Need advice on cities (wood floors, house, job market)
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My husband and I are looking for a city to move to. After living in Illinois our whole life, we're looking for a different lifestyle. After plenty of research, I'm still looking for the best place for us to live. We love the outdoors, hiking, biking, fishing, and golfing. We need good schools and a safe place to live. We are a bi-racial family and need an accepting place that is progressive. I'm also looking for a town that is walkable, not one with strip-mall after strip-mall. Although we love warm weather, it is not our #1 priority. Advice on cities is welcome.
My husband and I are looking for a city to move to. After living in Illinois our whole life, we're looking for a different lifestyle. After plenty of research, I'm still looking for the best place for us to live. We love the outdoors, hiking, biking, fishing, and golfing. We need good schools and a safe place to live. We are a bi-racial family and need an accepting place that is progressive. I'm also looking for a town that is walkable, not one with strip-mall after strip-mall. Although we love warm weather, it is not our #1 priority. Advice on cities is welcome.
From what I've heard, Portland, Oregon may be just up your alley! Oregon's "growth boundaries" that strictly-enforce and regulate where, when, and how urban sprawl can occur means that the state will retain its natural beauty for generations to come (On the flip side come some expensive housing prices, but I'd be willing to fork over an extra $100,000 for a home with a view of mountain vistas as opposed to a view of a scalped hillside with McMansions). Portland is also supposed to be a very friendly for bicycling and walking; a car is not a necessity. The Pacific Northwest, overall, tends to be more "Liberal", so alternative lifestyles, as well as people of minority status are probably much more well-tolerated than they would be in the "non-Yankeefied" South, for example. Portland's cloudy and rainy climate may be a bit of a drawback for your outdoor interests though.
Be advised that I'm just going on what I've "been told" about Portland and from what I've personally researched; I actually live across the country in Scranton, PA, a city that I rarely feel the urge to escape due to its coziness. Any Oregonians reading this can feel free to jump in and prove me wrong, but a state that abhors urban sprawl, embraces diversity, promotes usage of mass transit, and is lush with natural beauty sounds like the perfect place for you both!
We've looked at both Portland and Asheville. We visited Portland and it just wasn't the change we're looking for. It seems like Asheville has been getting quite the hype lately. I'd love to hear more about it and what the "feel" of the town is like.
Here's another vote for Asheville, NC! If I were to live anywhere else other than where I live now (Charlotte area. Love it here, don't plan on leaving), it'd be Asheville. The town is laid back, a little expensive, and is a bit liberal, while the surrounding towns are affordable, more conservative, but very accepting. Even though there's a mix of beliefs, everyone gets along well and make it a more enjoyable place to live, something you don't find much around the nation. It seems to be this way across NC. I'm conservative, and at my church, there are many bi-racial families. I home school my sons, and in our home school group, we have a couple who are white and have adopted 5 African American children. In most cases, conservative doesn't = racism. Be careful not to fall for the old pre-1960's steriotypes. Biltomre House has to be seen. Stunningly beautiful, especially at Christmas! There's a McDonalds across the street from the Biltmore enterance that's a replica of the Biltmore House. Very fancy, with wood floors, marble surrounds, fireplace, and a baby grand piano. It's been featured on the Travel Channel. Very beautiful mountains surround the area. Awesome 4-season climate without the extremes (about 16" of snow a year). Would HIGHLY recommend!!
Asheville's beautiful but I am not sure it is exactly walkable. It's got its share of big box stores, suburban malls, and urban spread, and not a well defined downtown.
...but what city doesn't? Move to Asheville and enjoy.
That's a stickeler. The economy in the Asheville area is mostly based on tourism/retirees, so if you've got a job set up, you can work from home, or are retired, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you might want to think about it. Good luck!
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Any Oregonians reading this can feel free to jump in and prove me wrong, but a state that abhors urban sprawl, embraces diversity, promotes usage of mass transit, and is lush with natural beauty sounds like the perfect place for you both! 
