America’s Rudest Cities 2016

The city may not exude an overly-welcoming atmosphere for visitors, but locals are loving it. With an impressive performance on WalletHub’s Staycation survey, residents of Scottsdale enjoy a lifetime of weekends full of R&R and a strong food scene.

Maybe travelers just ran into a bunch of stressed out Charlotte residents at the airport. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is an airport you definitely want to avoid in the summer, and nothing makes people ruder than a flight delay. If you want to play nice with the locals, however, cheer on the Panthers at D9 Brewing Co.’s taproom.

In keeping with stereotypes, this New England city has historically struck readers as “bookishly aloof.” But don’t pass through too quickly: The city scored highly for its attractive architecture and has no shortage of unique attractions. During the summer, you can see the WaterFire bonfire installation, and at any time of year, you can grab a drink in the cooler-than-thou cocktail bar at The Dean Hotel.

It’s no wonder that Sin City scored gold for a Wild Weekend trip, with its world-class nightclubs and hotels. But the city came off to many readers as a bit shallow: Its scores for historic sites, galleries, and peace and quiet were low. Vegas is getting luckier, however, with a rudeness score that’s dropped for three consecutive years and a happening food scene that could soon compete with the Strip’s neon and glitter.

Unsociable locals aside, Detroit is undeniably the country’s comeback kid. We called it one of the best places to travel this year, thanks to a boutique hotel boom, almost 100 new restaurants, and an attractive new riverfront park. And while readers called out locals for being rude, they raved just as much about the pizza and music scene. Watch out Nashville and New York.

Ann Arbor residents may have come off as rude, but visitors also say they’re notably hip and intelligent. Hordes of students also make for excellent people-watching. If you’re visiting Ann Arbor, you can get on locals’ good side by sporting a U of M sweatshirt or by discussing your experience at the Nichols Arboretum.

Even if the locals rub you the wrong way, you’ll have no trouble staying entertained in Colorado Springs. The city impressed travelers with its cultural offerings, getting high scores in everything from the galleries and museums to the theater offerings and free attractions — hiking through national parks and outdoor concerts, to name just a couple.

Even with a healthy dose of Texas twang, Dallas didn’t come across to visitors as being very welcoming. What did resonate with travelers in the Big D were the city’s bars and barbecue, including brisket omelets for breakfast at Smoke or craft brews in Deep Ellum. Maybe travelers just don’t get what they expect from a trip to Dallas. As T+L’s Digital Photo Editor, a Dallas native, says in her hometown guide, you won’t find longhorns or oil rigs in this truly modern metropolis.

If you want to make a good impression on Bostonians — some of the most passionate sports fans in the country — leave your Yankees cap and Golden State Warriors jersey at home. You won’t have any trouble striking up a conversation with brainy locals, or getting friendly assistance from a BID Ambassador. You can find them in orange shirts watering plants, picking up litter, and helping visitors all across Beantown.

What’s not to like about a metropolis surrounded almost entirely by ski resorts? Maybe all that cold air leaves locals in the No. 1 city for ski trips feeling frigid. Salt Lake City did impress travelers with its overall cleanliness and its attractive residents. Get to know them over an après ski drink at notably mellow Solitude Mountain Resort’s Library Bar. Slopeside pubs and lounges are one of the only places you’ll experience Salt Lake-style nightlife.

It’s known as the City of Brotherly Love, but it’s not all hugs and tenderness in Philadelphia. Head to any one of the city’s countless historical sites (for which Philly ranked No. 2), where you’re sure to strike up a conversation with American history buffs at the Liberty Bell, Independence Hal, or the revamped Benjamin Franklin Museum.

Despite sunny skies and palm tree-fringed boulevards, Los Angeles still has a reputation for being a bit unfriendly. To mingle with affable Angelenos, avoid overrated Hollywood glitz and seek out world-class museums (like the stunning new Broad) and vibrant arts and culinary communities. It’s hard to be rude to anyone while enjoying a bowl of banchan in Koreatown.

Despite being one of the top three rudest cities in America, the Big Apple improved its reputation this year, dropping from the No. 1 spot. Perhaps it was the mild winter that kept locals chipper, or the fact that tourists have come to expect a certain demeanor as part of their authentic New York City experience. But if you want to avoid dirty looks and scathing retorts, there’s one thing you can do to improve your experience with locals, and that’s to walk like a New Yorker.

The capital of the Grand Canyon State keeps creeping up the list, moving from No. 12 in 2014 to No. 8 in 2015, and now No. 2. Phoenix doesn’t seem to be getting more hospitable toward visitors (last year, we surmised they were just weary of all the people who winter in their hometown), but they shouldn’t be surprised by the influx. Phoenix received high scores for many “quality of life” factors including good drivers (No. 1) and affordability (No. 2).

Last year’s runner-up is now the top dog when it comes to our readers’ impressions of rudeness. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could be in a bad mood here, what with the city’s perennial tropical weather and pristine beachfront real estate. After all, it ranked as one of the best cities in the country for a Beach Getaway. But maybe it’s Miami’s display of luxury, from gleaming new condos to couture boutiques, that turned off travelers. In addition to rudeness, the city had a pretty high snob score.