1. New York City Lodgings: $297 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $368 2009 population: 8.39 million Read about New York City: • Up on the roof, where the drinks -- and the Manhattan views -- are fine • Walking in Holden Caulfield’s footsteps through Manhattan • Pop-up eateries a hit with New York’s hip • A tour of literary Manhattan More info: www.nycgo.com Pictured: Time Square (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)
3. Washington, D.C. Lodgings: $212 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $283 2009 population: 599,657 Read about Washington, D.C.: • Washington, D.C., hotel upgrades a winning ticket • A monumental cruise of the Potomac More info: washington.org Pictured: The Potomac River (Chris Wright / For The Times)
4. Santa Monica, Calif. Lodgings: $209 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $280 2009 population: 87,563 Read about Santa Monica: • Santa Monica restaurants, bars, clubs and events • Santa Monica’s Basement Tavern at the Victorian a hidden pleasure More info: www.santamonica.com Pictured: Santa Monica Pier (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
5. Chicago Lodgings: $191 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $262 2009 population: 2.85 million Read about Chicago: • Ode to Chicago summer • Guide to O’Hare Airport More info: explorechicago.org Pictured: The Ledge at Willis Tower (Richard Derk / Los Angeles Times)
8. Tarrytown / White Plains / New Rochelle, N.Y. Lodgings: $164 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $235 2009 population: 11,169 (Tarrytown), 57,468 (White Plains), 74,281 (New Rochelle) More info: www.westchestertourism.com8. Pictured: Michelle Obama at Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown, N.Y. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)
9. Santa Barbara Lodgings: $166 Meals and incidentals: $66 Total: $232 2009 population: 86,353 Read about Santa Barbara: • Avocado madness and 10 handy Santa Barbara County facts • Exploring Santa Barbara’s locally grown food • 13 Santa Barbara restaurants to savor More info: www.santabarbaraca.comPictured: East Beach (Richard Derk / Los Angeles Times)
11. Seattle Lodgings: $159 Meals and incidentals: $71 Total: $230 2009 population: 616,627 Read about Seattle: • Seattle’s Arctic Club mines gold rush-era memories • Tea revolution brewing in coffee-saturated Seattle • In Seattle, it’s all about authentic dining More info: www.visitseattle.org (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
14. Denver Lodgings: $158 Meals and incidentals: $66 Total: $224 2009 population: 610,345 Read about Denver: • Tips for a successful Denver family vacation • Denver, Colorado, more than a conventional choice More info: www.denver.org Pictured: The Frederic C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum (Anne Cusack / LAT)
17. Nantucket Lodgings: $156 Meals and incidentals: $61 Total: $217 2009 population: 11,322 Read about Nantucket: • A peaceful, end-of-summer family vacation in Nantucket More info: www.nantucketchamber.org Pictured: Steamship Authority dock on Nantucket Island (Rob Benchley / For The Times)
20. Napa Lodgings: $147 Meals and incidentals: $66 Total: $213 2009 population: 75,297 Read about Napa, Calif.: • Brides could be walking down the vineyard aisle • Ghost wineries of Napa Valley offer a taste of the past • Napa Valley wine tastings and tours More info: www.legendarynapavalley.com (Robert Durell / For The Times)