Cleveland, Ohio has a pretty bad rap, but actually boasts a high-caliber pro sports scene, excellent cultural offerings-including an acclaimed orchestra and some great music venues-and the dazzling Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Check out "the Flats" waterside district for the best nightlife.
Oakland, California is another city with an imperfect rep, but has some decent attractions and extremely nice areas. Piedmont Avenue and Rockridge are among the cooler neighborhoods, and the city also has a good Chinatown, renowned Art Museum (of California) and the iconic Lake Merritt, where you boat, jog or just people watch.
Ithaca, New York is a haven of hipness in the Finger Lakes area, with a popular pedestrian-only town center, funky restaurants and college bars (the city is home to Ithaca College and Cornell University). But the real draw is a host of dramatic gorges, parks and waterfalls within minutes of downtown.
Bozeman, Montana is a cultural cowboy town of only 30,000 in the southwestern corner of the state. Home to Montana State University, the city has some rollicking college bars, offbeat draws (like the American Computer Museum) and located within a scenic drive of Yellowstone Park.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a former steel town loaded with handsome brick edifices, plenty of green spaces and a classic old downtown strip that is especially alive in the winter season. Diversions range from catching a flick at the peerless Boyd Theater to strolling the time-tested grounds of Lehigh University.
Boulder, Colorado is an attractive little city with mountain vistas of the Flatirons, a strong live music scene and a great downtown that includes Pear Street, a pedestrian-only, four-block stretch. Outdoor lovers should definitely take a hike down Boulder Creek Path, wandering in and out of the city past parks, the Colorado University campus and wetlands rich with geese, ducks and other feathered friends.
Louisville, Kentucky is a pretty city with plenty to do and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The riverfront district is a must-stop, and other cool options include riverboat rides, a host of cultural sites and the very cool Muhammad Ali Center.
