New York

New York is the country's only city that operates at city-pace — you don't need a car and most things stay open late. The Manhattan tourist circuit (Empire State, Times Square, Statue of Liberty) gets a lot of attention, but living New York is the West Village on a Sunday morning, the High Line at sunset, Astoria for Greek food, Flushing for the country's best Chinese food, Williamsburg for the Saturday market, Prospect Park for the city's actually-walkable park. Museum density is unmatched. Bagels, pizza, and dim sum are the religions.