Forget the stereotype of sterile business districts that empty after work. America boasts several downtowns brimming with character, and they are all highly walkable. From historic Charleston to scenic Madison, these city centres offer charm and convenience on foot.
Charleston, South Carolina, feels like a living museum with over 2,500 historic buildings. Highlights include the candy-coloured Georgian row houses on East Bay Street and intricate wrought-iron balconies. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge pedestrian path provides sweeping skyline views.
Savannah, Georgia, features a 1733 grid plan with 22 park-like squares. Its streets are lined with buildings spanning 300 years of architecture, from Federal to Gothic, all shaded by oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Forsyth Park offers a classic viewpoint.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, enforces a strict adobe architectural code, ensuring earthy tones and flat roofs. With over 250 art galleries and the 17th-century Palace of the Governors, the city is framed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Cross of the Martyrs provides panoramic vistas.
Madison, Wisconsin, sits on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, with the Roman Renaissance-style Wisconsin State Capitol as its centrepiece. Other walkable downtowns include Providence, Rhode Island, with a European vibe; Boise, Idaho, known for its leafy streets; and Alexandria, Virginia, which retains its 18th-century character.
