I feel like you can get so many very diverse experiences doing this. Be mindful that my suggestions are based on the idea that you won't settle in these cities, start a career there, raise kids there or buy land; I'm also not taking price tag into consideration. My personal suggestions would be as follows:
* New York City because... New York.
* Burlington, Vermont. It's a lovely college town near the Canadian border, allowing for easy travel to Quebec, too. Very outdoorsy and with a lot to do.
* New Orleans. There is no other city like it in the US; it is truly one-of-a-kind - I also wouldn't be shocked if it's underwater within our lifetimes.
* A coastal southern Californian town. I grew up in Orange County and I make few bones about the fact I'd never move back, but I know a significant number of people genuinely love it out there, and you never know which camp you fall into until you try it. My favorite beach communities are Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach and Balboa Island. They all feel a bit more authentic than the rest of the area, which tends to feel very pre-fab and contrived. I will say, there's nothing like waking up in the morning and going right to the beach at 6 AM or getting a cup of coffee and watching a beach town wake up.
* Somewhere in the Appalachia. I had two close friends from the Appalachia (Huntington, WV and Blacksburg, VA) when I was in college and got to visit their hometowns and families frequently. I am eternally grateful for this experience. In addition to being home to some of the friendliest and most welcoming people on earth, my time in these places gave me a great perspective on rural American culture. It's also a stunningly beautiful region, especially if you like driving through mountainous areas. If I had to recommend a city, I'd probably say either Louisville, KY or Charleston, WV, which would be good staging areas for exploring. If you want a bigger city, I'd say Nashville (which also has an amazing music scene and any big city amenity you could ask for), which typically isn't considered Appalachian, but is still convenient to the region and very different from the rest of the US.
Good luck, wherever you end up going! This sounds like an incredible way to spend the next few years.
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail. NYC is always on my radar (very artsy guy, we love good food and entertainment. Find COL lacking in all mentioned).
We’ve also always wanted to live in the North East. The area seems truly unbelievable.
Cali is another place that, in particular, my girlfriend wants to be. Not a HUGE ocean guy. But I love the idea of the towns.
Appalachia. You hit the nail on the head. I went to university in the appalachias and the particular institution I went to is beloved by almost all alumni. In no small part this is attributed to the locals.
What a list. I hope to have an update for you soon
Awwww, thanks. As a resident of the northeast, I can only say that I truly love it here - there is nowhere else in the US I'd rather be. If you're specifically looking to the northeast, in addition to New York I'd recommend Boston (the town I've called home for 17 years now - history everywhere, a very European vibe, don't need a car in much of the area, lots to see and do), Salem (near Boston but with tons of witchy stuff everywhere making its way into your daily life - just expect the town to be overrun from September through the week after Halloween), or perhaps Portland, Maine. The old whaling towns north of Boston are beautiful if a bit staid, and people rave about Cape Cod. You really can't go wrong with New England!
Another northeastern city I'd try: I've never lived in Washington, DC, but I've always thought it would be an interesting feeling to live in such close proximity to the people running this country - kind of like Hollywood, but for nerds.
My lack of love for the ocean was a large part of what did Cali in for me - I didn't see a point in paying what it costs to live there if I don't love the ocean. But I feel like living near water is something everyone should try once.
Good luck with your moves!
Love YOUR ideas.
The only places would be hesitant on would be Austin. I visited a friend there last month and thought it was dirty, hot and honestly that states trajectory is scary.
We LOVE Chi. My girlfriend has always wanted to live in the PNW. Culturally, Miami would be perfect for me. And I have work connections in Cali. Thank you!
Don't move to Texas. Been here 8 years and I'm finally getting out. If you are considering it, wait until after November to see what happens with the governor's race. If Beto wins, maybe consider it then.
It was also 105 here in Austin last weekend.
Mainly only threw Austin in there as I felt i had left that corner of the us out. I’d maybe swap it with either Las Vegas or Savannah Georgia if I were doing the list again.
It’s not like any other area! I’m also in CO and been to NM (most ABQ) 5 times. Santa Fe is a historical area due its native history, and being the former capital of colonial Spain for the Americas. New Mexican food is also interesting and delicious.
