Most laid back major cities in the US? (cost, compared, place)

[FutureMover08]

Which US major cities or surrounding areas of major cities are the most laid back overall? Not too fast paced, not too uptight but more friendly and more easy going?

I guess every big city has at least some of that going on but overall which ones would you consider to be the most laid back?

[radraja]

Any of the giant, major cities are likely to be high-stress and face-paced. Places like NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, Philly, and LA are probably out.

San Diego is known for being really laid-back and relaxed. Tampa. Charleston, SC. Maybe Austin, TX. Maybe Pittsburgh.

And Seattle and Portland have always seems very relaxed to me. But in more of a quiet, thoughtful sort of way.

[FutureMover08]

Originally Posted by radraja

Any of the giant, major cities are likely to be high-stress and face-paced. Places like NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, Philly, and LA are probably out.

San Diego is known for being really laid-back and relaxed. Tampa. Charleston, SC. Maybe Austin, TX. Maybe Pittsburgh.

And Seattle and Portland have always seems very relaxed to me. But in more of a quiet, thoughtful sort of way.

I have never been to San Diego but have always wanted to visit. I've always thought of that area as a place I might like to live but the cost of living is really high. Is there a big difference in how relaxed it is compared to other large cities? I am from Louisville, KY and I'm considering looking at other places to possibly move to but I'd like something pretty similar. Nothing too high stress and fast paced.

[radraja]

Well...I'd say that SD is about 100 times mored relaxed than cities like NYC and DC, if that gives you any idea.

Ummm...for lower costs than San Diego, you could look at maybe Austin or Portland or something.

Denver could maybe be good too, come to think of it.

[uglyblackjohn]

I can only list two from the few cities I've been. San Diego and Honolulu.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by FutureMover08

Which US major cities or surrounding areas of major cities are the most laid back overall? Not too fast paced, not too uptight but more friendly and more easy going?

I guess every big city has at least some of that going on but overall which ones would you consider to be the most laid back?

I think Miami is a very laid-back city. That Latin culture of long lunches and late night partying is pretty festive.

I think Atlanta and Houston are also pretty laid-back compared to other cities their size.

I've heard Minneapolis is also a pretty laid-back place.

If you want somewhere a little bigger than Louisville, check out Nashville, Oklahoma City or Salt Lake City. A little smaller than Louisville would be Knoxville and--what the heck--Omaha.

And of course, there's New Orleans, probably the headquarters of laid-back Americana.

While not in the US, Montreal has an amazingly casual atmosphere that I absolutely adore.

[Raphael07]

Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha, Jacksonville maybe, Indianapolis, and just about any city in the south.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by FutureMover08

I have never been to San Diego but have always wanted to visit. I've always thought of that area as a place I might like to live but the cost of living is really high. Is there a big difference in how relaxed it is compared to other large cities? I am from Louisville, KY and I'm considering looking at other places to possibly move to but I'd like something pretty similar. Nothing too high stress and fast paced.

Actually, I live in very fast-paced stressful DC right now and am planning on moving to the Louisville area next year. One of the major things i like about Louisville is that it seems very laid back from the posts on the Louisville forum.

If you like San Diego but want a more reasonable cost of living Newport News/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA may be a place to check out. Right on the coast and less expensive. I cant compare it to Louisville but it is much more easy-going when compared to DC.

[2Adam29]

I think it just goes with population and population density, the more people you have in a confined space, the more high strung people will be. The less people there are to compete with for the last spot on the elevator, the less stressed out you'll feel, although good places to unwind might also foctor in.

[goozer]

Silly as it may sound, I think Chicago is a laid back city, particularly when you consider its size. If you compare it to NYC or LA, it is definitely the most laid back of the three, by far.