[joe moving]

what kind of things do you like to do outdoors?

[wmass]

I'd say Burlington, VT or Northampton, MA are your best options for cultural hubs with a younger crowd and with easy access to outdoor activities. Beware that winter can be very long and depressing in VT - unless you're really into skiing. Brattleboro, VT and Keene, NH might be worth looking at, though smaller.

[LisaMc46]

Originally Posted by wmass

I'd say Burlington, VT or Northampton, MA are your best options for cultural hubs with a younger crowd and with easy access to outdoor activities. Beware that winter can be very long and depressing in VT - unless you're really into skiing. Brattleboro, VT and Keene, NH might be worth looking at, though smaller.

I would definitely want to move to Burlington if I were 20-something. It's got a good nightlife scene, great restaurants, good recreational opportunities, and lots of political/artsy/community-action groups you could join to make friends and meet potential dating partners.

NE Kingdom is beautiful and has amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, but I think a single person would be bored and it would be difficult to meet people. It's more ideal for families or people who were raised here and have family nearby.

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by ridicter

I'm looking at Oregon or Vermont.

There are a lot of subtle differences between Oregon and Vermont. Although people have moved to both states from all over, Oregon has a West Coast flavor and Vermont has an East Coast flavor. Having lived in both states, I'd say Vermont is more down to earth. Vermont has no real city, whereas Portland, Oregon is a very nice city to live in. For an outdoors person, Oregon may have a little more to offer: an ocean, taller mountains, more forests, and high plains cowboy country. Portland is also a heavy tech area, which Vermont is not. Unless you dislike cities and want a rural area, I think the Portland area might be a better fit for you than Burlington.