What Is Your Reason For Leaving Phoenix If You Are?

[locolife]

Originally Posted by MGS4EVER

What state did you move to on the east coast? We're thinking about moving back there for 5-10 years and then move back to the west coast.

I was in Massachusetts.

[WilmaWildcat]

Originally Posted by MGS4EVER

You're right about the drive down to Tucson! Probably why after visiting the area-including Bisbee-I haven't gone back. I am interested in driving up to Mt. Lemmon. Sounds beautiful up there. Thanks for the tips!

I noticed a couple of days ago that Tucson is #7 on Trip Advisor's up-and-coming destinations. Also high on the new US News list, according to a thread in the Tucson forum. We always stay at the Arizona Inn, a historic boutique resort in the middle of town (close to everything) owned and run by the same family who built it in 1930.

Isabella Greenway, Arizona's first congresswoman, was the founder. Pricey but good deals in the off-season June-October. Charming casitas, facilities and gardens. Hagen Dazs sundaes by the pool summer evenings; afternoon tea in the library come winter. Check reviews on Trip Advisor. And don't miss the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; it's like Sonoran Desert Disneyland to me. The #1 Tucson attraction at Trip Advisor. Hope you get to go!

[singlegirlinaz]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

Uhhh, what do you mean by the "Phoenix valley?" It is too large an area for generalizations so you may need to be more specific about the area you're referring to? Also, not sure who you are around, but I've met plenty of decent people who live in the "Phoenix valley!" Sure there is a diversity of human lifestyles and tastes here, some good, some not so good, but do you want me to share what I witnessed in LA?!

Phoenix Valley is the Valley of the sun or or the greater Phoenix area. It’s all the same. That’s what I mean.

[singlegirlinaz]

Originally Posted by locolife

I hear these complaints a lot but what exactly is Phoenix is lacking? We've got concerts seemingly every single night of the week, there's shows playing at our various theaters and performing arts centers almost every night of the week, and there's even fairly large casinos now that also have entertainment every single weekend. There are a lot museums ranging in interests from musical themed, native American themed to Western themed. There are something like 3 aquariums now, the science center, the children's museum, mirror mazes, indoor and outdoor skydiving, western themed mini amusement parks, and on, and on and on...

Every single week I get a list of 21+ things to do in my email from New Times and azcentral also has lists they publish every weekend too.

I'm not sure what you're possibly looking for that you can't find here? Every time I've challenged someone on this "not much to do claim" I've never got a good answer but what do you have?


On the LA versus Phoenix comparison, I get that there's a lot more going on in LA at any given time since there are about 3.5x as many people there. But you really have to answer this question, if you can't afford to live in any of the good areas and rent eats up most of your income, are you really able to enjoy most of these things? In my view those options may as well not exist because I'd have to live so far away and traffic is so poor I'd never get the chance to visit most of these things.

I also find it interesting that you think quality of people here is lower then LA. South Central is so rundown and scary a lot of folks won't even drive through it. And crime ranging from high speed chases to riots that occur in LA just don't happen here. I can't agree with this opinion even in the slightest. And I do love to visit LA but I am always happy to come home to Phoenix after my trip.

I said Phoenix has improved and there are fun things to do here but the LA area is still more of a happening place. Does Phoenix have Hollywood, movie studio tours, Koreatown, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Beverly Hills, Disneyland, beaches, and boardwalks? I think you know the answer.

You’re right about the traffic in LA, it’s awful but they have a much better public transit system complete with metro rail that even includes subways. You don’t have to drive as much there as before. Traffic in Phoenix has gotten worse too and the transit system is better than it used to be but it’s not quite there yet.

I recall posting that Phoenix is becoming like LA but it’s still years behind. Phoenix is developing urban centers and it has potential, the cow town image it had over 20 years ago is gone. That’s a good sign.

