I want to live in a simple, small southern town. Advice?

[ColaClemsonFan11]

Originally Posted by valx18

Howdy. I'm 18 years old and currently live in CT. I've always wanted to live down South simply because I love the culture and weather. All I want is a simple life, and to accompany that I would love to live in a small, simple town. A peaceful (but fun) town with small businesses where everyone knows everyone else. I love swimming so being somewhat close to water would definitely be a plus, however it wouldn't make or break any decisions. Other major interests of mine are: fairs, rodeos, going for walks, riding horses and atv's, and meeting new people. This spring/summer me and a friend of mine are going to spend a month driving through the South just to explore. Any suggestions on places/ things we should check out? And lastly, how much does it cost a month to rent an apartment? It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Thanks so much!!

Since your 18, I would highly recommend Seneca. Thats where my Dad grew up and still have some family there, it is a great small town that has the lakes right there and Clemson right down the road with plenty of folks your age and plenty of stuff to do but it is all very much a small town and southern.

I think someone else threw out Hartsville which I would also highly recommend. I went to school neat there and had a lot of friends from there and was shocked at the amount of bars they had and amount of people my age that went to them (im 25 now but was about 23 when we went there). Hartsville is about as southern as they come: beautiful downtown, big old southern plantations and homes, place shuts down for Hartsville High Football (the WHOLE town traveled to Columbia to see them play in the state championship last year the WHOLE town). It also has Coker College right in town which will give you some folks your age there as well as Francis Marion University in Florence which is about 20 mins away. Florence also has a good bit of stuff too so if you get bored with Hartsville you can be there in short order.

I would say look at these two places first, being 18 it would be sort of hard to meet people your age in small towns around here because they all want to get out when they turn 18, but with either Seneca or Hartsville, you have colleges nearby that will give you more people your age, plus more stuff to do.

Good Luck!

[tonydisk]

Originally Posted by januaryjade21

Hey, not sure if you're still looking but Cape Charles, VA is great. I grew up there and miss it more every day. It's really quant with only one stoplight and maybe 1500 people at most. It's at the very end of the Delmarva Peninsula situated on an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. There's one Main Street with loads I family run small businesses and a cute diner/drugstore where everyone hangs out. Everybody knows everybody. My favorite is the library which is a converted one room schoolhouse turned-church-turned library. Very small, sweet, and caring is the atmosphere. There's a 4th of July parade and a few vendors come and sell their wares on the dock by the beach during the holiday. Lots of little Bed and Breakfasts and small restaurants, like the Irish pub on Mason Ave..lots of great southern culture and history. All of the houses are from the late 1800s-early 1900s from when the town had a huge fishing and rail industry. Many apartments are for rent both in houses and above the stores on the Main Street which has a New Orleans type feel in the architecture. I love it there and I think you would too.
It's about a two mile drive down a small two Lane road off of Route 13 so secluded but very close to shopping in Norfolk, just a half hour drive over the Bay Bridge.
Definitely worth checking out!

januaryjade21januaryjade21

We have vacationed in VB for years and love the North Beach , Chicks Beach area but can't afford it.

Have a tentative plan for vacation August 16 - 24. Looking at Cape Charles Virginia.

I'm a retired computer guy and my girlfriend is a nurse.

My girlfriend loves the small towns of coastal Maine and likes the waters of the Chesapeake but has trouble with the traffic in Virginia Beach. Cape Charles reportedly has a small town feel and would be close enough to Virginia Beach to do the tourist things if needed.

We are also considering it as a possible retirement location.

Appreciate any info you could share. Such as quality of schools ( have a 6 year old grand kid ) problems with using the bridge tunnel as there does not seam to be much (shopping, entertainment, etc ) in that area. Areas to avoid, what is it like in the Winter as far as getting around ( we live in western PA)
Anything you think could be useful.
Thanks in advance.
Tony