Western Cities: Most overrated and Least Overrated (crime rate, difference, nightlife)
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Underrated:
- Oakland
- Sacramento
- the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, aka "The Valley," which is nothing at all like the 20+ year out of date stereotype people have of them
- Long Beach
- Tacoma
- San Diego
- Phoenix
- Albuquerque
I didn't name SF or LA, because both are subject to overboard opinions both positive and negative. For SF, for instance, some people think it's a city of unwavering oneness and community where everyone is accepted for who they are and everyone is sophisticated and cultured; on the other, many people think it's a horrifying cesspool of Marxist politics where "The Gays" run everything. It's because of this polarization that I can't really say that they belong to either.
Vegas, I can't really assign to one or the other either, because when most people think of Vegas, they think of casinos, shows, and buffets, which is true of the strip... but it also has an awesome independent music scene, good food all over, and is quite diverse.
I'd live in Flagstaff if there were any job worth a damn to make a good living. It's a fun little city with a vibrant little downtown, good restaurants, and all kinds of fun things to do and places to explore within a short drive. I dig that there are a lot of microclimates in the region too.
It may be a better town for retirement than to live during one's working years.
No way Seattle is under-rated in the year 2014. Maybe twenty years ago and even then it got publicity for its music scene, and as Microsoft, Starbucks HQ etc. SF probably is at least a little over-rated. I'll agree there.
Overrated- Chandler, white collar all beige brand new city without the depth of Scottsdale
Oro Valley, if you want the Phoenix version of Tucson then there you go
Sedona, scenery and weather are nice but the town itself is like a giant gift shop
Underrated-Payson, a decent sized town right on the area where the woods start by the Rim. A little redneck, but a gateway to some of the best alpine Arizona outdoorsyness.
Tucson, the place is really like a big quirky college town with awesome scenery and I think being in Phoenix's shadow makes it under the radar.
Tempe, a well run, fun, somewhat dense(in a Western sense), progressive, college town with a lot of pride and character. It's not the Tempe of the 80's or 90's anymore but it's still got something good going on if you stay near downtown or at least within 5 miles of University and Mill.
I have seldom heard anyone brag about Chandler except perhaps its relative affordability. I know a couple that live near San Diego now that moved from there. I will agree about Sedona. Better to go further north to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. I will be in Tempe in May for my nephew's ASU graduation ceremony...looking forward to it.
If you aren't pretentious yuppie, these places aren't going to appeal much to you. Seattle is considered a quirky town, but is cultured a d educated. it miss the mark on both fronts. It's really not that quirky, and is actually pretty dull and boring. And to have such an educated and cultured existence, people tend to know very little history of geography. Or they say stupid things about any place that isn't the coast. Such as people being shocked I bad no southern accent, but I was from Missouri. They didn't realize that Missouri is Midwest not the south.
Underrated:
San Jose, Oakland
People are more down to earth, the city has a lot of stuff to do as well. A lot more diverse than San Francisco.
I have seldom heard anyone brag about Chandler except perhaps its relative affordability. I know a couple that live near San Diego now that moved from there. I will agree about Sedona. Better to go further north to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. I will be in Tempe in May for my nephew's ASU graduation ceremony...looking forward to it.
May in Tempe will be a tad warm. Go out at night and hit the pool.
If you aren't pretentious yuppie, these places aren't going to appeal much to you. Seattle is considered a quirky town, but is cultured a d educated. it miss the mark on both fronts. It's really not that quirky, and is actually pretty dull and boring. And to have such an educated and cultured existence, people tend to know very little history of geography. Or they say stupid things about any place that isn't the coast. Such as people being shocked I bad no southern accent, but I was from Missouri. They didn't realize that Missouri is Midwest not the south.
Underrated:
San Jose, Oakland
People are more down to earth, the city has a lot of stuff to do as well. A lot more diverse than San Francisco.
Oakland is way more fun than SF
San Jose is a mystery city to me, it's so overshadowed by other CA cities yet bigger than most of them.
San Jose is a mystery city to me, it's so overshadowed by other CA cities yet bigger than most of them.
And San Jose is alot safer, cleaner, with perfect weather.
For all the high tech and brain power, it's completely understated by choice. Everything is understated: no high rises, no Union or Times square, no super fancy large shopping district, smaller airport. It's suburban life at it's best.
It quietly makes it's way inventing new products that affect the way we interact, communicate, and do business. It powerfully affects wall street without any bravado or arrogance.
Although it has a great hockey team; it's sports fans are spread between two cities to the north, and although "it's" football team is now in it's neck of the woods, it still carries the name of the other city by the bay.
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