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You're right. The rent is where SoCal gets you from what I've heard. But OP sounds young... Roommates may be the option. Los Angeles area is quite literally what OP wants to a T. It's the only way OP will get everything they want without a winter and without a "summer" (Phoenix).
Phoenix could be another option if you're up for the heat. Considering most Americans are indoors most of the time anyway, it's not that bad. And you won't get soaked going to your car, the sweat will just evaporate quickly. And there's almost a 20 degree difference between a sunny area and a shady area in the heat here. Shade is key. I love kayaking and Arizona isn't the best location for this, obviously, but the nearby lakes (Lake Pleasant, Lake Roosevelt) are great places to go for this, and the Salt River offers some amazing kayaking even in the center of town by Tempe and in Northern Arizona. Northern Arizona is generally the go to for kayaking, especially the Grand Canyon if you can afford it (it's a few thousand and about a week's time). But lots of places to go, especially in forested Arizona.
Phoenix is amazingly cheap for what you get.
Tucson is also another place but the economy sucks, even cheaper than Phoenix, and better weather.
You're right. The rent is where SoCal gets you from what I've heard. But OP sounds young... Roommates may be the option. Los Angeles area is quite literally what OP wants to a T. It's the only way OP will get everything they want without a winter and without a "summer" (Phoenix).
Phoenix could be another option if you're up for the heat. Considering most Americans are indoors most of the time anyway, it's not that bad. And you won't get soaked going to your car, the sweat will just evaporate quickly. And there's almost a 20 degree difference between a sunny area and a shady area in the heat here. Shade is key. I love kayaking and Arizona isn't the best location for this, obviously, but the nearby lakes (Lake Pleasant, Lake Roosevelt) are great places to go for this, and the Salt River offers some amazing kayaking even in the center of town by Tempe and in Northern Arizona. Northern Arizona is generally the go to for kayaking, especially the Grand Canyon if you can afford it (it's a few thousand and about a week's time). But lots of places to go, especially in forested Arizona.
Phoenix is amazingly cheap for what you get.
Tucson is also another place but the economy sucks, even cheaper than Phoenix, and better weather.
thank you for the advice. i know los angeles has everything i want but its just not do able for a few more years. i don't want to live paycheck to paycheck and can't go out or do anything fun just to live in the best city
i have thought of phoenix, i really enjoy the dry heat overtime i go to las vegas, but i feel it would get old quick working outside everyday when its 100+ for weeks on end
I think the OP describes Denver as much as SoCal. The winters are much milder than people think and it's sunny something like 300 days/year. If Denver is out of reach, maybe a smaller city in Colorado? Fort Collins?
What about somewhere like Charlottesville, VA? It's certainly in the mountains ("The Waltons" was based on that area), University of VA is there so it has a "hip" vibe, you're close to DC if you want a REAL city, etc. I don't know how the cost of living compares to other places.
Sacramento, CA
- Not in the mountains but just over an hour to the Sierras, great hiking, mountain biking, kayaking (rivers, reservoirs, alpine lakes, 2 hours to the ocean, 1.5 hours to Tahoe), & biking (the American River Bike Trail runs 30+ miles from Sacramento to Folsom). Hot but dry summers with cool mornings & evenings thanks to Delta Breeze, snow-free winters. Fairly affordable (especially compared to coastal CA). Great foodie restaurants in Midtown, lots of great pubs.
Colorado Springs, CO
- Direct access to mountains, beautiful scenery, great hiking & mountain biking. Relatively mild winters (with snow), low humidity summers, low cost of living. Decent restaurants & pubs downtown.
I know Phoenix fairly well. The winters are great, the scenery is unique, and it's very affordable, but the summers are just too hot to do much outdoor recreation other than swimming
Sacramento, CA
- Not in the mountains but just over an hour to the Sierras, great hiking, mountain biking, kayaking (rivers, reservoirs, alpine lakes, 2 hours to the ocean, 1.5 hours to Tahoe), & biking (the American River Bike Trail runs 30+ miles from Sacramento to Folsom). Hot but dry summers with cool mornings & evenings thanks to Delta Breeze, snow-free winters. Fairly affordable (especially compared to coastal CA). Great foodie restaurants in Midtown, lots of great pubs.
Colorado Springs, CO
- Direct access to mountains, beautiful scenery, great hiking & mountain biking. Relatively mild winters (with snow), low humidity summers, low cost of living. Decent restaurants & pubs downtown.
I know Phoenix fairly well. The winters are great, the scenery is unique, and it's very affordable, but the summers are just too hot to do much outdoor recreation other than swimming
sorry i am just seeing this response now. thank you very much for the advice.. i think denver and portland are both perfect for me but bott not affordable. i enjoyed the vegas dry heat when it was 110 but that was on vacation poolside with a cocktail whole different story when you are working it and i would imagine phoenix is worse
i think you sold me on sacramento, let the research begin!
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