Raleigh/Durham, NC..checking into the area

[IZ]

The s/o and I are making back-up plans in case a foreign position doesn't become available for work.

We're looking at a few places on the East coast.  Portland, ME was the first on the list but I'm not sure we want to go back to the harsh winters.  Plus, it looks like a small, remote city.  The DC area is next on the list but Richmond has also become a possibility.   

Any info on the city/area, riding conditions, things to do, etc. The winters don't look too bad.

Thanks 

[zooom]

WELL.....I can't speak for Richmond...but DC has alot of everything within an hour of it...all depends on what you want or are looking for and what limitations you are willing or needing to set for yourself.

[IZ]

WELL.....I can't speak for Richmond...but DC has alot of everything within an hour of it...all depends on what you want or are looking for and what limitations you are willing or needing to set for yourself.

All I've heard about DC is that Fairfax and Alexandria are nice suburbs to live in.  Georgetown is a cool place I hear?  I'd definitely like to see all the historical places! 

I'm moving this to NMC.  Maybe more input from others who have travelled/lived in these areas?

[herm]

EXPENSIVE!

check out this town

and settle down already. this is no way to raise a kid

[Randimus Maximus]

and settle down already. this is no way to raise a kid

I knew he was hiding something from us!

[zooom]

question that is pertinant to all of this is where will you be working, because travel/commuting type of concerns are very real in this area...

[motogpfan]

you going to be OK leaving your boyfriend Greg?

[potomacduc]

All I've heard about DC is that Fairfax and Alexandria are nice suburbs to live in.  Georgetown is a cool place I hear?  I'd definitely like to see all the historical places! 

I'm moving this to NMC.  Maybe more input from others who have travelled/lived in these areas?

The DC area in its broadest sense has just about every type of living option you could want from urban, to endless suburbia to rural exurbia and all points in between and beyond.  You're not going to find Manhattan densities and there is no real industrial feel to the area, but short of that there is a real diversity of housing types and neighborhoods.  What you would think about certain areas depends heavily on where you've lived before and your personal preferences.  Are you a transit riding urbanite, one of the suburban masses or a fan of country living?  As someone else said, where you work is a big deal.  My goal has been to never live more than 5 miles from my job and never have to use a bridge to get to work.  Due to prices inside the beltway that means my money bought a smaller house than if I commuted longer distances, but the quality of life is worth it for me.  Others have no problem riding or driving hour or more to work each way each day.  I simply can't deal with that.

The one thing I like about the area is that within 60 miles I can be in the hills or at the ocean.  WV is a beautiful state with wonderful motorcycle roads and I can be there in 90 minutes or less.  

As for Richmond, again your opinion of it will be determined by your background and preferences.  It has its charms and limitations, like most places.

[YellowDuck]

Dude you move more than anyone I have ever seen.

One of my good friends lived in Richmond, he hated it. Said it was a disgusting city. Another friend went to Richmond State, says if you don't smoke you don't belong in Richmond.

This is all second hand, I have never been there for more than a day.

[Triple J]

You two have a problem IZ! 

...just move there. If it sucks, you'll be moving in a year anyway!! 

[Randimus Maximus]

You two have a problem IZ! 

...just move there. If it sucks, you'll be moving in a year anyway!! 

[erkishhorde]

You two have a problem IZ! 

...just move there. If it sucks, you'll be moving in a year anyway!! 

I coulda sworn that you had a moving thread about a year ago when you went to Seattle, or was it Austin? Jeez, I can't even remember where you are anymore since you move so much. 

Oh yeah, I'm no use in this thread unless you want to move to Cali. 

[ducati_tim]

I lived in Richmond for 16 years. It is a great small city. If you like suburban living, there are nice, clean and safe neighborhoods in the surrounding counties. There are also suburban type neighborhoods in the city itself.

I prefer urban environments. I lived in a neighborhood called the Fan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_district I still think it is one of the best neighborhoods in the whole country.

The best thing about Richmond is that there is a great restaurant scene there. My absolute favorite Italian restaurant (Mama Zu) is there. There is at least one good restaurant for almost all types of food.

There are twisty roads nearby, and some great rides throughout Virginia. There are great running trails, the James River is awesome, and the ocean is two hours away and skiing one hour away.

There are problems there for sure, but overall it is a great place to live and a great place to raise a family. PM me if you have specific questions.

[IZ]

Thanks for the info and like always.. the "spirited" remarks!

BTW..MotoGP.. are you referring to Sinister? We left Seattle a year ago.

[Bun-bun]

Having lived in Baltimore, D.C., Richmond, and now Norfolk, I can give you my perspective. Obviously, YMMV.
Baltimore: Good selection of work, but you want to live outside the city and commute, or become a crack dealer. Get out of town before dark!

D.C.: Better than Baltimore as far as living in the city, good selection of working environments, predominantly white collar,politicians, good nightlife, culturally diverse, lots of big city attitude (Good and bad) nightmare traffic,big tourist destination, closer to mountains than ocean.

Richmond: More blue collar than D.C., Older architecture, a little run down looking, northernmost southern city, so a little schizophrenic, discrete neighborhoods; upscale neighborhoods next to run down neighborhoods, about equidistant from mountains and ocean.

Hampton Roads: Seven cities clustered around each other seperated by a river. Less big city than the others, definitely southern, big tourist destination, big Navy presence, good selection of working environments, discrete neighborhoods with upscale neighborhoods next to rundown neighborhoods, on the bay and ocean, 3 hours from mountains, flat as a pancake.

Hope this helps.