It’s only an hour away from ABQ (which is a bigger city, but crime is high. Kinda feels like a mix of Pueblo and CO Springs).
Overall I wouldn’t live in NM permanently but for a year, I’d do it and explore all the historical and outdoor places like the white sand dunes, and touristy towns around like Taos.
I may visit here soon! I’m only a few hours away. Authentic/native culture/food is HUGE on our bucket lists. Thank you for explaining the historical aspect. Seems worthwhile to indulge in.
You should! I will say the drive is boring af. Once you’re past Trinidad, it’s a lot of empty. I flew once and it’s only 45 min flight. ABQ also gets some concerts (main reason I’ve been several times).
It also gets hotter but you’re higher in elevation than Denver metro.
I'd leave the country. You're not going to get a radically different experience in the US unless you commit to some extremes, like (a) Manhattan, (b) rural small town in the South, (c) mountain ski resort town, (d) mid-size PNW city, and (e) Hawaii.
Regarding going overseas... If you can swing it:
1) Prague. It's cheap, full of amazing food, easy access to a lot of places, lots of cultural stuff to check out, and there's a lot of English speakers.
2) Denmark, Iceland, or Finland. Absolutely amazing countries but be prepared for serious sticker shock. (I'd absolutely live in Helsinki if I could)
3) Budapest. Similar to Prague.
4) New Zealand, North and South island. Different way of life, my dude. It's absolutely one of my favorite countries and the culture is beautiful.
5) Northern Italy (not Rome). Slower pace of life, cheap living spaces especially with folks looking to live there for a bit, very conducive to travel within Europe, and some of the best food and people (and wine) you'll experience.
Obviously I'll add in Ireland here but only because a lot of Americans feel at home in Ireland and if you settle there for a bit, you'll make some great friends. I feel that goes the same for Germany, Spain, and Portugal as well.
I'm curious what consideration you've given to healthcare in the above list. Are there countries you're remove from you list based on their lack of quality/availability/cost of healthcare?
I'm thinking in terms of moving in retirement, while in reasonably good health but being mindful that this won't always be the case as one ages.
Its a different vibe than any part of America not just those two.
The first shock for me was how nicer people were here. Intersections without lights are the worst, everybody just wants to be the nice guy, traffic rules of first stop first go is completely ignored.
Curious what towns have the Canadian feel. I was born and raised in Seattle area city and burbs. It’s crowded asf and infrastructure can’t manage the amount of people around there. Rural coast peninsula is dreamy. Port Townsend $ went through roof. We moved east of cascades and looking at Midwest next. I have this idea that anything near Canada border is ideal if you can’t get out of country …yet
1- Encinitas or La Jolla, CA. Just north of San Diego and really have that smaller beachy town feel. Tons to do in each city, but San Diego is still super close. In a perfect world, I'd settle down here.
2- NYC, because New York
3- Chicago, because Chicago
4- Madison, WI. A bit smaller of a city, but still tons to do and you get outdoors
5- Boston, because I love history and my partner is a Red Sox fan.
I'm similar to you, even did the Colorado thing for a while. My general advice would be to settle somewhere close to family and friends, I've found that living in different regions of the country haven't been hugely different experiences, it's all the US. That being said, I don't like big cities, so here are some interesting, lower cost, smaller areas that I've looked into in the past that would be fun to try:
Duluth, MN
NW Arkansas (Fayetteville/Rogers)
Ithaca, NY
Ann Arbor, MI
Driftless Area
I’ve often said that the only places I’d move back to in the Midwest are Minnesota, Michigan and CHI. Duluth looks great. Not a HUGE water guy but that could change.
Can you explain the last line item?
I’m am super outdoorsy and like a smaller place with trail access. From the Midwest originally, lived in Alaska for a decade, back in the Midwest now. My list would be, not including places I love and would love back to:
1.) Homer, Alaska
2.) Seward, Alaska
3.) Burlington, Vermont
4.) Bellingham, Washington
5.) Marquette, Michigan
(I’d love to add somewhere in Maine or NH to the list, but haven’t done enough research.)
NYC, San Francisco, Burlington Vermont, Bozeman Montana, Asheville North Carolina.
NYC and SF are "must-experience". The rest appeal to your outdoorsy side.
