yabadabapal Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I know many of you have traveled extensively around the USA. What small to mid size towns have you been to that you really liked and may have thought about living there someday. Im in the middle of some projects that dont require me to live in an expensive city. What are some of your favorite places. Link to comment
cruisin Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 without knowing your preference for at least a general part of the country, I would have to say Brownwood, Texas. Population is less than 20K and it is located sort of on the northern edge of an area known as the "hill country" of Texas, where there is an abundance of great motorcycle roads. Distance to: Dallas 165 San Antonio 188 Houston 300 Austin 140 Big Bend NP 350 Albuquerque, NM 550 Oklahoma City 300 Great riding 000 Climate data shows avgerage highs in July and August at 95* for the hottest times of the year. The coldest average high being January at 57* with the coldest avg. low at 30*. Link to comment
Selden Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Dahlonega, GA ~5000 people, has a decent-sized university (North Georgia College and State University) to provide a cultural draw (exhibition of Rodin sculptures currently in the library), and to support a decent number of restaurants and other activities. The university is building a large new bookstore building, which will host a Starbucks, so they are finally coming to town, although I'm not sure how I feel about that... There are 5 wineries within 10 miles of downtown, about 20 more within a 50-mile radius. Rider's Hill, which sells Moto Guzzi, has a large consignment business, and a big tire shop, is about 4 miles north of town. ~60 miles north of Atlanta, and in the midst of some of the best riding roads in the southeast. Winters are mild, and summers are long, but not torrid, thanks to ~1500 foot altitude. We like the area enough that we bought a small house about 8 miles outside of town 8 years ago, and hope to retire there. All told, Dahlonega offers just about everything I'm looking for, and little that I'm trying to get away from. More likely, we'll end up in New Castle, DE, which is about the same size, but lacking a university, has very little life, and only one place to stay in the town proper -- my mother's B&B. If budget issues don't torpedo it, New Castle will become the HQ of Delaware's first national park, which may perk the place up a bit. Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Lewis Black: When you build a Starbucks across the road from another Starbucks, the game is over. You can build no more. Link to comment
Mike Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Bobby, I'm not sure of your definition of small to midsize. I'd place Ashville, NC near the top of my list. Carmel, CA is great, but beyond my financial means. Link to comment
Kathy R Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 The Fingerlakes Area of Upstate New York Nearly the entire state is Small Town, rural and beautiful. I can ride anywhere in the country from here That being said I'd like to also have a doublewide in Eastern TN or Western N.C. for the winter. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 What small to mid size towns have you been to that you really liked and may have thought about living there someday. BTDT - moved already. Torrey Utah, pop 170 (p.s. a small town is any that has more elevation than population) Link to comment
Deadboy Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Placerville, CA (where I live) La Grande, OR Link to comment
CarrotNC Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Murphy, NC http://www.townofmurphync.com/ Town elevation 1583 feet; population 1700; nearby elevations of 2400 feet; lake; paved roads for the street bikes, dirt roads and trails for the dual sports. Equidistant from each end of the Cherohala Skyway. Plenty of rental property available. Rented a house on the northeast side of lake for a week in July 2009 -- took both bikes and had a blast. Could stay on pavement all day, or go 100 yards from the house and be on dirt all day. Elevation high enough to be cool in the evenings so a campfire was enjoyable. Link to comment
bakerzdosen Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 For my tastes, I really like a lot of the small towns along the Oregon coast. (Though they don't qualify under Killer's definition because they are at sea level...) Lincoln City, Cannon Beach and Seaside are a bit touristy, but Tillamook has always seemed interesting to me. Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 I was so excited to see all the responses and great suggestions. Thanks to all of you for that. It will take some time and research to look at all the suggestions. In addition to finding the town, I really dont need a big place. One large room about 800 - 1000 SQ ft with high ceilings. Wood floors. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 One large room about 800 - 1000 SQ ft with high ceilings. Wood floors. We call those barns round here... Link to comment
Whip Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Ouray CO Lake City CO Port Hope MI Talkeetna AK Dawson, Yukon Link to comment
