Raleigh/Durham, NC..checking into the area

[IZ]

Ahh, you've lived in Lansing.  I grew up in and around Lansing through HS.  The first few times I went to Richmond, my thought was that it is slightly larger, southern version of Lansing with a little more crime.  I'm still not an expert on Richmond by any means, but I've been back a few times and my impression hasn't changed a lot.  It's alright.  I've spent a couple of weeks in Austin and other than the fact that they are both state capitals, I see few similarities between Austin and Richmond.  IMO they have a totally different feel.   

I lived in Detroit for 7 years (5 CBD, 2 Corktown) and despite its "issues" the city still has a soft spot in my heart and I always enjoy anytime someone casts even semi-positive aspersions in its direction.  I also lived in Ann Arbor, so we have some similar reference points.  I've been in the DC area for several years now.  I'm quite satisfied living here.  I do like the fact that I can drive or take a train and be in NYC in not much more than 4 hours.  Philly is ~2.5 and Baltimore ~45.  Great riding is ~1.5 hours away. 

I grew up a few miles north of Lansing.  If Richmond has more crime then it must be a lot like Flint? 
Detroit, eh?  The s/o's sister lives in Ferndale.  We've visited a few times.  Greektown is cool.  The last time we went was in winter and we were ice skating in the middle of the city.  Ann Arbor was the closest I'd live to MoTown.

DC looks cool and there a few good employment prospects for us..I'm not sold on it though.  I know the traffic there must to be worse than Seattle?!  Being located so close to those other East cities is really cool though!

Raleigh isn't as big as Charlotte and I didn't like it as well either.  It's still like over three hours to the beach isn't it?  Way too many people in Raleigh and the Research Triangle anyway and it's gotten expensive to boot.
Greenville, SC is a very good place and very close to the good riding beautiful lakes in the area and two hours to Atlanta. Greenville is about 250,000 peeps, good airport, real nice down town and decent theater and music too and living int the country outside town is laid back, but with the city just a few min. away.
I lived in Phoenix for a few years and I liked Flagg (Oak Creek Canyon was a fave place) OK, but Asheville is better in my book the BRP runs through it.
You sound a little like a city guy who likes the country rather than a country guy who like the city.  DC may be it.
Good luck.
LA

I need a big city or a few cities close together.  Austin is good sized but it's still kind of small.  Dallas, SA and Houston are all within an hour drive though.  Asheville looks cute but it would not be a good place for us. Greenville..the same.  3 years in Flagstaff was 2 years too long.  That's how I think both cities would be like. 

Thanks for the info everyone. 

Keep it coming!

Where's Rams and Jobu?  Waiting to hear their input since I know Rams goes to Duke.   

[Randimus Maximus]

You could move your hippie ass to Boulder, CO.

[IZ]

You could move your hippie ass to Boulder, CO.

Boulder was cool.  Close to the mtns and Denver..but..too many Michiganders in the area.   

[Randimus Maximus]

Boulder was cool.  Close to the mtns and Denver..but..too many Michiganders in the area.   

the two that you met?

[IZ]

the two that you met?

Like I said..too many!!

[IZ]

Title change..now Raleigh/Durham, NC.

Any Info??

[Randimus Maximus]

I almost had a job there once.  Actually, it was in Cary.  I liked the area, from what I could tell.  Of course, that was 20 years ago, so it might be completely different now.

[IZ]

I almost had a job there once.  Actually, it was in Cary.  I liked the area, from what I could tell.  Of course, that was 20 years ago, so it might be completely different now.

I'll check into that area.  Looks kind of flat like Mid-Michigan there.

Cary..just SW of Raleigh.  I'm checking into it.  Was that for Toyo?

[Randimus Maximus]

I'll check into that area.  Looks kind of flat like Mid-Michigan there.

Cary..just SW of Raleigh.  I'm checking into it.  Was that for Toyo?

No, American Airlines had a reservation center there that I was trying to get a gig at.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Shouldn't you just buy an RV and wander? It seems like it'd save so much trouble.

[Kopfjäger]

Maybe you have said before, but why all of the moving?

