Lauri Flaquer gets almost starstruck by people in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
"They're tall with long, graceful limbs, which work well for climbing over mountains of snow," gushes the owner of consulting firm Saltar Solutions, based in New York City. People in Minneapolis, Flaquer continues, "are blond, with big blue eyes that sparkle with delight--even over cheese curds."
No one is perfect. But according to Travel + Leisure readers, those Minnesotans come pretty close, ranking in the top 10 of the America's Favorite Places survey for being attractive, as well as athletic and likable. Each year, readers rank major metropolitan areas in dozens of categories, including craft beers, luxury shops, lovely parks, and good-looking locals.
In the attractive category, this year's survey results saw some shake-ups. Some of the hipster winners from last year have faded in the eyes of the T+L community, which favored cities with a tendency toward sunshine, smiling residents, and serious style.
One disqualifier, meanwhile, may be a weakness for team jerseys: the list of the 10 least attractive cities has an eerie overlap with the survey's top 10 of enthusiastic sports fans.
Indeed, "characterizing the 'look' of Pittsburgh locals is easy: black and gold," says NYC public relations exec Mary Apesos, who has family in Steel City, which did not make the top 10 for stunners. "Steelers attire can be seen in every season," she says, "while daytime mall-shopping or as eveningwear at a fancy dinner. There are no fashionistas--just fanatics."
Read on for the full results. And as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if you disagree, make your point of view heard by voting in the America's Favorite Places survey.
--By Katrina Brown Hunt
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Loretta Lynn once sang, “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” but today’s typical Nashvillian does not seem to have such problems. The city, filled with people aspiring for a big break, won the survey for both concerts and live music. Sample the scene at reliable venues like the 5 Spot Live in East Nashville and a newer hot spot, Lower Broadway’s Acme Feed & Seed (which is, just as the name implies, a former feed store). Locals also get credit for having cutting-edge palates–as seen in the creative food trucks like the down-home and locally sourced Biscuit Love.
Photo: Andrew Hetherington
Voters declared these healthy midwesterners the smartest in the U.S.—and gave them high marks for being attractive and charming, too. A good place to see those qualities on display is at one of the local bookstores, which ranked at No. 5 in the survey. Try Uptown’s Magers & Quinn Booksellers, a classic with new and used books, or the all-mysteries Once Upon a Crime. Local parks make a beautiful place to people-watch, as do cultural attractions like the no-admission-fee Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Photo: DJ Curtis / Alamy
Even though the locals in Providence have dropped from last year’s second-place spot, brains and a hipster sensibility are clearly still appealing to T+L readers: the Rhode Island capital also won the survey for geeks. That said, even geniuses like to have smooth skin, and the city’s day spa of choice is at the Providence Biltmore, where full-body treatments include a cerebral-sounding Harmonizing Ear and Scalp Massage. And despite its distance from wine country, the foodie-friendly city scored high for its well-stocked wine bars. Check out Bocado Tapas Wine Bar, with 40 different small plates and a full list of Spanish wines.
Photo: joeysworld.com / Alamy
Looking camera-ready is always important in this celebrity-dotted city, which also scored well for grade-A people-watching. It’s no surprise, then, that voters also acknowledged L.A.’s fabulous shopping opportunities like Fred Segal on Melrose or the revamped, open-air Santa Monica Place, which includes Barneys, Kitson, and AllSaints. Perhaps ironically, the well-toned folk in the City of Angels also have serious sweet tooths, ranking at No. 8 for bakeries. You can eat your way through town with the éclairs at Chaumont Bakery & Cafe in Beverly Hills, the snack-cake-style Ding-a-lings at downtown’s Semi-Sweet Bakery, and the featherweight macarons at nearby Bottega Louie.
Photo: David L. Moore - CA / Alamy
These South Carolina locals consistently land among the survey’s top 10 for head-turners. One secret of their success, no doubt, is that pretty-is-as-pretty-does hospitality: Charleston also ranked well for being polite. Another factor, though, may be that with age comes beauty. The city scored highly for its charming old architecture and lovely antiques. To see both, go to Lower King Street’s Antique District, anchored by such stores as the fourth-generation Birlant and the artfully eclectic John Pope Antiques. Take a lunch break for the she-crab soup at Palmetto Café in the Belmond Charleston Place Hotel.
This SoCal city wins the silver medal for the second time—more proof of the solar beauty power found in warm locales. San Diegans also ranked at No. 2 for being fit, and you can keep up with them by hiking the trails at the windswept Torrey Pines State Reserve, stand-up paddleboarding in La Jolla Cove, or boogie boarding in Pacific Beach. Perhaps because exercise is best done early, San Diego also ranked well for its fortifying brunches. Reward yourself with pineapple-upside-down pancakes at Snooze in Hillcrest and Carmel Valley, or South of the Border–style chilaquiles at the ocean-view Brockton Villa in La Jolla.
Photo: David L. Moore - CA / Alamy
After a down year in 2013, the Florida city is tanned, rested, and suitably blinged-out to recapture the Most Attractive title. Since Miami was also voted the No. 3 city for style and No. 1 for nightclubs—including 24-hour-party options like E11even—looking good at all hours is essential. To dress like a local, check out high-end boutiques such as Alchemist on Lincoln Road (a high-rise, architectural feat of its own), the celeb-magnet Jessie in South Beach, or the vintage finds at C. Madeleine’s in North Miami Beach.
Photo: Korey Davis