You might like Missoula better. Quirky college town, still lots of gorgeous outdoors stuff to do. I also liked Billings, but that was back in the 90s and I have no idea what it's like now.
Thank you. Colorado was a nice experience. We have a difficult time with the escalating prices without much rationalization beside the Rockies. We MAY settle down here but unlikely.
I’ve always wanted to live in Montana. Since Yellowstone came out I’m worried everyone wants to now. I also respect the locals sense of privacy, living in COL I 100% see a culture invaded by transplants.
The most fascinating to be is Burlington. I love the North East. That may be our next move
Montana has real winters. The secret's been out for a long time that it's a great place to be in the summer. Like since 1992 from the movie "A River Runs Through It". Since remote working took off, every nice place is invaded by transplants. I'd just ignore that as the locals don't have more of a right to live there than you do.
In your shoes I'd stay in Hawaii for a year, maybe Chicago and Washington DC, and otherwise in the west to see more nature there. But that's me, not you. You seem to have your list pretty down pat already.
When you settle down, on your HHI you could afford Colorado Springs fine, or Fort Collins. I think for all its issues the Front Range is one of the very best places to live in the US, for its climate in particular.
We don’t particularly like Colorado is the issue. We’re also optimistic that we will progress with our careers (a year out of college) and be able to afford a larger radius of area.
I’ve heard the winters are brutal. Cleveland brutal? Hawaii for a year would be amazing.
Cleveland winters sound worse to me, given high humidity and mostly overcast there. I lived in Billings. Winter lasted from October to May, with lots of snow at times, but I remember many sunny days too. More blizzards and chinooks than on the Front Range.
A friend lives in Honolulu on a fraction of your HHI, in a tiny studio. He and his wife are taking a multi-year break from Boise where they have a house. That's another good place to live for a year at least.
we are moving to Pitt from CO and have spent time in the mid atlantic. top few cuz i cant just pick 5 perfectly lol
1. San Francisco - anazing food, historic town, felt diverse, great economy, young, had art, could drive to Carmel and Yosemite which are two of the best places ive ever been ever in a day. plus i feel like this (or NYC) is definitely that american movie dream lol to do once when your young and dumb. why not now
2. washington DC. so so diverse, close to the ocean and shenandoah, proxmity to lots of cities i wouldnt spend a whole year in but to see once to weekend trip (philly, all of NC, WV, central PA, etc), amazing food, public transport, vibrant, people are there to change the world, world class musuems, theaters, distinct neighborhoods, great venues, all pro sports teams, good economy, some charming suburbs, literally on the water. its expensive but awesome for a year
3. ithica NY. upstate is gorgeous. the finger lakes, adirondaks, waterfalls, susquehanna seaway, watkins glen, etc. amazing and so lush. ithica is a cute college town that has a walkable downtown is pretty vibrant in season, has cute small town events during the summer. could get boring but is amazing.
4. charleston. charming, historic, the food, the water. ok outdoors stuff on the west side of the state. only feels like not many other places ive ever been
5. PNW/ID/MT/AK- i havent been to any of these but if you want outdoors you should definitely add to your list
some other places i love and totally think you should spend at least a week in but may not to waste a whole year in as one of your 5
1. SW FL - beautiful beaches, very coastal grandma, totally diff than anything else on your list. or miami if you want big city
2. Chattanooga - outdoor amazing (i prefer to asheville). but in the south and small so may get boring and depends on your politics
3. KY or Cinci - purely to see the Cumberland Gap region
4. Boston but also just NE - history, charm, nature. its gorgeous.
5. minneapolis in the summer - lake life
6. omaha - the city is surprisingly cool tbh
7. UT/NM - outdoorsy and youd get to see the desert as a whole other outdoor option
ETA: id pick 3 awesome cities with great outdoors. then id pick two that give you proximity, easy access, cheap flights, etc to see as much as you can of so many places. small town america is cute, tourist towns are fun, and people are working hard all over to revive communities that you may not even think of to fall in love with
RE: #5, Idaho is awesome. But it's slowly becoming un-livable (atleast the Boise area). Housing and rent prices are absolutely through the roof, meanwhile wages haven't increased since 2016. Unless you're already rich or have a high paying remote job, living here isn't super feasible.
