Young couple considering Northwest Arkansas (Fort Smith, Fayetteville: apartment, to rent, amusement park)

[logan_leann]

My fiance and I are considering moving to Northwest Arkansas after I graduate in May 2011. I will have a degree in Dental Hygiene and he is a auto-body technician. We are looking for a fun area for young couples with lots of entertainment and things to do. Just by doing some research, we are leaning towards Fayettville. We enjoy being outdoors and have two dogs. We like listening to bands and some nightlife. We also like art, cooking, and shopping. We would want to rent at first, either an apartment or rent house. Any suggestions?

[adysmom]

Originally Posted by logan_leann

My fiance and I are considering moving to Northwest Arkansas after I graduate in May 2011. I will have a degree in Dental Hygiene and he is a auto-body technician. We are looking for a fun area for young couples with lots of entertainment and things to do. Just by doing some research, we are leaning towards Fayettville. We enjoy being outdoors and have two dogs. We like listening to bands and some nightlife. We also like art, cooking, and shopping. We would want to rent at first, either an apartment or rent house. Any suggestions?

with a degree in Dental Hygiene and auto-body technician. You two can get a job anywhere. And the outdoor life in Arkansas is as good as it gets. Not real sure about the night life in that area.

But it's a good idea to rent and check all that out before you buy.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by logan_leann

My fiance and I are considering moving to Northwest Arkansas after I graduate in May 2011. I will have a degree in Dental Hygiene and he is a auto-body technician. We are looking for a fun area for young couples with lots of entertainment and things to do. Just by doing some research, we are leaning towards Fayettville. We enjoy being outdoors and have two dogs. We like listening to bands and some nightlife. We also like art, cooking, and shopping. We would want to rent at first, either an apartment or rent house. Any suggestions?

Yes, Fayetteville is the best place for young couples, but don't overlook some of the areas in Bentonville and Rogers as well.

Nita

[ymmud123]

You might check out Ft. Smith as it was listed by Yahoo the other day as one of the cheapest places to live.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ymmud123

You might check out Ft. Smith as it was listed by Yahoo the other day as one of the cheapest places to live.

I like Ft Smith, but I think a young couple should very very careful. Of course we don't know them, but we do know it is very bible belt, which can be good or bad and I don't think the party life would be all that great for a couple in their 20s. That is just my feeling.

Nita

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I like Ft Smith, but I think a young couple should very very careful. Of course we don't know them, but we do know it is very bible belt, which can be good or bad and I don't think the party life would be all that great for a couple in their 20s. That is just my feeling.

Nita

I think the challenge would be in acquiring a group of friends to like the same kind of party life. Which is the challenge anyone faces who moves to a new place where they don't already have friends and family. It's been my experience, too, that places are like people. There's a public persona, and usually another persona that's private, personal, beneath the surface. I've been to Ft Smith, and I've been to some pretty wild parties over the mountain. Really wild. People can choose to like where they live, or choose not to like it. It's a choice. There will be good and bad things about everyplace. Some places are a better fit than others, there's no denying that. But the choice to be happy, regardless of where we live, is our choice. As long as we're free to live where we want to, we can be happy where we live.

[bluenoter]

It seems to me you can't go wrong in Fayetteville.

Originally Posted by logan_leann

My fiance and I are considering moving to Northwest Arkansas after I graduate in May 2011. I will have a degree in Dental Hygiene and he is a auto-body technician. We are looking for a fun area for young couples with lots of entertainment and things to do. Just by doing some research, we are leaning towards Fayettville. We enjoy being outdoors and have two dogs. We like listening to bands and some nightlife. We also like art, cooking, and shopping. We would want to rent at first, either an apartment or rent house. Any suggestions?

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by ymmud123

You might check out Ft. Smith as it was listed by Yahoo the other day as one of the cheapest places to live.

Bad idea. Its cheap for a reason.

[Dr. Foosball]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Bad idea. Its cheap for a reason.

I never thought I would agree with you on anything.

Fort Smith is to Fayetteville as McDonald's is to Ruby Tuesday's.

[aerotive]

If music and nightlife are priorities, Fayetteville the best choice in the the region. It's the only city with a thriving entertainment district. There are some galleries in and around Fayetteville, plus there's the WAC and various events at the U of A so you are reasonably well covered on the art front. Shopping is ok to good, depending on your perspective--I've had a number of transferees from big cities bitterly complain about Fayetteville, but the city does have the best farmer's market in the area, plus the only decent-size organic/health food store in the area. There's a lack of luxury type department stores in FYV/NWA--no Saks or Nordstrom type places around, if those sorts of places matter. There is certainly no lack of general and mid-level chain stores in Fayetteville, and there's another big cluster around the Pinnacle area in Benton county.

As far as the outdoors, the whole area is great. Fayetteville has a solid and still growing trail system, and a good park system too. There are plenty of lakes, hiking trails, campgrounds etc around NWA.

Not to put you off the area, but since you specifically mentioned entertainment keep in mind this is a smallish metro (population around 500,000, Fayetteville's about 75,000) and there are plenty of amenities missing--no zoo, aquarium, major-league pro sports, large/high quality museums (will change to a degree within a couple years), water park, amusement park, etc. Also remember that regarding music big tours don't come to NWA--you'll need to drive to Tulsa, KC, or LR for that sort of thing.