Rental Roadtrip HomeTown Reviews!
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Fairfax - Bohemia in Marin County
Fairfax has maintained its small town atmosphere. Tucked away in West Marin County with a population less than 8000, it is close to many hiking and biking trails. Neighbors are friendly and the downtown has many restaurants and eclectic retailers, and a farmers market in the park every Wednesday through the summer months.
- Fairfax
- California
Provo - Affordable Lifestyle
Just moved to Provo, a few weeks ago and I’m falling in love with the area. I was living in Lindon, Utah, known for its country living, for the past 16 months. Lindon was more country to me, horses, small gardens, and orchards. I loved being close to the Wasatch mountains, they were practically within arms reach, just a short 5-minute drive. We would often drive to downtown Provo for the easy-going lifestyle pace. It’s a college town, in the heart of BYU. My wife and I enjoy the architecture of the old buildings, restaurants, and just walking the streets. The city is family-friendly with many green spaces and parks to enjoy. If you love the outdoors, Provo is just minutes from the ski resorts, hiking trails, and water sport activities. You certainly can’t beat the cost of living. It’s very affordable to live here. Utah Co. is growing rapidly.
- Provo
- Utah
Dallas - Hip-Hop-Happening
I grew up here, and have returned as a mature, single female. As a free-lance creative it was always tough to find like-friends. A bit easier now with the influx of West Coasters (but that drove the very affordable housing over the top last year). Lots of big corporate cash is here, so it’s happening – mainstage and small theatres, magnificent symphony hall, many music clubs, and a serious restaurant mentality. All cities have museums but Dallas has some of the best anywhere. As well, the Arboretum, at the edge of White Rock Lake, is a fun place to visit again and again – not high-brow – they let kids run on the expansive lawns! There are many unique neighborhoods here; tony Highland Park, craftsman-y Oak Lawn, cool M Streets near Greenville Ave, and Devonshire walking to Inwood Village.
- Dallas
- Texas
McKinney - Historic Downtown Charm
Nearly impossible to score a place to live within walking of the old downtown – SO cool and fun and charming – original brick buildings only 1 – 2 storeys high. Wood homes with wide porches surround the downtown, and former cotton mills, home-stores, and factories are now fantastic event venues small and large. The rest is a sprawl to the west – giant homes with so much wasted space (to impress LA friends I guess), and shameful developers determined to kill every tree in 20 square miles. Thousands of homes have been built in the past five years. You’ll find something to rent or buy here!
- McKinney
- Texas
Colorado Springs - Home of The Broadmoor
I just must mention a business, sorry, but The Broadmoor is the #1 reason people visit my town – and it’s understandable. It is simply magnificent. On small buck$ eat at the cafe, then take a slow walk around the lake, visit the old world charm of this pink Grand Dame of a hotel. If you have the means, play golf at the base of the mountains, which contain NORAD, America’s radar defense system. Very sadly, a former owner (Gaylord) razed the most famous ice arena in the world – the Broadmoor World Arena – that every champion from Sonja Henie thru Michelle Kwan has performed in. The rest of C Springs has simple homes built in earlier decades, unfortunately without style, but affordable.
- Colorado Springs
- Colorado
Bainbridge Island - Glorious Trees and Charming Town via Ferry Boat
Just a 35-minute ride on a fantastic ferry from the edge of downtown Seattle, lies the magical Bainbridge Island – the only place in the world that I enjoy driving! The town is SMART – no chain stores, only individually owned shops and cafes, and is very walkable. With a car you can take the roads slowly, for hours, through trees galore with peeks of Puget Sound at every turn. (OK, a mile north, three chain stores got let in, ick). There is still a range of housing, though less since A**zon built it’s ridiculous facility in Seattle and ruined both towns. There also used to be a real mix of bohemians, families of 8 children, and high-tech daily commuters via ferry, but artsy folk are getting well priced out. Still has a terrific local live-stage theatre, and is know as the GARDENING center of the PNW – with three fantastic nurseries serving this community of 23,000!
- Bainbridge Island
- Washington
Seattle - Smartest Town in the World
I have moved back here five times now. Always impressed with how smart everyone is, no wonder it fosters new thought leaders. Chat with a person at a crosswalk, and they’ve either just gone to the new museum exhibit, or have tickets to go. Lots of fantastic theater companies make it a talented + tech-y population. However, containerized cargo serving the locust-company “A..Z”, has just about ruined the pristine ocean, mammals trying to live in the waters, traffic, housing, locals, small stores. The only city in the world where caffeine is measurable in the water table (true)!
- Seattle
- Washington
Dallas - Generations Here!
Dallas is my hometown and I have raised my family here. Favorite place has to be The Arboretum – beautiful seasonal vegetation, fun interactive children’s garden, concerts on the lawn, pumpkin village, 12 days of Christmas display and special Teas throughout the year. This restaurant town has every type, price, style of food; we love Neighborhood Services, Celebration, Table 13, Kenny’s Italian, Haystack Burgers, Pane Vino Osteria, Fish City Grill, Matt’s Rancho Martinez. We LOVE musical theatre; favorites are Fair Park Music Hall (home to Broadway-tour Dallas Summer Musicals), and Winspear Opera House. Grand-children love the Perot Museum, Dallas Zoo and the World Aquarium. The famous Sixth Floor museum is a fascinating chronicle of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is what Dallasites do – they go out, they visit, join, see, and enjoy life on budgets small or larger.
- Dallas
- Texas
Salado - Cute & Historic
Salado is a cute historic town full of awesome shops, restaurants and cottage rentals. You’ll find the most unique gifts in all of the shops. It’s a quiet and quaint little town that’s so charming. Come stroll through the downtown, sip tea or wine and find your favorite gift to give.
- Salado
- Texas
