This list consists of cities that don't make the main page. They're here either because I don't remember them very well, because I didn't spend enough time there, or because they're just too small to be fairly compared to the world's major settlements.
Been: Once, ~1 day, 2017
I stayed in the Excalibur Hotel for one night before going to see some national parks in Utah. I thought it was cool, but looking back (and at how the city is laid out), I don't think I would last a week there and I don't understand how anyone does. Well, that's a lie. They gamble their entire bank accounts away.
Been: Once, ~1 day, 2021
It was pretty empty when I found myself here unexpectedly (we had to leave the Outer Banks because of the weather!!!). This place is hardly a city: the downtown is entirely hotels and parking garages, the transit is bad, and the suburbs stretch for miles upon identical miles. The geography and navy presence is neat but there isn't really anything special or redeeming about this place.
Been: ~3 times, ~3 days total, pre-2020
They have great Mexican food, pretty good trams from what I've seen (didn't ride them), and the people are very friendly. Unfortunately, I mostly remember it as a dry, uninteresting city with not much shade. Would go back and give it another chance though.
Been: Once, 1 day, 2019
Calgary's many skybridges and two merging tram lines reminded me a lot of Minneapolis, which is alright as far as North American cities go. I stayed downtown near some very nice parks. Boring, but pretty livable, and some of the continent's most beautiful nature is nearby.
Been: Twice, ~3 days total, pre-2016
I only have faint memories from Athens, of which the strongest is a ride in their formerly graffiti-covered metro trains from the airport to Piraeus. Athens has a thick history as well as some fun geography, and it's really dense, but it's not tremendously livable and definitely falls behind in transit access.
Been: Once, 4 days, 2017
The rail transit is pretty lackluster but it brought my family everywhere we needed to go within the city. Downtown Dublin is refreshingly large for its typically European compact vibrancy, and St. Stephen's Green is an excellent example of a small but luminous urban park. By the river Liffey you get an almost Amsterdam-like vibe. Really nice place.
Been: Once, ~3 days, 2018
I can't say I was paying attention to bike lanes or zoning at age 11 but I definitely had a good time. The historic downtown area is very pretty, dynamic, and walkable, although I'm not a fan of how tucked in it feels, that is, the only way out is west. Again, though, not something I was paying attention to while hanging out on Dufferin Terrace admiring the Château Frontenac and St Lawrence River at age 11. A metro would be nice.
Been: Once, ~3 days, 2019
It's widely known as an urbanist paradise for good reason. Copenhagen is incredibly bikeable and walkable, and I love how easy it is to get around in pretty much any direction. The S-tog is excellent for a commuter rail system, although it's a little annoying how disconnected it is with the metro, and the two combined form a rather weak rail system, much like Amsterdam. I loved Copenhagen, but I definitely need to go back to get a better sense of the city (instead of just spending all day at Tivoli and my mom's twelfth cousin's house).
Been: Once, 4 days, 2020
I put myself in charge of planning this trip at age 12, which led the itinerary to be centered around rushing my parents to all the main attractions at a slightly excessive pace. From what I got of the urban fabric, I love how heterogeneous it is from one part to another, and how nice the suburbs generally are. Old and new mix very well in London, and everything flows nicely. Would probably be one of my favorite cities if I could give it a proper rating.
Been: Once, 2 days, 2024
This is a small city in quiet Hokkaido, so I wasn't expecting to have much fun here, but it has a lot of unusual things going for it. The tram system is absolutely adorable. And the geography is interesting without being restrictive -- I love how the town starts to climb up Mount Hakodate, providing for great views, and goes right up to the water. Too bad it's so far from everything else.
Been: Once, <1 day, 2024
Sendai doesn't feel quite like other Japanese cities. Its geography is kind of European in that it's built more around a river, the Hirose, than a bay (like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, etc.) and I like that. The river feels respected and the whole city feels pleasantly balanced and symmetric. The metro is nice, there's a good amount of terrain to keep stuff interesting, and the streets are well-planned and abundantly lined with trees.