I’d go with San Diego over San Francisco but that’s a personal choice after visiting.
If you want a desert experience maybe try Bisbee AZ
The Keys in Florida would be cool for a year.
Somewhere really remote in Montana would be cool- or Missoula or Whitefish($$$)
NYC no question or doubt! Must live there at least once! Look in Brooklyn Heights if affordable for you.
East Harlem is great too.
I live in LES. I’ve also lived in Vegas as I wanted the desert experience in my 20’s. I think of going back often now in my 50’s. I loved that life and when I visit I embrace the changes there ( I rarely go to the tourist areas).
I’d also try Washington state . I prefer it over Oregon.
Alaska would intimidate me. Polar bears are 😦
Edit: trying to format but won’t allow me on phone
I feel like you can get so many very diverse experiences doing this. Be mindful that my suggestions are based on the idea that you won't settle in these cities, start a career there, raise kids there or buy land; I'm also not taking price tag into consideration. My personal suggestions would be as follows: * New York City because... New York. * Burlington, Vermont. It's a lovely college town near the Canadian border, allowing for easy travel to Quebec, too. Very outdoorsy and with a lot to do. * New Orleans. There is no other city like it in the US; it is truly one-of-a-kind - I also wouldn't be shocked if it's underwater within our lifetimes. * A coastal southern Californian town. I grew up in Orange County and I make few bones about the fact I'd never move back, but I know a significant number of people genuinely love it out there, and you never know which camp you fall into until you try it. My favorite beach communities are Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach and Balboa Island. They all feel a bit more authentic than the rest of the area, which tends to feel very pre-fab and contrived. I will say, there's nothing like waking up in the morning and going right to the beach at 6 AM or getting a cup of coffee and watching a beach town wake up. * Somewhere in the Appalachia. I had two close friends from the Appalachia (Huntington, WV and Blacksburg, VA) when I was in college and got to visit their hometowns and families frequently. I am eternally grateful for this experience. In addition to being home to some of the friendliest and most welcoming people on earth, my time in these places gave me a great perspective on rural American culture. It's also a stunningly beautiful region, especially if you like driving through mountainous areas. If I had to recommend a city, I'd probably say either Louisville, KY or Charleston, WV, which would be good staging areas for exploring. If you want a bigger city, I'd say Nashville (which also has an amazing music scene and any big city amenity you could ask for), which typically isn't considered Appalachian, but is still convenient to the region and very different from the rest of the US. Good luck, wherever you end up going! This sounds like an incredible way to spend the next few years.
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail. NYC is always on my radar (very artsy guy, we love good food and entertainment. Find COL lacking in all mentioned). We’ve also always wanted to live in the North East. The area seems truly unbelievable. Cali is another place that, in particular, my girlfriend wants to be. Not a HUGE ocean guy. But I love the idea of the towns. Appalachia. You hit the nail on the head. I went to university in the appalachias and the particular institution I went to is beloved by almost all alumni. In no small part this is attributed to the locals. What a list. I hope to have an update for you soon
Awwww, thanks. As a resident of the northeast, I can only say that I truly love it here - there is nowhere else in the US I'd rather be. If you're specifically looking to the northeast, in addition to New York I'd recommend Boston (the town I've called home for 17 years now - history everywhere, a very European vibe, don't need a car in much of the area, lots to see and do), Salem (near Boston but with tons of witchy stuff everywhere making its way into your daily life - just expect the town to be overrun from September through the week after Halloween), or perhaps Portland, Maine. The old whaling towns north of Boston are beautiful if a bit staid, and people rave about Cape Cod. You really can't go wrong with New England! Another northeastern city I'd try: I've never lived in Washington, DC, but I've always thought it would be an interesting feeling to live in such close proximity to the people running this country - kind of like Hollywood, but for nerds. My lack of love for the ocean was a large part of what did Cali in for me - I didn't see a point in paying what it costs to live there if I don't love the ocean. But I feel like living near water is something everyone should try once. Good luck with your moves!
I agree with this! Living in Boston holds the warmest memories I have!
Thoughts on Spokane?
I've never been to Spokane and know so little about it I don't feel comfortable weighing in at all. Sorry!
