Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Jan 31st 2013, 2:54 am
#106
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 86
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
I think you made a very good choice in picking the Triangle area.The locale to most everything can't be beat.You can get to Washington DC in 4 1/2 hours,Asheville in about 4 hours,NYC in 7 1/2 hours drive.Relatively close proximity to so many places yet having the luxury of living in a place that is calm & safe enough to raise children in a nurturing way but interesting in terms of the things to do for the whole family.
You will not struggle to find outdoor activities in North Carolina because this state is the essence of things to do in the outdoors. Boating on the many lakes,camping in some of the most breath taking forrest in the world.Some of the cleanest beaches in America.Hiking and walking trails in many locations. Prepare your stories of that big one that got away because fishing here is nothing short of incredible! One of the things I like about NC is the fact its a place where just about every budget level can still afford to buy a home. That would include 80K,100K,120K,180K which btw buys a very nice house.Spend 230K and the home has just about all the upgrades.And spend 300K and you are living in the lap of luxury.That type of home ownership can not be found in many places in America where people are friendly,crime is low and the place has a out-doorsy appeal.
The outer banks are not too far from my location and yes a stunning place to visit. Just another reason for out-doorsy people to appreciate north carolina. One thing that the Ralrigh,Durham area has "it all over" most of the cities in north carolina is the option of shopping.Prepare your self and your credit cards. Nordstroms happens to be a favorite of mine
You will not struggle to find outdoor activities in North Carolina because this state is the essence of things to do in the outdoors. Boating on the many lakes,camping in some of the most breath taking forrest in the world.Some of the cleanest beaches in America.Hiking and walking trails in many locations. Prepare your stories of that big one that got away because fishing here is nothing short of incredible! One of the things I like about NC is the fact its a place where just about every budget level can still afford to buy a home. That would include 80K,100K,120K,180K which btw buys a very nice house.Spend 230K and the home has just about all the upgrades.And spend 300K and you are living in the lap of luxury.That type of home ownership can not be found in many places in America where people are friendly,crime is low and the place has a out-doorsy appeal.
The outer banks are not too far from my location and yes a stunning place to visit. Just another reason for out-doorsy people to appreciate north carolina. One thing that the Ralrigh,Durham area has "it all over" most of the cities in north carolina is the option of shopping.Prepare your self and your credit cards. Nordstroms happens to be a favorite of mine
Seriously, though, yes, we are hoping that the area will prove more affordable than some of the others we were considering. We've never owned our own home, so hopefully that dream is within our grasp within the next few years!
Absolutely, we'd love to travel to the places you've mentioned and more. It's quite exciting to think that I'll be more towards the middle of the Eastern seaboard and therefore 'closer to everything'. Growing up in GA, my dad always took us either to FL or TN. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those places, but I loved it the few times we went to TN and feel an affinity with mountainous regions. Hope you enjoy it when you reach Asheville.
Thanks so much for your advice. Good luck to you!
Wonder if anyone else on the forum is considering moving to NC . . .
Feb 1st 2013, 10:44 am
#107
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Moving to a new country can be an exciting life experience but it also comes with a variety of changes to what we're us to. One of those challenges is finding a town/city in America which make you feel like you're at home. Where the people are friendly and there are things of interest to do. Where in America do you want to call home that has most of the attributes you want?
I never really understand why people move to somewhere just to make it like the place they came from, what is the point?
The most British-like place I've ever been in North America is Victoria, BC and many parts of the Fraser Valley in BC also. They even used to drive on the left-hand side of the road in Victoria, occasionally you'll see someone driving an old MG or Triumph that is RHD.
If you're talking about the US, I found some parts of Virginia were quite British-like, e.g. Alexandria.
Feb 1st 2013, 10:48 am
#108
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
And then there are the idiots who seem to think that the 2nd Amendment means that they have the right to own any weapons available on the planet without restriction. Is it OK to own ground-to-air missiles, helicopter gunships, torpedoes, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction?
I seem to recall an old aircraft carrier being in private hands. And there is no law that says you can't for example own an F-16, but GD won't sell you parts even if you got your hands on one. Also the State Dept. won't licence export to private individuals.
But there was loads of stuff left behind in Vietnam that ended up being sold off to civilians.
Feb 2nd 2013, 9:54 am
#110
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Feb 3rd 2013, 1:25 am
#111
Banned
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: In my little world ....
Posts: 11,351
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Have *you* ever taken a cake to a new neighbour who's just moved in? Friendliness begets friendliness! You never know, that new neighbour may well end up being your best friend.
So don't wait for it to come to you, invite your neighbours for drinks, welcome new people, or ask that housewife who's on her own every day if she'd like to join you for coffee.
So don't wait for it to come to you, invite your neighbours for drinks, welcome new people, or ask that housewife who's on her own every day if she'd like to join you for coffee.
It's the only way. I've noticed that people are friendlier in smaller communities. Most people in larger cities are too busy to make time for neighbours. My Dad who is American was born and raised in the city where we now live. But he says that the few years he spent in a little rural community where his job took him were the best. Because it was small enough everyone knew everybody else. Me ? I'm a city gal. So quite happy where we live now
Last edited by Desdemona; Feb 3rd 2013 at 3:20 am.
