An as-yet-undetermined number of years from now, we hope to be building a home, and we need to determine what cities/regions in the US we should investigate as possible locations (don't worry -- we wouldn't build anywhere without thoroughly exploring/renting in the region).

So, I thought, where else to get advice about places in the US then from people who travel and live all over!

We are looking for places that

* Would have land available
* On a lake or big, calm river (a must for sea kayaking!)
* In the mountains
* Without being bitterly cold in the winter
* But not overly hot and sticky in the summer (he's from Georgia, I'm from Michigan)
* Good food/shops
* No more than a couple hours from an airport -- I must travel!
* Land plus house shouldn't cost more than about $500K
* Close enough to a city center to go out to dinner and a concert
* Active local music scene
* We're tending toward the East Coast, as we've both lived here for years, but are open to hearing raves about other areas!

In our daydreams, we've looked at the Adirondacks; Eugene, Oregon; Charlottesville, Virginia; etc.

We love Santa Fe and are very interested in living somewhere _like_ that -- a destination town, as it were, where the community is fairly small and tight-knit, but there are tons of great shops and excellent restaurants catering to the (well-off) visiting hordes. But with water!

I'm very interested in what ideas the responses will bring!!!

Thanks in advance!

Granted, I haven't lived there, but have you considered Asheville NC? It seems to meet most of your criteria and I've enjoyed my visits there. I've often dreamed of owning a cabin in the mountains, along a nice creek or river. It's a little over 2hrs to the airport in Charlotte, but the availability of flights could balance that out. It's also about 2hrs from Knoxville TN.

Some of these places might not fit your bill but we have loved them-Jackson, Wy,McCall, Id, Orem, Ut, Lake Tahoe, Ca, Hendersonville, Nc, Lk. Lanier area, Ga, Scottboro, Al-well enough, by the time you check thm out-you would love at least half of them.

Happy hunting

I live in Seattle and love it and it sounds as if it would fit what you might be looking for. Check it out. You'd probably want to live on the Eastside and maybe even around North Bend. To me, the only downside of living here is that my favorite vacation destination is Spain and it's a really long plane ride from the West Coast.

Thanks for the ideas -- keep 'em coming!

Artlover, we visited Seattle this spring and thought it fun, but not necessarily our cup of tea. I hope you won't be offended if I say that I thought it (the city, not the people)had the brusqueness of Chicago without the energy. Of course, we may have just seen the wrong parts of the city!

How about Austin Texas or the surrounding area? We have a whole string of beautiful lakes. It doesn't get terribly cold. We get a snow once every several years and it rarely sticks. Austin is the Live Music Capitol of The World (no joking.)The only downside is the economy is crappy right now.

ALW, no offense taken. Did you get to the outlying areas at all? Mt. Rainer, Olympic Pennisula? Etc? That's the real charm around here. Plus, Spring isn't the "cheeriest" time to visit, but if it didn't feel right to you, it probably isn't the place for you. Good luck on your search.

I'm confused - do you want to live in a city with lots of energy and build your own place on a vacant lot, all for $500K? Do you mean suburbs? Way-out suburbs?

Anyway, random thoughts of places we know that you could google -

Northwest - Spokane WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID; Portland OR; Missoula MT - the university helps with isolation; Bellingham WA - same story plus choose between Seattle & Vancouver; Eugene.

California/SW -
Sacramento; Eureka/Arcata; S. Lake Tahoe; Santa Maria/Lompoc; probably a few others in CA; Las Vegas; Reno metro; Laughlin/Bullhead (hot but dry).

Big Island; Oahu; Juneau.

Portsmouth NH; Providence; Carolina Piedmont; Catskills.

I'll probably think of more.

Hi all!

Artlover: No, I'm afraid that we didn't go very far afield. We spent time at the Experience, at the aquarium, at the art museum, at a club, etc. -- next time, we'll explore more


Gardyloo: Thanks for the ideas!

"I'm confused - do you want to live in a city with lots of energy and build your own place on a vacant lot, all for $500K? Do you mean suburbs? Way-out suburbs?"

I don't necessarily want to live in a city -- I'd be very happy living a couple of hours away, though he'd probably rather live only an hour or so out (e.g., on the eastern shore of Maryland -- close to DC, but not in the city).

"the university helps with isolation"

Universities and colleges are key for me -- I've spent my life around academic institutions, and thus know how much they add to a community!

"Vancouver"

We're visiting in May -- though I don't know whether he's aware that I'm scouting locations! ;-) A hesitation for me would be what appear to be US prices paid with Canadian dollars...

"Big Island; Oahu; Juneau"

I've seen a lot about Hawai'i on this board -- I enjoyed my time there (visiting years ago) but found the mosquitoes to be INCREDIBLE. Ugh. It made me long for the black flies of Vermont! Still, the natural beauty, the excellent government -- anyone who has a job automatically has health insurance!!! -- and the friendly locals are all appealing...

"Portsmouth NH; Providence; Carolina Piedmont; Catskills"

These are all great ideas! I've looked into Providence and the Carolinas -- though more in the mountains than on the Piedmont. Definitely some cool areas!

Lots of food for thought -- thanks!

We live about 30 minutes North of Seattle and although I dream of escaping for a couple of years, just to say I've been somewhere else...I will always want this to be my home. I know this is a big country, and many people feel the same...but let me toot our horn...

Hiking in mountains/around lakes/through tulip fields....30-45 min drive.
Snow skiing...45 min drive
Water skiing...15 min drive
Vancouver, BC....90 min drive
Pacific ocean on one side/Mountains on the other
Portland, Or...2 1/2 hrs
Bellingham, WA (smaller college town)..60 min drive
Cute little towns...all over
We LOVE it here!!

We always dream of living in Grand Junction, CO... minutes from Moab and minutes to the Rockies.
Sante Fe and Sedona are on the list, too.

Western NC mountains, 2hr to Atlanta, 1hr Asheville, fantastic areas for kayaking, not bitterly cold or hot, 3br, 3ba cabin w/hot tub on a mountain (less than 200K), waterfall, stunning sunsets, wildlife. Music scene? Well, we have "pickin on the square" in summer months!

At the top of our dream list: San Diego or Charleston, SC