Just this past week, I came across an interesting site called Find Your Spot. It’s a site that helps select for you the most desired places to live and work or just stop by and visit. The listings are custom-made according to the user’s given preferences in a number of categories, such as climate, schools, culture, religion, and recreation.
Now, to be fair, I have pretty much spent a good chunk of my life here in central North Carolina. I’ve been fairly content with the wealth of resources this part of the country has. But every once in a while, I do have the urge to leave home and experience life someplace else. So, if I were to make the decision to leave the Triangle area for business or pleasure, where exactly would I go? Based on the results I gave, here is my top ten list:
1. Knoxville, TN – Home of the Volunteers and the 1982 World’s Fair (now I know why Bart Simpson and his buddies wanted to go there)
2. Norfolk, VA – One of three places that make up the Hampton Roads area
3. Oklahoma City, OK – The place where the downtown area is called Bricktown
4. Nashville, TN – Music City USA!!
5. El Paso, TX – Pretty close to the border, alright
6. Charlotte, NC – Yeah, that’s right, the Queen City itself – home of the Carolina Panthers!
7. Memphis, TN – Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn one wrote about walking the streets of this place, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs.
8. Fort Worth, TX – Home of real cowboys and fast horses
9. Seattle, WA – Space Needle and Starbucks, not to mention a lot of rain
10. Virginia Beach, VA – The second of three places in the Hampton Roads area
Other places that ended up on my list included Augusta, GA (home of The Masters and the late James Brown), Houston, San Antonio, Charleston, Austin (the one with Longhorns and live music, Hampton, VA (completing the Tidewater trifecta), and Jacksonville, FL (not to be confused with the one in NC). I considered pretty much all areas of the country save the Midwest and Northeast since I’m not much a big fan of winter.
In case anyone’s wondering, I only visited one of the cities on my list. And that was just within the past year! Hmmm, guess I need to start making my travel plans for this year. Looks like I got some ground to cover …
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- FYI #1: I did manage to go down to Charleston in May 2008. Had a fun time, although I wish I was there a bit longer. So many interesting places to see and do …
- FYI #2: Chris Bauer sent me an interesting response on February 17. Here’s what he had to say:
Hi Jimmy,
I just had to respond to this one. I have been to all three VA Beach, Norfolk, and Hampton…as my little bro lives in the Hampton Road/Tidewater area. For me, there is WAY too much traffic in the area, mainly caused by the water. Because there are only so many ways to get from one place to another (over the water), traffic can be a beast. Also, VA Beach isn’t like any other beach you are used to in NC…not near as clean, pretty, or peaceful. There is actually a lot of crime around there as well.
Memphis…other than the “home” of Blues, great BBQ, and Elvis’ home…is a ghetto…enough said.
I visited Oklahoma City over Christmas Break. B.O.R.I.N.G. Bricktown is okay…but the city has about 5 more years of development left before it is worth making a trip to see. I will say they are trying…building a riverwalk, similar to what they have done in San Antonio, TX. Also, Toby Keith has a restaurant downtown called I Love This Bar & Grill…the food was really good. I went during the winter too…so maybe it might have been more fun during warmer weather.
I have also been to Knoxville…which is alright…just another large college town/small city…Boo on the Vols! Nashville, however, is a blast! I am actually thinking about finding a job there when I graduate. Great restaurants, great music, lots to do, very beautiful.
Ha…I also visited Seattle over last summer (I like to travel!). I loved it! It is a little more wet there on average than anywhere else, but mostly just cloudy…not raining. While I was there (May), the weather was gorgeous! Pike Place Market on the sound was probably the coolest open-air market I have ever seen. Fresh fish, seafood, flowers, crafts, fruit, etc…it was great. And the original Starbucks is in Pike Place Market as well. Also, the Puget Sound is beautiful…if you go, make sure to take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island…its a cool view of the city and the little town you land in is a neat little fishing village.
Also…I was in Fort Worth over the Christmas Break as well (I went down for the Cotton Bowl in Dallas…and my buddy’s aunt with whom we stayed lives in Fort Worth…about a 30 min drive from Dallas). I didn’t see a whole lot, but we did go downtown one night…and they had some great restaurants downtown. He told me they have been working on downtown for the last 10 or 15 years…and will continue to make it better.
I am sure you have been to Charlotte…fun, up-and-coming city…and I don’t know anything about El Paso, TX…other than it is on the border and not many people speak English there.
…just things to keep in mind as you plan trips in the future!!!
