# What one place in the USA have most Dopers been to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090 "2009-03-28T14:04:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/41 "2009-03-29T12:54:26Z")
The top contenders seem to be: Atlanta airport Grand Canyon Las Vegas O’Hare Airport Orlando, FL I’ve been to all but the Grand Canyon. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/42 "2009-03-29T13:43:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Doesn’t every damn HS class have a senior trip to Washington, DC? It seemed that way living there. > > I would say DC, and if you want to be more specific, the Mall – including the Smithsonian, the Capital and many of the big memorials/monuments. > > Who hasn’t been there? Is that an easier question? ME! Haven’t been there yet, though I got close back in 1965. But I’m finally going over Easter! And my high school didn’t do school trips back in the 70’s…sigh ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/43 "2009-03-29T15:21:44Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Orlando and Las Vegas both seem like contenders. > > I’ve been to four of the [five largest cities](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html) in the U.S. (all but Houston). Well, come on down! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bucketseats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bucketseats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketseats)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/44 "2009-03-29T15:24:32Z")
Honestly, too many to try and list…lived all over the US ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/45 "2009-03-29T16:04:39Z")
If some adventurous soul would like to try to summarize by most likely places, taking into account that there have been several cases where the same Doper has posted more than once (myself included), here’s a stripped down version of the thread so far: ============================================= #1 Yesterday, 09:04 AM Zeldar In my case, I have been to most states east of the Mississippi and to Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana on the western side. So it’s “East” for me. #2 Yesterday, 09:12 AM yojimbo Well I’ve been to Boston and Burlington VT. Boston could be a contender but I reckon the answer would be New York or one of the disney operations. #3 Yesterday, 09:15 AM Clothahump I’ve been to more than half the other states. In terms of specific major locations, I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, the Meteor Crater, the O. K. Corral, both Disney theme parks, Las Vegas, NASA and a bunch of others that I’ll remember after I’ve had some coffee. #4 Yesterday, 10:15 AM EpicNonsense L representing a place I’ve lived a minimum of 1 year. V representing a place I’ve vacationed to. Any city I’ve visited I’ve probably been to all theme parks or major attractions. FTR I’m 23 y.o. All of Los Angeles, CA (L) San Francisco, CA (V) San Diego, CA (V) Long Beach, CA (V) Santa Cruz, CA (V) Palm Springs, CA (V) El Mirage Salt Flats, CA (V) Orlando, FL (L) Glen St. Mary, FL (L) Jacksonville, FL (L) Cape Canaveral, FL (V) Miami Beach, FL (V) Daytona Beach, FL (V) Tampa, FL (V) Atlanta, GA (V) Oahu, HI (L)(Current) Maui, HI (V) Kauai, HI (V) Big Island of Hawaii, HI (V) Las Vegas, NV (L) #5 Yesterday, 10:28 AM Zeldar Quote: Originally Posted by EpicNonsense L representing a place I’ve lived a minimum of 1 year. V representing a place I’ve vacationed to. Any city I’ve visited I’ve probably been to all theme parks or major attractions. FTR I’m 23 y.o. Orlando, FL (L) Jacksonville, FL (L) Daytona Beach, FL (V) Tampa, FL (V) Atlanta, GA (V) Places where you and I have potential overlaps. #6 Yesterday, 10:59 AM FairyChatMom I’ll pick some of the biggies, since I doubt that Middleburg, FL would be high on the list. Baltimore, MD Washington, DC NYC Orlando, FL San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Denver, CO New Orleans, LA Jacksonville, FL Ocala, FL Pensacola, FL OK, lots of places in FL, since we lived there almost 20 years. #7 Yesterday, 11:01 AM twickster Quote: Originally Posted by Clothahump I’ve been to more than half the other states. In terms of specific major locations, I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, the Meteor Crater, the O. K. Corral, both Disney theme parks, Las Vegas, NASA and a bunch of others that I’ll remember after I’ve had some coffee. Orlando and Las Vegas both seem like contenders. I’ve been to four of the five largest cities in the U.S. (all but Houston). #8 Yesterday, 11:15 AM blondebear I’ve been to (or through) every state except Alaska. Never been to Orlando, but I’ve been to Vegas several times. Count me in for nine of the top ten cities (never made it to Dallas). #9 Yesterday, 11:42 AM Desert Nomad I am guessing it is an airport. Probably Atlanta, Chicago or San Francisco (in that order)… tho possibly JFK or LAX. #10 Yesterday, 11:46 