Planning a trip to the city is no longer a big deal, they all offer an interesting and complete guided city circuit. The internet will also be a great resource in your attempt. On the famous web site city search, you can find anything you need from restaurants to shopping malls, including spas and car rental services. If you'd like better having a book and take it with you, you can find a great city guide in tourist information offices or in your library if you plan to go to a much visited one.
Most people discover cities when they graduate from high school. Then they go to college and move to the nearest city or even sometimes to a very far one. And they now tend to stay there after they are done with studies, because big town does not mean sin city any longer. On the contrary it has everything to lead a nice and well balanced life between work and family. Your children have access to schools whose level is often better if you whoose the proper area and you will have a broad choice of cultural activities from museums to movie theaters and great concerts or symphoniums in your radio city music hall. If you are lucky enough to live in such areas as ocean city or in Maryland, you will also have casinos right down the street and great weekend getaways in Maryland.