Help me choose 4 cities to live next year

[sirio11]

My wife and I have this crazy idea and we want to live in 4 different cities next year (about 3 months each).

The idea is to know different environments, so we can choose a city to live after 2009.

Some of the criteria are:

- We want to live near a big metropolitan area (this is not in the middle of Nebraska)

- We prefer a multi-ethnic city (like Toronto)

- We want a good educational system for the kids

- We prefer a progressive city, but still family oriented (Is that possible?), we have liberal views on general, but we really value a community where family values are important.

- We prefer US cities, but maybe Canada is ok; Europe a distant possibility

- Too hot (temperature) is bad, so 100+ cities (Phoenix?) are not eligible; near water is better (lake, river or sea), near forest is also good

- Not outrageously expensive cost of living cities is better, higher than average is ok

- Plenty of parks and museums please

- Cities not hated by mother Nature

- Cities whose citizens are very respectful of the law

- Professional Sports team is a plus [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]


What do you think of this idea? Is 3 months enough?

Maybe it's gonna be just a one year long vacation but we want to give it a try.

Please help and share your experiences

[snowbank]

San Diego, Phoenix(during winter), Vancouver, Miami

[nyc999]

I don't think 3 months is enough, especially if you're looking to enjoy the parks, lakes, etc. - six months would probably be better.

I'd go with Portland (OR), Austin, DC suburbs and Boston

[jackflashdrive]

seattle, seattle, seattle, portland

[Josem]

most australian cities would meet those criteria, i think.

[ QUOTE ]
most australian cities would meet those criteria, i think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeh but not Melbourne it's a hole.

Come to Sydney, the housing costs are more expensive but theirs not as much [censored] as in Melbourne and also no GAYFL

[Josem]

lol, seriously?

[z28dreams]

OP,

I've lived in 3 main places: Chicago, DC, and Colorado (Ft Collins).

I think Chicago really fits your description best among all the things you desired.

Why?
- Relatively inexpensive cost of living for the 3rd largest city in the country
- Access to Lake Michigan for water
- Weather is actually pretty good - everyone accuses chicago of being too cold, but there's really only 2-3 bad months a year.
- Top notch schools in the area - Northwestern, University of Chicago, and University of Illinois UC further down south
- Teams are pretty good - sox, cubs, bears, bulls, blackhawks, etc

CONS: It's definitely more expensive than areas like texas or phoenix, but compared to DC/NYC/LA it's much cheaper

Washington DC:
Pros: Super low unemployment rate, tons of government jobs and contracts. Good schools ( Georgetown, UVA, George Washington), nice metro area

Cons: Very expensive, particularly real estate. Nice single family homes in reasonable areas go for 600-700k. Comparable homes in chicago would be 400-500k.

Colorado in general:
- very nice, laid back area, but the denver metro area just insn't nearly as nice as the bigger metro areas. Super low cost of living, though.

[gobbomom]

Boulder, Madison.

[Ship Ship McGipp]

Chicago and Indianapolis (where I've spent most of my life) are both highly highly recommended.

Chicago is obviously large beautiful city with plenty of sports year round. Great museums and parks, out of control amazing food (perhaps the best in the country) and a moderate climate for 9-10 months of the year (I recommend the fall or spring for chicago, but really anything but January and Febuary would be fine).

Indianapolis is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. It's got it's fair share of professional sports and recreation, along with the big city vibe and the small town feel (what I mean by that is... you can literally drive downtown, in the middle of rush hour, without traffic- in contrast to chicago or other big cities where you can't get to a concert or somewhere to eat without delays). Indianapolis is primarily a suburban city, and if you need recommendations on where to live, let me know.

I consider myself very well travelled for a 20 year old but am obviously partial to the places that I grew up.