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My wife and I visted Austin before making the decision to settle in Charlotte. In my 'unbiased' opinion (we're from New England) though Austin was nice I expected a LOT more than what I saw and experienced. Not trying to offend anyone but my first thought was "what is all the hype over this place". My initial thought was that the city was very overrated.
We came in from the side of town near the airport and I was shocked to see neighborhoods in such disrepair all the way into the edge of downtown. I didn't expect this.
The hill country was very pretty but unaffordable for the average person.
Downtown was not what I would call exciting. It to me seemed to be geared towards college-aged students (no surprise) but lacked anything that would want me to spend much time there.
I concluded that the appeal of Austin is limited, just like any other place. It is for the very rich, the very young, college student, artsy, hippy-type group and maybe certain racial groups (not trying to start anything). I am in my forties and maybe that's why Austin does nothing for me. My wife had an even less apprecition for the city.
Charlotte is not 'better' it is just much better for me and my family. It has it's flaws, but what it offers us far outweighs those flaws. To each each own, I guess.
I concluded that the appeal of Austin is limited, just like any other place. It is for the very rich, the very young, college student, artsy, hippy-type group and maybe certain racial groups (not trying to start anything).
well...i think austin is a cooler city but charlotte is in a prettier state. Texas may also be diverse but it's too big to get around it easily. I moved to the carolinas from dallas just about a year and a half ago and we've already been too so many cool places within a four hour drive from Charlotte...and living in dallas we could go to austin or to see my mom in okc but we didn't feel like we had a lot of options for feasible roadtrips....Austin has more then dallas, i guess but not more than charlotte...so i guess it just depends on what defines a cool city for you or what fits your particular iterests or stage of life.
Isn't Austin the city in Texas most similar to Californian life? If so is it because of Californian transplants?
San Antonio is very interesting. The Mexican culture may predominate in the city but there is a strong German culture in the region. Does Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels ring a bell? Even in the city, there is St. Joseph's Catholic Church (St. Joske's) which was built by German Catholics. It is easy to find because it is surrounded by a department store/mall on three sides of the block.
Austin looks like Texas' version of Washington. Too bland and corporate.
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