those of use who still see her beauty in what remains . '' Josh Gorrell sent the photo of the `` painted ladies '' at Marina Del Rey in southern California . `` My favorite part of living by the coast is the constantly fresh ocean breezes , the year-round sunshine and the wonderful seafood ! Oh , and the surf ! '' Raymond Lopera 's favorite city in the Los Angeles area is Santa Monica . He lived there briefly when he moved from New York a few years ago and says he goes back every chance he gets . He says Santa Monica is very pedestrian friendly and he enjoys taking long walks , stopping along the way at places like Barnes & Noble or Starbucks . Nikolai Ursin ca n't get enough of Minneapolis . `` I 'm 28 and able to live a fabulous life because the cost of living is so low , yet the wages are quite high . My friends in N.Y.C. are jealous . I travel a lot for work and there is nothing quite like landing in Minneapolis and knowing I 'm home . '' I-Reporter Chris Fuhriman is a captain
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Whether it 's dining , shopping , culture , nightlife or people , everybody has a favorite city . Some cities are great places to live and raise a family . Others provide the backdrop for that once-in-a-lifetime vacation . The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis in Santa Fe , New Mexico . I-Reporters have been telling us about their favorite American cities . Here are some of the highlights . Jim Thompson sent the photo of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis in Santa Fe , New Mexico , along with this important information : `` Be sure to mention that St. Francis Cathedral has been renamed to St. Francis Basilica . ... The request was made by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and was granted by the Vatican , so now St. Francis is the headquarters for the pope when he comes to Santa Fe . '' Diana Peters moved to New Orleans in 2003 , and has experienced the city before and after Hurricane Katrina . Her feelings about recovery are complicated . `` But do n't turn your back on New Orleans , because she survives in all of us , especially