...where would you go and why?

 

 

 

*And I'm thinking American cities here. Of course we'd all love to move to some exotic location far away, but purely from a quality of life and urban amenities standpoint, what cities peak your interest?

Tomorrow? Probalby someplace pretty far north, like Duluth. They are calling for weather in the 90's in Ohio!

I don't see why foreign cities should be excluded. Just stipulate that it be realistic, e.g. no moving to a beach paradise with no job prospects.

^I agree with nat, but...

 

There are several cities I would move to if I had the chance, which include New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. All of these cities exemplify what a city, or what I think a city, should be (looking at the architecture, development patterns, transit, and other aspects of said cities). I don't really care for other parts of America for a multitude of reasons, so I really can't think of anywhere else I'd want to move.

"*And I'm thinking American cities here. Of course we'd all love to move to some exotic location far away, but purely from a quality of life and urban amenities standpoint, what cities peak your interest?

 

Honolulu, specifically the areas east of the zoo and south of Diamondhead, presuming we're talking money is no object. In all seriousness (and a little 'suspension of disbelief' when it comes to sticker shock), it was the first and so far only place that's made me say "okay, I could leave Cleveland for this".

^But you'd get island fever after a month ;).

 

For me, New York.  If outside the country, Paris.

I find Chicago a better place to visit than live. 

And I've been here for 12 years....I'd like to give San Fran a try.

Small city? Either Port Jervis, NY or Lancaster, PA. Medium-sized city? Maybe Wilmington, DE or Hartford, CT. Big city? Probably Toronto. And for overseas, London.

 

But I'm pretty happy where I am except for that whole train thing..... ;)

Based purely on what I'd call "quality of life" issues (geography, climate, politics, transit, livability, etc.) I'd say somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Most likely Portland, but I'd also consider Seattle, Vancouver, etc. A medium-sized, artsy mountain town like Eugene, Oregon or Asheville, North Carolina would also have a certain appeal to me.

 

Based purely on career flexibility and job opportunities in my field, my best bet would be a global city like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. If I were feeling particularly adventurous and was confident I could get professional licensure in the United Kingdom, then London. Smaller regional capitals like Seattle, Denver, or Philadelphia would also be worth considering if the right job opportunity came along.

 

At the very minimum, my ideal place would have:

 

1) A relatively mild climate where I don't have to live in fear of the outdoors for most of the year.

2) Proximity to both the ocean and mountains within, say, a 2-hour drive.

3) A reliably progressive city and state with virtually zero chance of electing a teabag-waving moron like John Kasich to public office.

4) A critical mass of architecture and design talent, with multiple firms that are doing award-winning work both locally and elsewhere, as well as at least a couple of universities in the area with strong programs in related fields. (In addition to lectures and other events, this also helps draw additional talent to an area and with career-related networking.)

5) A diverse, multi-ethnic population, and appeal to outsiders. It has to be someplace that other people actually want to move to, rather than a place that people try to escape from, or where they grudgingly stay only because of family obligations. If I'm talking to somebody from another part of the country, I shouldn't have to explain that where I live isn't really as bad as people say it is.

 

Just about any of the major West Coast cities (except maybe San Diego) fit this bill, and I could probably make a decent life for myself in any of them. Right now I'm in Los Angeles for a few months on co-op, and while the city certainly has its fair share of annoyances, it seems to offer the best combination of quality-of-life and career opportunities for me. In fact, there's a strong chance I'll come out here for good after grad school. And if not LA, then most likely Portland or Seattle, depending on where I land a job.

On the west coast I like Portland. (They like bikes and transit)

On the east coast I like DC and Boston. (DC for job prospects and public transit, Boston for climate and urban layout)

In the south Austin seems to be one of the few places that peeks my interest. (Weird and fairly green)

In the midwest, other than Ohio I like Minneapolis. (They get regionalism and bikes)

If we throw in Canada, I think I'm leaning toward Toronto.

If we include Europe, I'd like Vienna, or Bologna.

 

San Diego

For a comparable climate to Cleveland, probably the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

Bigger City comparable climate, Chicago.

Warm climate regardless of city size, Charleston, SC.

Warm CLimate, big metro, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

 

Ideally though, I would put GR, Michigan at the top. 

I'd probably go to SF, I have family there.

 

Purely for the city? Boston. Havent even been there and I know I'd love it. Philly too.

 

Out of the country? Vienna.

Based purely on what I'd call "quality of life" issues (geography, climate, politics, transit, livability, etc.) I'd say somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Most likely Portland, but I'd also consider Seattle, Vancouver, etc. A medium-sized, artsy mountain town like Eugene, Oregon or Asheville, North Carolina would also have a certain appeal to me.

