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Hello, all. I was able to finally visit W-S and Charlotte this month. Since we chose W-S as our future place to live, we only visited apartment complexes there. In my opinion, Winston-Salem is ideal for someone who prefers a suburban kind of area. We stayed by the Hanes Mall and I was very impressed with the number of businesses around the area. I currently live in a suburb about 30 miles north of New York City. Unlike in New York/NJ suburbs, I immediately thought to myself how easier it will be to get to the local retail chain, restaurant, etc...
Oddly, I drive further now to get to a specific store than I would have to in Winston. Based on my travels to other cities, like Kansas City, Wichita, Orlando, etc... I mistakenly thought Winston would be just as spread out. In my opinion, this was not the case.
We were able to visit about half a dozen complexes in one day! The furthest we had to travel was about 15 minutes. Each complex was easily accessible by major routes, and there was plenty of stores nearby.
People were very friendly, as I expected. For those concerned about interracial situations, we saw more mixed couples/friends in three days, than I've seen in NY in years. We saw married couples together, coworkers eating lunch, young male adult friends, and older men eating together. I mentioned the males and their ages to illustrate what I saw as a good example of acceptance. To be blunt, but politically correct, they were obviously friends and not intimate.
When we traveled to Charlotte, about 15 mins away from the city center, I felt as if I were on the New Jersey Turnpike. A lot more traffic, a lot more congestion. When on Independence Blvd going through Matthews, it felt like Route 17 in New Jersey- one main road with all the stores and restaurants beside the major road.
The "downtowns" of Charlotte and W-S were typical of most major cities, other than NYC. Do not expect a Manhattan, Tokyo, or London. Do not even expect a Philadelphia. There are a handful of "skyscrapers/semi-skyscrapers" and a few cross-streets. This does not bother me in the slightest. I was happy to be able to drive 15 MPH on a weekend with barely any other cars around me.
In summary, I love the fact that so many stores were centered around the Hanes Mall area, because I hate driving twenty minutes just to get to my favorite restaurant or store. I love the fact that total strangers will greet me as I pass by. I love the fact that people actually cared about hospitality.
By the way, NYers have nothing on the acceleration of drivers at traffic lights in W-S. That light turns green and it's race-time! I deduced that this was because of the longer delay in traffic lights to allow traffic to make left turns. In the NY area, most lights are staggered so accelerating too fast will just get you stuck at the next light.
Hope this helps paint a better picture. If you wish, ask me any questions.
Hello, all. I was able to finally visit W-S and Charlotte this month. Since we chose W-S as our future place to live, we only visited apartment complexes there. In my opinion, Winston-Salem is ideal for someone who prefers a suburban kind of area. We stayed by the Hanes Mall and I was very impressed with the number of businesses around the area. I currently live in a suburb about 30 miles north of New York City. Unlike in New York/NJ suburbs, I immediately thought to myself how easier it will be to get to the local retail chain, restaurant, etc...
Oddly, I drive further now to get to a specific store than I would have to in Winston. Based on my travels to other cities, like Kansas City, Wichita, Orlando, etc... I mistakenly thought Winston would be just as spread out. In my opinion, this was not the case.
We were able to visit about half a dozen complexes in one day! The furthest we had to travel was about 15 minutes. Each complex was easily accessible by major routes, and there was plenty of stores nearby.
People were very friendly, as I expected. For those concerned about interracial situations, we saw more mixed couples/friends in three days, than I've seen in NY in years. We saw married couples together, coworkers eating lunch, young male adult friends, and older men eating together. I mentioned the males and their ages to illustrate what I saw as a good example of acceptance. To be blunt, but politically correct, they were obviously friends and not intimate.
When we traveled to Charlotte, about 15 mins away from the city center, I felt as if I were on the New Jersey Turnpike. A lot more traffic, a lot more congestion. When on Independence Blvd going through Matthews, it felt like Route 17 in New Jersey- one main road with all the stores and restaurants beside the major road.
The "downtowns" of Charlotte and W-S were typical of most major cities, other than NYC. Do not expect a Manhattan, Tokyo, or London. Do not even expect a Philadelphia. There are a handful of "skyscrapers/semi-skyscrapers" and a few cross-streets. This does not bother me in the slightest. I was happy to be able to drive 15 MPH on a weekend with barely any other cars around me.
In summary, I love the fact that so many stores were centered around the Hanes Mall area, because I hate driving twenty minutes just to get to my favorite restaurant or store. I love the fact that total strangers will greet me as I pass by. I love the fact that people actually cared about hospitality.
By the way, NYers have nothing on the acceleration of drivers at traffic lights in W-S. That light turns green and it's race-time! I deduced that this was because of the longer delay in traffic lights to allow traffic to make left turns. In the NY area, most lights are staggered so accelerating too fast will just get you stuck at the next light.
Hope this helps paint a better picture. If you wish, ask me any questions.
That was a very good picture . I grew up in Winston so I know what you are talking about and I recently took my partner to this city and we also stayed near Hanes Mall and I know what streets create kinda a circle around the mall and he commented that wow Winston has alot of Shopping Centers and I said oh we havent even drove by half of them yet. lol
By the way, NYers have nothing on the acceleration of drivers at traffic lights in W-S. That light turns green and it's race-time! I deduced that this was because of the longer delay in traffic lights to allow traffic to make left turns. In the NY area, most lights are staggered so accelerating too fast will just get you stuck at the next light.
Hope this helps paint a better picture. If you wish, ask me any questions.
You also dont have any speed limits in Manhattan either. And most of the Taxi drivers are from like (second? i guess world countries) like Cambodia or Cuba. I wonder if they have thier driver's license. After all the illegal immagrants (Mexicans) dont. Anyone that lives in a city is going to drive like hell.
You also dont have any speed limits in Manhattan either. And most of the Taxi drivers are from like (second? i guess world countries) like Cambodia or Cuba. I wonder if they have thier driver's license. After all the illegal immagrants (Mexicans) dont. Anyone that lives in a city is going to drive like hell.
Ignorance breeds ignorance.
PS: Spell check will help your spelling, but not your grammar nor bad manners.
That was a very good picture . I grew up in Winston so I know what you are talking about and I recently took my partner to this city and we also stayed near Hanes Mall and I know what streets create kinda a circle around the mall and he commented that wow Winston has alot of Shopping Centers and I said oh we havent even drove by half of them yet. lol
Yes, there is less traffic in Winston than there is in NYC or any other big city. But do you have a job? You'll find that there are a lot less of those too.
When we traveled to Charlotte, about 15 mins away from the city center, I felt as if I were on the New Jersey Turnpike. A lot more traffic, a lot more congestion. When on Independence Blvd going through Matthews, it felt like Route 17 in New Jersey- one main road with all the stores and restaurants beside the major road.
Wow, if you are judging Charlotte by Independence Blvd, that's like saying your home area traffic is judged by the number of cars trying to cross the Tappen Zee on Friday at 5PM or judging NJ by driving on the NJ Turnpike past Exit 12-15. Apples and oranges.
There are beautiful residential and apartment type of areas in the Charlotte suburbs. I much prefer Charlotte to W-S myself. Maybe you can visit the Charlotte area again and look a little deeper.
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