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I second the suggestion of Roanoke VA. It has a lot of things you like about Asheville without the high prices and hype. I also like Staunton, it is incredibly cute. Not to far from Charlottesville - which is nice but high priced.
Staunton has an Amtrack station if that has any appeal.
I second the suggestion of Roanoke VA. It has a lot of things you like about Asheville without the high prices and hype. I also like Staunton, it is incredibly cute. Not to far from Charlottesville - which is nice but high priced.
Staunton has an Amtrack station if that has any appeal.
We seriously considered Staunton, nice city park, college, and on the upswing in the arts/theater. It would remain in my top 10 if we ever decided to move. We loved the James Madison U campus, just lovely.
We seriously considered Staunton, nice city park, college, and on the upswing in the arts/theater. It would remain in my top 10 if we ever decided to move. We loved the James Madison U campus, just lovely.
I have been to Staunton, VA a number of times. It is a great town to live.
JMU is located 25 miles NE of Staunton in Harrisonburg. However, Staunton is home to Mary Baldwin College, one of the premier, all-women's schools in VA.
That area has perhaps a dozen colleges within an hour drive so there is always something going on.
I have been to Staunton, VA a number of times. It is a great town to live.
JMU is located 25 miles NE of Staunton in Harrisonburg. However, Staunton is home to Mary Baldwin College, one of the premier, all-women's schools in VA.
That area has perhaps a dozen colleges within an hour drive so there is always something going on.
The first time I drove down I-81 through western VA, I was surprised at how many colleges there apparently are in western VA. It seemed that every other exit had "XYZ College ->" kind of sign.
NoMoreSnowForMe: Thanks for your response. I lived in San Jose for seven years in my 20s to early 30s. We left just before the huge earthquake that took down bridges on 101 (moved in early 1988). I'll look at the cost of living again. I know San Jose isn't feasible (can't afford it and when I first transferred from D.C. to San Jose, I got a 19% cost of living increase with the same company). I was stunned.
Earthquakes aren't an issue. When there, we had just what I wanted - a single-level house with real rose bushes and a decent garden. Yes, the weather was perfect. We drove to the Redwoods are amazing. I'll look again.
If you are retiring there are many lower cost communities with decent weather in CA away from the famous "glamour" cities everyone thinks of.
I second the suggestion of Roanoke VA. It has a lot of things you like about Asheville without the high prices and hype. I also like Staunton, it is incredibly cute. Not to far from Charlottesville - which is nice but high priced.
Staunton has an Amtrack station if that has any appeal.
May I ask if you live in Roanoke/Salem or Staunton? (We liked that area, though it doesn't seem tons better than here in winter.)
No I don't live there, jut passed through as a tourist. I think it would be much milder than New England unless you are in coastal NE.
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