Alexandria would be a good place to visit for the lakes.

Treno would remind one of the 'wrong' side of big cities where bad stuff happens.

Lindblum's the closest the FFIX world can go being our world's 19th century New York (remember this is in the 1800s in their world). It is the most happening of places, has an entire district dedicated to the economy (Industrial and Business District), has another district dedicated to the Arts (Theatre District).

Also if you are looking for a good airline job, Lindblum is the place to go. Either as a cab driver for intra-city travel, or one of the bigger cargo or transport ships for Burmecia or Alexandria. Future prospects also are good if and when the other continents are opened up for intercontinental travel.

Lindblum is the only armed forces where you can apply to be in the air force and man one of the flak cannons on the airborne destroyers or be in the airborne infantry. All Alexandria has is the Queen's own command ship the Red Rose and you have to be one of her most trusted to even be on that ship.

Like America back then, Lindblum also is the place for cutting edge technology. The first steam engine was built and used there. So there's a lot of research opportunities in there for Gaia scientists and researchers.