collegetraveler

Hi I'm 22 years old and am from Louisiana. I am graduating with a master's degree in speech therapy in 2 years and want to move after finishing college. I have always wanted to live in the mountains but don't want to have to face harsh winters so I'm thinking Arkansas, Tennessee, or the Carolinas. I want to live somewhere in the outskirts of a nice city. A place that has great trails for hiking, biking etc. Also a place that offers canoeing and white water rafting not too far away. I especially would love to be to close to a big state or national park bc of my love for wildlife and nature. I'm also a hunter so it'd be great to have some great hunting and fishing spots in the area. A town that's not too big but not a 'small town usa' place where everyone knows everyone's business. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!!!

schmerl

Not one of the places you listed, but the Portland, Oregon area offers all you listed in your wishes. I wasn't sure about the winters, but I found this:
"The warm season lasts from June 24 to September 20 with an average daily high temperature above 74°F. The hottest day of the year is July 30, with an average high of 82°F and low of 59°F.
The cold season lasts from November 16 to February 23 with an average daily high temperature below 52°F. The coldest day of the year is December 29, with an average low of 35°F and high of 44°F."

collegetraveler

Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it and will look into it! I'm sort of wanting to try and stay within a 10 hour drive from my family, but for the right town, I think the journey may be worth it.

obxgirl

Asheville, NC

collegetraveler

I actually have been looking a lot into Asheville, but a couple from the area told me it's more popular with the retired generation and that it can be hard to find a job there. I'm confident of finding a job anywhere with the job I'll have but I'd like to live in an area where I can meet a lot of people my age too. Are there a lot of young people in the area? Thanks!

tomfuller

Check out the Clemson/Seneca area west of Greenville SC.
There should be plenty of young people at Clemson University.
You have lakes, mountains and many parks nearby.

obxgirl

I'm confident of finding a job anywhere with the job I'll have but I'd like to live in an area where I can meet a lot of people my age too. Are there a lot of young people in the area?

I don't know. I responded based on the criteria you mentioned in your opening post. You might try the City-Data Forum. This is primarily a travel forum.

marvelousmouse

I'd say, based on experience and anecdotes from friends, is focus on finding that great job first, and less whether there will be people your own age there. If you are indeed lucky, you'll find somewhere that meets your recreation requirements and is within your desired distance from your family. Good luck!

You probably won't believe me- but friends are friends, and after college age matters increasingly less

(Asheville sounds rather like some of my favorite places in Idaho/Washington/Oregon that you would love to live in but even if you can find a good job, you can't necessarily live comfortably on your pay checks. Part of that is that people with 20 years of experience in your field would ALSO love to live there).

gail

Don't know how you define harsh winters - but have you considered the DC/Virginia area. While housing is expensive, there are lots of jobs - and lots of young professionals who are environmentally minded and outdoorsy. Central and western VA is a couple of hours away.

This area meets some of your requirements - but not the "small town" feel. The farther west you go in VA, the more of that you find. Many who live in the area balance jobs, city proximity, and more rural lifestyle and pick a point in the state.

Gretchen

I would think Asheville would offer you aomething in your area, and I don't think all the funky stuff that is going on there is of all retirement age.
Greenville, SC? Winston-Salem, NC?
Denver!! It really does have it all, and the winters aren't "harsh". 300 days of sunshine and all the outdoorsy folk you could ever want!!
You have a very marketable profession.

NorthwestMale

The part about (Mountains and no harsh winters) made me laugh, and while I recognize the interest in being within a 10-hour drive from your family, so many of your interests fit the idea of living in/near Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington... and then trekking to the nearby (major) mountains when needed.

Seattle and Portland themselves have mild winters, for the most part, yet most of your required amenities are very nearby. You won't have the humidity you must know in some parts of Louisiana, and you will find the environment comfortable in nearly all months of the year.

PS - it rains a lot!! (but seldom hard rain)

happytourist

Hot Springs, Arkansas or even Little Rock. In Hot Springs, you're on the edge of the Ouachita Mountains and Ouachita National Forest with lots of hiking trails and Lake Ouachita where you can kayak and canoe. Hunting is very popular in this area, also. Hot Springs is an artist community so it has a lot of diversity. We have four seasons but generally the winters are mild.

If you move to Hot Springs Village, a gated community about 15 miles north of HS (NOT age-restricted), you'll find lots of trails, a group of dedicated kayakers, the Ouachita Rod and Gun Club, etc. You won't have any trouble finding a house to rent, although there are no apartments in HSV.

As a speech therapist, of course you're most interested in getting a job. Try the following school districts: Hot Springs, Lakeside, Fountain Lake, Jessieville, Magnet Cove, Cutter Morning Star, Mt. Ida, Benton.

http://diamondlakes.dina.org/
http://hsvpoa.org/
http://www.ouachitarodgun.com/
http://www.basecampar.com/
http://hsvpoa.org/recreation/fitness-center/

Good luck with your search!

starrs

Anywhere in western NC - the Asheville area, Brevard, etc.

JanetKMR

How about Blacksburg, VA....it gets cold, but is a great community with lots of hiking and white water rafting nearby.

Ackislander

Greenville, SC has pretty much everything you are looking for.
Agree with Janet about Blacksburg and would add Charlottesville and maybe Harrisonburg or Staunton.