AM EJsGirl My first thought was a Disney resort or Las Vegas. NYC would be my next choice. #11 Yesterday, 12:04 PM twickster Quote: Originally Posted by Desert Nomad I am guessing it is an airport. Probably Atlanta, Chicago or San Francisco (in that order)… tho possibly JFK or LAX. Atlanta or O’Hare, definitely – never flown through SF. I’m good for JFK and LAX though. #12 Yesterday, 12:10 PM Desert Nomad Quote: Originally Posted by twickster Atlanta or O’Hare, definitely – never flown through SF. I’m good for JFK and LAX though. My original reasoning is that Atlanta and Chicago are huge hubs used to connect through from many places in the country. LAX and JFK are more “destinations” although there are lots of international connections… only about 10% of Americans have left the USA, though it would likely be a high percentage of Dopers. I think it is a toss-up between ATL and ORD. #13 Yesterday, 12:32 PM MPB in Salt Lake Quote: Originally Posted by Desert Nomad My original reasoning is that Atlanta and Chicago are huge hubs used to connect through from many places in the country. LAX and JFK are more “destinations” although there are lots of international connections… only about 10% of Americans have left the USA, though it would likely be a high percentage of Dopers. I think it is a toss-up between ATL and ORD. I had never heard the only 10% of Americans have been out of the country… That seems very low, though I suppose that my circle of friends may not be representative of the average (most are young, with the financial ability to travel). I need to remember how much difference in opportunity there is out there, and to be grateful for the things I have been given!!! #14 Yesterday, 12:41 PM Polycarp On my list of notable places that many people are likely to have been to: Independence Hall, Philadelphia Capitol and Smithsonian, Washington Times Square and WTC (in 1991), NYC Flushing Meadows, back when the Worlds Fair was there Hartsfield and Dulles Airports, but not O’Hare or any of the NYC airports) Jacksonville, Cape Canaveral, Miami, Key West, and Tampa (but not Orlando), in FL Toronto and Ottawa Nowhere west of Lansing and Chattanooga #15 Yesterday, 12:56 PM Desert Nomad Quote: Originally Posted by MPB in Salt Lake I had never heard the only 10% of Americans have been out of the country… That seems very low, though I suppose that my circle of friends may not be representative of the average (most are young, with the financial ability to travel). I need to remember how much difference in opportunity there is out there, and to be grateful for the things I have been given!!! Perhaps it is a bit higher than 10%… there are no official stats on this, and I actually meant to say 10% never left N. America, as Canada accounts for lots of US foreign travel. I have gone months overseas without ever seeing another American. #16 Yesterday, 01:38 PM Elendil’s Heir Just off the top of my head: Cleveland, Dayton, Akron and Columbus, Ohio Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Gettysburg, Pa. Washington, D.C. Nashua and Manchester, N.H. Portland, Me. Indianapolis, Ind. Boston and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Richmond, Va. Seattle, Wash. Miami, Sarasota, Ft. Myers and Naples, Fla. Chicago and Springfield, Ill. Nags Head, Cape Hatteras and Kitty Hawk, N.C. Charleston and Columbia, S.C. Dallas, Tex. Denver, Colo. Atlanta, Ga. Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich. #17 Yesterday, 01:44 PM suranyi Popular places I’ve been to or lived: San Francisco Los Angeles New Orleans Seattle Portland, OR Boston New York City Washington, DC Chicago Miami Cincinnati Pittsburgh Philadelphia Las Vegas San Diego Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta Ed #18 Yesterday, 01:47 PM Boyo Jim Doesn’t every damn HS class have a senior trip to Washington, DC? It seemed that way living there. I would say DC, and if you want to be more specific, the Mall – including the Smithsonian, the Capital and many of the big memorials/monuments. Who hasn’t been there? Is that an easier question? #19 Yesterday, 03:56 PM Sage Rat I’d venture to guess that there will be a split between the West and East coasts. Personally, I’ve been to: Seattle Portland San Francisco LA San Diego Las Vegas Orlando FL Chicago New York Dallas Hawaii Kuai Canada (the 51st state) #20 Yesterday, 04:03 PM ShibbOleth I’ve been to most every (major) place on everyone’s lists, excluding Hawaii. I even have a free place to stay in Hawaii, just seems weird to fly 5-7 hours from Florida to get to another beach. #21 Yesterday, 04:04 PM Boyo Jim Ok, I’ll play. I’ve been to (major NA cities): Montreal Toronto Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Washington, DC Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indianapolis St. Louis Minneapolis St Paul Denver San Diego Los Angeles San Francisco Portland, OR #22 Yesterday, 04:05 PM gonzomax Disney, Orlando will get