moving from burlington, vt to SLC (Salt Lake City, Park City: live, shop, car)

[mgbvt]

I'm a single 37 year old male considering a move from Burlington, VT to SLC for the following reasons: better job opportunities in SLC, better weather in SLC (Burlington gets an average of 57 sunny days/year), proximity to mountains (climbing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking), tired of liberal hippies in VT. I was recently out in SLC looking around and my impression was this: lots of business, apparent good economy, very cloudy in the valley, local mountains look great and are close (and Tetons only 5 hours away), the valley was very flat and didn't have much character. So while there are some appealing things about SLC, I'm wondering whether I'll really like it out there. Can anyone offer some insight? Maybe someone who has lived in the Northeast and has moved out to SLC. Thanks.

[cinnabon]

There's always Park City if you can afford it & you don't mind commuting to SLC if that's where you work. I'm not there yet so I can't help you much, but I am moving out there with the hope that there are a lot of single guys who are there for the reasons you mention! I currently spend a LOT of time in VT, and had considering moving there. But you're right about the weather - the dreary cold damp winters, not to mention mud season. I look forward to the sunshine and skiing on powder instead of ice!

There is lots of info in this forum about life in SLC and people say it's pretty conservative and not a super exciting city, but coming from Burlington, maybe that's not an issue for you.

[wester]

Wait till you both drive up high in the foothills at night in Salt Lake City and see the thousands of lights twinkling below filling the whole valle3y in the clear desert light at night. Unbelievably beautiful and soul-stirring and soul-warming.

And then make a trip to Moab, drive down a road in the dark, stop your car and dim the headlights. The most brilliant, brilliant stars you have ever seen. You did not know they could shine that way. The air is ever so clear, the stars so huge and so many you will even feel a little fear, and wonder why you have never seen them this way before.

And: people come from all over to Salt Lake City, even Europe. And most stay and stay and stay.

[BuckeyezRule]

I'm not from the NE, but the midwest in Ohio, so I know all about cloudiness. LOL I've been here for just over a year, & love SLC so far! Very family friendly, & VERY sunny! Except for the past mos, it seemed it was sunny most days. It might be snowing & cold in the mountains, like in Park City, while shopping at the outlets, but, come down to the SL valley, & it was sunny & 55. Yes, we've done that. =) It is very beautiful out here, & there is ALOT to do outdoors. I have a 4yo son & 3yo daughter, & we still have alot to do outdoors too. LOL