Columbia, MO. named 10th Best Town in America... (Jefferson City, Ozark: houses, neighborhoods)

[runninfiend]

by Outside Magazine. They site their downtown revival, trail system, and educational resources. I like Columbia, but it has drawbacks too: climate, sprawl, not a lot of culture outside of the colleges, etc.

[OA 5599]

I've always thought Columbia was nice, but nothing really special IMO. It really seems to be just another Midwestern college town. This may be heresy coming from a Missourian who roots for the Tigers (and now the Longhorns!), but I think Lawrence, KS is nicer. Lawrence has a river right downtown, the campus is situated on a hill overlooking everything, and from what I've seen Lawrence has more cool old houses, especially just east of campus. Also much closer to KC. The culture of both towns is really quite a bit alike, however. I also think in the general area of the country, northwest Arkansas is also quite nice, and has the advantage of being much closer to great hiking/floating/fishing/boating, while Columbia is a few hours away from most of that stuff.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

I've always thought Columbia was nice, but nothing really special IMO. It really seems to be just another Midwestern college town. This may be heresy coming from a Missourian who roots for the Tigers (and now the Longhorns!), but I think Lawrence, KS is nicer. Lawrence has a river right downtown, the campus is situated on a hill overlooking everything, and from what I've seen Lawrence has more cool old houses, especially just east of campus. Also much closer to KC. The culture of both towns is really quite a bit alike, however. I also think in the general area of the country, northwest Arkansas is also quite nice, and has the advantage of being much closer to great hiking/floating/fishing/boating, while Columbia is a few hours away from most of that stuff.

Lawrence is on top of Clinton Reservoir which is quite popular. Columbia is a short drive to the Lake of the Ozarks.

[Inoxkeeper]

I liked Lawrence KS best when it was burnt to the ground back in the Civil war days.

I will never forgive the Chickenhawks for continuing to wear red socks when playing MU.

[aragx6]

Lawrence is too flat...

BTW ... I think Columbia's climate is pretty good ... 4 distinct, but relatively mild, seasons... what could be better? Phoenix? Where it's 1 million degrees and they're running out of water?

[stepka]

Gah, I wish they'd stop with calling Columbia the best town and all that. It used to be a pretty good town, but when they named it the best town in America, years back, they ruined it. Everybody wanted to move there, and a bunch of new neighborhoods went up and sprawled all over the countryside and I don't like it much anymore. Columbia is my home town, but I lived in Lawrence too and like it better, from what I can remember anyway. Columbia and Lawrence have quite the rivalry though, and it's not always friendly.

[dpgtfc]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Lawrence is too flat...

BTW ... I think Columbia's climate is pretty good ... 4 distinct, but relatively mild, seasons... what could be better? Phoenix? Where it's 1 million degrees and they're running out of water?

Mild? Heh, 100 degree temps regularly in the summer and a couple winters ago there was 16 inches of snow. I don't know what the "relatively mild climates you are comparing it to" but we get the worst of both winters and summers. Also, as a Missouri native, we have two cliche's we always say: 1.) If you don't like the weather, wait an hour, it will change - certainly not an indicator of mildness, and 2.) Our Spring and fall are typically 2 days long. (ok, more like 2 weeks, intermittently sprinked over a couple months with very cold days and very hot days)

I wouldn't say Mild, but I would say it is just like everywhere else here in the Midwest. Hot in the summer, cold in the winter and sprinkled with a ton of tornadoes.

Pheonix may be hot, but at least it is consistent. It also cools down at night, unlike here. 80 degree balmy nights suck. Mild is San Diego, or perhaps along the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle or Portland or something.

I'll be glad to leave Columbia when I happens. It could be worse though, I could be living in Jefferson City.

[Donnaren2]

It's still the midwest, no matter what list it makes. Flat, conservative, (I know, it's liberal for Missouri), humid, middle of the middle of the middle. Counting the months til escape.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by runninfiend

by Outside Magazine. They site their downtown revival, trail system, and educational resources. I like Columbia, but it has drawbacks too: climate, sprawl, not a lot of culture outside of the colleges, etc.

Personally, I have never liked college towns. The mentality being, of course, that college students are the center of the universe and the sun rises an sets just for them. I do not find the cultural aspects that endearing either. The music these people listen to is horrific for the most part, and I find their self-important and self-aggrandized attitudes about everything they do utterly pretentious and most tiresome.

On the contrary, it has been my experience that communities that have a large population of retirees often have a great deal more to offer insofar as culture is concerned. They seem more concerned with creating a pleasing living environment and have the experience to tell the difference between trendy garbage and lasting quality.

JMHO

20yrsinBranson

[jps]

1.) If you don't like the weather, wait an hour, it will change

Every state lays claim to that saying, whether it's true or not.


But, to address the title of the thread...
Has anyone ever heard of Outside Magazine before this?
I've been trying - without luck - to find the article on their website ever since this alleged top ten list came out. So far, I've only seen a vague mention of it in the online Tribune, and on a few message boards.