|
Place |
Why we liked it |
Negatives |
1)
Homer,Alaska
 
Lots of outdoor
activities:
- hiking
- sailing
- canoeing, kayaking
- cross-country skiing
- snowshoeing
- dog-mushing
- bear viewing
- hunting and fishing
|
- Incredible natural beauty
- Clean air
- Cool summers
- LOTS of wildlife
- Right on Kachemak Bay
- Great. friendly community
- Very active community on
all issues that we are interested in such
as:
- Protecting the
Environment
- Impeaching Bush and
Cheney
- Anti-war activists
- Several cultural programs
such as
- music
- art
- small movie theater
- Airport in town
|
- Cold in winter. but not
as cold as the midwest. Temps. avg.
40F to -20F
- Moderate snowfalls
- Not close to major health
facilities. They have a small hospital, but
the closest large hospital with a cancer
center is 220 miles away
in Anchorage. (About a 4 hr. drive.)
|
2)
New Zealand -
do you see any
similarities between NZ and Homer, AK?
   |
- Incredible natural beauty
- Clean air
- Cool summers
- Mild winters in the
Auckland area
- Very friendly people
- Many friends
- Wonderful culture and
cultural activities
- Many outdoor activities
|
- Very long distance from
our families in the U.S.
- Heavy traffic in Auckland
area.
|
3)
Ely, Minnesota
 |
- Lots of natural beauty
and wildlife
- Many lakes for canoeing/
kayaking/boating
- Small, charming town with
friendly people.
- Will enable us to do lots
of activities - hiking, canoeing,
cross-country skiing.
- Affordable
- Cool summers (70-80s)- no
air conditioning needed
- Airport
|
- Extreme cold in winter
- Lacking cultural
entertainment
- Not close to health
facilities - Duluth -100 miles away.
Minneapolis - 250 miles away
- Lakefront homes either
too expensive or not built for year-round
living (Cabins)
|
4)
Door County, Wisconsin
- near Green Bay
 
|
- Right on Lake Superior
and Green Bay
- Near to Green Bay, WI
- Lots of outdoor
activities:
- Several charming towns
along the peninsula
- Beautiful scenery
- Cool summers
|
- Very cold in winter
- Most desirable homes out
of our price range
|
|
5)
Blowing Rock, NC
|
- Charming town located in
the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Very scenic
- Low summer temps
- Right on Blue Ridge
Parkway
- Close to Bob's son, Denis
- Small university located
in town with theatrical and music events
|
- Not close to any major
health facility
- Except for hiking and
skiing, no other outdoor activities
- Not able to find an
available house for sale (in our price
range) within walking distance to the
village.
|
6)
Bayfield, WI
 |
- Right on Lake Superior
- Lots of outdoor
activities
- Beautiful scenery
|
- VERY small town
- No real cultural
activities
- Not close to a city
|
|
Other places
that may have met our criteria, but were not
visited include: |
|
|
|
Bellingham, Washington |
|
|
|
Northern California |
|
|
|
Vancouver, Canada |
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