 

Based purely on career flexibility and job opportunities in my field, my best bet would be a global city like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. If I were feeling particularly adventurous and was confident I could get professional licensure in the United Kingdom, then London. Smaller regional capitals like Seattle, Denver, or Philadelphia would also be worth considering if the right job opportunity came along.

 

At the very minimum, my ideal place would have:

 

1) A relatively mild climate where I don't have to live in fear of the outdoors for most of the year.

2) Proximity to both the ocean and mountains within, say, a 2-hour drive.

3) A reliably progressive city and state with virtually zero chance of electing a teabag-waving moron like John Kasich to public office.

4) A critical mass of architecture and design talent, with multiple firms that are doing award-winning work both locally and elsewhere, as well as at least a couple of universities in the area with strong programs in related fields. (In addition to lectures and other events, this also helps draw additional talent to an area and with career-related networking.)

5) A diverse, multi-ethnic population, and appeal to outsiders. It has to be someplace that other people actually want to move to, rather than a place that people try to escape from, or where they grudgingly stay only because of family obligations. If I'm talking to somebody from another part of the country, I shouldn't have to explain that where I live isn't really as bad as people say it is.

 

Just about any of the major West Coast cities (except maybe San Diego) fit this bill, and I could probably make a decent life for myself in any of them. Right now I'm in Los Angeles for a few months on co-op, and while the city certainly has its fair share of annoyances, it seems to offer the best combination of quality-of-life and career opportunities for me. In fact, there's a strong chance I'll come out here for good after grad school. And if not LA, then most likely Portland or Seattle, depending on where I land a job.

 

I like you laid things out and agree with point 1, 3, 4 & 5

 

For me there is no place in the 48 States I'd want to live.  I would move to a place where I currently speak the language and understand the culture.

 

[*]Madrid

[*]Panama City

[*]Rio

[*]San Juan

[*]Milan

[*]St. Barts

I spent my last to b'days in Bora Bora and Maldives and although I seriously do not think I could  live in either place (no prada), I could easily get accustomed to the lifestyle.

 

A relatively mild climate where I don't have to live in fear of the outdoors for most of the year.

I'm noticing we all have a different definition of what this means. Based on MTS's list it looks like he lives in fear of snow, personnally I'm fairly opposed to living somewhere that requires AC for half the year.

I don't want to leave Ohio at the moment.

 

There are only a few places in the US where I could do what I'm doing here in Youngstown.  I own 2 houses: one I live in, and one I'm restoring; both adjacent to a park.  And, it would take too long to build up a comfort factor with taking the same kind of plunge in one of those places. (Detroit, Flint, etc.)

 

But, if I suddenly had to relocate quickly... in the US, I'd prefer to stay in the rust belt, and would choose Pittsburgh because it's still relatively close to family.  If I suddenly decided I wanted to leave the country, I'd choose one of the following cities in Europe: Florence, Paris, or possibly Barcelona. (re: Barcelona, a city with gothic architecture, modern architecture, and a beach is OK in my book!)

A relatively mild climate where I don't have to live in fear of the outdoors for most of the year.

I'm noticing we all have a different definition of what this means. Based on MTS's list it looks like he lives in fear of snow, personnally I'm fairly opposed to living somewhere that requires AC for half the year.

 

I've got island blood in my veins, I've never really liked snow.  I've always felt more natural on a beach.

I've got island blood in my veins, I've never really liked snow.  I've always felt more natural on a beach.

Beaches are nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I've got island blood in my veins, I've never really liked snow.  I've always felt more natural on a beach.

Beaches are nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

I could.  I love visiting my Grand Parents in San Juan when they are there for the winter and just chilling on the beach all day.

A relatively mild climate where I don't have to live in fear of the outdoors for most of the year.

I'm noticing we all have a different definition of what this means. Based on MTS's list it looks like he lives in fear of snow, personnally I'm fairly opposed to living somewhere that requires AC for half the year.

 

I like snow as long as it only falls in December. After the holidays, the snow and slush and bleakness get old fast. Nice thing about the mountains out west is that you can live a relatively snow-free life down in the city, but if you need a dose of winter wonderland, you only have to drive a few miles to a higher elevation. This past spring I saw more snow in the San Gabriel Mountains here in Los Angeles County than I saw all winter in Cincinnati, and I never had to shovel a sidewalk or dig out my car. As an added bonus, the evergreen forests out west prevent the landscape from looking too bleak, even in the highest elevations in the dead of winter. (I would, however, miss the fall colors.)

 

But snow doesn't bother me nearly as much as the temperature extremes, like those bitter-cold arctic blasts or the heat and humidity. Ohio can keep that while I enjoy my mid-60's, allergy-free ocean breeze here in Santa Monica.

If I "could" relocate...... I would stay right where I am.

