Is NC for me? (Raleigh, Durham: apartments, condos, chapel)

[sdbio]

HI,

I currently live in S. Cal and looking for a change. I am a place that is ideal for outdoor activities.. ( especially hiking) and parks within driving distance at least. Does NC stay green year round ( I mean unlike Colorado in which EVERYTHING turns brown during the winter) ? I am in my late twenties, single and work in biotech research.. Which city ( Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) would most likely have more working professionals out and about than college students and families? Are these a good place for singles or mostly families?

I know a lot of questions just trying to get a feel to see if these areas would be a good fit for me or not..

Thanks !

[StoneOne]

The Triangle area is great for outdoor activities year-round (with the exception of a few very cold days in winter and a number of very hot days in summer). There is a change of seasons, though, so expect plenty of brown in the winter, especially now that we're in a prolonged drought.

All of the cities have young professional singles scenes, but you might be most likely to find it in Durham or Raleigh. Downtown Durham has some great tobacco warehouses that have been completely renovated and converted into condos and apartments. They're a little bit pricey (though not by S. Cal standards) and should definitely have the type of neighbors you'd be looking for. Chapel Hill and Carrboro are a bit more rustic and tend to be favored more by young families and, naturally, college students at UNC. There are plenty of young professionals though. Cary and Apex would be much more family-oriented.

Good luck with your decision!

[PennyH]

Even in the winter, there's a lot of pines and firs here, so it's still fairly green. The fall colors are incredible. Even with the drought, there's still a lot of green to be seen - having lived in California, I think you'll be impressed.

There are so many terrific parks here - both within the Triangle and within driving distance. William B Umstead Park in Raleigh/Morrisville has a lot of good hikes, even a campground where it feels like you've driven hours to get there. There are lakes all over, and Smoky Mountain hikes within 4-5 hours, including quite a few waterfall hikes.

[rcarrillo]

The Triangle area is great if you enjoy the outdoors. Raleigh, Cary and Durham all have greenway trails through the city that are good during the week or for shorter walks. If you have more time, Umstead Park, Falls Lake and Lake Jordan are all great with short, easy trails to longer walks with more hills. There are also plenty of places to kayak, ride horses and more.

It does not stay "green" all year, but there are enough pines and evergreens to keep it pretty vibrant. Winter is also not too strong and it rarely snows. The mountains and the beach are both a 2-3 hour drive away so they are perfect for weekend trips. Really the outdoors are the biggest draw, but there are plenty of museums (state ones in Raleigh for free) and a fair amount of restaurants as well.

The cost of living is lower than most of CA and NY. Chapel Hill has more of a college town feel to it. Cary, Apex, Wake Forest and other suburbs are more familiy areas. For younger professionals downtown Raleigh and Durham both have a pleasent atmosphere and are close to restaurants and nightlife, check out Glenwood South and City Market areas in Raleigh.

If you want info on biotech jobs, you can DM me. I used to be in biotech before I switched to the mortgage industry and I still have company and job board links. There is always a strong demand both in the academic and private industry side in the Triangle region.

[sdbio]

Thanks for the feedback...

Will definitely need to come check out the area!