upflying Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 lots of google hits on the topic. http://www.smalltowngems.com/browsetowns.html Link to comment
ragtoplvr Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Some small town in Northwest Arkansas. Bella Vista if you like golf. Eureka Springs if you like eccentric shops and people. East side of Beaver Lake if you like fishing boating. Devils Den if you like mountain biking. Ir any small town if you like good riding. Bentonville BMW is your local dealer, good folks. Rod Link to comment
Deadboy Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 One large room about 800 - 1000 SQ ft with high ceilings. Wood floors. We call those barns round here... That is a shed in these parts....my soon to be built barn is 1,650 sq. ft.....without the attic space. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Santa Barbara or Carmel, CA or Highlands, NC. Once I get that $48 million from my good friend the Nigerian prince. Gettysburg or Bellefonte PA are nice. Annapolis, MD. Front Royal, VA. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Here's a town that's just waiting to happen. Link to comment
Selden Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Santa Barbara or Carmel, CA or Highlands, NC. Once I get that $48 million from my good friend the Nigerian prince. Gettysburg or Bellefonte PA are nice. Annapolis, MD. Front Royal, VA. We lived in Pacific Grove for 5 years; it's on the Monterey Peninsula, but less well known (therefore cheaper -- relatively) than Monterey, Pebble Beach, or Carmel. I remember seeing a real estate ad in 1972 for a 1-bedroom, converted garage, fixer upper in Carmel, with a view of Cypress Point, with an asking price of $100,000. Highlands is a lot like Carmel, but when we rode through last fall, it appeared to have been hit by the bad real estate market. Franklin, NC is much less well known than than some other mountain towns in North Carolina, and should be more affordable. Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 If I moved here, it would be a historic event. Population would become 2 which is 168 more than killers town of Torrey or 90 times larger. I wonder who the one person is that lives in that town. Link to comment
Kathy R Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I wonder who the one person is that lives in that town. Cannibal Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 I wonder who the one person is that lives in that town. Cannibal got me laughing. Actually Kathy, I just called and got the number for the only person living in Lost Springs and yes, she answered the phone and we had a nice chat. She said the census bureau has not updated the files and that the town now has a population that is 400% larger or the equivlalent of 4 people. Her name is Leda and she is the mayor and based on the research I did, she is one tough gal who beat the railroad who tried and wanted to plow through the town. She took them to court and won. She told me that this year the town is having its 100 year anniversry celebration. I asked her if everyone in town was coming for the big event. She laughed and said yep. Lost Springs, Wyoming! Anyway we had a nice talk. Link to comment
Kathy R Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Bobby, I like how you don't let your curiosity rest Link to comment
Mike Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I guess I'd throw one qualifier into many of these recommendations--some seem awfully nice, but are located in states facing fiscal disaster. Understandably, some of the nicest small towns I know are located in Illinois, but our state is in horrible financial condition. I seriously question whether I want to remain in a place where I might one day find my life drastically impacted by the effects of the state's fiscal failure. Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 True words Mike. Ive got some months to get this nailed down. Utah really seems wonderful. So does Hudson Valley Whips suggestion on Ouray Colorado was something Ive never seen before. Elevation almost 8 grand. Wow. Link to comment
Selden Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 ... She said the census bureau has not updated the files and that the town now has a population that is 400% larger or the equivlalent of 4 people. Off hand, I can't think of any other town that has quadrupled its population in the past decade. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Whips suggestion on Ouray Colorado was something Ive never seen before. Elevation almost 8 grand. Wow. I love Ouray, but you need to spend some winter time there before you consider it. It's in a deep valley so the sun is late to get up and early to bed, and it's Cold! I enjoy visiting in the winter but I don't think I'd want to live there. Link to comment
