Some of the results from this survey will most definitely be an eye-opening surprise to many when they think of the usual list of attractions that get promoted and marketed by the cities for reasons to visit . . . Thanks to travel writer Michael Goldstein writing in Forbes yesterday, the results might jingle your bells and bang your clangers over the results from liberal and conservative cities.
A British company, OLBG (Online Betting Guide), has put together a Top Ten List of “America’s Wildest Cities” to visit.
To no one’s surprise, Las Vegas was rated wildest of them all.
What was surprising were the US cities that finished right behind it.
The no-doubt scientific survey rated the USA’s 35 most populated cities by “wildness” based on six factors [each of these per 100,000 people] :
- The number of nightlife attractions (according to TripAdvisor),
- The number of casinos (according to the World Casino Directory)
- The number of strip clubs (according to the Ultimate Strip Club List)
- The consumption of alcohol (the percentage of adults reporting binge or heavy drinking, according to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps)
- The percentage who have used marijuana and cocaine, according to American Addiction Centers.
America’s Top Ten Wildest Cities To Visit
America’s Top 10 Wildest Cities
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Portland, Oregon
3. Denver, Colorado
4. Austin, Texas
5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
6. Phoenix, Arizona
7. Indianapolis, Indiana
8. Columbus, Ohio
9. Boston, Massachusetts
10. Tucson, Arizona
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Remarks from contributing Forbes writer Michael Goldstein:
To no one’s surprise, the glittering destination in the desert earned its tiara as the leader in nightlife and casinos. But the political-correct Portland, Oregon actually led in strip clubs, while Phoenix and neighboring Mesa, Arizona apparently led in both marijuana and cocaine use. As for heavy and binge drinking, where else but the US seat of government, Washington, DC?
. . . Las Vegas had just 2.95 strip clubs per 100,000 people, good enough only for fourth place. To many, strip clubs are a sexist, retro form of entertainment. Yet the liberal bastion of Portland, Oregon boasts more than twice Las Vega’s percentage, with 6.80 clubs per 100,000. It’s followed by Baltimore (4.15) and Detroit (3.12).
The study says that in the “wildest” town, 17% of Las Vegas adults binge drink or drink heavily, 62.1% have used marijuana and 21.9% have taken cocaine. Yet Las Vegas is only #4 in use of cocaine. It trails Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, as well aw Oklahoma City, all cities in conservative “red” or Republican states, in cocaine use.
> As for heavy drinking, Vegas doesn’t even make the top ten - The rest of the top 10 booze havens includes Denver (26%), Boston (26%), Milwaukee (25%), San Francisco (24%), Austin, Portland, San Diego, Chicago and Philadelphia.
> While Nevada recently legalized marijuana and markets its shops as tourist destinations, Las Vegas doesn’t even place on the top ten pot list.
That list is again led by “conservative” states, with Mesa, Arizona (where 65% have used pot) Indianapolis, (64.6%) Phoenix, Portland, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Denver, Austin, Columbus, Ohio and Dallas.