[IZ]

Shouldn't you just buy an RV and wander? It seems like it'd save so much trouble.

There was a thread on that already.



Kopf..how long have you been on here/TOB?

[superjohn]

I live and work in RTP. The riding is OK, but you have to go 1.5 to 2 hours away to start getting really good roads up in the mountains. There are a lot of motorcyclist around here though who ride a lot of different kinds of bikes. Plus, there's 2 Ducati dealerships in Raleigh, one each in Charlotte and Asheville. That's not counting Pompetta's garage. 

As for living, I've been here 10 years after moving down from Indiana for my job. The winters are nice and the summers are only mildly hotter than the midwest. There are a LOT of midwestern transplants in the area, as well as many people from NE. With all the technology companies, there's a lot of international transplants as well. All this combines to offer an enormous amount of diversity in restaurants, bars, and clubs. Everything from a dive like you'd find in a small town in Indiana to an upscale lounge serving tapas. It was also named top "foodie" small town by Bon Appetite.

Someone already mentioned Cary as a place to look for a house. I would also look in Morrisville and N. Raleigh. There are a lot of empty brand new construction right now, so the prices have come down slightly. Chapel Hill is still pretty pricey and there are some nice places in Durham, but it's best of you check those out in person as Durham has a strange layout that sometimes has nice neighborhoods right next to not so nice ones. They also have higher property taxes.

If you have any specific questions or want a read on a real estate listing or something, feel free to shot me a PM.

[IZ]

I live and work in RTP. The riding is OK, but you have to go 1.5 to 2 hours away to start getting really good roads up in the mountains. There are a lot of motorcyclist around here though who ride a lot of different kinds of bikes. Plus, there's 2 Ducati dealerships in Raleigh, one each in Charlotte and Asheville. That's not counting Pompetta's garage. 

As for living, I've been here 10 years after moving down from Indiana for my job. The winters are nice and the summers are only mildly hotter than the midwest. There are a LOT of midwestern transplants in the area, as well as many people from NE. With all the technology companies, there's a lot of international transplants as well. All this combines to offer an enormous amount of diversity in restaurants, bars, and clubs. Everything from a dive like you'd find in a small town in Indiana to an upscale lounge serving tapas. It was also named top "foodie" small town by Bon Appetite.

Someone already mentioned Cary as a place to look for a house. I would also look in Morrisville and N. Raleigh. There are a lot of empty brand new construction right now, so the prices have come down slightly. Chapel Hill is still pretty pricey and there are some nice places in Durham, but it's best of you check those out in person as Durham has a strange layout that sometimes has nice neighborhoods right next to not so nice ones. They also have higher property taxes.

If you have any specific questions or want a read on a real estate listing or something, feel free to shot me a PM.

Cool!  good to hear there's a couple dealers too!  A backyard garage is also good too!! 

The s/o was talking about visiting first.  We've never been there.

Diversity/multicultural..good. 

What local corp/businesses are there?  I know UNC, Duke other colleges are there. 

[jdubbs32584]

Cool!  good to hear there's a couple dealers too!  A backyard garage is also good too!! 

The s/o was talking about visiting first.  We've never been there.

Diversity/multicultural..good. 

What local corp/businesses are there?  I know UNC, Duke other colleges are there. 

UNC, Duke (btw, Rameses goes to UNC, I'm pretty sure you were kidding about him going to Duke but I didn't want you to mess that one up if you weren't), and NC State are all in the RTP area. NC State is in Raleigh itself. You've also got Wake Forest, my alma mater, in Winston-Salem which is down the road a couple hours. The rivalry (Tobacco Road Rivalry) is awesome between them and makes for some great sporting events.

It is still a hike to the beach and to the mountains and I'm not sure if its city enough for you. I'd PM Rameses and Jobu to grab their attention.

And visiting is a good idea. Yuu came down to visit Charlotte several times while he was looking around. He got to meet some locals, taste some good bbq, and get a feel for the layout of the city.

Major employers in Raleigh and RTP: http://www.raleigh4u.com/page/major-employers