New Orleans, LA

I was able to visit the Big Easy in April 2010 because the American Planning Association chose New Orleans for its annual national conference. NOLA is hands down one of the greatest cities in the US. If you haven't gotten a chance to visit, I would strongly urge you to do so. The music, food, drinks, and people make it one of the most stress free and exciting cities to be in. While I wasn't able to see Mardi Gras, I was able to enjoy the Jazz Fest, which is their 2nd biggest festival. It was only 5 years after Hurricane Katrina had devastated the city and left millions homeless, yet it looked better than ever.