[ctr88]

I'm a 39 year old single guy looking for a fall/winter/spring location. I would live in Portland or Seattle in summers. My job is via the Internet so employment isn't the issue. Big college basketball fan, like the outdoors, golf. I want to buy a craftsman style house close to town. I currently have live in Cali. for 20 years and I'm looking for more affordable housing + outdoors + a mid sized town with character and a progressive feel.

Has anyone spent time in Athens GA and Tallahassee FL? Can you give me opinions of both? Also considering: Baton Rouge LA, Lexington KY, Charlottesville VA, Asheville NC, and Fayetteville AR.

Thanks!

[mango23]

Originally Posted by ctr88

I'm a 39 year old single guy looking for a fall/winter/spring location. I would live in Portland or Seattle in summers. My job is via the Internet so employment isn't the issue. Big college basketball fan, like the outdoors, golf. I want to buy a craftsman style house close to town. I currently have live in Cali. for 20 years and I'm looking for more affordable housing + outdoors + a mid sized town with character and a progressive feel.

Has anyone spent time in Athens GA and Tallahassee FL? Can you give me opinions of both? Also considering: Baton Rouge LA, Lexington KY, Charlottesville VA, Asheville NC, and Fayetteville AR.

Thanks!

Fla. may have some tax advantages.

[OysterCatcher]

Athens is a great place to spend you college years and the early half of your 20's. An Athens GA winter can and does get cold and icy for a few months. If I were a 39 year old single guy looking to get away to warmer weather and a good mature single scene, I'd be in South FL

[Strel]

Originally Posted by ctr88

I'm a 39 year old single guy looking for a fall/winter/spring location. I would live in Portland or Seattle in summers. My job is via the Internet so employment isn't the issue. Big college basketball fan, like the outdoors, golf. I want to buy a craftsman style house close to town. I currently have live in Cali. for 20 years and I'm looking for more affordable housing + outdoors + a mid sized town with character and a progressive feel.

Has anyone spent time in Athens GA and Tallahassee FL? Can you give me opinions of both? Also considering: Baton Rouge LA, Lexington KY, Charlottesville VA, Asheville NC, and Fayetteville AR.

Thanks!

Do a search around, you will find numerous threads on Tallahassee. I've lived here 20+ years and love it. I think it is bigger than Athens and thus has more going on, but as most people will tell you, Tallahassee is a great college town, and a nice place to raise a family, but it is not the most exciting place.






But if I were you, I'd be looking at Asheville first. It's gorgeous.

[JAS]

Strel - the mountains around Asheville are beautiful, but Asheville's combination of homeless, hippies, and locals can resemble a freakshow at times.

Regarding the initial post, many of the towns you listed are quite different. If you're narrowing it down to Athens vs Tallahassee, then Athens has the benefit of being close to Atlanta, but it is also more of a true college town than TLH. TLH certainly has a lot of college students, but there are some parts of the city where it doesn't feel like a college town, for better or for worse.

If you like being close to the mountains, Atlanta, and a more vibrant music/college atmosphere, then go with Athens. But also be aware of the weather differences.

If you prefer being closer to the beach, a very mild winter, and a more family-oriented place (with the benefits of a large university presence), then go with TLH.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by JAS

Strel - the mountains around Asheville are beautiful, but Asheville's combination of homeless, hippies, and locals can resemble a freakshow at times.

Regarding the initial post, many of the towns you listed are quite different. If you're narrowing it down to Athens vs Tallahassee, then Athens has the benefit of being close to Atlanta, but it is also more of a true college town than TLH. TLH certainly has a lot of college students, but there are some parts of the city where it doesn't feel like a college town, for better or for worse.

If you like being close to the mountains, Atlanta, and a more vibrant music/college atmosphere, then go with Athens. But also be aware of the weather differences.

If you prefer being closer to the beach, a very mild winter, and a more family-oriented place (with the benefits of a large university presence), then go with TLH.

I heard it had gone hippie...which is OK with me, to a point. We have them in Tallahassee too but they tend to be Old South hippies that take showers, get haircuts and smoke pot indoors and discreetly LOL. Hippies with business degrees...

[annerk]

I've spent some time in both and was never fond of Athens. Just my opinion.

[ctr88]

oystercatcher...the problem with South FL are the crowds, congestion, crime, attitude, expense to live close to the beach, etc.... I prefer that winter climate down there but it comes with a lot of downsides.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ctr88

oystercatcher...the problem with South FL are the crowds, congestion, crime, attitude, expense to live close to the beach, etc.... I prefer that winter climate down there but it comes with a lot of downsides.

You would probably be surprised to see how comparable the crime rate in Leon County is to Palm Beach County and Broward County (actually lower per-capita), and it's not exactly 1980 anymore in Miami-Dade. Can't argue the rest though.

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/...-Profiles.aspx

[OysterCatcher]

Originally Posted by ctr88

oystercatcher...the problem with South FL are the crowds, congestion, crime, attitude, expense to live close to the beach, etc.... I prefer that winter climate down there but it comes with a lot of downsides.

I hear ya, did you want to know more about Athens? I know it well