litigator Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hanover, NH. College towns offer more choices than other small towns. NH is in bettr shape than most states. The riding in New England is great, albeit with only 7 or 8 months a year, and it's not too far to a city or an airport if you want some variety. Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 ..and, if you're approaching senility and will soon have a Medicare card, make sure your new location has a reliable health care delivery system including a teaching, publicly-owned or religious hospital, including doctors who will take Medicare patients. Link to comment
Pilgrim Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Jackson, Wyoming if you can stand a cold winter and the cost of living for the months that aren't so cold - that'd be July, August, and half of September. Pilgrim Link to comment
Quinn Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I've got a special fondness for Kipling, North Carolina. Everytime I'd drive through there on a service call, I'd be reminded of the old joke: A woman at the literary club meeting asked me if I liked Kipling. I replied that I didn't know, I'd never Kipled before. Oh well, simple pleasures for simple minds. For living, I recommend Johnson City, TN. Not too cold, not too hot, good riding, and great, friendly people. ---- Link to comment
beemerboy Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Ouray CO Lake City CO Port Hope MI Talkeetna AK Dawson, Yukon Guffey, CO, period. end of the report. Okay, maybe Lake City, CO, but it tends to be overrun by Texans during the summer months. Uh, I just noticed that you're in Texas. Ooops, sorry.....no offense intended (much). Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Ouray CO Lake City CO Port Hope MI Talkeetna AK Dawson, Yukon Guffey, CO, period. end of the report. Okay, maybe Lake City, CO, but it tends to be overrun by Texans during the summer months. Uh, I just noticed that you're in Texas. Ooops, sorry.....no offense intended (much). Population 98 which is about 22 times bigger than Lost Springs in Wyoming. But I completely agree and relate to the politics of Guffey Colorado, Here is why and this is really true: Guffey is semi-famous for electing animals for Mayor of Guffey, although such an office does not officially exist. According to local folklore, the two main political parties in Guffey are called the "Democats" and the "Repuplicans". The last known Mayor of Guffey is a cat named Monster (elected in 1998). Ive discussed this with my dog and now that he knows a cat is mayor, well, my dog would like run against Monster the Cat. Link to comment
TEWKS Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Taking it East I really like Rockwood Maine. Not a lot going on but that's the point. Pat Link to comment
Scoots Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Brownsville, Oregon , population is about 1600, 4 miles east of I-5. It's claim to fame - the movie "Stand By Me" was filmed here. Unusually popular with the Japanese film fans. Link to comment
Mike O Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Guffey, CO, period. end of the report. Jefferson, Co.... Period... (I'm kinda partial to it) But both are in Park County. Mike O Link to comment
David13 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I couldn't name 1 without naming 100. And I couldn't name 1 favorite big town, either, without naming 50. dc Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Whips suggestion on Ouray Colorado was something Ive never seen before. Elevation almost 8 grand. Wow. I love Ouray, but you need to spend some winter time there before you consider it. It's in a deep valley so the sun is late to get up and early to bed, and it's Cold! I enjoy visiting in the winter but I don't think I'd want to live there. I agree Bob. It is mighty pretty though. Chris likes it too. I like the Waynesville/Sylva/Maggie Valley area of NC for living like the OP is talking. FWIW, I used to travel to Johnson City, TN for work a good bit (Siemens has a big plant there, as did Kodak and Exide battery) and I swore it was the scariest place on the face of the earth. Maybe it's the ground water from Kodak and the battery plant. I have had a lot of fun there though. Link to comment
lawnchairboy Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 it must have been all the bran muffins causing that expression. I love Ouray, but would probably pick ridgeway or montrose over Ouray just because of the sensation of being hemmed in when there. God it is beautiful there. Someday. chris Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 My non-riding, retired bro-in-law is strongly considering a move from Montrose to any where else because, as he puts it, "You can't go any where without going over a mountain..." Like the mountains moved in after he did. Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 it must have been all the bran muffins causing that expression. I love Ouray, but would probably pick ridgeway or montrose over Ouray just because of the sensation of being hemmed in when there. God it is beautiful there. Someday. chris Link to comment
yabadabapal Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Ouray might be an intersting place for one of the upcoming BMWST get togethers. Link to comment
lawnchairboy Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 whip to the white courtesy phone. Link to comment
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