# What's the third best skyline in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434 "2010-01-25T22:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/1 "2010-01-25T22:53:05Z")
We’ll say New York and Chicago are #1 and #2. What’s #3? When I think of tier one skylines (lots of buildings, looks impressive driving/flying by) I’d choose these downtowns: [ol] [li]San Francisco[/li][li]Philadelphia[/li][li]Boston[/li][li]Houston[/li][li]Dallas[/li][li]Atlanta[/li][li]Miami[/li][li]Seattle[/li][li]Denver[/li][/ol] Here’s [one list,](http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=skyline_ranking), but I’m not sure I’d agree with it. Dubai is #3 in the world, but it seems too seperate to be a skyline. Nor would I put downtown Los Angeles over downtown San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/2 "2010-01-25T23:01:39Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > We’ll say New York and Chicago are #1 and #2. > > What’s #3? > > When I think of tier one skylines (lots of buildings, looks impressive driving/flying by) I’d choose these downtowns: > > [ol] > [li]San Francisco[/li][li]Philadelphia[/li][li]Boston[/li][li]Houston[/li][li]Dallas[/li][li]Atlanta[/li][li]Miami[/li][li]Seattle[/li][li]Denver[/li][/ol] > > Here’s [one list,](http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=skyline_ranking), but I’m not sure I’d agree with it. Dubai is #3 in the world, but it seems too seperate to be a skyline. Nor would I put downtown Los Angeles over downtown San Francisco. I have spent considerable time in each of the cities you have mentioned except Miami, and I would say that San Francisco is by far the most scenic, New York City probably second and Seattle would have to be third. The Seattle skyline from the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood is simply amazing. Chicago is indeed beautiful from afar, but so is Denver, framed by the Rocky Mountains in the distance… ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/3 "2010-01-25T23:26:19Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > We’ll say New York and Chicago are #1 and #2. > > What’s #3? > > When I think of tier one skylines (lots of buildings, looks impressive driving/flying by) I’d choose these downtowns: > > [ol] > [li]San Francisco[/li][li]Philadelphia[/li][li]Boston[/li][li]Houston[/li][li]Dallas[/li][li]Atlanta[/li][li]Miami[/li][li]Seattle[/li][li]Denver[/li][/ol] > > Here’s [one list,](http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=skyline_ranking), but I’m not sure I’d agree with it. Dubai is #3 in the world, but it seems too seperate to be a skyline. Nor would I put downtown Los Angeles over downtown San Francisco. SF is pretty because of the topographical arrangement of the peninsula, but not very tall of a skyline Haven’t been to Philly, but pictures seem nice, bulky, and varied Boston is also short Houston, from what I’ve seen, has like 3 different downtowns Dallas’ is most out of place on your list - it’s pitifully small imho for a metro area of 6 million Atlanta’s is nice - the buildings are large and architecturally varied, but there’s not a lot of mid-sized stuff to fill in the gaps Miami - seems to be all condos, but that provides bulk Seattle is pretty, good height, has a visual feature in the space needle Denver - can’t recall it very much I would probably put it: Seattle SF Atlanta Houston Philly Miami Dallas Denver ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/4 "2010-01-26T04:15:17Z")
Austin is small, but I’ve always liked it. [http://aroundaustin.typepad.com/photos/austin/austin\_skyline.html](http://aroundaustin.typepad.com/photos/austin/austin_skyline.html) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/5 "2010-01-26T13:15:48Z")
[Madison, Wisconsin.](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=madison+skyline&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1) For those unfamiliar, the downtown area is wedged tightly between two lakes on an isthmus about 3/4-mile wide. The state capitol building is at the center of it all. The view from the water, especially at night, is magnificent. ---
**Author:** ![Negative\_Lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Negative\_Lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Negative_Lite)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/6 "2010-01-26T13:39:56Z")
Excuse me but how can any city compete with [this](http://images.google.es/images?q=seattle%20skyline&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:es-ES:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=es&tab=wi)? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/7 "2010-01-26T15:58:51Z")
Of that list, I think San Francisco and Seattle are the only ones I’d recognize, and I’ve never actually been to Seattle. I’m going to toss out a vote for St. Louis. I like the drama of the river, arch, courthouse, and office buildings. Here’s a decent shot: [File:St. Louis wiki montage.jpg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St._Louis_wiki_montage.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/8 "2010-01-26T16:56:16Z")
Pittsburgh’s is surprisingly great (well, it was surprising to me, never having been there). [![](https://www.planetware.com/i/photo/pittsburgh-pa104.jpg) ](https://www.planetware.com/i/photo/pittsburgh-pa104.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/9 "2010-01-26T17:47:23Z")
I’m biased towards Portland, OR, but San Fran and Seattle are both better than Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/10 "2010-01-26T17:52:05Z")
Seattle from the Ferry at dusk can’t be beat by any city. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/11 "2010-01-26T17:59:37Z")
[Here’s](http://www.wings900.com/vb/general-squawk-talk/36261-best-us-skyline.html) another discussion on it replete w/ a number of pics. San Fran sure is nice although I really like Dallas’ as it has some interesting, innovative architecture. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/12 "2010-01-26T18:07:44Z")
[Minneapolis](http://www.johnweeks.com/tour/skyline-mpls/index.html) has its charm. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/13 "2010-01-26T18:12:21Z")
Pittsburgh is awesome, especially when you come out of some dark tunnel and the city’s there in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/14 "2010-01-26T18:30:30Z")
Not the tallest, but [there’s something about the way marble glows at night.](http://www.gearlog.com/images/WashingtonDC_NightSkyline.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/15 "2010-01-26T18:31:55Z")
While I think other cities may be prettier overall, I’ll answer Chicago as first because I feel its prettiness is largely defined by its buildings. Chicago has awesome architecture, with just about every style imaginable in a compact area. It is a stunning downtown. San Francisco and Cape Town are awesome too, but a lot of that comes from the geography. I like both of them for similar reasons, so I’ll make them second and third in whatever order you like. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/16 "2010-01-26T19:21:52Z")
Dallas, despite its relatively small size, has an excellent skyline. I’d pick it as third. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/17 "2010-01-26T20:45:23Z")
Are there any other than Reno that have a conspicuous sphere and mountains? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/18 "2010-01-26T21:11:26Z")
Chicago has the third best skyline. 1. Seattle 2. New York I’ve always been partial to LA’s. I know we’re all fans of waterfront skylines, but do the mountains do nothing for you? Photos like [this](http://allanglass.featuredblog.com/files/los_angeles_skyline_in_winter.jpg) I like, but [this](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e266/WryOnRye/tinyskyline.jpg) I like more because there’s a palm tree in the foreground. Edit: Never cared for the SF skyline much. It’s too small. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/19 "2010-01-26T21:14:39Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Are there any other than Reno that have a conspicuous sphere and mountains? Bay Lake, FL? ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434/20 "2010-01-27T02:33:06Z")
Another vote here for Seattle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-third-best-skyline-in-the-us/526434.md?page=2)