Atlanta - Closest to DC, Dallas, or LA (Savannah: ski resorts, house)

[ECD9973]

Ok. I know there are a few threads already about moving to Atlanta. But they all seem to be about their own unique example. So I figure I would add.

I have lived in DC, Annapolis MD, Dallas Texas, and now a place called Rancho Cucamonga (Outside of LA). We liked DC, LOVED Annapolis, HATED Dallas, and enjoy Rancho.

We are a family in our mid 30's with 2 little kids. We make a decent Salary for CA, which as far as I can tell from Cost of Living comparisons and home prices would be a GREAT salary in Atlanta. Have been offered a job that actually even pays a little higher, and is located in Atlanta. We are considering it. BUT we are nervous of living in a place like Dallas again.... Which we hated (Did I mention that?).

So we loved DC and Annapolis for the following reasons -
Historic
Plenty to do
4 seasons
Small town feel but close to big city (Annapolis),
Very Green (Tress and grass)
Left leaning - (Political speaking)
Educated (Not trying to sound like a snob. I hardly graduated HS and got through college after 5 years. But there was a high level of College Grads in the DC area. Just had more in common with them to make friends.)

Love Rancho Cucamonga
Lots to do
Minor league baseball team
TONS of parks
Great place for families and lots of family events
Liberal leaning
Great weather
Only 1 hour to the beach, 45 mins to ski resorts

And we hated Dallas based on the following
Weather sucked (Cold in Winter, and 100+ for weeks on end in summer... even at night)
Nothing to do (Only so many times you can look at a X in the middle of the road)
No history
Flat
Brown (Tress and grass were dean 9 months of the year)
Very Right politically
Very Religious people
Low college graduated rank
Policies that made no sense (Many towns were "Dry", but only parts of the town)

So - While the job seems great, and Atlanta seems good. I'm very worried about ending up in another "Dallas". Is Atlanta closer to Dallas, DC/Annapolis, or Rancho Cucamogna?

[kagmypts]

I hate to say it, but probably Dallas. Here are the things in Atlanta that you had on your hated in Dallas list:

Weather sucked (Cold in Winter, and 100+ for weeks on end in summer... even at night)
Nothing to do (Only so many times you can look at a X in the middle of the road)
No history (at least not very much - some Civil War stuff though)
Very Right politically (not very right, but definitely right leaning)
Very Religious people

However, you will have a vastly different Atlanta experience based on where you live. Based on what you said, you would probably be much happier ITP (inside the Perimeter (i.e. Interstate 285)). However, the cost of living in Atlanta is so much lower than both DC and LA.... of course, you are giving up things in exchange for that lower cost of living. Good luck, and I am sure you are going to get a variety of opinions on this one.

Have you been out here to visit? That may help you a lot in your decision.

[ECD9973]

Originally Posted by kagmypts

I hate to say it, but probably Dallas. Here are the things in Atlanta that you had on your hated in Dallas list:

Have you been out here to visit? That may help you a lot in your decision.

Thanks. That's what I'm afraid of (Although the History part shocks me, Thought there was a lot of history in GA).

I have been to visit. But that only tells me so much. Heck - I even liked Dallas when I would visit. But living there is so much different.

[lastminutemom]

I think Dallas too. Sorry.

[kagmypts]

Originally Posted by ECD9973

Thanks. That's what I'm afraid of (Although the History part shocks me, Thought there was a lot of history in GA).

I have been to visit. But that only tells me so much. Heck - I even liked Dallas when I would visit. But living there is so much different.

So true. Other people may have a different opinion on Atlanta though. I have been to both DC and LA, and I can say Atlanta is nothing like DC. There are a lot of similiarites to LA though (traffic, both are sprawled). Good luck.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Wait... not so fast. The city of Atlanta is nothing at all like Houston....though the burbs are. ITP, which is use to designate the city (even thouh it includes parts ofother cities), is much more like what you're looking for. I am like you and live in the city$ originally from New Orleans, and I like it here. Since you and you husband can afford to live where you do now you can probably afford to live in a nice house in a good neighborhood in the city.

So, where in Atlanta will your husband be working? And what's your budget for a home. I'm not being nosy - those criteria determine the recommended neighborhoods...

Oh, and it is no where near as hot here as Houston. I don't think it's EVER in the 100s at night. It's only near and at that temp during August and part of September...

[kagmypts]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

Wait... not so fast. The city of Atlanta is nothing at all like Houston....though the burbs are. ITP, which is use to designate the city (even thouh it includes parts ofother cities), is much more like what you're looking for. I am like you and live in the city$ originally from New Orleans, and I like it here. Since you and you husband can afford to live where you do now you can probably afford to live in a nice house in a good neighborhood in the city.

So, where in Atlanta will your husband be working? And what's your budget for a home. I'm not being nosy - those criteria determine the recommended neighborhoods...

Oh, and it is no where near as hot here as Houston. I don't think it's EVER in the 100s at night. It's only near and at that temp during August and part of September...

I do agree with your assessment ITP is a much better fit. Personally, I think Atlanta ITP is an entirely different city/culture/lifestyle than the burbs. We have lived both places, and there really is no comparing the two. We are ITP people (and will finally be moving back there as soon as our house is ready).

FYI, the OP said Dallas, not Houston. It does not get up to 100 here much, but it does stay in the 90s with insanely high humidity for most of July and August. It also does not cool down much at night (i.e. you will be more than warm enough in shorts and short sleeves), but it will be in the high 60s or low 70s. That said we do have a wonderful fall season (my favorite Atlanta months by far) and a nice spring (if you do not suffer from allergies... unfortunately my kids go nuts in the spring after we are outside for about 5 minutes).

[OhioNative]

Originally Posted by ECD9973

Thanks. That's what I'm afraid of (Although the History part shocks me, Thought there was a lot of history in GA).

I have been to visit. But that only tells me so much. Heck - I even liked Dallas when I would visit. But living there is so much different.

There is not much history in Atlanta because the city was burned to the ground during the Civil War, therefore, almost all of the buildings are from afte that time. There are some civil war sites, and the Atlanta history center, but I can't think of much more. There are also a couple of towns in Georgia that Sherman spared going toward Augusta, and Savannah has a lot of history.

[sweettea1]

Yeah, reading your post actually made me want to move out myself! Here's the thing: you can find the culture, the liberal attitude, the education, arts, etc...but you really have to seek it out; it's not in front of you. And honestly, sometimes I'm tired of looking so hard. If you get 'lazy' here you fall into the trap of eating at Chick-fil-A 3x a week, always taking your car instead of walking or getting on MARTA and settling for the game instead of local theatre. So, guess it depends on how self-motivated you are. Honestly, I'd stay in CA or spend a good week in Atlanta checking out the city like a local.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Oops about Dallas not Houston.....on my mobile and can't see other posts while entering text....hubby on computer and me mobile surfing while watching Daily Show..I'm such a city data geek!

But, I stand by my point...what you're looking for is hrre. And there's plenty of history...including from before the burning.

And coming from NOLA I think the heat/humidity not so bad... And I think both spring and fall are reallly really great here...but don't have mold or pollen allergies...

You should visit for a week and explore the neighborhoods that are close to the Midtown area.