Funky City/Town Close to Nature: Returning to America: Thoughts on Both, Please

[sparrow75]

Athens GA might be worth a visit for you - summers are hot (long growing season for veggies) and winters have a light dusting of snow but it's generally not too bad. Vibrant arts/music community, if you live centrally (5 Points area or Normaltown) biking everywhere you need to go would not be a problem. While there are big-box stores elsewhere in Athens, I do think that businesses downtown try to stay away from that and you'll find lots if independent businesses and local restaurants.

As far as airports/university, Univ. of GA is amazing and the Atlanta airport is a little over an hour away.
In comparison to Asheville, it's smaller and the cost of living is much less. Because of UGA there is a lot of diversity in culture and opinions, opportunities to be active in the community based on whatever you are passionate about.

Nature: there are some nature centers/parks around but it's only an hour or two to the N. Ga moutains for great mtn biking, hiking, camping, river sports and about 4 hours to the beach.

[the city]

Consider these cities in California-

Santa Cruz (Nearby UC Santa Cruz
San Luis Obispo (Nearby Cal Poly San Luis Obispo)
Santa Barbara (Nearby UC Santa Barbara)
Monterey (Nearby CSU Monterey Bay)
Santa Rosa (nearby Sonoma State)

SLO and Santa Rosa are hilly cities, but the others touch the beach. All are in more rural and low density areas near nature.

And Santa Cruz has the least amount of national franchises.

[PGKangrui]

Perhaps Davis in California too.

[testa50]

Originally Posted by sparrow75

Athens GA might be worth a visit for you - summers are hot (long growing season for veggies) and winters have a light dusting of snow but it's generally not too bad. Vibrant arts/music community, if you live centrally (5 Points area or Normaltown) biking everywhere you need to go would not be a problem. While there are big-box stores elsewhere in Athens, I do think that businesses downtown try to stay away from that and you'll find lots if independent businesses and local restaurants.

As far as airports/university, Univ. of GA is amazing and the Atlanta airport is a little over an hour away.
In comparison to Asheville, it's smaller and the cost of living is much less. Because of UGA there is a lot of diversity in culture and opinions, opportunities to be active in the community based on whatever you are passionate about.

Nature: there are some nature centers/parks around but it's only an hour or two to the N. Ga moutains for great mtn biking, hiking, camping, river sports and about 4 hours to the beach.

I agree Athens is worth checking out. It's about an hour drive to the North Georgia mountains, and the city is very green, hilly, and tree-filled.

The economy is the best in Georgia. 7.3% unemployment rate--well below state and national averages. And downtown is humming with a young/artsy vibe, more than ever before. Commercial rent is high, however, and downtown is still going through a construction boom.

$700-800 can get a 2-bedroom apartment in a nice location. $400-500 for a less nice 1 bedroom.

[Rob Allen]

The first name in my mind when I read the thread title was Eugene, Oregon. You might also look at Portland.

[censusdata]

I live in Lexington Ky and it is absolutely overran with national chain restaurants and a car is a must to get anywhere. The urban growth boundary is progressive only in that it contains the city's ramped sprawl. The only Victorian neighborhoods in the city are all located in higher crime areas or are overran by college students (lots of loud parties).

Berea would be the best choice in Kentucky, although it is fairly small (14,000). It's very left leaning (for Appalachia) and has tons of local craft stores. Then again it's doesn't have as many restaurants as bigger places.