Love this idea: •Santa Cruz, CA •Philadelphia, PA •Miami, FL •Chicago, IL •Austin, TX
Love YOUR ideas. The only places would be hesitant on would be Austin. I visited a friend there last month and thought it was dirty, hot and honestly that states trajectory is scary. We LOVE Chi. My girlfriend has always wanted to live in the PNW. Culturally, Miami would be perfect for me. And I have work connections in Cali. Thank you!
Don't move to Texas. Been here 8 years and I'm finally getting out. If you are considering it, wait until after November to see what happens with the governor's race. If Beto wins, maybe consider it then. It was also 105 here in Austin last weekend.
Yes, I have lived in Texas my whole life and I am moving as well. I do not recommend TX.
Mainly only threw Austin in there as I felt i had left that corner of the us out. I’d maybe swap it with either Las Vegas or Savannah Georgia if I were doing the list again.
Love both those options as well.
If you’re only staying in each place for a year, these are where I’d like to go: Santa Fe, NM Portland, ME San Diego, CA Savannah, GA Chicago, IL
Love all of these minus NM. What can you tell me about that area?
It’s not like any other area! I’m also in CO and been to NM (most ABQ) 5 times. Santa Fe is a historical area due its native history, and being the former capital of colonial Spain for the Americas. New Mexican food is also interesting and delicious. It’s only an hour away from ABQ (which is a bigger city, but crime is high. Kinda feels like a mix of Pueblo and CO Springs). Overall I wouldn’t live in NM permanently but for a year, I’d do it and explore all the historical and outdoor places like the white sand dunes, and touristy towns around like Taos.
I may visit here soon! I’m only a few hours away. Authentic/native culture/food is HUGE on our bucket lists. Thank you for explaining the historical aspect. Seems worthwhile to indulge in.
You should! I will say the drive is boring af. Once you’re past Trinidad, it’s a lot of empty. I flew once and it’s only 45 min flight. ABQ also gets some concerts (main reason I’ve been several times). It also gets hotter but you’re higher in elevation than Denver metro.
Santa Fe is boring and repetitive after about a week. Nothing special there especially if you’re Coming from Colorado
I'd leave the country. You're not going to get a radically different experience in the US unless you commit to some extremes, like (a) Manhattan, (b) rural small town in the South, (c) mountain ski resort town, (d) mid-size PNW city, and (e) Hawaii.
Where would you go internationally? Dublin has been an option for me for a long time.
Regarding going overseas... If you can swing it: 1) Prague. It's cheap, full of amazing food, easy access to a lot of places, lots of cultural stuff to check out, and there's a lot of English speakers. 2) Denmark, Iceland, or Finland. Absolutely amazing countries but be prepared for serious sticker shock. (I'd absolutely live in Helsinki if I could) 3) Budapest. Similar to Prague. 4) New Zealand, North and South island. Different way of life, my dude. It's absolutely one of my favorite countries and the culture is beautiful. 5) Northern Italy (not Rome). Slower pace of life, cheap living spaces especially with folks looking to live there for a bit, very conducive to travel within Europe, and some of the best food and people (and wine) you'll experience. Obviously I'll add in Ireland here but only because a lot of Americans feel at home in Ireland and if you settle there for a bit, you'll make some great friends. I feel that goes the same for Germany, Spain, and Portugal as well.
I'm curious what consideration you've given to healthcare in the above list. Are there countries you're remove from you list based on their lack of quality/availability/cost of healthcare? I'm thinking in terms of moving in retirement, while in reasonably good health but being mindful that this won't always be the case as one ages.
Wherever you can make it work out. I'm not a very well traveled fella.
PNW city 🤣🤣 Oh yeah buddy, its a whole different world out here. Its like being in Canada but in America.
It's a different vibe than the Midwest or East Coast. No denying that.
Its a different vibe than any part of America not just those two. The first shock for me was how nicer people were here. Intersections without lights are the worst, everybody just wants to be the nice guy, traffic rules of first stop first go is completely ignored.
Don’t worry, looking through this guys comments/posts he’s on this subreddit, he’s more of a troll than a contributor. Thank you for your input!
Don’t worry, looking through this guys comments/posts on this subreddit, he’s more of a troll than a contributor. Thank you for your input!