a lot of response. #23 Yesterday, 04:12 PM Boyo Jim Quote: Originally Posted by ShibbOleth I’ve been to most every (major) place on everyone’s lists, excluding Hawaii. I even have a free place to stay in Hawaii, just seems weird to fly 5-7 hours from Florida to get to another beach. You are seriously underestimating the flying time. Miami to Hawaii is about 5000 miles. #24 Yesterday, 04:19 PM scifisam2009 Quote: Originally Posted by gonzomax Disney, Orlando will get a lot of response. Especially since there and NY are the places non-US dopers will be most likely to have gone to. I’ve only been to Orlando and Gainsville, Florida, with a brief sojourn somewhere in Georgia (not Atlanta). #25 Yesterday, 04:33 PM panache45 My guess would be either New York, ORD or the Grand Canyon. #26 Yesterday, 04:46 PM Leaffan This is going to be a hard list to come up with; where do I even start? Detroit, Michigan. Port Huron, Michigan. Mancelona, Michigan. San Diego, California. Los Angeles, California. San Francisco, California. San Jose, California. Monterey, California. Reno, Nevada, Lake Tahoe, CA and NV Boston, Massachusetts. Salem, New Hampshire. Ogdensburg, New York. Owego, New York. Lake Placid, New York. Portland, Maine. Calais, Maine Orlando, Florida. Spring Hill, Florida. St. Petersburg, Florida. Tampa, Florida. Houston, Texas. Sandusky, Ohio. Manchester, New Hampshire. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Chicago, Illinois. I’ve driven through and stopped in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina and I’m probably forgetting some places. Not to mention Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Sarnia, Windsor, Ottawa, and about 100 other small towns in Ontario and Quebec. #27 Yesterday, 05:24 PM Jackmannii Hurricane, West Virginia. It’s on the way to everywhere. #28 Yesterday, 05:38 PM Cisco I’ve been to every state except Alaska, and hit most of the major attractions in each state. The winner has got to be one of the Disneys, D.C., or NYC, with honorable mention to the Grand Canyon. Can’t imagine anything topping those. #29 Yesterday, 06:18 PM ShibbOleth Quote: Originally Posted by Boyo Jim You are seriously underestimating the flying time. Miami to Hawaii is about 5000 miles. I’m not in Miami, but shortest trip time from Tampa to Honolulu is just under 12 hours. For some strange reason there are not a lot of direct flights. IF I could fly direct it would be about 8-10 hours each way. Plenty of islands much, much closer, they just have more of a Caribbean vs Polynesian feel. #30 Yesterday, 06:33 PM dalej42 Quote: Originally Posted by Cisco I’ve been to every state except Alaska, and hit most of the major attractions in each state. The winner has got to be one of the Disneys, D.C., or NYC, with honorable mention to the Grand Canyon. Can’t imagine anything topping those. Gulp, I live in Arizona and haven’t been to the Grand Canyon! I’ve been to Disneyland, DisneyWorld, DC, and NYC though. #31 Yesterday, 06:57 PM not\_alice Quote: Originally Posted by MPB in Salt Lake my circle of friends may not be representative of the average (most are young, with the financial ability to travel). I need to remember how much difference in opportunity there is out there, and to be grateful for the things I have been given!!! [hijack] Perhaps you can persuade (judging by your screen name and nothing more) your rich friends to spend their excess funds traveling and frolicking instead of in the politics of taking away rights from ordinary people in my state? Because as much as you (as in the group of people in your state) have been given, why is it so important to use it to take away from what people in my state have been given? [/hijack] That being said, among non-commercial places, I would think one of the National Parks (Grand Canyon or Yosemite perhaps?) would be the best candidate. #32 Yesterday, 07:11 PM Cisco Quote: Originally Posted by dalej42 Gulp, I live in Arizona and haven’t been to the Grand Canyon! Confession time! I’ve been once . . . literally for about 5 minutes and it was ~80% obscured by a snowstorm. Still somehow breathtaking, though. Pictures do it no justice. #33 Yesterday, 08:34 PM Boyo Jim Quote: Originally Posted by Jackmannii Hurricane, West Virginia. It’s on the way to everywhere. Which reminds me of Breezewood, PA. Hasn’t everyone driving across the north half of the country driven through there? #34 Yesterday, 09:24 PM Colibri I’ve been to 49 states (all except North Dakota) and I had been to the most places in the US I’ve Been Everywhere song when we did a thread on it. #35 Yesterday, 09:30 PM glee Vegas, baby, Vegas! (twice so far and another one in July…) #36 Yesterday, 09:39 PM AuntiePam What one place? Based on the frequency of “What to do in Seattle” threads over the years, I’d have said Seattle. Seems like a really popular destination. #37 Yesterday, 09:40 PM An Gadaí Akron, OH is my guess. #38 Yesterday, 09:48 