Once consigned to 'educational' trips, Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, is enjoying a huge cultural renaissance, explained Kathy Arnold, following a visit last year for Telegraph Travel. Perhaps the biggest change is confidence. "We no longer see ourselves as the underdog, compared with New York or DC," one Philadelphian told her. "This city has come into its own."
An hour from Boston, Providence matches heritage with fun, and has been described as New England's coolest city.
You can explore the sights on foot, but Kathy Arnold advises wearing sensible shoes, as this compact state capital is built on hills.
She adds: "College Hill is the posh side of town, home to Oxbridge-like Brown University and RISD, the Rhode Island School of Design, whose fine museum inspires students and visitors alike. See how wealthy 18th-century Americans lived at the John Brown House, one of several mansions on mile-long Benefit Street.
"Downcity has seen the renaissance, with restaurants, shops and artists' studios, plus Riverwalk and the revitalised Providence River. On summer evenings, catch a free outdoor performance of WaterFire, a mix of music and blazing braziers along the city's waterways."
Another New England gem, recommended by Kathy Arnold. "The waterfront is the hub of Portland – as it has been for centuries," she says. "But in recent years, the Old Port has enjoyed a dynamic regeneration: warehouses were converted into art galleries and boutiques, brew pubs and coffee houses; brick pavements and Victorian-style street lamps added character. Up the hill, the Portland Museum of Art's notable collection includes works by artists who were inspired by Maine. See why Winslow Homer is rated one of America's best 19th-century painters, then pay your respects to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose home is nearby. As for restaurants, Portland has been on the foodie map for more than a decade. Think modern, local and inventive. Do not leave without ordering lobster, a Maine treat."
Some 30 miles north west of Denver, Boulder lies at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Locals run and cycle, hike and climb: no wonder it was once rated as America's fittest city.
"This university town was founded as a gold mining community 150 years ago and its historic heart centres on Pearl Street Mall," explains Kathy Arnold. "Everyone comes to gossip and shop on this pedestrianised boulevard dotted with tree-shaded benches. As well as cafés and boutiques, there is also a working goldsmith and Boulder Book Store, one of America's best. From spring through autumn, the farmers' market reflects Boulder's credentials as America's Foodiest Town, while in summer, the barnlike Chautauqua Auditorium hosts the international Colorado Music Festival."
Once best known for its steel industry, Pittsburgh's reputation as a gloomy rust-belt city is now changing - it was even recently named among America's most liveable cities – a remarkable turnaround. It has passionate sports fans, and culturally too, it holds its own. One of its most famous sons is Andy Warhol and visitors can embark on a gallery crawl.
Noted for its Southern charm and classic architecture, the South Carolina city of Charleston has acquired another dimension over the past few years.
"In recent years a new dynamic has been added to all the tradition: a creative class of young chefs, artisans and designers, who are reimagining everything from the city's cuisine to its architecture," said Telegraph Travel writer, Douglas Rogers.
It's also America's friendliest city, according to a 2015 survey.
A wealthy industrial power-house at the turn of the 20th century, Buffalo later fell on hard times. Situated right towards the north of the state, bordering the Niagara Falls, the university has been teased for its harsh winters and under-performing sports teams. But many will tell you Buffalo is worth a second look. The legacy of its industrial wealth is a fine line in heritage architecture, while a resurgent cultural scene is finally putting the city on the tourist trail. Not forgetting, of course, the National Buffalo Wings Festival.
Home to the General Mills plant, where Cheerios are manufactured, Buffalo also sometimes smells of toasted oats. The residents are so fond of their scent that they even sells T-shirts declaring "my city smells like Cheerios".
Most people haven't heard of Asheville, although the city is increasingly on the radar of Americans looking for a new place to explore. It was named among the 'Ten Most Beautiful Places' in America by ABC's Good Morning America as well as one of the '25 best places to retire' by CNN.
It lives up to its billing. It is a funky little city that sits against the impressive backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains with a burgeoning homegrown food scene and live music. There is also an abundance of art museums and studios.
Poor Detroit has had a bashing over the last decade or so. Once at the heart of the US car industry, its post-industrial decline was held up as an example of the broken American dream.
But it has been experiencing a renaissance of late, with a reinvigorated downtown area, a small but unmistakable new crop of restaurants and microbreweries, and the construction of bicycle routes to go with its Motown musical heritage. There's also the Detroit Insitute of Art, whose permanent collection includes masterpieces by Caravaggio, Brueghel and Van Gogh.
Often overlooked in favour of better known Californian cities – San Francisco and Los Angeles, for example – San Diego is worth a holiday in its own right.
"Sophisticated restaurants championing seafood and Californian produce are commonplace. In short, San Diego is much more likeable and manageable than that other big southern Californian metropolis, LA," said travel expert Fred Mawer.
Tucked away in the very south of Tennessee, Chattanooga, in 1969, was listed as the US city with the worst air pollution, a filthy nugget of toil and industry. Since then, it has undergone a revolution, emerging in the 21st century as a place of clean living and hearty exercise - and one of the greatest cities in the world to kayak.
The Telegraph, London
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