Dismissing the notion that Raleigh isn't good for young singles (Durham: appointed, transplants)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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As most of you know, I moved to Raleigh in late-August...and more than 3 months later I am loving it just as much as I did on day 1. I moved here sight unseen, although I did do a lot of Google Streetview and research. For the time being, I wanted to stay within my employer's radius and Raleigh seemed like the best option. Otherwise I could have moved anywhere in the country.
I think some people move to Raleigh based off all those "Top 10" articles or Raleigh is the "Best place for ____" and they expect it to be the next Austin, and are disappointed when they get there. That's certainly how Raleigh got my attention, but I knew going in what it was actually going to be like.
Prior to moving here, reading these forums was a nightmare. Everyone was talking about how sprawly and family friendly it is, and how it's not a good place for young singles/millennials such as myself. While Raleigh has lots of sprawl and is definitely a family-first city, I'm finding it to be a great place for young people.
Downtown has awesome nightlife. Coming from Tampa, it's like another world. My experience so far in Raleigh is that you do need to put yourself out there more than you would in other cities that are more urban, but everyone is so friendly here. I've been on a few dates already and have met people at places I wouldn't expect to.
If I wasn't living near Downtown, I'd be singing a completely different tune. I couldn't imagine living in North Raleigh or Cary, or something like that. I'm 25, and that'd feel isolating and I'm sure it would ruin my experience here in Raleigh. Between Cameron Village (where I live), Downtown, and the NCSU area, I've got my own little urban city here. I still need to explore Downtown Durham further, I've heard good things about there, I just try to avoid driving unless it's to/from work.
A city I think would be similar to Raleigh is Columbus. Lots of sprawl as well, yet has a few urban areas and is attracting loads of transplants. I definitely prefer completely urban cities, but it's the best of both worlds in Raleigh...the greenery here still impresses me.
I'm not sure I'd recommend someone in my position to choose Raleigh over some other places as I have, but I'm finding Raleigh to be a great place to live without all the hangups and crime of similarly sized cities. I'm not really sure if I'll be here long-term, but it has certainly surprised me.
Thank you for this post. Raleigh is a place that can still be molded by the people that live here. Over the last decade we've seen many new events, festivals, and other ways to connect through education, culture, etc. These were started by people (often young) who had a desire do something for their city. Encouraging that spirit will keep Raleigh appealing to all groups.
It's no surprise the Realtor contingent on this board rushed in to defend their little shill poster. Guys, stop being cheap and pay for your advertisement ok...
It's no surprise the Realtor contingent on this board rushed in to defend their little shill poster. Guys, stop being cheap and pay for your advertisement ok...
Oops, I thought City-Data was where you were supposed to be objective and post your own experiences.
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Location: Cary, NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoaminRebel
And liars are always going to lie..
It's no surprise the Realtor contingent on this board rushed in to defend their little shill poster. Guys, stop being cheap and pay for your advertisement ok...
Another millennial from FL here! I (mostly) agree with you OP. Can't speak to dating, but this place has much more going on than my boring exurb in Central FL.
You wanna see sprawl? All of FL--outside of Miami--is a suburban hell. Even Orlando is just a series of big box stores, highways, and gated communities. That place has no soul.
Tonight I went to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences to check out their Extreme Mammal exhibit, and hear a lecture about Eastern coyotes. Last weekend I saw one of my favorite bands at DPAC. Next week I'm going to see The Nutcracker. I already bought my Book of Mormon tickets. Before Thanksgiving, I was downtown for the Raleigh Christmas parade. On Halloween I was at the IMAX in Marbles.
I think a lot of people moved here from the tri-state metro up north, so the Triangle feels podunk by comparison. But my family moved from Long Island to FL when I was a kid. Let me tell you, you have not seen podunk. I am so happy I left FL and moved to a place that touring bands/shows actually bother to visit.
You disputed that notion, but have not dismissed it. This post reads like an advertisement.
I concur.
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