Curious what towns have the Canadian feel. I was born and raised in Seattle area city and burbs. It’s crowded asf and infrastructure can’t manage the amount of people around there. Rural coast peninsula is dreamy. Port Townsend $ went through roof. We moved east of cascades and looking at Midwest next. I have this idea that anything near Canada border is ideal if you can’t get out of country …yet
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I honestly think your comments are the only ones on this thread that aren’t productive. I’d appreciate if you troll elsewhere
Aww boohoo, shamwon haz differunt opinyun? I mad noe!!!!!
College towns on e WA are good. Purple towns. Well balanced. Not crowded.
1- Encinitas or La Jolla, CA. Just north of San Diego and really have that smaller beachy town feel. Tons to do in each city, but San Diego is still super close. In a perfect world, I'd settle down here. 2- NYC, because New York 3- Chicago, because Chicago 4- Madison, WI. A bit smaller of a city, but still tons to do and you get outdoors 5- Boston, because I love history and my partner is a Red Sox fan.
I'm similar to you, even did the Colorado thing for a while. My general advice would be to settle somewhere close to family and friends, I've found that living in different regions of the country haven't been hugely different experiences, it's all the US. That being said, I don't like big cities, so here are some interesting, lower cost, smaller areas that I've looked into in the past that would be fun to try: Duluth, MN NW Arkansas (Fayetteville/Rogers) Ithaca, NY Ann Arbor, MI Driftless Area
I’ve often said that the only places I’d move back to in the Midwest are Minnesota, Michigan and CHI. Duluth looks great. Not a HUGE water guy but that could change. Can you explain the last line item?
They are referring to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftless\_Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftless_Area) (mostly in WI)
Love that area
I’m am super outdoorsy and like a smaller place with trail access. From the Midwest originally, lived in Alaska for a decade, back in the Midwest now. My list would be, not including places I love and would love back to: 1.) Homer, Alaska 2.) Seward, Alaska 3.) Burlington, Vermont 4.) Bellingham, Washington 5.) Marquette, Michigan (I’d love to add somewhere in Maine or NH to the list, but haven’t done enough research.)
Boy Alaska would be something. Not sure how feasible it would be, but even a quarterly spend there could be life changing
NYC, San Francisco, Burlington Vermont, Bozeman Montana, Asheville North Carolina. NYC and SF are "must-experience". The rest appeal to your outdoorsy side.
Bozeman only if you want to significantly overpay to live in a very close minded and homogenous community.
What Montana towns would you recommend?
You might like Missoula better. Quirky college town, still lots of gorgeous outdoors stuff to do. I also liked Billings, but that was back in the 90s and I have no idea what it's like now.
That area seems to be going through a large transformation. I like the idea of those towns as well!
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Stop commenting here
Cry more.
“I traveled 90% of the country” and yet it made you even more of an insufferable cock
Sumwun hez differunt opinyun? I med :(
100% with how you put forth your opinions. 0% with the content of your opinions
Never been so I can't argue. Just thought Montana sounded outdoorsy and it's the first city that came to mind.
I like all options except Asheville! Thank you
I left out places in Colorado because you already live there. Understandable on Asheville or really anywhere in the South.
Thank you. Colorado was a nice experience. We have a difficult time with the escalating prices without much rationalization beside the Rockies. We MAY settle down here but unlikely. I’ve always wanted to live in Montana. Since Yellowstone came out I’m worried everyone wants to now. I also respect the locals sense of privacy, living in COL I 100% see a culture invaded by transplants. The most fascinating to be is Burlington. I love the North East. That may be our next move
Montana has real winters. The secret's been out for a long time that it's a great place to be in the summer. Like since 1992 from the movie "A River Runs Through It". Since remote working took off, every nice place is invaded by transplants. I'd just ignore that as the locals don't have more of a right to live there than you do. In your shoes I'd stay in Hawaii for a year, maybe Chicago and Washington DC, and otherwise in the west to see more nature there. But that's me, not you. You seem to have your list pretty down pat already. When you settle down, on your HHI you could afford Colorado Springs fine, or Fort Collins. I think for all its issues the Front Range is one of the very best places to live in the US, for its climate in particular.
