Calling all Southerners

[TNPhiMu]

I grew up in Nashville and LOVED IT! I can't wait for me and my husband to move back in a few years. It's a great city, big, but small town feel. Plus, it's growing alot right now with even more industry.

I'm also a huge fan of the Savannah,GA & Charleston, SC areas.

Stay AWAY from Memphis though. That's me personally, but I could give you lists days long of why (and get alot of people to back me up on that).

[jitterbug13]

Originally Posted by joliebelle

I may be a little biased since I grew up here, but Columbia, SC is a pretty great place to live. The public education and the private education system as well are excellent. But again, I may be biased

I love Columbia. I didn't know you were from there. And I don't think you are biased. Columbia is great.

Originally Posted by scbelle

Summerville-Charleston area of South Carolina... hands down. It is my hometown and the most wonderful place on earth to live. I'd be happy to give you info if you're interested.

I'm from Charleston too! I agree with her that Summerville is good. You may want to look in Mount Pleasant too. It's more expensive there, though.

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Hilton Head!!! All the way...

I haven't been to Myrtle Beach, but I heard it is nice.

Hilton Head is expensive to live in too. Beaufort (which is nearby) maybe better. And I see Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach as big tourist attractions.

Greenville is good if you have young kids. But if you don't like people spitting God to you at almost every turn, it may not be the place for you.

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

Greenville is good if you have young kids. But if you don't like people spitting God to you at almost every turn, it may not be the place for you.

Hey!!!! I was just getting ready to list Greenville. I grew up there (Mauldin actually) and it is definitely a family place. You probably would be a little uncomfortable there if you do not have any religious affiliation. Most people's lives revolve around the church...

I would also recommend Columbia, Charleston, Savannah, or Charlotte. I live in a very small town outside of Charlotte.

[Velocity_14]

Originally Posted by TNPhiMu

Stay AWAY from Memphis though.

LOL...You are right about that. As much as I love my school (Univ. of Memphis)...that is one city I have no desire whatsoever to live in...NONE...for MANY reason...including what you see on First 48 just about every week.

I grew up in Jackson, TN and I love it so much. We moved there in 1991 from Little Rock, Arkansas and it really has been great. It is a growing city and I just love the people there. I am currently living in Murfreesboro, TN which reminds me so much of Jackson and is about a 30 minutes from Nashville...its a nice city and the cost of living is very low in both places. You get a lot of house for your buck.

[JennRN]

Oh, I vote for Raleigh, NC or it's suburb Cary, NC! We lived there for 3 years and I loved it!!

[Jimmy Choo]

Originally Posted by JennRN

Oh, I vote for Raleigh, NC or it's suburb Cary, NC! We lived there for 3 years and I loved it!!

I'm in Raleigh now and I LOVE it!

To the OP: This area (Raleigh/Cary) may not be as much of a culture shock b/c we have quite a few transplants here. I have heard from others that Nashville is an up-and-coming city. Charleston is amazing but I would think it would be a culture shock b/c it is a highly Southern city.

[JennRN]

Girl, I would be moving back to Cary in a heatbeat!!! I LOVED it there!!

[ComradesTrue]

I have lived in Texas, Tennessee and Virginia, and the best place I have ever lived was Nashville, hands-down. We lived in the area near Vanderbilt and could walk to everything. It was wonderful.

I would suggest that you look into Franklin, Tn, as well. It is about 30 minutes south of Nashville, and has a great small town southern feel, with the convenience of the city when you want it.

http://www.franklin-gov.com/

Now... there is a new surburbia creeping up near Franklin, but I am talking the older part of Franklin. There is just gorgeous countryside, and a very quaint old town square.

Oh, and someone else may have mentioned this too... but- no state income tax! Yea for that this time of year!

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Choo

This area (Raleigh/Cary) may not be as much of a culture shock b/c we have quite a few transplants here. I have heard from others that Nashville is an up-and-coming city. Charleston is amazing but I would think it would be a culture shock b/c it is a highly Southern city.

The culture shock thing is important - I'm still adjusting to the culture shock moving to Savannah from metro Atlanta.

[AnchorAlumna]

Check out Birmingham, Ala. Business is booming...excellent schools in several suburbs...reasonable housing costs. Good shopping, and it's getting even better. 2 hours from Atlanta, and 4 hours from the beach.
I'm close to Huntsville...great area, too...

[SigmaChiCard]

Some consider Louisville, KY to be the south. I don't...but some do. With that in mind, Louisville is an amazing city. In most ways it has a lot of the attitude of a southern city, but also has a thriving arts scene, a decent music scene, incredible independent restaurants (as opposed to, say, Nashville), and isn't too far removed from the north...


also, here's a great youtube video about our city...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OV1lnXKD8R0

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by SigmaChiCard

incredible independent restaurants (as opposed to, say, Nashville)

Have you been to Nashville in the past couple of years? In 2005/2006 a huge number of local-owned/unique/indy restaurants cropped up in Hillsboro Village, the Gulch, and along West End. Many of these are upscale and are excellent.

Now... Williamson County/Brentwood... I agree. Big Box Chain Central.

[DGDancerMom]

Nashville, Huntsville, or even Birmingham! All three of these have a great location, great schools in certain areas, and plenty of activities for families.

[AGDLynn]

Just got back from Huntsville. It seems like a big yet small city, esp. compared to Atlanta.

Went downtown Friday and Saturday nights...both were practically deserted. Good that there weren't traffic jams, lol. Didn't seem to be much shopping.

Granted that we didn't go into a lot of residential areas but most houses we saw were ranch-style, built in the 60-70's. Scary that a lot had burglar bars on them.

Drove out to Madison, AL and loved it!! Could see myself living there.
Decatur and Athens were okay...

Checked out Cummings Research Park area..nifty looking company buildings.

Back to Huntsville...other than the historic districts downtown, I didn't see any cute boutique, hang-out type parts of town like the Virginia-Highland pat of Atlanta.

http://www.virginiahighland.com/

[DreamfulSpirit]

I live in Raleigh, well actually...in the suburb of Cary. I grew up here and I can't imagine calling any other place home!!