 

If I "had to" relocate...... then somewhere along the pacific coast.... nothing too big like LA, SF, or Seattle.  I would probably pick a place that is still a city but not a major metropolis.  Maybe if I could find a pacific coast equivalent of Charleston SC... something with charm.

 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a place to live, not visit

 

Maybe if I could find a pacific coast equivalent of Charleston SC... something with charm.

 

 

Carmel, CA. Too small?

^Yeah... too small.  I would look for something with at least 100,000 pop

If I "could" relocate...... I would stay right where I am.

 

If I "had to" relocate...... then somewhere along the pacific coast.... nothing too big like LA, SF, or Seattle.  I would probably pick a place that is still a city but not a major metropolis.  Maybe if I could find a pacific coast equivalent of Charleston SC... something with charm.

 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a place to live, not visit

 

True all the places I mentioned I could live.  As long as they have great shopping, pre war apartments/condos and good restaurants im all in!

Santa Barbara seems to be a pretty ideal place to live, based on the visits I have made there. 

Santa Barbara seems to be a pretty ideal place to live, based on the visits I have made there. 

 

SB is amazing.

The weather is just about perfect, great food, beautiful scenery, you can be at the mountains in no time, and a neat old town. 

If I "could" relocate...... I would stay right where I am.

 

If I "had to" relocate...... then somewhere along the pacific coast.... nothing too big like LA, SF, or Seattle.  I would probably pick a place that is still a city but not a major metropolis.  Maybe if I could find a pacific coast equivalent of Charleston SC... something with charm.

 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a place to live, not visit

 

True all the places I mentioned I could live.  As long as they have great shopping, pre war apartments/condos and good restaurants im all in!

 

I don't understand your attraction to Cleveland or NYC, if those are your other choices. Must be family and job.

If I "could" relocate...... I would stay right where I am.

 

If I "had to" relocate...... then somewhere along the pacific coast.... nothing too big like LA, SF, or Seattle.  I would probably pick a place that is still a city but not a major metropolis.  Maybe if I could find a pacific coast equivalent of Charleston SC... something with charm.

 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a place to live, not visit

 

True all the places I mentioned I could live.  As long as they have great shopping, pre war apartments/condos and good restaurants im all in!

 

I don't understand your attraction to Cleveland or NYC, if those are your other choices. Must be family and job.

 

I love love love Cleveland.  I will never be anything but a Clevelander.  You couldn't blast me out of my apartment, I will never sell it!  I work in NYC and the house here is strictly a investment.

 

Im Puerto Rican, we go to the Island 3/4 times a year.  I love Madrid, St. Barts, Rio.  My Uncle is from Panama.  It's really nice.  I love warm weather climates and I've spent considerable time in those locations and speak the language.

Cleveland / NYC, no other cities really come close.  :-D

I don't think that's what he's saying, and don't be slamming my Cleveland!

If this question had been posed on 8/30/2011, my answer would have been Minneapolis and I'd have already been there the next day. Walkability comparable to Seattle and DC with a mere population of 380,000 minus the crime of the Midwest's urban icon, Chicago? Hell. Yes. Mpls also tends to be referred to as a lovely, unique mix of the Pacific NW and the Midwest all in one. I love the plethora of business districts and dozens of thriving historic commercial nodes along the old streetcar lines. Without a doubt the most criminally underrated American city by far. Ideally, I would have found this is Ohio, but it just wasn't meant to be. I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised in the future though.

I don't think that's what he's saying, and don't be slamming my Cleveland!

 

Who are you talking to?

You, but I know you are joking by wondering how a fashion dilettante like MTS chose the cities he did.

Does anybody think I'm crazy for really liking Atlanta? There's something about the mix of the international community and the south that really gets me. It's reasonably priced. Plenty of beaches and weekend retreats within just a few hours drive. Great restaurants and shopping. Solid arts scene. Huge gay community. Largest airport in the world. Traffic and sprawl is a huge problem there, but if you live and work inside the perimeter it's really quite a nice place imo.

 

I really need to get up to Minneapolis sometime soon. I hear good things constantly.

 

Any thoughts on Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Denver or Seattle?

You, but I know you are joking by wondering how a fashion dilettante like MTS chose the cities he did.

 

Oh now I'm superficial?!  HUMPH!

 

Does anybody think I'm crazy for really liking Atlanta? There's something about the mix of the international community and the south that really gets me. It's reasonably priced. Plenty of beaches and weekend retreats within just a few hours drive. Great restaurants and shopping. Solid arts scene. Huge gay community. Largest airport in the world. Traffic and sprawl is a huge problem there, but if you live and work inside the perimeter it's really quite a nice place imo.

 

I really need to get up to Minneapolis sometime soon. I hear good things constantly.

