re: Better city, Atlanta or New Orleans?

SInce Atlanta has no real "center" like the French Quarter, it takes knowing it to really appreciate what it can offer. There are certainly plenty of suburban soul sucking going on, but there are some awesome enclaves both ITP and OTP as well.

I don't have a lot of experience with NOLA, and the one time I did go there I ended up vomiting all night, but it was an interesting city to visit at least. I hate seafood/fish so that always hampers my appreciation of Creole cuisine as well.

Nashville and Asheville are both very cool. I don'r get the love for Charlotte. Lake Norman is nice enough, but nothing else really has ever stood out for me in Charlotte.