featured-image

Lee Abbamonte has visited every US state, every country in the world, and the North and South Poles. Abbamonte, a 45-year-old travel blogger, grew up in NYC but now lives in Los Angeles. He shared his favorite and least favorite US cities based on diversity, history, and sports prowess.

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .



You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement When you've done as much travel as Lee Abbamonte has, you know a thing or two about the places worth visiting within the US. Abbamonte , 45, is a travel blogger who has visited every US state , every country in the world, and the North and South Poles.

He told Business Insider that he caught the travel bug at age 20, when he left the US for the first time to study abroad in London. After graduation, Abbamonte spent time working on Wall Street until 9/11 changed the trajectory of his life. The deadly tragedy was "eye-opening," he said, and spurred him on to dedicate his life to travel.

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in .

Abbamonte has traveled far and wide in the decades since, sampling new cuisines, exploring underrated countries , and immersing himself in different cultures. But he also believes his home country, the US, has a lot to offer — and he's not alone. Advertisement According to a May report published by McKinsey & Company , a management consulting firm, nearly 70% of trips that start in the US are domestic.

What's more, the firm reports that $1 trillion is spent on trips within the US on a yearly basis, making it the largest domestic travel market in the world. But when it comes to US cities, Abbamonte has preferences. He's got a soft spot for places that are rich in history, have plenty of outdoor activities, and reflect the latest food and culture trends.

Here, he picked three US cities he can't get enough of and three that he prefers not to revisit..

Back to Beauty Page