Two Cities I’d Revisit Time And Time Again

Between 2023 and now, I traveled to 13 new US States, all beautiful in their own right. Some had unique quarks, others were just downright boring, and some felt like the stuff dreams are made of. And out of the 13 states I’ve visited, two cities from two different states really made me fall in love.

Chicago, Illinois

I visited Chicago, Illinois, in January 2023, and it was magical. Everything about Chicago was magical! I now understand why Kanye West wrote songs about the Windy City. It’s beautiful.
I was born and raised in New York City, a city full of towering buildings and skyscrapers, but Chicago was the first city that ever made me feel small, in a good way. The buildings are enormous, the bean (Cloud Gate) is shiny, the pizzas are deep, and the people are lovely. It really served as a refreshing new take on a big city.
I loved everything about my stay in Chicago. I honestly wish I could have stayed longer than a week and even visited in the summer to get a taste of that “Summertime Chi” Kanye mentioned.
The city is filled with so much wonder that you can spend a week there without scratching the surface.
So, for those reasons, Chicago has made its way deep into my heart and has become a city that I’d revisit every year if I could!

New Orleans, Louisiana

“The Big Easy welcomes The Big Apple” is a sentence I’ve held in my heart since my trip to New Orleans in July 2024. New Orleans, Louisiana, is my favorite city and a complete change of pace from New York City and Chicago. Everything is so laid back, the food is packed with Creole spice, and the people just want to have a good time! Laissez les bons temps rouler! or Let the good times roll is really the way of life down in the Big Easy.
One day while in an Uber, when talking to my driver about my trip, I realized that the way of life in New Orleans is really easygoing. I realized this city was known as “The Big Easy” because it was easy! I didn’t come across one person with an attitude there. Now, I’m not saying that they don’t have attitudes in New Orleans; it’s an emotion that everyone has, but I’m saying everything was so laid back that I didn’t see anyone get irritated about anything. Hell, I even had someone stop and sing “Empire State of Mind” to me on the street when they found out I was from New York!
New Orleans has a charming vibe, one that stole my heart. For that reason, I’d revisit it for extended periods, and even multiple times a year, if I could!