PM Frank I’ve set foot in all of the Lower 48, and have either eaten or bought cigarettes and gasoline in all of them. #39 Yesterday, 09:56 PM AppallingGael Quote: Originally Posted by An Gadaí Akron, OH is my guess. Getting in your soapbox, are you? #40 Today, 03:38 AM Robot Arm My first thought on seeing the thread title was that it would be either New York City or Las Vegas, but I like the idea that it’s one of the large hub airports. Of the contenders already mentioned, I’ve been to just about all of them except Orlando. Been to Disneyland twice, 36 years apart; Grand Canyon once, but I’ll be hiking across it this September. #41 Today, 07:54 AM twickster The top contenders seem to be: Atlanta airport Grand Canyon Las Vegas O’Hare Airport Orlando, FL I’ve been to all but the Grand Canyon. #42 Today, 08:43 AM kittenblue Quote: Originally Posted by Boyo Jim Doesn’t every damn HS class have a senior trip to Washington, DC? It seemed that way living there. I would say DC, and if you want to be more specific, the Mall – including the Smithsonian, the Capital and many of the big memorials/monuments. Who hasn’t been there? Is that an easier question? ME! Haven’t been there yet, though I got close back in 1965. But I’m finally going over Easter! And my high school didn’t do school trips back in the 70’s…sigh #43 Today, 10:21 AM Clothahump Quote: Originally Posted by twickster Orlando and Las Vegas both seem like contenders. I’ve been to four of the five largest cities in the U.S. (all but Houston). Well, come on down! ======================================== ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/46 "2009-03-29T16:41:45Z")
**Zeldar** – other than demonstrating your ability to cut and paste, what useful purpose is served by your doing a long freaking post of everything already posted in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/47 "2009-03-29T16:57:14Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > **Zeldar** – other than demonstrating your ability to cut and paste, what useful purpose is served by your doing a long freaking post of everything already posted in this thread? Just hoping someone would copy/paste that post into whatever more convenient workspace would allow quicker and more accurate summarizing than my manual approach would have taken. I stripped off the extraneous data that results from a “Select All” and copy/paste. It took about half an hour. I thought it might save somebody some time, if anybody wants to do a real summary of the posts. I noticed several summaries you provided upthread, but I’m not convinced those choices really get at the place that Most Dopers will have been to, and I thought there may even be more than one such place. One for the Eastern crowd, one for the Western crowd, and maybe even one for non-USA people. If my posts annoy you, why not put me on your Ignore List. That way you just get one or two lines to indicate I had messed up the thread. Please note who started this particular thread. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/48 "2009-03-29T19:21:57Z")
Whatever. It’s your thread. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/49 "2009-03-29T19:29:17Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The top contenders seem to be: > Grand Canyon > Las Vegas > O’Hare Airport > I’ve been to all but the Grand Canyon. Been to these. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Have_Hippos_In_My_Garden)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/50 "2009-03-29T19:47:19Z")
As a non-USA doper I have been to: Florida, Detroit New York, Rhode Island, Most of MA including Boston and Cape Cod. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/51 "2009-03-29T20:12:35Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just hoping someone would copy/paste that post into whatever more convenient workspace would allow quicker and more accurate summarizing than my manual approach would have taken. I stripped off the extraneous data that results from a “Select All” and copy/paste. It took about half an hour. I thought it might save somebody some time, if anybody wants to do a real summary of the posts. No disrespect, but I wouldn’t have started a thread like this unless I was willing and able to do whatever it takes to summarize the results. Otherwise, the thread title should have been “Where in the US have you traveled?” ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/52 "2009-03-29T20:29:47Z")
I HAVE been to NYC (I live here too), Orlando and the Atlanta/Chicago airports. I have NOT been to Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon (infact the only states west of the Mississippi river I’ve been to are California, Texas and Colorado). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090/53 "2009-03-29T21:21:30Z")
Closed at the OP’s request. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-place-in-the-usa-have-most-dopers-been-to/491090.md?page=2)