Feb 4th 2013, 7:06 am
#112
Still Glazers Out!
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Little Rock, AR (originally from N. Ireland)
Posts: 2,884
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Been in Houston, Texas for over 2 months now, and I have to say the Texan people, by & large, are very friendly, well-mannered people.
Yes, it's a huge, huge city (4th largest in the U.S.) with traffic problems that no engineer will EVER fix (only a nutter would live in the opposite side of the city from where they need to get to work... the commute would take you about 3 hours every morning!!) and the crime rates are obviously high (plenty of scumbags, many of whom apparently drifted here after Katrina emptied New Orleans) in such a large place, but the people are genuine, down-to-earth decent people in my experience.
What do I miss from home..?? Football (the NFL is fine, but it'll never rival 'our' sport), fresh air (pollution is obviously going to be an issue in a city with so many vehicles) and genuinely COLD water (the cold taps here issue water which is only marginally less warm than the hot taps, and that's me here during the winter months... NOT looking forward to summer...!)
Yes, it's a huge, huge city (4th largest in the U.S.) with traffic problems that no engineer will EVER fix (only a nutter would live in the opposite side of the city from where they need to get to work... the commute would take you about 3 hours every morning!!) and the crime rates are obviously high (plenty of scumbags, many of whom apparently drifted here after Katrina emptied New Orleans) in such a large place, but the people are genuine, down-to-earth decent people in my experience.
What do I miss from home..?? Football (the NFL is fine, but it'll never rival 'our' sport), fresh air (pollution is obviously going to be an issue in a city with so many vehicles) and genuinely COLD water (the cold taps here issue water which is only marginally less warm than the hot taps, and that's me here during the winter months... NOT looking forward to summer...!)
Feb 6th 2013, 3:44 am
#113
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,830
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Been in Houston, Texas for over 2 months now, and I have to say the Texan people, by & large, are very friendly, well-mannered people.
Yes, it's a huge, huge city (4th largest in the U.S.) with traffic problems that no engineer will EVER fix (only a nutter would live in the opposite side of the city from where they need to get to work... the commute would take you about 3 hours every morning!!) and the crime rates are obviously high (plenty of scumbags, many of whom apparently drifted here after Katrina emptied New Orleans) in such a large place, but the people are genuine, down-to-earth decent people in my experience.
What do I miss from home..?? Football (the NFL is fine, but it'll never rival 'our' sport), fresh air (pollution is obviously going to be an issue in a city with so many vehicles) and genuinely COLD water (the cold taps here issue water which is only marginally less warm than the hot taps, and that's me here during the winter months... NOT looking forward to summer...!)
Yes, it's a huge, huge city (4th largest in the U.S.) with traffic problems that no engineer will EVER fix (only a nutter would live in the opposite side of the city from where they need to get to work... the commute would take you about 3 hours every morning!!) and the crime rates are obviously high (plenty of scumbags, many of whom apparently drifted here after Katrina emptied New Orleans) in such a large place, but the people are genuine, down-to-earth decent people in my experience.
What do I miss from home..?? Football (the NFL is fine, but it'll never rival 'our' sport), fresh air (pollution is obviously going to be an issue in a city with so many vehicles) and genuinely COLD water (the cold taps here issue water which is only marginally less warm than the hot taps, and that's me here during the winter months... NOT looking forward to summer...!)
Feb 6th 2013, 4:09 am
#114
Still Glazers Out!
Joined: Jan 2013
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Feb 6th 2013, 4:41 am
#115
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Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Feb 6th 2013, 4:46 am
#116
Still Glazers Out!
Joined: Jan 2013
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Posts: 2,884
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Feb 6th 2013, 4:55 am
#117
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Feb 6th 2013, 4:56 am
#118
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Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
Feb 19th 2013, 11:53 am
#119
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Joined: May 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 122
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
At home where? Central London or rural Northern Ireland?
I never really understand why people move to somewhere just to make it like the place they came from, what is the point?
The most British-like place I've ever been in North America is Victoria, BC and many parts of the Fraser Valley in BC also. They even used to drive on the left-hand side of the road in Victoria, occasionally you'll see someone driving an old MG or Triumph that is RHD.
If you're talking about the US, I found some parts of Virginia were quite British-like, e.g. Alexandria.
I never really understand why people move to somewhere just to make it like the place they came from, what is the point?
The most British-like place I've ever been in North America is Victoria, BC and many parts of the Fraser Valley in BC also. They even used to drive on the left-hand side of the road in Victoria, occasionally you'll see someone driving an old MG or Triumph that is RHD.
If you're talking about the US, I found some parts of Virginia were quite British-like, e.g. Alexandria.
So if I'm looking for something that makes me feel at home it's somewhere with a pub and a town for shopping/ going out.
NYC, Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago aside, is there anywhere anybody would recommend as a good night out in the US?
Feb 19th 2013, 12:58 pm
#120
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Cities in America that make you feel at home?
In Mass - Boston, Concord, Lincoln, Cambridge, Northampton, Wellesley, Holliston etc.
