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Hi--We're an active and upbeat Chicago couple in our early 60s. We love getaways, hiking, museums, theater, restaurants and most of all, socializing with others. We're thinking of the Raleigh area because the weather is better (!) and the cost of living is great compared to what we're spending now. So my questions are these: are there a lot of relocating people our age in Raleigh? How's the culture scene (theater, lectures, symphony, etc.?) If you've been in a similar position, are you glad you made the choice?
I cant answer most of your questions but one thing you said caught my attention. We moved from Milwaukee WI so had a lot of the culture scene you are referring to. My kids and husband both complain this area is lacking in that respect when compared to Milwaukee & Chicago. And if you ever enjoyed the Shedd, the aquariums here are laughable. The Milwaukee Zoo's aquarium building has more to offer than the ocean-side aquariums here!
But the weather alone makes up for that for me, but the area does feel like something is "missing" when compared to livlier cities. There are plenty of walking trails and nice places, but the "culture" is not here. I do not plan on leaving, but if it werent for me, my family would be back in WI in a heartbeat.
The cost of living is a little better, but when you take into account EVERY area of where you spend your money, it's really not much cheaper-except the housing.
I'm not very outgoing and so we have yet to socialize with anyone. The only place I have been invited by people was to church, and that is not anywhere I need to be invited continually to attend!
I'm sure someone closer to your age group will come along with more info.
We originally moved to Cary where we spent our first 5 years,. We moved into an active Del Webb community on the Raleigh/Durham line last year and have never regretted it. It's a new community, first home closed in August 2013. Our amenity center is under construction and due to be completed by next summer. - 38,000 SF, indoor pool, outdoor pool,full gym, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, etc etc. Active Adult Retirement Communities | Carolina Arbors by Del Webb | Durham, NC | Del Webb New Home Builders
Since you specifically mentioned the symphony, let me chime in that the NC Symphony is an absolute delight, very high quality. Of course, you will have to decide if they compare with Chicago, but I think you'd be quite pleased with the NC Symphony. Maestro Grant Llewellyn is a treasure, conducting with amazing nuance and sensitivity. Also, the symphony performs in a wide variety of venues, allowing access to many who may otherwise not attend. When I was still living in Raleigh, they would open the season with a free concert at the downtown amphitheater, not sure if that's still happening. They do have a New Year's Eve performance, they have a few pub performances, chamber performances, and they have a Summerfest series in Cary in an outdoor amphitheater. They also play at the same amphitheater on Independence Day, followed by a professional fireworks display.
I moved away from Raleigh over a year ago; I still miss attending the symphony there.
No, I'm sure the Triangle is not on a Chicago level, but what cities in the US are? NYC, LA, SF?
The universities bring in a lot of big names. We've had Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, the Bolshoi Ballet, Youssou N'Dour, Alvin Ailey, Kronos Quartet, etc. That's just in Chapel Hill at Memorial Hall (Carolina Performing Arts). Duke and NC State also bring in some big names. There's a Miró exhibit at the Nasher Museum at Duke right now.
For folks who say there's not much to do, they're either living in the boonies or they're not looking too hard. Are there 50 amazing things to choose from going on every night of the week? Well maybe not, but I can't do 50 things at once, anyway.
It's not that there isn't much to do or there is NO culture, but comparatively speaking when coming from the Chicago area, there is much less here-and I find some offerings to be on a smaller scale-especially the few museums I have been to so far.
Not trying to offend anyone. I did come here by choice.
It's not that there isn't much to do or there is NO culture, but comparatively speaking when coming from the Chicago area, there is much less here-and I find some offerings to be on a smaller scale-especially the few museums I have been to so far.
Not trying to offend anyone. I did come here by choice.
Not to sound snarky by any means but this isn't Chicago. You really cannot compare theater/arts in the triangle to one of the countries major metropolitan areas. Apples to oranges. That being said, for it's size, this area has lots to offer + (as you mentioned earlier) the weather, greenways etc!
Population of Raleigh 431,000 (approx)
Population of Triangle about 2 million
Population of Chicago 2.7 million
Population of greater Chicago metro area 9.52 million
Location: River's Edge Inn, Todd NC, and Lorgues France
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Originally Posted by ljd1010
Not to sound snarky by any means but this isn't Chicago. You really cannot compare theater/arts in the triangle to one of the countries major metropolitan areas. Apples to oranges. That being said, for it's size, this area has lots to offer + (as you mentioned earlier) the weather, greenways etc!
Population of Raleigh 431,000 (approx)
Population of Triangle about 2 million
Population of Chicago 2.7 million
Population of greater Chicago metro area 9.52 million
Off topic, but also worth considering:
Raleigh homicides 2012: 17
Chicago homicides 2012: 500
I will say that the education level here is apparently significantly higher than Chicago. You can look it up here on city-data's pages or google. Lots of advanced degree holders and yes, there are lectures and talks, etc. Not really my scene, but I read about them. I think about 45% of adults in Chapel Hill hold at least one Masters or PhD or a professional degree. Raleigh and Durham both also have a higher percentage of college degree holders, bachelors, masters and PhDs than Chicago.
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