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.

[gobbomom]

Boulder, Madison.

[Xanta]

Toronto is the only city I've ever lived in for over a year so it's hard for me to compare it to other places but it fits your criteria pretty well. There are a ton of neighborhoods of all income levels and there are a whole lot of nice places to raise a family. The downtown core is really very cool (although montreal is apparently more fun) and there are pockets downtown where you'll get culture from pretty much any corner of the earth. World cup of soccer is especially fun because you just find out who won that night and then go to Chinatown, Little Italy, etc etc. You get my point.

Upsides:

1) Traffic flow is good compared to most cities in the states that I've been to. 3rd biggest public transportation system in North America (I'm pretty sure)

2) Free health care, beeyatch (plus all the other bonuses of being Canadian, whatever)

3) If you're into cottages or anything like that, the lakes system just 2 hours north of the city is pretty unique and really beautiful. Algonquin Provincial Park is 3 hours away from the city if you want a step beyond cottages.

Downsides:

1) Bad smog problem in the summer. It's no Atlanta or anything like that, but I feel really gross on hot days.

2) Water quality is pretty bad. Drinking water is amongst the cleanest in the world, but Lake Ontario is really quite gross. I've been swimming in it and I probably wouldn't again. The beach is nice though.

3) CFL [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[ 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

[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.

[Josem]

lol, seriously?