 

Any thoughts on Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Denver or Seattle?

 

HELL YEAH!  Damn hillbillies!  Yeah it's cheap and got good shopping, but all that traffic and disjointed "neighborhoods" isn't sexy.  Once you get outside the perimeter it's gets real country and racist real fast.  Tampa is boring as all get out.  Ybor City...yaaaaaaaaawn.  Denver, to vanilla!  Seattle, the West Coast Boston plus more rain.  Fort Lauderdale is the only place I could tolerate and I would need to be heavily sedated!!

 

I can't recommend Atlanta either.  Or DFW for that matter.  Lots of sprawl and man is it hot. 

Does anybody think I'm crazy for really liking Atlanta?

Yes.

 

It does have a few redeeming qualities; the mountains aren't that far, the winters are reasonable, a few of the older neighborhoods are well laid out, it's easy to leave with the busiest airport around, but I'd say the sprawling nature of the place, the traffic and the summers are more than enough to call you crazy for liking it.  :-)

1. Portland

2. Some mid-sized city in northern California

3. Suburban LA, out the 101 a piece, maybe Topanga or Woodland Hills

 

Does anybody think I'm crazy for really liking Atlanta? There's something about the mix of the international community and the south that really gets me. It's reasonably priced. Plenty of beaches and weekend retreats within just a few hours drive. Great restaurants and shopping. Solid arts scene. Huge gay community. Largest airport in the world. Traffic and sprawl is a huge problem there, but if you live and work inside the perimeter it's really quite a nice place imo.

 

I really need to get up to Minneapolis sometime soon. I hear good things constantly.

 

Any thoughts on Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Denver or Seattle?

 

I like Fort Lauderdale. Always have.  But I'm a sucker for those beachy, hokey tiki bars.  Just love the atmosphere.

Does anybody think I'm crazy for really liking Atlanta? There's something about the mix of the international community and the south that really gets me. It's reasonably priced. Plenty of beaches and weekend retreats within just a few hours drive. Great restaurants and shopping. Solid arts scene. Huge gay community. Largest airport in the world. Traffic and sprawl is a huge problem there, but if you live and work inside the perimeter it's really quite a nice place imo.

 

I really need to get up to Minneapolis sometime soon. I hear good things constantly.

 

Any thoughts on Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Denver or Seattle?

 

Anytime you UO forumers want a tour of Mpls, seriously, I will give you a kick-ass tour. But: I'll also convert you (maybe not so much December-mid-March). You'll also quickly learn how to use the bike share, see in a dozen ways how it would help your city, and wish you had it right now.

No Ohio cities having bikeshare is insane, for a pretty urban state. Even OKC and San Antonio have embraced bikeshare.

No Ohio cities having bikeshare is insane, for a pretty urban state. Even OKC and San Antonio have embraced bikeshare.

 

Cincinnati is currently doing a feasibility study. It seems likely to happen. The question is how soon.

 

The hills kind of limit the area in which it is feasible, I believe. Too much one-way flow would be problematic.

I always told myself I would end up in Boston -- I do love Boston -- but lately my heartstrings are pulling me back to Portland. To be honest, however, I always said that if I ended up in the PNW again, I would do Seattle, instead. Regardless, I'll be moving back to Columbus at month's end to finish my Masters (I'm currently in Pittsburgh), and after that, I'll probably be headed to the Twin Cities (Keith, I may have to take you up on that offer). I would also do NYC (of course), DC, San Francisco, Montreal, and Burlington, VT. And if I were to go overseas: Dublin. Simply because I'm fiercely proud of my Irish heritage.

If I wanted to leave Ohio I would probably look into both Philadelphia and D.C..

Well, if you count US territories I will have to go with Old San Juan. My parents just recently retired and relocated to Puerto Rico and I love that place. I don't speak any Spanish (trying to learn) but I am trying to convince my wife to move there one day soon. I really love everything about PR!

 

D.C. comes in a close second place

^You just don't like having representation in Congress, do you?

NYC is where I was moving...Cleveland is where I decided on. I had neither family nor a job in either location when I made the decision.  I love the arts, water, and good neighborhoods. Those were my criteria for choosing where I wanted to live (and snow). Cleveland won out due to price and access to outdoor activities. There are very few other places I would choose to live, Natininja, and I've lived all over the country.

I keep thinking of Freebird every time I see this thread.

jjames0408, I grew up in Cleveland and now live in Cincinnati -- both of these cities have their pros and cons, but I think that Cleveland wins out on access to outdoor activities. In particular, there is no good skiiing anywhere close to Cincinnati whereas within 5 hours drive of Cleveland there are many, many choices. Couple that with easy access to the Lakes & islands, Canada, etc etc..the list just goes on. Glad to hear you're happy there.