First of all, MJ, I think those girls were just joking! Sao Paulo I hear is NOT the place to be. It's like the safer business end of Brazil. Rio de Janiero is definitly amazing and eye opening. But very dangerous, I felt.
YES LIST:
Washington DC: free awesome, beautiful and varied museums.
Denver/Boulder area: beautiful, one of my favorite trips ever.
San Diego: just three days, though. Maybe make it a week by travelling up to LA--along the beach of course.
San Francisco: loved loved loved it. Great for tourists, stuff to do and see, and lots of walking
Memphis: nice 2 day trip. Graceland, place where MLK was shot, and other small museums--just seemed to be such a unique and preserved place
Miami: no place like it in the world. Lots of culture, like being in South American country, but safer. Plus South Beach and all that.
Portland: but take some time to drive out to the coast, beautiful drive. (Though not a whole lot in the city)
Hawaii: yeah, not a city, but if you have the chance, go, it's not touristy, but absolute paradise, and you can go very remote, or stay at your hotel and pool
NO LIST:
Seattle: saw hardly anything there, just a overly touristy Pike's Market, that was probably once really cool
Nashville: again, overly touristy country bars, and the Country Music Hall of Fame is kind of interesting. But that was it.
LA: I agree that it takes too long to get around and is not tourist friendly. The downtown is DEAD on weekends, and it's hard to know where else to go.
Las Vegas: I also think it gets on your nerves after 2 days.
WISH LIST:
Philadelphia (at you all's suggestion) I've always wanted to climb up those Rocky steps like in the movie.
Alaska: anywhere there, I just want to see it.
And then there's Europe (Italy, etc), Asia, Australia (can I visit you guys on the board?), and of course Africa.
Hey has anyone been to Tehran. I kind of want to go, but am scared, especially with the recent politics. I think it would be facinating, though.
GG