RenoIte

Another vote for Reno here. Just for the record, you won't find any cactus here. It's HIGH desert. At the foot of the Sierra MOUNTAINS.

jj

It's fascinating that the answers here are so different from the answers to precisely the same query on the USA forum.<BR><BR>How did that happen, and why?

Jan

Hi Connie,<BR>Your friends have a great opportunity to live in a different culture! Lots of good suggestions have been made. I think that Seattle is a good one...except for the smoking issue. We lived there and knew some Swiss. They loved it. They also liked Santa Fe but got tired of the lack of green. Seattle would probably be less of culture shock from a people perspective. The populations share a lot of characteristics!<BR><BR>If they want a real adventure however, I would second the DC and Boston suggestion. Great cities, much American history, large international communities (and that will be important!). I would also suggest Miami. Sunny, laid back, multi-cultural, COMPLETELY different than Switzerland and I am guessing that smoking is tolerated many places. We live in Luzern and have several friends who have been or have family there, and they can't get enough.<BR>Good luck with their decision!<BR>Jan

carolyn

No, no, mbln74a; NC is not the only state that is tobacco friendly. It and Kentucky have the lowest cigarette tax in the U.S., I believe. We grow the stuff here, too, you know.<BR><BR>We also have a very pretty state with some culchah and some down home living.

Kay

The only place to go is Dallas, Texas. EVERYONE WEARS A ROLEX! Tell them to visit Dallas and stay at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. The bar at night is so filled with smoke it makes your eyes burn.

mary

annapolis, md!

Shannon

Dallas is good because if he travels around the US for Rolex you are centrally located to fly anywhere. It is about three hours to West Coast and about 2 1/2 to the East Coast. I know some Swiss people that live here and love it for that reason.

Ann

NYC. There's really no other choice.<BR><BR>If Newark is the right armpit of the nation, Reno is the left armpit. What an awful town! Thought it sounded like an interesting place to visit. I was dead wrong. We stayed to eat lunch and got out, quickly.<BR><BR>

Mr. Go

Denver or Cheyenne.

diane

Dallas is a great idea. Also Charlotte, NC or even Nashville, Tenn.

terra

I definitely would vote for Boston-- a very European-esque city, close to the slopes (and beaches), and not too closed off to smokers (for Euro standards). <BR><BR>

gwen

Philadelphia often gets overlooked. However I think it might fit the bill for this couple. Philly is close to skiing, there's lots of smokers here, plenty of culture, and close to NY and DC.

Timeless in Canada

Forget the States. Come to Canada. There is a huge wait list here for solid gold Rolexes.

cindy

Excuse me.. but someone mentioned skiing in Hawaii??? I find that hard to believe!

egg

New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont

Ann

Do you guys every actually READ these posts? She said they are avid skiers, but skiing is not a criteria.

nancy

A suggestion might be the Ft. Lauderdale area of Florida. My son (age 44) lives there so I visit about once a year. It would be a completely different experience from Switzerland which, in my opinion, would be fun. Not sure about the smoking issue (I smoke but slap on a patch when I visit altho' it seems people smoke in public places there). One thing I like is that it offers the cheapest airfares across the country from Los Angeles or Orange Co. You could then visit both ways and they could come for skiing. Also, they could head north of Ft. Lauderdale into ski country. My only objection to living there year around is the summer heat.

lena

How about Boston? Nice city, skiing is not too far.<BR>Or somewhere in the southwest to experience different natual surroundings and national parks?

me

1st choice: NYC but if they cannot afford to live in Manhattan,<BR>2ns choice: Chicago

Sant

I would recommend Asheville, NC. Understandably, NC is pretty smoker friendly. The Blue Ridge mountains will remind them of home somewhat. There is decent skiing nearby and good skiing up in Snoeshow W. Virginia. Asheville is a rather liberal community, lots of pubs and decent restuarants, lot of musical acts coming through.