[yuppidyup]

Thank you for the responses. The highergroundmusic.com venue looks like something is always happening musically. That's awesome. The fact that you can walk into a bar and just say hi is awesome. I think living 15 minutes from downtown would be a good option. I currently live in a area near downtown Seattle and I think I just want some space to breathe. Originally being from the Chicago area and having family in Indianapolis that is what I miss genuine specifically is the friendly and authentic people. In Seattle if you walk into a bar and say hi they look at you like you are an alien. I am sure christoforest can relate to that one or something similar. Thank you for your response. Christoforest I know you know Seattle and it's a very different city. I am visiting Burlington in May and I already spoke to my manager about the potential move and she said they will work with me for whatever I want which is awesome. One of the major benefits I see is being within a close distance to other major cities like Boston and Montreal and having the benefit of outdoor activity all around me. I am getting more excited at the option.
Now my biggest thing is going to be patience. I want to get the hell out of Seattle. It's not for me. The sooner the better!

Thank you all.

What are your opinions on the University of Vermont? Why is it so expensive? The cost is $431 per credit hour. Two classes are 2,586 and thats not even after taxes or books! Is there a community college in the city of Burlington? Any other educational opportunities?

Thank you again.

[chaz longue]

Terrific posts, above!

I hope you've found some help and information in the threads about Burlington and VT here.

I'll add a few things now that some other folk have weighed in:

And I'd urge you to give us a better sense of your specific interests. The more we know, the more ideas we'll have for you.

First - this sort of thing does depend a great deal on your interests and your willingness to explore. If you are passionate about things we don't have here, you'll be less interested in Burlington than if you can appreciate the amazing variety of things that ARE available.

Live music and the performing arts are a really big deal here.
Live music in bars? Check. Free concerts in the park? yep. Street musicians? Yes. VT is was the first state in the nation to create a symphony orchestra through an act of it's Legislature. Burlington has a world class Jazz Festival as well as a folk and traditional music scene the envy of most cities orders of magnitude larger. Burlington has one of the best small film schools in the country, and the state hosts several well attended film festivals. There's an amazing bike path which spans several municipalities and can take riders right into the lake on a former railroad trestle. Burlington has a huge marathon which draws massive crowds of families who come on foot and cheer. I wander up not just to cheer the runners, but to enjoy the Taiko drumming and Samba school and other live music along the way. Throughout much of the year, there are activities like this almost every weekend. Much of it has a free and/or family component.

If you like Art per se along with your live music, there's the South End Art Hop and the First Friday Art Walk.

Burlington has a triple A baseball club in a wonderful historic park. Which won't be torn down. I'm guessing it'll be around long after Fenway and Yankee Stadium and all the rest are gone (sniffle...)

If you're outdoorsy - brace yourself. We're surrounded by ski areas and people xc ski on golf courses when the durned golfers aren't using them ;-)

So are outdoor activities. Building community is a sort of civic religion here - partly because civic and political participation is possible in VT, and partly because there's a lot going on and people appreciate the choice to get involved (and actually see thier efforts make a difference) than not have the option.

Now this next bit seems to be controversial - but I'm of the opinion that people in The Burlington area, are friendly. And when I see posts disputing this, it makes me scratch my head. I've lived here since 1961, so perhaps what strikes me as normal isn't as friendly as what's the norm elsewhere. It's true that New Englanders are more reserved as a general rule than people are said to be in, say, the Southern United States. But I could tell you story after story of chance meetings and lifelong friendships. You'll just have to see how things strike you here...

I hope this helps!

David

[chaz longue]

btw - My best friend and I grew up in Burlington and he's been in Seattle for a decade just ITCHING to get back. I'm a Realtor, so I've been keeping him up to date with property as it comes on the market. He's finally going to move back this Summer.

And yes - there are 5 colleges within a short bike ride of Burlington - or perhaps 4 now. We recently lost one. UVM is indeed very expensive for out of state students. Vermont has an excellent community college system, and some great State Colleges. There's also St Michael's College and Burlington College.

[negreenUSF]

UVM is a very good school, specifically for environmental and medical studies. Why does it cost so much? I couldn't tell you that for sure and as a VT resident it was very frustrating that in-state tuition was higher than most out-state schools in the area. I had lots of friends who went to UVM and it does get better and better through the years. If you want to take classes you can also look at Champlain and CCV which both I believe are much cheaper but offer most classes.

Just to add to the posts about live music...AMAZING!!! I live in FL now and it's really hard to find a good bar with great live music. Good luck during your visit in May! May is a great time to visit VT, it can still be a little chilly but not by VT standards. Don't be surprised to find people wearing shorts and tank tops and laying out in the sun! May is a busy month in Burlington, that's when everyone starts coming out from hiding to enjoy the start of summer!!! You get a real appreciation for sun and warmth!

[yuppidyup]

Is there a boxing gym or Brazilian Ju-jitsu training place in Burlington? Is there any semi pro sports leagues? Baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, hockey?

[vter]

Not sure about boxing gyms, but I'm sure there a few around.
Semi-pro sports? You bet.
We have a Single A affiliate of the Washington Nationals here - the Vermont Lake Monsters. Also, an ABA team called the Vermont Frost Heaves.
Soccer - Vermont Voltage - I think they play up in St. Albans.
For semi-pro football we have the Vermont Ice Storm who play at Colchester HS.
No semi-pro hockey here...UVM hockey is the name of the game around here. We also go up to Montreal to see the Habs.

[lukedaddy]

Vermont Ice Storm? YES! I was kind of worried about the football thing coming to the NE from the south where football is King. Go Gators!

[Derringer]

If you are authentic and sociable don't move to MA! Don't move to VT either, it's now a suburb of MA! Try the Adirondacs, Northern Maine or the mountain states of the west. The attitude in MA is the WORST in the country!

[negreenUSF]

Originally Posted by Derringer

If you are authentic and sociable don't move to MA! Don't move to VT either, it's now a suburb of MA! Try the Adirondacs, Northern Maine or the mountain states of the west. The attitude in MA is the WORST in the country!

I was just wondering how you figured that VT was now a suburb of MA? Maybe NH but not VT at least not the way I see it. Now I can see VT as a suburb of the distant west coast but MA?

[Pidgett]

Derringer:

What color is your flame? I already know what floats your troll-boat.

Pidgett