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Hey, I am thinking about visiting Raleigh and grew up in CA.
Actually, if you are not living on the coast in CA, the summers are hot too and now there is some humidity. I've felt real humidity as I've been in 2 Florida hurricanes and last year + summer was in SW Florida, the more humid part. Some Floridians say NC is less humid. Now that is a relief.
What about the stores in Raleigh?
I know they have a trader joes there, is there a Publix, Whole Foods, ethnic restaurants (Spanish, Portuguese,real Chinese (not Panda Inn stuff), Jamaican, Italian?)
I can't just eat deli sandwiches or expanding waist-line American food everyday, (some days yes)
How are the appearances of homes, are they all cookie-cutter beige developer homes, boring brick like Jersey or NY or can people do make it uniquely attractive?
In the past, I did meet some good genuine people from the south and recently a long-time neighbor-friend of a relative moved to NC.
I heard crime is relatively low so that means there are more college-educated people there?
Are there a lot of parks?
Is is a greener city? I like tall trees and shady streets vs. desert brown like parts of California. Yes, I know Northern CA has that but I also want a lower cost of living.
(don't govt stats prove this?). I just want a little more input as it would be a long trip.
Hey, I am thinking about visiting Raleigh and grew up in CA.
Actually, if you are not living on the coast in CA, the summers are hot too and now there is some humidity. I've felt real humidity as I've been in 2 Florida hurricanes and last year + summer was in SW Florida, the more humid part. Some Floridians say NC is less humid. Now that is a relief.
What about the stores in Raleigh?
I know they have a trader joes there, is there a Publix, Whole Foods, ethnic restaurants (Spanish, Portuguese,real Chinese (not Panda Inn stuff), Jamaican, Italian?)
I can't just eat deli sandwiches or expanding waist-line American food everyday, (some days yes)
How are the appearances of homes, are they all cookie-cutter beige developer homes, boring brick like Jersey or NY or can people do make it uniquely attractive?
In the past, I did meet some good genuine people from the south and recently a long-time neighbor-friend of a relative moved to NC.
I heard crime is relatively low so that means there are more college-educated people there?
Are there a lot of parks?
Is is a greener city? I like tall trees and shady streets vs. desert brown like parts of California. Yes, I know Northern CA has that but I also want a lower cost of living.
(don't govt stats prove this?). I just want a little more input as it would be a long trip.
Thanks for helping.
Publix - No
Whole Foods - Yes
Lots of trees
Some good ethnic food
Some parks
Very little public transit
I like you am a fan of the non-chain mainstream places...of which the triangle most certainly has in abundance...bonus is that you're able to enjoy all things here, the beach is close, as are the mountains...just hours from the urban-esque capital city, Raleigh...enjoy!
I wouldn't say the Triangle has an abundance of non-chain places. They have some. Depends upon where you're comparing it to. California and NY, I think, have many more non-chain restaurants than the Triangle.
The closest beach is 2 hours away. For some, that is close. For some people, especially people who live in coastal states, it's not that close. Mountains are 4 hours away.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jessgato
I like you am a fan of the non-chain mainstream places...of which the triangle most certainly has in abundance...bonus is that you're able to enjoy all things here, the beach is close, as are the mountains...just hours from the urban-esque capital city, Raleigh...enjoy!
I just moved here from the NYC area, and love it. I've been doing my research for a few years now, so I knew the general layout. But I am pleasantly surprised by how the Raleigh area has grown. Yes, the houses are a bit cookie-cutter in some areas, but everything else you mentioned gets an A in my book for the area. The beach is under 2 hours (I think) and has palm trees. Very nice for swimming, and no smog! I've met two different families from CA already, and they said they love it. The only think they miss is having the ocean closer by. But they said for the quality of life here, they are willing to have the ocean a bit further away. This area really does have a great quality of life.
Are you coming for a one-time visit or are you doing a scouting expedition for a possible move? I can't tell from your post. What you would want to see would be different in each case.
You'll miss Publix for a while but learn to love Harris Teeter :-D
Lots of great ethnic food. Expand your food seeking range to Raleigh-Cary-Durham-Chapel Hill and you can find pretty much anything.
Very green, many many parks. Housing runs the gamut. Sounds like you don't want a strict HOA community but you can find plenty of non-HOA homes. When you come to visit, try and leave time to look at several towns in the triangle (the ones I mentioned above, plus perhaps Carrboro and Wake Forest, which are nowhere near each other...also Hillsborough...you'll really get a feel for everything).
You'll miss Publix for a while but learn to love Harris Teeter :-D.
I live in both Miami Beach and Raleigh and NEVER miss Publix when I am in Raleigh. Conversely, I desperately miss Harris Teeter when I am in Miami Beach.
Also, as a kid who grew up in NorCal before moving to Raleigh as pre-teen with my dad's job, I sort of have a relevant perspective to this thread. I also go to the Silicon Valley on business regularly. So, i am sort of up to date on what's happening there now.
I suppose the biggest thing one might miss moving from there to Raleigh would be the variety of food from all the Asian cultures in California. No place in NC can match that. Other than that, I don't perceive a huge difference in the other dining options. CA is full of chains as well, like most everywhere in the US these days.
I concur that Raleigh is nowhere as humid as South Florida. Plus, Raleigh doesn't stay hot & humid, day and night, for 6 solid months like it does in Florida.
Raleigh has beautiful non-cookier cutter neighborhoods that are closer to the city center but they are more expensive than the burbs. However, these homes will still be cheap compared to CA.
You want trees??? That's a good thing because you can't avoid them.
Last edited by rnc2mbfl; 07-10-2011 at 10:54 AM..
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