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Is it better than Long Island?? Well, yes, I think so. Even if we leave this state in 6 months, going back to that 'dirty and crowded' place is not an option.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Thanks GypsySoul! You definitely can understand where I'm coming from, and what I'm leaving behind! Everyone is completely horrified that I could even *think* of leaving this suburban paradise. Amazingly, most of them have never been outside the Sachem school district.
Quote:
Originally Posted by quickdraw
Too many rules for me
Take charge NY'er doesn't want whiny replies from the natives. The Take Back Vermonters will not be pleased.
That's ok. Thanks for participating, QuickDraw
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Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom
I've had incredibly good vegan food at A Single Pebble, Burlington VT (http://www.asinglepebble.com/intro.htm - broken link). It was so good that the omnivores at the table, folks who usually scoff at veg dishes, kept eating off my plate!
Post-keg young adults whom I know like to drink here, where I've also enjoyed good meals: RÃ*Rá Irish Pub - The Real Flavor of Ireland. Others rave about the drinks & hangout vibe at Bangkok Thai on Church Street, where I think the food is okay but not great.
I hear you about the griping about Vermont. Lots of people are having a very tough time. I feel for them and have no problems with them sharing their experiences.
I grow weary of the generalizing about Vermont and Vermonters (wherever they're from), and "predicting" what it will be like for others who move here. I've been in Northern New England for 21 years and in Vermont for 12. My husband and I love it here and plan to remain for the rest of our lives. No, it's not easy to make a good living. But we're managing and we are happier here than anywhere else we've been.
Thanks Sherylcatmom! I share your frustration with everyone generalizing. I know some people mean well and just want to share their experiences in hopes that someone doesn't get stuck in their situation. (And some just like to whine because they're unhappy and and are on this site because they want to move someplace else.) But some people on here can't understand that not everyone is just like them. Everyplace is good fit for someone. (Even Rhode Island! haha) It's just a matter of matchmaking...
My ex-husband wasn't for me.
But I'm sure he could make some other very very different girl happy.
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Originally Posted by momnh
You'll love Burlington. We moved here earlier this year from tax-free NH. It's worth every tax penny. Quality of life is a lot better because of the lifestyle we value (kid friendly, healthy food accessible everywhere, lots of outdoor recreation, cultural experiences).
In Burlington itself...have a meal at the Skinny Pancake at College and Lake St (across from the Echo Aquarium). It's in a good location to orient you to the waterfront and is a unique experience. They make crepes (savory and sweet) using local produce, cheeses, and meats. And they have Switchback on tap, which is an excellent Burlington-made beer.
The Burlington bike path is a must see. It's touristy but excellent. You can rent bikes at Ski Rack on Main St and ride for miles along the lake. Or rent at Local Motion, which is behind the train station to the left of the Echo, on the bike bath. It's a non profit devoted to this path.
Church Street is also a must. It's the pedestrian mall downtown. It's busy any time of day or year, with lots of outdoor seating for dining and drinks. You can pick up a lot of local flavor (people watching) there.
Definitely check out the housing if you can, by driving around at least. Decent apartments are hard to get since it is so desireable to live in Burlington. There is a lot of competition. But there are also a lot of nice townhouses to buy. Red Rocks in the south end, near the bike path, seems to be a good spot since you can ride into town quite easily. If you are more in the market for a small single family home and want a little bit of suburbia, look in the New North End. It also has the bike path going through it so it is a quick jaunt downtown. And if you are in the market for a big house with lots of architectural features/history, and have the $, check out the "Hill" section around UVM.
For food shopping experiences, try City Market Co-Op in town, and Healthy Living in South Burlington. Those are the two largest natural food stores, although many smaller ones exist too. Plus a Whole Foods is planning to be here in 2011.
Hmm, lots more to tell you about but out of time. That is the beauty of Burlington. For a city that is only 38,000 big, there is the same amount of stuff to do as when I lived in much larger cities. And the bonus is that EVERYONE is laid back.
Awesome info momnh. I'm looking at New Hampshire as well (Lebanon/Dartmouth area) but it looks like Burlington will be a better fit for us all things being equal. We are big fans of the Green Star Coop in Ithaca so I was happy to find out about City Market. Thanks!
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Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom
Just 30 minutes from Burlington you can visit the Lake Champlain Islands, which are beautiful. Plenty of walking/hiking and other ways to relax and get something to eat. Heck, just driving the length of the road there is a treat with views galore.
Go to http://www.yelp.com/ and search "South Hero, VT." You'll get a bunch of stuff in S. Hero, Grand Isle, and N. Hero.
