2 for that time of year. Your best bet for seeing them en masse is at bars and music clubs—both of which came in at No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 6 of 20 Getty Images/iStockphoto No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 18 of 20 Andie Diemer No. 9 Miami South Beach’s infamous beach and nightlife scene attracts people who like to crank up the fun: Miami ranked No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 10 of 20 Getty Images/Blend Images No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 16 of 20 iStock No.7 Charleston What is it about South Carolinians that make them so downright mesmerizing? Sure, the city ranks highly for people-watching, but the people themselves get points for being good-looking and friendly—they’re the kind you want to gawk at and get to know. Savannah’s top 5 finish, on the other hand, is further proof of its southern charm: the city also landed in the top 5 for its locals’ good looks, style, and friendliness. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 2 of 20 Alamy Stock Photo No.April 06, 2011 For many travelers, people-watching is the best entertainment money can’t buy, and one of the easiest ways to get a feel for a city. Staring can also come with a level of risk, and AFC readers ranked L. 2 Savannah This charming Georgian city was made for leisurely strolling—it took the silver medal for its notable neighborhoods and for being pedestrian-friendly, so it’s easy to get to size up the locals as they pass by. 3 in the survey for its museums and No. 14 Los Angeles You’d think that Tinseltown would have come in higher in the survey, with all those celebs slinking about. 1 for its city views. Or maybe it’s just inspiring to see these high-minded locals recycling with such gusto: the city ranks No. The simultaneous winner for both its neighborhood joints and bars, New Orleans also ranks highly for its wild weekend potential, so expect plenty of southerners dolled up to catch your attention. No wonder: The city ranks No. third to last for feeling safe. 13 Providence The Rhode Island capital may not boast the most active locals (they ranked a sedentary No. Maybe it’s that the island residents are so stylish or just that you get such a clear view of them: the Puerto Rican capital is No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 11 of 20 Getty Images No. Folks here are pretty mellow, though, and may prefer to show off their handiwork to observers. 10 Austin The Texas capital cherishes its reputation for being weird and squeaked into the Top 10 based on its intriguing demographics: politicos, college kids, musicians, and all manner of hipsters. Your best strategy is to pull up a chair at one of San Francisco’s hip coffee bars, and watch the locals filter in. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 9 of 20 Getty Images for newyearseve. AFC voters found the residents so friendly and tasteful that even their leftovers are worth a look: Savannah’s vintage and antique shops ranked near the top of their categories. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 7 of 20 Getty Images No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 4 of 20 Getty Images/Science Source No. 19 Seattle Visitors may find it fascinating how Seattle natives rarely seem to carry umbrellas, unfazed as they are by a little rain. 3 for being environmentally conscious. Otherwise, the city’s artistic and architectural eye-candy trounces the residents. But you might get a better look at them—and even fit in some friendly conversation—in one of the beer-loving town’s pubs. 6 for its bar scene. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 14 of 20 LA Times via Getty Images No. In the great gawkable cities, one could argue that many of the people being watched welcome it. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 5 of 20 Getty Images/iStockphoto No. Mostly outdoorsy types, they may also be whizzing by too fast on their bikes to allow for a good look.” The City That Never Sleeps, no surprise, came in near the top of the people- watching category in the 2011 edition of America’s Favorite Cities (AFC). 22), but it has plenty of appealing venues for sitting around with them: it’s in the top 5 for mom-and-pop restaurants and coffee bars. Brooklynite Alisha Miranda says she likes to go sit in Manhattan’s Union Square “and just take in the crazy around me. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results!. Then there are the casinos, where reading someone’s poker face is like an advanced course in people-watching. 6 San Francisco Once upon a time, the City by the Bay was the place to check out hippies.” 1 of 20 Getty Images No. It ranks No. While the locals rank near the top of the survey for being chatty, they may also be a little predictable: the city landed in the bottom 10 for diversity. 17 Santa Fe You’ll sense a cool, artsy vibe when you touch down in Santa Fe. But when your eyes tire of reading plaques, it’s worth glancing around—you might see a familiar face from the news, or just a diverse, international crowd.A. While cocktail hour is always a good time to check out San Juan’s see-and-be-seen crowd, the ultimate opportunity may be on New Year’s Eve.R. From Broadway shows to subway platforms, there’s always someone who’s on—it’s the No. 2 in the survey. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! 3 of 20 © KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters/Corbis No. “It’s like the people you’re staring at—whether they’re glamorous, crazy, funky, or totally out there—are proud that they’ve commanded your attention. 4 New York City All the world really is a stage in the Big Apple. Honolulu may also have made the top 3 for people-watching because there aren’t many cultural distractions. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 17 of 20 Getty Images/iStockphoto No. But we suspect part of the problem is that watchable people are too often enclosed in their cars—L. Our nation’s capital wins the AFC survey for sights: it’s No. Whether or not mojitos are to blame, partiers here don’t shy away from attention. 3 for its wild weekend potential, and No.” The freelance writer adds, “I love watching couples walking by, skateboarders, the ice cream trucks parked on the corner, and the man doing flips shirtless as people fork over spare change. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 19 of 20 iStock No. 3 Honolulu The Hawaiian capital has a reputation for being low-key and friendly. 18 Washington, D. 11 Nashville There are people-watching opportunities all over Nashville, from street corners to the Opry: it’s just that most of these people are strumming a guitar or belting out a Hank cover.” Which city could possibly beat out New York in this category? When we looked at the top 20, we found that the best people-watching cities tend to have good weather and lots of room to walk around—after all, it’s harder to notice how fascinating locals are when they’re holed up in their cars.

NYC also made the top 5 for its cool neighborhoods, where you’ll spy locals with just as much personality. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 20 of 20 Getty Images No. 1 for historic monuments and No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 15 of 20 Alamy Stock Photo No. 8 San Diego The annual summer ComicCon event attracts costumed sci-fi fans from around the world. 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras may be the Super Bowl of people-watching, but folks in the Crescent City offer a year-round visual parade for gawkers. 1 for museums and galleries. ranks last for being pedestrian-friendly. 12 Chicago If you like to ogle jet-setting executives, you’ll love people-watching in the Windy City, which won the AFC survey for its business hotels. 16 Portland, OR This northwestern city rates well for its accomplished locals—they won as the smartest folks in America.C. New Yorkers may appreciate having an audience, but don’t assume they’ll acknowledge you. San Juan came in at No. During the rest of the year, you can spot a steady stream of SoCal beauties out to enjoy the city’s sunny weather as well as the super-fit carrying their surfboards across the road. “My favorite thing about people-watching in NYC is that flat-out staring is kind of accepted,” says media strategist Erin Scottberg. 1 as a cultural getaway, thanks in part to its legendary art community and its cool antique shops and indie boutiques. But apparently a lively mind isn’t always enough to capture another’s gaze. 1 for romance. 20 Denver Set against the Rockies, the Mile High City ranks highly for its outdoor spaces, and is also home to the fittest people in the land, according to AFC voters. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 12 of 20 Getty Images No. But does ranking near the “top” for people-watching mean that a city is filled with attractive people or, frankly, odd ones? Dallas/Fort Worth, which came in last place in the category, may take some comfort in the idea that its locals are just too normal to attract many looky-loos. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement 8 of 20 © Richard Eaton/Demotix/Corbis No. 5 Las Vegas Sin City is a no-brainer for the top 5, from the flashy to the freaky—and those are just the people watching the shows.com No. And here’s incentive to start up a conversation at the beach bar: Honolulu ranked No. See all the America’s Favorite Cities survey results! Advertisement China structural rivets Manufacturers 13 of 20 Getty Images No. 1 city for performance art and theater. 5 for its sense of style. It even won as the most relaxing destination in the AFC survey—all the better for kicking back to check out the views and the people hanging out.

The annual survey asks Travel + Leisure readers to rank 35 cities in 54 categories—ranging from hotels and restaurants to the general vibe of the places, such as how clean they are, how safe they feel—and how fun it is to “take in the crazy. You still may see a few, alongside every other kind of personal expression—the city won the silver medal for being diverse, and ranked No. 3 for its great weather. Not that the scene is always pretty: Vegas came in at a plain-Jane No. 15 San Juan, P. 19 in the category of attractive residents.A. It’s all about being outdoors