I grew up in Worcester an really enjoyed it. For a city its size, Worcester has a lot going for it. I have been to similar sized cities up and down both coasts of the US, and the amenities that Worcester has is superior to what a lot of cites have. Museums, The Centrum, Mechanics Hall, and several colleges offer a lot of cultural attractions. The main problem is that a lot of people who live in Worcester to not take advantage of what is there. Plus, being less than an hour away from Boston is a huge bonus. If you think living in Worcester is boring, you just have not made the effort to explore it. As far as being beautiful. Worcester does have its gritty side, but I have always thought that downtown was attractive. I hope efforts to revitalized the inner city succede. I think Worcester suffers from lack of visionary leadership, and poor public self-image.