Yeah I think we're going to take a drive through, maybe pack a lunch and hang out at one of the parks. I'll have to google up some info on that. Good suggestion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by harry chickpea
Shucks. I was going to suggest the McDonalds on Williston Road (it was the first in the state, ya know? Quite a surprise when that came in and gave Al's a run for the money) and then maybe a drive down Main Street to the old bus terminal, which is just a walk up from the old train station (closed). From there you can see where they ripped up a lot of the tracks from the Rutland Railway (defunct) and the Central Vermont (defunct). You could also look at the old power station (closed), or drive down Pine Street past the old Maypo plant (closed) or the old gasworks (closed), and see where the trolley went to Queen City Park (closed, and no relation), and then see the old movie theatre on Shelburne Road (closed).
Awww chickpea. I know, change is a *****. But New England is the oldest region of the country and a lot has gone on in the past 300 years, things are bound to close. I like to see old buildings re-purposed though, not just left to sit abandoned, so I agree with you there.
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Originally Posted by Lilybeans
Leunigs is a fun bistro to people watch from.
I'll look it up!
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Originally Posted by quickdraw
Alabama is attacking us. Can West Virginia be far behind? Mexico even?
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Originally Posted by GypsySoul22
Oh no, not illegals from Mexico...they might come and lower the wages or take all the jobs..
*Note sarcasm...
Wages can't get much lower...as for jobs...???
VT wages are a great bit lower. I'm sure I'll take a huge hit in salary if I move up there. It's all about having "enough". Down here in Long Island, we can make more than enough money. But that's about it.
Right now, for us, there's not enough peace and quiet, not enough fresh air, not enough nice people, not enough friendship, not enough healthy living, not enough exercise, not enough gardens, not enough skiing, not enough sailing. I don't have enough time, and I don't have enough energy... If I have to "buy" all those things by taking a lower salary in Burlington, that might be a bargain I can live with. We all have to find our own balance.
IMO, NYC/Long Island= great for putting money in the bank if you can make enough to manage the high cost of living, but at the high price of extreme wear and tear on your body, soul and relationships. And I absolutely *refuse* to raise children there if and when I would have any.
I dont want to waste my life in an affluenza- infested place constantly running on a hamster wheel to get by. It's great for other people who are into that (or don't have any other choice). It's not for us and we have many other choices, so that's why we're leaving.
Thanks everyone for the info!
.. and I'll keep checking this post for more helpful replies.
RT,
I live in the Lebanon area and frankly, I think there are better places in VT/NH. Ever since the economy took a nosedive, jobs here are very scarce.
I dont want to waste my life in an affluenza- infested place constantly running on a hamster wheel to get by.
You don't know me, and hell, the Vermont forum regulars are probably going to wet their pants and smack their heads now that they see me rearing my ugly head as I tend to unintentionally stir up controversy wherever I roam on this forum, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for really letting me reflect upon my own life this morning with this statement. I happen to live in Northern Virginia, which is, statistically, the MOST affluenza-infested place in the United States, with most people earning $100,000 or more. A lot of people work in very high-stress positions just to "get ahead" (which means buying that Audi A8 to upstage the neighbor's new Audi A6). The toll this pressure takes upon an individual to work incessantly in a battle to be the one who "has the most stuff" is very evident when I survey those not only in my parents' generation, but even in my own fellow fresh college graduate peers---some of whom already have their "eye on the prize" (an ostentatious McMansion with a moat, barbed wire, "toys", etc.) Conspicuous consumption plagues this region like a virus, and this is something I don't want to subject myself to forever.
Come to think of it a place like Burlington sounds more like my speed. All I need is a car that can get me from Point A to Point B, a welcoming church, a good book store (or library), some good places to hike/run, and a TRUE walkable mixed-use environment, and I'd be a happy camper! I WILL miss "Trader Joe's" and "Chick-Fil-A" though if and when I move back North!
Conspicuous consumption plagues this region like a virus, and this is something I don't want to subject myself to forever.
This describes my hometown, too. Different state, same disease. I've been in northern New England for 21 years and Vermont for 13 of those years. My husband's been here since the 1970s. When we visit 'most anywhere else, we can't wait to get back home to Vermont. We plan to spend the rest of our lives here.
You know what I miss about living where there's "everything," including shopping, culture, and entertainment galore, and many more jobs/higher wages?
There is a diner there, I think it is called the Burlington Diner???
It's up on a hill (google diners in Burlington). It was quite good, full of local color, good food...
I'm from LI, too, so don't expect a Long Island diner...diners in New England tend to be holes in the wall, have mismatched decor, but full of charm and decent food.
