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We may be taking a short trip to another part of the country to see if it feels like a good fit for us. What are your tips for scouting out a new place? What sorts of things help you get a good sense of what the area/people are like? If you've done this sort of trip & then moved to the area, were your initial impressions after a short trip accurate??
My DH, two dogs, and I have been traveling the US for 22 months. We started out "Looking for Mayberry" but after a time just decided to see what we could see, do what we can do, and call it good. No criteria for acceptance.
As for getting a good sense of what the area/people are like: we like to go to the libraries, local events, etc -- wherever local people are going to go, and strike up conversations with the people there. I will ask questions, ask opinions, etc, and see how people react. Dog parks are a great place to go, if you are traveling with a dog. I also find that talking to people in line at the post office is also informative. (Note: in shops and visitors' info centers the people are paid to be friendly, so they may not be a good place to go.)
If you are interested in seeing my DH's travel blog, the web address is listed on my public profile.
We may be taking a short trip to another part of the country to see if it feels like a good fit for us. What are your tips for scouting out a new place? What sorts of things help you get a good sense of what the area/people are like? If you've done this sort of trip & then moved to the area, were your initial impressions after a short trip accurate??
To answer this: Go out to the bars, bring along a friend, meet some people, get to know them, make multiple trips back. Simply act as a person who lives there (don't lie to people you meet, of course). Do your research!
go to to festivals, bars, local shopping areas and see what the people are like while not looking like a tourist.
Never listen to what people on the internet say. Find out for yourself.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Originally Posted by veggiegirl26
We may be taking a short trip to another part of the country to see if it feels like a good fit for us. What are your tips for scouting out a new place? What sorts of things help you get a good sense of what the area/people are like? If you've done this sort of trip & then moved to the area, were your initial impressions after a short trip accurate??
Make sure and look up statistics about any place you may move to - some places look great but have high crime, bad schools etc (and vice versa).
You were looking for Mayberry but spent most of your time in the west :P
You should swing back by KY, TN, GA, SC, NC, MI, WI, IL, IN, OH, and a lot of the other states it appears you barely skimmed over and try elsewhere.
Mammoth Cave is HARDLY representative of our state. Simply a tourist trap.
Actually, we spent nearly 12 months on the east coast. Rather than criticizing our trip, let's see your trip log.... show us what you've done, better.
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