What does everyone like about NEPA? (Scranton, Chester: house, buy, taxes)

[massanutten]

After reading a lot of commentary throughout some recent threads about what people don't like about NEPA, I thought it might be nice to have a thread devoted to what each of you likes about living in the area.

[FightinPhils]

small town living with city amenities as well as lots of nature/scenery/outdoor recreation, overall friendly people, close enough to bigger cities without having to live in them, beaches within a few hours' drive, low cost of living: you couldn't buy a shed in most other places for what I paid for my Scranton house.

[CHS89]

Family, friends, neighbors (most of them), job, weather, entertainment, lifestyle, history, potential, location, security.

Too big of a list, really

[Summering]

I love the mountains the state parks.......lakes and rivers.
The friendly Pennsylvania people.
The fact that we can be in the City in a short amount of time and get to all those Broadway Plays........plus everything else that is wonderful there.
(Radio City, Bryant Park, all the TV show tapings, Museums)
That we are not so far from the ocean. In a few hours we can be at an ocean town swimming.
Our home lots are way more spacious then in most places.
Great spots for boating.......and lakes for swimming.
It tends to be peaceful and quiet, comforting.........The mountains hug you from all sides, no matter where you go.
Taxes are cheaper then in states around, and some home areas are so less costly too.
Great shopping places like the Lehigh Mall or the Dickson City area shops.....hummm Montage Mt. now also.
Two great airports, so we don't have to go to the biggies and be in that mess.
Plus, I am close to all the family members who are short distances away.
Oh don't we have it all.............we sure do

[tsedeski]

LIKES
- 4 seasons (in just the right extremes)
- Family values
- tradition (various ethnic and religous traditions)
- mountains, lakes, creeks (topography)
- slower pace in general

DISLIKES
- economically depressed (and always will be)
- roads SUCK
- closed-minded-ness of the people in general

[lilangelbaby0099]

I live in hunington mills PA.. and right outside my back door is the mountains.. I love each and every day of looking at the beauty of everything. I have to move due to my husband job, so i will be moving to the big city.. but i will always have a special place for places where i grew up such as red rock mountain. I grew up in an old farm house right in the great outdoors.. ricketts glen was only a few minuets from my house!

also jamison city and benton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[memoriesbre]

Clean fresh air
views galore
nice people
small town feel
close to two major cities
friends
family
peace
quiet

[NEPA-x-pat]

For me in a word..it has been what I think of when I say HOME. Now I have been in Virginia longer that I have been in PA, but it will always be home to me. Family is also another word that comes to mind. I have a large extended family and they still live in the valley. The food is also wonderful. It is great to eat at independent places and avoid the chain restaurants. Fun is another reason to love the area....fishing, hiking, tourning the small towns, and kayaking on the Lackawanna are a lot of fun.

[nocturnal rooster]

The only thing I ever liked about this area was the weather. It wasn't sunny ALL the time, and there were actually a few decent snowfalls.

[DeniedX]

I have come to love living in NEPA. I didn't care for it at first when I moved here back in 1995 from Downingtown in Chester County (wife is from Forty Fort). But the cost of living is so much better. The air (for the most part) is cleaner, and I love the mountains. I now live in Laurelbrook Estates in Bear Creek Twp. and can't imagine living anywhere else.

I will agree that the area is loaded with closed minded individuals. That is one downside. But to me, the pros outweigh the cons.