Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
For your first solo trip, I'd probably recommend a larger city.
You can stay in hostels or B&B's which will make it easier to meet other people for those times you don't want to be by yourself.
I wouldn't compare Paris with NYC at all. It's a wonderful walking city. I'd go there anytime of year, every opportunity I can get. If you get there and don't like it, get on a train and head somewhere else.
Places that I could easily spend a week in alone without feeling like I needed to drive.
Paris
Rome
Northern Italy
Chicago
Boston
D.C.
Barcelona
Costa Rica
Hanoi
Ireland (ok, I'd probably want to drive here, but I know I could get by without it)