NBA Cities Rated

NEW YORK: Always something to do. Always. Pictured: The sun rises over the Manhattan skyline as seen from Brooklyn, New York.  (Spencer Platt / Getty Images)

MIAMI: South Beach is simply phenomenal for so many reasons, day and night. Pictured: Miami’s flashy and fast South Beach.  (Roberto Gonzalez / Orlando Sentinel)

SEATTLE: Clean, crisp air makes it a must-smell. Pictured: Seattle’s 607-foot Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)

SAN FRANCISCO: The Golden State Warriors are in Oakland, but those in the know stay in S.F. Pictured: Evening commuters make their way across the Bay Bridge as a storm passes behind the San Francisco skyline as seen from Yerba Buena Island.  (Genaro Molina / LAT)

New Orleans: Bourbon Street is on the rebound, as is downtown. Pictured: Carnival revelers on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  (Lee Celano / For the Times)

PHOENIX: Just don’t go in June, July or August. Pictured: The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, part of the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix.  (Geraldine Wilkins / LAT)

DENVER: Downtown is surprisingly vibrant, even when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. Pictured: Sun glints off buildings of the skyline of the Mile High City.  (David Zalubowski / AP)

BOSTON: Whenever I leave, I feel like I could use another day to see everything I missed. Pictured: A racing boat sails in Boston Harbor in front of the Boston skyline.  (Matt Campbell / EPA)

San Antonio: The River Walk is fun, and Austin is only an hour away. Pictured: Historic San Fernando Cathedral is known for its Spanish colonial facade and antique contents.  (Eric Gay / AP)

DALLAS: I hate the Dallas Cowboys. Hate, hate, hate. Pictured: A smoky haze blankets downtown Dallas.  (Erich Schlegel / AP / The Dallas Morning News)

CHARLOTTE: It might be a little too high on this list, but I’ve never had a bad time there. Pictured: Construction workers and the Charlotte, N.C., skyline are reflected in the windows of the Moorehead Corporate Plaza.  (Patrick Schneider / AP)

ATLANTA: You’ve got to give credit to one of only three U.S. cities to host a Summer Olympics. Pictured: The Atlanta skyline sits beyond Turner Field.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

CLEVELAND: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame helps, as does the underrated downtown area. Pictured: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum displays a bass guitar smashed by Paul Simonon of the Clash.  (Jamie-Andrea Yanak / AP)

MEMPHIS: Beale Street is fun for one night, but what if you have to stay two nights? Pictured: The Memphis Pyramid with the city’s skyline resting in the background.  (Mark Humphrey / AP)