[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

There's obviously stuff to do. But compared to the other large Florida cities, it is a pretty "sleepy" place.

Which stands to reason as the smallest major metro area in the state and not like it's under performing in some manner otherwise.

[nep321]

I don't like upbeat, vibrant places. I like sleepy, gritty, off the beaten path places. I don't like crowds, people, tourists or anything like that. "Vibrant" usually means extra crowds, traffic, high cost of living, etc.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by nep321

I don't like upbeat, vibrant places. I like sleepy, gritty, off the beaten path places. I don't like crowds, people, tourists or anything like that. "Vibrant" usually means extra crowds, traffic, high cost of living, etc.

How is that working out, living in Jax? Jacksonville, while not particularly "upbeat," is still by no means a small city.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

How is that working out, living in Jax? Jacksonville, while not particularly "upbeat," is still by no means a small city.

Overall I like it. I don't have any major complaints. I love the climate. I like how Jax has dozens and dozens of unique neighborhoods scattered all throughout the city. I don't like how conservative leaning the city is though.

[Marv95]

Jax. Got family there, it's larger, not as liberal, and seasons outside of summer actually exist.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by nep321

Overall I like it. I don't have any major complaints. I love the climate. I like how Jax has dozens and dozens of unique neighborhoods scattered all throughout the city. I don't like how conservative leaning the city is though.

That's changing given it went blue in the 2018 midterms for the first time ever I think, give it another 5-10 years and it'll be a regular occurrence with it's rapid population growth.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Anyone who says Jacksonville is boring and has nothing to do wasn't trying enough and will find fault with any city before addressing the true root causes....themselves.

I would agree with this. But I will add that I feel like in Jacksonville you have to really find things to do vs. other major metropolitan areas where they are heavily advertised and there is seemingly never a dull moment.

[kyle19125]

[quote=Florida2014;54546058]I would agree with this. But I will add that I feel like in Jacksonville you have to really find things to do vs. other major metropolitan areas where they are heavily advertised and there is seemingly never a dull moment.[/QUOTE]

I'm always fascinated about comments like this not only about Jacksonville, but similarly-sized mid-sized cities as well. Can you elaborate on what "finding things" means versus I guess having them knock on your door in a larger metro area?

[Florida2014]

[quote=kyle19125;54547295]

Originally Posted by Florida2014

I'm always fascinated about comments like this not only about Jacksonville, but similarly-sized mid-sized cities as well. Can you elaborate on what "finding things" means versus I guess having them knock on your door in a larger metro area?

Specifically, I lived in Denver for many years. They had a thriving downtown full of bars and restaurants, art galleries and breweries, as well as several other neighborhoods (Denver Tech Center, Congress Park, City Park, Wash Park....the list goes on) that always had events going on during the weekends. Any time of year you could go downtown and be entertained in one form or another. In the summers there were always festivals going on downtown and near Denver in the mountain towns. They were heavily advertised in local papers, online and even the local media had segments promoting these things. In the winters you had similar festivals in the ski resorts, which are close to Denver. Denver also had 4 pro sports - Rockies, Nuggets, Broncos and Avalanche. Plus, there was the Colorado Buffaloes and to the south there was Air Force and Colorado State, all division I schools. Denver also had/has a thriving neighborhood scene so you could visit a new neighborhood with all of their locally owned bars and drinking establishments seemingly every weekend.

Here in Jacksonville, there aren't nearly this many events going on and if they exist they aren't heavily advertised. We have festivals at the Beaches here and there but they are not what I would call "big" events. We have only one pro sports team here - the Jaguars, and really no major college sports unless you want to drive several hours away to Gainesville or Tallahassee. Our downtown is non-existent and not a destination by any means. In fact, I've lived here 5 years now and can count on one hand the times I've visited downtown for any reason. With the closing of the Landing, now there is REALLY nothing downtown. We have the beaches, sure, but it's hard to count that as an event....it's just sort of there for whenever you have nothing else going on. Jacksonville does not have the neighborhoods like Denver does. Sure there are some older neighborhoods with character, but all in all Jax is full of strip malls and chain after chain after chain. Our one "big" area is the St Johns Town Center, which is essentially just a giant outdoor mall with, you guessed it, lots of chains.

I'm not knocking Jax, per se. Just saying in my personal experience living in two major cities, it seems much harder to find events and things to do here. As I age, I don't mind it as much as 90% of the time I'd rather just chill at home w/the family any more. But if I was in my 20s/30s, single or at least young, I would probably look elsewhere.

[kyle19125]

[quote=Florida2014;54549473]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Specifically, I lived in Denver for many years. They had a thriving downtown full of bars and restaurants, art galleries and breweries, as well as several other neighborhoods (Denver Tech Center, Congress Park, City Park, Wash Park....the list goes on) that always had events going on during the weekends. Any time of year you could go downtown and be entertained in one form or another. In the summers there were always festivals going on downtown and near Denver in the mountain towns. They were heavily advertised in local papers, online and even the local media had segments promoting these things. In the winters you had similar festivals in the ski resorts, which are close to Denver. Denver also had 4 pro sports - Rockies, Nuggets, Broncos and Avalanche. Plus, there was the Colorado Buffaloes and to the south there was Air Force and Colorado State, all division I schools. Denver also had/has a thriving neighborhood scene so you could visit a new neighborhood with all of their locally owned bars and drinking establishments seemingly every weekend.

Here in Jacksonville, there aren't nearly this many events going on and if they exist they aren't heavily advertised. We have festivals at the Beaches here and there but they are not what I would call "big" events. We have only one pro sports team here - the Jaguars, and really no major college sports unless you want to drive several hours away to Gainesville or Tallahassee. Our downtown is non-existent and not a destination by any means. In fact, I've lived here 5 years now and can count on one hand the times I've visited downtown for any reason. With the closing of the Landing, now there is REALLY nothing downtown. We have the beaches, sure, but it's hard to count that as an event....it's just sort of there for whenever you have nothing else going on. Jacksonville does not have the neighborhoods like Denver does. Sure there are some older neighborhoods with character, but all in all Jax is full of strip malls and chain after chain after chain. Our one "big" area is the St Johns Town Center, which is essentially just a giant outdoor mall with, you guessed it, lots of chains.

I'm not knocking Jax, per se. Just saying in my personal experience living in two major cities, it seems much harder to find events and things to do here. As I age, I don't mind it as much as 90% of the time I'd rather just chill at home w/the family any more. But if I was in my 20s/30s, single or at least young, I would probably look elsewhere.

Bear in mind you're comparing the 19th largest metro area (DEN) with the 40th largest (JAX) so of course there's going to be less comparables and also what amounts to a much more progressive population with more salary/disposable income. Jacksonville is on a very evident upward trajectory and while it's not nirvana for young professionals yet, one can see where it might be headed in the right direction over time.