We also went to the Science Museum (again may not be the name) in Burlington. It's near Lake Champlain, you can take a boat to Plattsburgh.
It's a nice little area, maybe a bit like Port Jeff...
As far as being vegetarians, my husband is one and you can always find something in Vermont (diners offer omelets).
If you see any signs for CO-OP, these are often natural food stores where you can pick up food you will be happy with (our local one sells cooked soups and so on) as well as packaged goods.
Having been in this state 2 years, I have to say there is good and bad.
Is it better than Long Island?? Well, yes, I think so. Even if we leave this state in 6 months, going back to that 'dirty and crowded' place is not an option.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
I am from (and at least temporarily still in) Westchester County and feel about it exactly like you and RT do about Long Island (and they're very similar, except that LI has a lot more sprawl).
I was up in Burlington in April for a possible temporary assignment that could go permanent and lead to relocation. I actually got it but ended up doing a similar thing this summer near Hartford thinking I had a better chance of it being permanent (though now I'm not so sure, I'm back in Westchester). I also lived for 5 years in the late 80s in the Albany/Troy area and made many many visits to southern VT back then.
Nonetheless I loved the area when I was up there in April for a few days and have some thoughts, comments, some of which are relating to Gypsy Soul's quote above:
1) I think the diner in question is called the Blue something or other. It was in Colchester just off I-89 across the street from Motel 6. I actually thought unlike some other diners I saw there it was a lot like Queens/Long Island diners and the view from it was awesome. You could see out to Mt. Mansfield and there happened to be snow on it while it was 60-degrees and green in Burlington and it gave me a taste of what it must be like top be in parts of Seattle or Portland and see that (as I've never been there).
2) The science museum is called Echo Lake Center and it's right on Lake Champlain downtown. Another neat place.
3) There are (more than I imagined) a LOT of ex-metro NYers and ex-Boston people, at least in the Burlington area, so you won't feel as out of place there as you might think, especially if you love the outdoors and to some extent if your politics are lefty (or even center-left).
4) For it's size, housing is more expensive than I would've expected, but nothing compared to metro NY, and I know you know it and don't want to hear it so I won't say any more.
5) As for jobs, well, it's tough everywhere and you don't want to hear it. And at least the unemployment numbers are not bad up there. I honestly don't think that is natives wanting to kick you, me, or Gypsy back to NY when they talk about this aspect (and again, more are non-natives than you think), just concerned people who don't want you to come here and have to move again because there's no job and the money runs out.
6) I won't comment on winters either, everyone has different tastes on that one. It is a lot worse than Long Island (I haven't been to Burlington in the winter, but I'm basing it on being a tiny bit more wintry than Albany/Troy/Bennington winters), but I think it is less of a shock for someone from LI who at least sees some snow and cold each year than it would be for someone moving from say Florida (yes, there are ex-Floridians in VT, just look on the forums).
Good luck whatever you do, and I hope you find happiness and success in VT if you go there!
Scran-Barre, you are very welcome to move from NoVA to Burlington . There's enough complaining on the Vermont board about why it's a bad place to live, that you'll fit right in . BTW, I was in Reston a few days ago and looked in vain for all those "posers" but didn't see a single one . Maybe they all saw the light and up and moved to Vermont too ? But seriously, I think you would enjoy Burlington if you have a chance to visit sometime.
Shucks. I was going to suggest the McDonalds on Williston Road (it was the first in the state, ya know? Quite a surprise when that came in and gave Al's a run for the money) and then maybe a drive down Main Street to the old bus terminal, which is just a walk up from the old train station (closed). From there you can see where they ripped up a lot of the tracks from the Rutland Railway (defunct) and the Central Vermont (defunct). You could also look at the old power station (closed), or drive down Pine Street past the old Maypo plant (closed) or the old gasworks (closed), and see where the trolley went to Queen City Park (closed, and no relation), and then see the old movie theatre on Shelburne Road (closed).
I would love to see the old maypo plant. is there a picture of that person I think it was a kid eating that cereal on the plant?? This sounds kinda cool. Your descriptions of old RR tracks and plants sound as much fun as Holoyoke Mass!!
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or take all the jobs..
Conspicuous consumption plagues this region like a virus, and this is something I don't want to subject myself to forever. 
. There's enough complaining on the Vermont board about why it's a bad place to live, that you'll fit right in 
. BTW, I was in Reston a few days ago and looked in vain for all those "posers" but didn't see a single one 
. Maybe they all saw the light and up and moved to Vermont too 
? But seriously, I think you would enjoy Burlington if you have a chance to visit sometime.