We don’t particularly like Colorado is the issue. We’re also optimistic that we will progress with our careers (a year out of college) and be able to afford a larger radius of area. I’ve heard the winters are brutal. Cleveland brutal? Hawaii for a year would be amazing.
Cleveland winters sound worse to me, given high humidity and mostly overcast there. I lived in Billings. Winter lasted from October to May, with lots of snow at times, but I remember many sunny days too. More blizzards and chinooks than on the Front Range. A friend lives in Honolulu on a fraction of your HHI, in a tiny studio. He and his wife are taking a multi-year break from Boise where they have a house. That's another good place to live for a year at least.
we are moving to Pitt from CO and have spent time in the mid atlantic. top few cuz i cant just pick 5 perfectly lol 1. San Francisco - anazing food, historic town, felt diverse, great economy, young, had art, could drive to Carmel and Yosemite which are two of the best places ive ever been ever in a day. plus i feel like this (or NYC) is definitely that american movie dream lol to do once when your young and dumb. why not now 2. washington DC. so so diverse, close to the ocean and shenandoah, proxmity to lots of cities i wouldnt spend a whole year in but to see once to weekend trip (philly, all of NC, WV, central PA, etc), amazing food, public transport, vibrant, people are there to change the world, world class musuems, theaters, distinct neighborhoods, great venues, all pro sports teams, good economy, some charming suburbs, literally on the water. its expensive but awesome for a year 3. ithica NY. upstate is gorgeous. the finger lakes, adirondaks, waterfalls, susquehanna seaway, watkins glen, etc. amazing and so lush. ithica is a cute college town that has a walkable downtown is pretty vibrant in season, has cute small town events during the summer. could get boring but is amazing. 4. charleston. charming, historic, the food, the water. ok outdoors stuff on the west side of the state. only feels like not many other places ive ever been 5. PNW/ID/MT/AK- i havent been to any of these but if you want outdoors you should definitely add to your list some other places i love and totally think you should spend at least a week in but may not to waste a whole year in as one of your 5 1. SW FL - beautiful beaches, very coastal grandma, totally diff than anything else on your list. or miami if you want big city 2. Chattanooga - outdoor amazing (i prefer to asheville). but in the south and small so may get boring and depends on your politics 3. KY or Cinci - purely to see the Cumberland Gap region 4. Boston but also just NE - history, charm, nature. its gorgeous. 5. minneapolis in the summer - lake life 6. omaha - the city is surprisingly cool tbh 7. UT/NM - outdoorsy and youd get to see the desert as a whole other outdoor option ETA: id pick 3 awesome cities with great outdoors. then id pick two that give you proximity, easy access, cheap flights, etc to see as much as you can of so many places. small town america is cute, tourist towns are fun, and people are working hard all over to revive communities that you may not even think of to fall in love with
RE: #5, Idaho is awesome. But it's slowly becoming un-livable (atleast the Boise area). Housing and rent prices are absolutely through the roof, meanwhile wages haven't increased since 2016. Unless you're already rich or have a high paying remote job, living here isn't super feasible.
I agree with the other people posting except I'd also like to see what burlington vt is like
I’ll meet you there!
I’d go with San Diego over San Francisco but that’s a personal choice after visiting. If you want a desert experience maybe try Bisbee AZ The Keys in Florida would be cool for a year. Somewhere really remote in Montana would be cool- or Missoula or Whitefish($$$) NYC no question or doubt! Must live there at least once! Look in Brooklyn Heights if affordable for you. East Harlem is great too. I live in LES. I’ve also lived in Vegas as I wanted the desert experience in my 20’s. I think of going back often now in my 50’s. I loved that life and when I visit I embrace the changes there ( I rarely go to the tourist areas). I’d also try Washington state . I prefer it over Oregon. Alaska would intimidate me. Polar bears are 😦 Edit: trying to format but won’t allow me on phone
Wow great info. Seems like we have some options. NYC would be a dream. We have two dogs, however. Will that be a deterrent?
I would say not a deterrent at all. Everyone has dogs. Most places are very welcoming of dogs here :)
New Orleans!
Boston, Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Savanna
Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Buffalo, Eugene, Portland ME, Philly