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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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St. Louis was a lot nicer than I expected and quite charming. I was expecting another Detroit but didn't realize how rich the history is there and how many architectural gems there were all over the city. The nightlife is fun (lots of music - blues & jazz), the food is awesome (I loved the Italian neighborhood 'The Hill"). St. Louis also has some world class urban parks. The parkland around the Arch and landscaped very nicely, and Forest Park is an amazing city park. St. Louis definitely has a lot of old world charm. I'd actually be compelled to go back and visit again sometime.
I had a meeting in Omaha last year. I was expecting the normal middle of the country blandness, flat and boring. Omaha was a really cool city actually, and I tell people all the time how underrated it is. Home to plenty of large companies, great parks, and the Old Market district was nice. Downtown Omaha has a lot of work to do though, but I found the riverfront to be ok. Omaha has a lot of suprising potential considering it is in Nebraska.
That is what I notice most people say about Omaha. They come in with very low expectations and leave impressed. It isn't perfect by any means, but it offers a lot more than most cities its size yet is widely considered "boring" by the general population in this country. That is until they visit.
Oklahoma City. When my husband told me we were moving there I thought I would hate it. I had been there once as a kid and didn't remember much. I expected ugly, flat and dry. What I found was exactly the opposite. We live in an area with gentle rolling, wooded hills. Except for this year (drought) it's always been very nice and green. The city is easy to get around, even though it is very spread out. Traffic is minimal (at least compared to Dallas and Houston, where we came from). Great restaurants, very nice people, and a downtown that is in the midst of a huge makeover and revival. What a pleasant surprise.
Salt Lake City. I had no idea what to expect before I visited, but I pleasantly surprised. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants a blend of skiing and nearby city amenities on their next vacation.
-The city is very clean and very pretty. The mountains are beautiful. I also remember seeing lots of green and trees, which is a pleasant surprise when you compare it to other mountain west cities (which tend to be more brown).
-Downtown has nice architecture and is well-maintained. Despite being a young/western city, there's actually a lot of character and history in the architecture. You will see some cookie-cutter suburbs, but even in the suburbs, the homes appear to be built well, and everything looks nice.
-There are no bad areas. The areas that the locals describe as being "bad" are actually very nice compared to the ghettos you'll see in any other city.
-Everyone was very nice and polite. I don't think I met a single rude person while I was there.
-I'm not Mormon. Before I visited, I was afraid that religion would be pushed on me all the time and that people would treat me differently for not belonging to the church. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. The LDS culture is very obvious in some small ways (you'll notice if you try to buy alcohol, etc.), but no one ever asked me about my religious affiliation while I was there, and I never felt like I didn't belong. Granted, it might be different if you live there - I have no idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna
Utah in general is a very pleasant surprise. Beautiful scenery, plenty of activities, and some of the nicest people you ever want to meet.
Totally agree.
Salt Lake City was a huge surprise for me with it's really nice, architecturally distinct neighborhoods and how nice/normal the people living there are. I guess I was kind of expecting an "Invasion of the Pod People Experience" given the Mormon/LDS influence but it was so not the case. The alcohol situation is not what people make it out to be either. Ever since just before the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002 many of the laws have been lifted and it's no worse than many of the common restrictions in place in other states.
Pittsburgh. Before going there, everybody told me it was a dump that had nothing to offer. I found it to be the complete opposite. Great city with more to offer than many places I've been to.
Pittsburgh. Before going there, everybody told me it was a dump that had nothing to offer. I found it to be the complete opposite. Great city with more to offer than many places I've been to.
I lived there for a few years in the '80s and was told the same. It was, and is, a beautiful place with beautiful people (I married one of them). For other reasons I had to leave though.
Salt Lake City was a huge surprise for me with it's really nice, architecturally distinct neighborhoods and how nice/normal the people living there are. I guess I was kind of expecting an "Invasion of the Pod People Experience" given the Mormon/LDS influence but it was so not the case. The alcohol situation is not what people make it out to be either. Ever since just before the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002 many of the laws have been lifted and it's no worse than many of the common restrictions in place in other states.
I think I need to give SLC another chance. I've been there twice and definitely did not have the experience you guys had with the people. I felt completely like an outsider. People were pleasant *enough* but it was clear I wasn't one of them. The first time I went was for work - I arrived on election day 1992 and went to the office the next day - the people at work were NOT.HAPPY about Bill Clinton being elected! I've never heard such political talk in a business prior AND since.
SLC is beautiful though and skiing cannot be beat.
I had a meeting in Omaha last year. I was expecting the normal middle of the country blandness, flat and boring. Omaha was a really cool city actually, and I tell people all the time how underrated it is. Home to plenty of large companies, great parks, and the Old Market district was nice. Downtown Omaha has a lot of work to do though, but I found the riverfront to be ok. Omaha has a lot of suprising potential considering it is in Nebraska.
I second (or maybe third) Omaha. When I went there for the first time, I was expecting a "little Chicago", e.g. flat as a box top. It's hilly and treed, and has a cool river (Missouri R.). Being from Pittsburgh myself, I like these attributes.
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