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I want to check out Jackson. I have now been to 95% of the top 50 metros. My goal in the next 10 years is to visit the midsized metros. I was VERY underwhelmed by little rock outside the river market area. How urban is Jackson?
Correct. Little Rock isn't anything like the west coast when it comes to liberalism, but for the South its pretty liberal. It has a more active LGBT scene than larger Memphis does and some of the laxest liquor laws I've seen anywhere (clubs open until 5AM). With that said, its small and the surrounding suburbs and region are quite conservative and that somewhat dampens the liberal vibe in the city.
Had quite a good time at Electric Cowboy a couple years ago. Left at 4am. Cajun Wharf was pretty cool too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter1948
I want to check out Jackson. I have now been to 95% of the top 50 metros. My goal in the next 10 years is to visit the midsized metros. I was VERY underwhelmed by little rock outside the river market area. How urban is Jackson?
Mississippi has much better small town. I'd check out Natchez, Oxford, Tupelo, Bay St. Louis, and Pass Christian. Jackson is drab.
I would take Baton Rouge over the others. Little Rock is too boring and Jackson MS is just not cool to me (never really liked it). You are close to New Orleans living in Baton Rouge and I personally think Baton Rough has better living, entertainment, eating, shopping and just a way better culture experience IMO. If you work in O/G, Baton Rouge would be a better fit as well...
I want to check out Jackson. I have now been to 95% of the top 50 metros. My goal in the next 10 years is to visit the midsized metros. I was VERY underwhelmed by little rock outside the river market area. How urban is Jackson?
Did you check out the Hillcrest/Heights area? When I lived there, I preferred it to the River Market.
Jackson, in my opinion, is one of the worst cities in the US, and that is saying a lot.
Of course, coming from Louisville, I can definitely understand why Little Rock would be underwhelming to you. It definitely a step down from about any metro area over 1 million (with the possible exception of OKC). If you are looking for a "big city" experience, you aren't really going to find it in Little Rock. Memphis is close and a lot of people who live in Little Rock take weekend trips to Memphis for their urban fix. For its size though, it offers quite a bit. I would say in the 500,000-700,000 metro population range, only Des Moines offers more.
^Maybe Des Moines would be a better comparison to Little Rock? I've wondered what would be a comparable city to LR, with Nashville and Austin being out of its class but with similar geography. I've heard people use Memphis as a comparison, while there are similarities I don't think they feel the same at all. Maybe Tulsa would be most similar.
The one thing LR excels in is outdoor activities close to downtown. without pinnacle mountain, the river trail, and the ozark national forest I would of moved away years ago. There's just enough good things here to make us stay.
^Maybe Des Moines would be a better comparison to Little Rock? I've wondered what would be a comparable city to LR, with Nashville and Austin being out of its class but with similar geography. I've heard people use Memphis as a comparison, while there are similarities I don't think they feel the same at all. Maybe Tulsa would be most similar.
The one thing LR excels in is outdoor activities close to downtown. without pinnacle mountain, the river trail, and the ozark national forest I would of moved away years ago. There's just enough good things here to make us stay.
I agree Tulsa is fairly similar to Little Rock, but it's larger and offers a bit more. It's not quite as green and lush but it's hilly and there is plenty of outdoor recreation nearby, just like Little Rock. The Arkansas River is a lot prettier in Little Rock than it is in Tulsa, but plans are underway to make Tulsa's riverfront more attractive. Tulsa isn't quite as liberal as Little Rock but it's not as conservative as OKC. Tulsa gets an unfair bad rap because it's in Oklahoma. If it were in any other state, my guess is it would be more popular.
Did you check out the Hillcrest/Heights area? When I lived there, I preferred it to the River Market.
Jackson, in my opinion, is one of the worst cities in the US, and that is saying a lot.
Of course, coming from Louisville, I can definitely understand why Little Rock would be underwhelming to you. It definitely a step down from about any metro area over 1 million (with the possible exception of OKC). If you are looking for a "big city" experience, you aren't really going to find it in Little Rock. Memphis is close and a lot of people who live in Little Rock take weekend trips to Memphis for their urban fix. For its size though, it offers quite a bit. I would say in the 500,000-700,000 metro population range, only Des Moines offers more.
Louisville isn't drastically larger than Little Rock. I've never been but does it seem that much bigger or more cosmopolitan?
Little Rock's CSA puts it at almost 1 million people. I think it should be able to compare to OKC, Memphis, etc as well as smaller metros like Lafayette, LA.
Lafayette would be a good city for the OP as well. Stacks up well against LR.
My dad was born and raised in Little Rock. My mom was born in NW Mississippi, raised in Upstate NY, but graduated high school in Memphis. I myself lived in Little Rock for 1.5 years as a toddler, a year in Memphis in 8th grade, and have extensive family and experience in both cities...
LR is essentially a smaller version of Memphis. The biggest differences are in the geography and layout of the neighborhoods. LR can feel fairly urban within its core, and the downtowns of LR-NLR are fairly large and comparable to downtown Memphis, minus Beale. Memphis definitely feels larger, but I grew up on the East Coast, so it doesn't feel like a "big" city to me, just one that's bigger than LR. It is the big city to people from LR, it and Dallas...
LR whips Jackson, which I'd agree is probably amongst the worst cities in the nation. I'd think it would compare well with Baton Rouge. Same size, capitals, and while LSU is larger than UALR, there is a college presence in LR. LR is best compared (among places I've been) to cities like Knoxville and Columbia. I've heard the Oklahoma cities often compared. Add Des Moines to it, probably...
I would take Baton Rouge over the others. Little Rock is too boring and Jackson MS is just not cool to me (never really liked it). You are close to New Orleans living in Baton Rouge and I personally think Baton Rough has better living, entertainment, eating, shopping and just a way better culture experience IMO. If you work in O/G, Baton Rouge would be a better fit as well...
Baton Rouge is noticeably more fun than Little Rock?
Culture is more palpable here, I'd agree.
Baton Rouge is noticeably more fun than Little Rock?
Culture is more palpable here, I'd agree.
YES!! Well it at least to me it is. I prefer the Gulf Coast region in the south, which is why I find Baton Rouge more my taste. As far as entertainment, in BR you have Casinos, LSU & Southern also have pretty good events, theirs also museums, historical events (and societies, due to the History of the city and state) and many state events that take place in BR, like the BR Mardi Gras, the Bayou Country Superfest, there is also a pretty good blues festival there as well.
You also have Lafayette which is not to far, and of course New Orleans is close too. I have a few buddies from Port Arthur that currently live there and one of my parents went to Southern so I'm somewhat familiar with the area. I would live there because I enjoy the culture of the region. The area reminds me of a larger Beaumont - Port Arthur..lol, at least to me it does. We fit right on in there.
Little Rock is in a very sterile region (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Northern LA, Southern Missouri, North & NE Texas). I'm not attracted to that region at all, very bland compared to the Gulf Coast but thats just my opinion.
Last edited by llmrkc07; 02-22-2016 at 10:10 AM..
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Cajun Wharf was pretty cool too. 
