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Oh, okay see I don't mind this why aren't maps showing me this? Thanks I'll do some research into this.
I'm not sure why, but this illustrates this and keep in mind that this is from Downtown to Downtown, which means that it may be a matter of where you are coming/going to and from: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Syra...!3e0?entry=ttu
With the exception of "close to water", meaning a beach or large lake, the Albuquerque region matches your list. The University of New Mexico flagship campus is there. NM is a blue state. It has a 4-season goldilocks climate at about 5400 ft elevation. There is a long standing regional literary and arts community from Taos, Santa Fe and ABQ. No natural disasters. ABQ metro is almost 1 million and the entire state has 2.1 million population. There is a cultural mix. There is an international airport. It has a unique history and culture reflected in the food and other customs.
Cons? This is as far from Ithica and Burlington as you can get in the US, in many ways. Some people have a sense of isolation, in distance, from other places. That might also appeal to some.
About Fresno: it's not close to water, the Central Valley is very hot and dry. It's also not close to any larger cities --- the OP could live in Clovis and have Fresno as the major city, but Clovis isn't really liberal or walkable AFAIK.
Reno could work, though. Similar size to Fresno (in terms of how it feels) but does get 4 seasons and has Tahoe 50 minutes away.
I live in Washington and Eugene is more progressive than any of our college towns. To give you an idea, they were considering putting in a light rail system (the plans fell through), despite being a city of only 150k. There are multiple vegetarian/vegan restaurants in town, and biking is huge. Eugene would be a solid choice for your criteria except that it's 2.5 hours from Portland.
Yes, for someone who wants to get away from long hot summers, the San Joaquin Valley is not the place to go.
As well, the air quality is bad -- I've seen references to Fresno as 'the asthma capital of America.'
Eugene did build a bus rapid transit line... that seemed like a better choice of technology for
a city of Eugene's size and low density. And it's the only place where I can remember just happening upon a veggie restaurant (in most cities, if there's one at all, I have to seek it out).
OP could also consider Corvallis and Salem... they're closer to Portland.
Today I found out a job I had accepted overseas fell through. I'm still applying to other overseas jobs, but I may end up having to stay stateside, and so I need a new place to go. I've been living in Austin TX the past several years, and I'm over the long swealtering summers and the traffic.
Wants
-3/4 Seasons
-Within an hour of a large city
-Close to water
-Low risk of natural disasters (i think this might be hard to find)
-Liberal state (open to liberal city in conservative state)
-Good arts/theatre/book culture
-Walkable neighborhoods, at least a good city bus system
-Low traffic
I love the look of places like Ithaca and Burlington, but they're so far from everything.
So I think Burlington and Ithaca are both a little too small. I think I'd like at least 100K people or at least close too. I've been doing a lot of research today and I don't like feeling isolated, so maybe these places are not for me.
I will look into Providence again.
I love the NJ suggestions, but I don't think I could afford to live there.
I know NYC and Chicago are probably the places where all the artsy/book stuff is located, but I just don't want to live in those places.
Looked into Tacoma? Half hour from Seattle without traffic, but it's also easy to get to much more secluded natural areas from there --- not just Mt. Rainier and the Cascades but the Kitsap Peninsula is literally right across a bridge from there and has tons of trails, rocky beaches, etc. The start of the Olympic Peninsula is about an hour from town.
The bus system is comprehensive but there's also a streetcar connecting downtown to the Hilltop neighborhood. Traffic is probably Tacoma's worst trait on your list, but it's avoidable especially the farther west you live. Really it's just I-5 that's terrible in rush hour, the other freeways in the area (I-705, WA-16, WA-512) aren't nearly as bad. Even at 5:15 pm on a weekday there's not much traffic downtown.
Most of the city is walkable-ish, but the real urban neighborhoods to look at would be Hilltop, Old Town, the Stadium District, 6th St, the Proctor District, and the Lincoln International District.
I'll be honest, WA was my top choice of state for a while, then I watched a video about how it's covered in Volcanoes that could go anytime and got scared.
So I think Burlington and Ithaca are both a little too small. I think I'd like at least 100K people or at least close too. I've been doing a lot of research today and I don't like feeling isolated, so maybe these places are not for me.
I will look into Providence again.
I love the NJ suggestions, but I don't think I could afford to live there.
I know NYC and Chicago are probably the places where all the artsy/book stuff is located, but I just don't want to live in those places.
If you like what Ithaca offers, but want close and bigger, Syracuse and Rochester meet the population criteria and both of those cities are only an hour and 20 minutes from each other as well.
Syracuse is also within an hour and a half or so from the Adirondack Mountains, the Thousand Islands, pretty much all of the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario, among other places. Major cities such as NYC, Philadelphia, Toronto and Montreal are within 4 hours, with Boston and Providence only a little bit further. DC and Pittsburgh are about 5 and a half hours. So, it is in a good location in relation to places in the Northeast and the top two major Canadian cities. Plus, it is one of the more affordable areas in the region and on par with many Southern areas.
I'll be honest, WA was my top choice of state for a while, then I watched a video about how it's covered in Volcanoes that could go anytime and got scared.
Just wait till you Google the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The San Andreas is absolute child's play by comparison
Michigan is not really governed from a moderate position at all. Perhaps historically it was, but it's current power structure over the last 5 years seems to be pretty well in lock step with national politics.
Do you have any actual experience with Grand Rapids, or is your declaration of it being somewhat conservative based on anecdote? The city hasn't voted even somewhat conservative since the 1970s. Per the OP, as someone who visits regularly I'd say it fits the criteria quite well.
I don't equate 'voting Democrat' with 'being liberal'. My own city of Buffalo has an 8:1 ratio of registered Democrats to registered Republicans in the city limits, and you'll never, ever catch me calling Buffalo 'liberal'. Too many socially conservative African-American Democrats for that label to be merited. I was a registered socialist for over a decade, so I do take some personal interest in this topic.
Burlington is a great place, far superior to Ithaca, fwiw, OP. I initially planned to attend Cornell, and my brother did in fact attend Cornell...Ithaca leaves a lot to be desired; it's quite cold, socially. Much moreso than it should be, anyway. Anytime I've been to Burlington, I've made random 'friends' while out and about at pubs and whatnot. It's difficult to adequately describe the vibe/ambience of a place without resorting to saying 'you just have to go see for yourself', but Burlington has a very agreeable palpably left-wing vibe, whereas Ithaca does not, despite being the seat of the bluest county in upstate NY. The prevailing atmosphere in Ithaca is 'driven careerist downstate NY/NJ type As temporarily slumming it in the boonies of Central NY'. Providence in the vicinity of Brown University is the best off-Ivy League campus vibe, of the eight
Last edited by Matt Marcinkiewicz; 09-22-2023 at 09:48 AM..
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