vegas, which is known around the world for being a prime example of a gambling city. While other US cities such as Atlantic City can lay claim as being one of the country’s secondary gambling cities, nowhere can quite challenge Las Vegas in this regard – and for a gambler who wants to experience the best that a city can offer, Las Vegas is a great choice.
It plays host to over 100 casinos, for example, many of which have been rated among the finest in the world. However, aside from the raw numbers, it also has the prestige of the place to go if you want to gamble. The level of excitement that it generates isn’t the sort of thing that can be easily quantified, but if you’re a keen gambler and you turn up in Las Vegas to experience the trip of a lifetime, then you’re sure to feel it. If you can’t quite make it to Las Vegas in the near future, then don’t panic: you can always head to the web, where you can find amazing and authentic online casino experiences.
Smaller places
However, just because a place is smaller doesn’t mean that it is any less valuable in terms of an urban experience. In fact, some of the most exciting urban experiences are focused on smaller places, and the US is full of cities that are exciting and enticing because of, rather than in spite of, their size. Take the example of Austin, which is located in Texas and which offers all sorts of things to do, including an aquarium, a museum to O. Henry, and even a Lone Star-themed riverboat. If you’re on the West Coast, meanwhile, then a visit to the city of San Luis Obispo is also a must. This place, which has sometimes been called the ‘happiest town in America’, is a college city due to being home to the California Polytechnic State University. It offers everything from an historic center to proximity to Pismo Beach, one of California’s finest ocean-side gems.
The US is full of urban experiences that are often just a short plan, a Greyhound trip or an Amtrak ride away. From huge urban zones such as New York City to relatively smaller yet kooky places such as Austin in Texas, urban life – and all of the excitement that this brings – is never far away. And with the internet on side, meanwhile, you don’t have to wait until your next vacation in order to enjoy the pleasures of city life. Whether you want to take a virtual walk down a Manhattan street or play a highly realistic Hollywood casino game, what you need is available on your screen in just a few clicks.
