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One major difference between California and North Carolina is the general dearth of attractive, walkable downtown areas in North Carolina. Relative to other areas of the country, downtown areas are less common in the South because, for hundreds of years, the South was primarily agrarian in nature with decentralized homesteads and plantations. Also, many of the walkable downtown areas that currently exist in North Carolina are, for the most part, in dire need of beautification and modernization through reinvestment. Because California is wealthier, artsier and more touristy with greater concentrations of environmentalism, there seems to be more community and local investment, especially in small towns along the coast, which creates more charming and pleasant surroundings.
One major difference between California and North Carolina is the general dearth of attractive, walkable downtown areas in North Carolina. Relative to other areas of the country, downtown areas are less common in the South because, for hundreds of years, the South was primarily agrarian in nature with decentralized homesteads and plantations. Also, many of the walkable downtown areas that currently exist in North Carolina are, for the most part, in dire need of beautification and modernization through reinvestment. Because California is wealthier, artsier and more touristy with greater concentrations of environmentalism, there seems to be more community and local investment, especially in small towns along the coast, which creates more charming and pleasant surroundings.
This post sounds like the entire state of North Carolina is being characterized based on a quick visit to a random small town off I-95 before the 21st century began. "Attractive, walkable downtown areas" are found all over the state, including Asheville, Brevard, Davidson, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, and Wilmington ... just to name a few. These cities have no shortage of recent investment with innovative arts scenes and unique local businesses.
California by a lot. NC's largest cities are only really on par with Sacramento and even then I think I'd take Sacramento over Charlotte or Raleigh. Add in better scenery, more liberal politics and diversity...CA is pretty hard to beat for me. Although the cost of living and greenery of NC is appealing. I'd move there given the opportunity
One major difference between California and North Carolina is the general dearth of attractive, walkable downtown areas in North Carolina. Relative to other areas of the country, downtown areas are less common in the South because, for hundreds of years, the South was primarily agrarian in nature with decentralized homesteads and plantations. Also, many of the walkable downtown areas that currently exist in North Carolina are, for the most part, in dire need of beautification and modernization through reinvestment. Because California is wealthier, artsier and more touristy with greater concentrations of environmentalism, there seems to be more community and local investment, especially in small towns along the coast, which creates more charming and pleasant surroundings.
Have you been to the south? The old river and railroad towns all have dense urban centers, often more dense than towns in California.
California by a lot. NC's largest cities are only really on par with Sacramento and even then I think I'd take Sacramento over Charlotte or Raleigh. Add in better scenery, more liberal politics and diversity...CA is pretty hard to beat for me. Although the cost of living and greenery of NC is appealing. I'd move there given the opportunity
Raleigh isn't on par with Sacramento. It is, however, comparable given both are state capitals with large university presences, and both are largely suburban. Besides that, Raleigh isn't really comparable to Sacramento in any other way...
Charlotte is on par with Sac, from size to the resulting effects of that size down to the offerings and "big city" amenities and feel. And Charlotte and Sac both have the suburban thing in common as well...
*while Sacramento is comparable to both in being mostly suburban, the nuance should be understood that Sacramento is easily more urban than both at its peak of urbanity, and with a wider footprint of urban character than both. Just in relation to most of CA's large cities, besides SJ, more of Sac is suburban developed than urban, so that is similar to Clt and Raleigh even though those cities are even more suburban-oriented...
My overall take on CA and NC, they both offer some cool things the other doesn't. I'd take Cali easily too, and if COL ever drops to a more reasonable level, a question of which is better becomes laughable; NC's much lower cost of living is its largest saving grace in making a comparison between the two states worthy...
Quote:
Originally Posted by annie_himself
Have you been to the south? The old river and railroad towns all have dense urban centers, often more dense than towns in California.
Those towns are mostly in other parts of the South, not North Carolina...
California by a long shot. But then again - I think California is the best state so.
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