Look, I admit trashy people are found all over America especially in LA. No one goes anywhere near south central or the other bad parts unless they're unfortunate enough to live there. Just the same, I stay clear of south Phoenix or some bad areas on the west side of town. It seems to be a different kind of trashy here, body tats, lifted trucks, pit bull dogs, that kind of thing. I’m sure LA has plenty of those kinds too but it seems to be more noticeable here even in the better parts of town.

I may not ever move back to LA but it’s just a hope for now. I’ve lived in Phoenix since I was 8, it’s home to me. The Valley of the sun isn't a bad place to live but there are other places with better career choices, higher pay, and more things to do despite some of the less-attractive things about those places. That’s all I’m saying.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by singlegirlinaz

I said Phoenix has improved and there are fun things to do here but the LA area is still more of a happening place. Does Phoenix have Hollywood, movie studio tours, Koreatown, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Beverly Hills, Disneyland, beaches, and boardwalks? I think you know the answer.

You’re right about the traffic in LA, it’s awful but they have a much better public transit system complete with metro rail that even includes subways. You don’t have to drive as much there as before. Traffic in Phoenix has gotten worse too and the transit system is better than it used to be but it’s not quite there yet.

I recall posting that Phoenix is becoming like LA but it’s still years behind. Phoenix is developing urban centers and it has potential, the cow town image it had over 20 years ago is gone. That’s a good sign.

Look, I admit trashy people are found all over America especially in LA. No one goes anywhere near south central or the other bad parts unless they're unfortunate enough to live there. Just the same, I stay clear of south Phoenix or some bad areas on the west side of town. It seems to be a different kind of trashy here, body tats, lifted trucks, pit bull dogs, that kind of thing. I’m sure LA has plenty of those kinds too but it seems to be more noticeable here even in the better parts of town.

I may not ever move back to LA but it’s just a hope for now. I’ve lived in Phoenix since I was 8, it’s home to me. The Valley of the sun isn't a bad place to live but there are other places with better career choices, higher pay, and more things to do despite some of the less-attractive things about those places. That’s all I’m saying.

That makes perfect sense, didn't mean to come of as overly defensive I just get the feeling people get this "grass is greener on the other side" mentality a lot and with memories we tend to remember the good parts of past places and forget some of the less positive aspects of life in other places. I know Phoenix has its drawbacks but I travel a lot for work and know every place has its problems. Seattle, NYC, Chicago, Denver and so on...

I like to visit LA, the culture is amazing but for day to day life I find that Phoenix strikes a good balance between cost, offerings, culture, traffic and general livability.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by singlegirlinaz

I said Phoenix has improved and there are fun things to do here but the LA area is still more of a happening place. Does Phoenix have Hollywood, movie studio tours, Koreatown, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Beverly Hills, Disneyland, beaches, and boardwalks? I think you know the answer.

You’re right about the traffic in LA, it’s awful but they have a much better public transit system complete with metro rail that even includes subways. You don’t have to drive as much there as before. Traffic in Phoenix has gotten worse too and the transit system is better than it used to be but it’s not quite there yet.

I recall posting that Phoenix is becoming like LA but it’s still years behind. Phoenix is developing urban centers and it has potential, the cow town image it had over 20 years ago is gone. That’s a good sign.

Look, I admit trashy people are found all over America especially in LA. No one goes anywhere near south central or the other bad parts unless they're unfortunate enough to live there. Just the same, I stay clear of south Phoenix or some bad areas on the west side of town. It seems to be a different kind of trashy here, body tats, lifted trucks, pit bull dogs, that kind of thing. I’m sure LA has plenty of those kinds too but it seems to be more noticeable here even in the better parts of town.

[FONT=Verdana]I may not ever move back to LA but it’s just a hope for now. I’ve lived in Phoenix since I was 8, it’s home to me. The Valley of the sun isn't a bad place to live but there are other places with better career choices, higher pay, and more things to do despite some of the less-attractive things about those places. That’s all I’m saying.[/font]

Gotcha, I agree with you.