Sublime Stops
WE HAVE TO SETTLE SOMEWHERE... RIGHT?
One would think so… but we don’t believe this needs to happen for a while. We still have so many places to visit. But don’t get us wrong. We are paying close attention to the stops we like best. And when it comes time to live full-time somewhere, we do have a plan!!!
How about a historic eight geographic region sixty-four locale (eight qualifiers per region) single-elimination tournament, which will require a trip to each qualifier each round? The regional champions will square off against each other, and the champion will be our place to stay... at least for a while...
We have even created a wildly advanced scoring system to facilitate the process. This page will serve as an ever-changing list of our top ten from our travels. Also, the system is not advanced, as I like to exaggerate.
All cities will be given an overall score based on five key categories that fill our criteria for a worthwhile end location. The city’s score in each category ranges from zero (lowest possible) to five (highest possible), with a 25 being a perfect overall score.
The categories and what each entails are as follows:
Current Top Ten
The 411 On
Co. Springs…
The Good… Attending the Colorado Springs Swtichbacks FC (of the USLC) was immensely enjoyable... There are so many great people in this area, and they seem to have a chill about them that we love. There are several areas around the metro that provide a strong vibe to go along with the great people. Higher elevation means cooler summers.
The Bad… They get some snow (with an occasional blizzard), but you can't ding them much as it melts in a few days. There is no local professional hockey team, but Denver (boo Avs) is a short drive. Getting around on the roads isn't a huge task, but the mountains to the west could get dicey in poorer weather. It is hard to come up with too many negatives...
The Skinny On Asheville…
The Good… Asheville has some lower-level soccer (both genders) and even a historic minor-league baseball team. Their street art is off the hook, and with so many local restaurants, almost every type of cuisine you could imagine is available. We loved the vibe almost everywhere we went in the city, and the people were some of the nicest we have encountered.
The Bad… No hockey here… but I guess it is within "driving distance" to Charlotte (AHL), Greenville (ECHL), Knoxville (SPHL), and perhaps even Raleigh (NHL), but none are a quick drive. The mountainous terrain makes the expansion of roads difficult, and it shows. There was a slow movement of traffic at key parts of the day, and the drivers were not the best or most courteous.
The Talk On
Kansas City…
The Good… We aren't really meat eaters, but the KC BBQ (which is superior to Memphis) made us crave it daily. CPKC Stadium (the home to the NWSL's Kansas City Current) is the first privately financed stadium specifically for a professional women's soccer team. The revitalized downtown area seems like a great spot to hang out. There is minor league hockey.
The Bad… Come on, NHL... put a team back in KC. We are all sorry that the Scouts didn't work out back in the '70s, but wouldn't hockey make more sense there than in the desert? You gave Denver and Atlanta a second chance. Kansas City is a bit hot and humid in the summer and still gets snow in the winter? Ugh! City traffic is adequate, but not great.
The Appraisal Of
OKC...
The Good… OKC was an incredibly easy place to get around if downtown during a Thunder game is avoided. Minus the wind, this place has a superb climate. The OKC National Memorial (where the Oklahoma City bombing took place) is a must-see. It sounds like this place rocks during the NCAA Women's College World Series.
The Bad… A place this big should be able to support a higher level of hockey than NAHL Tier II juniors… The city has some revitalized areas with fine businesses, but we weren’t picking up much of a vibe. We met some great people while staying at the campground, but, although not unfriendly, people out and around the city weren’t overly warm.
The Scouting Report On Tulsa…
The Good… They have an ECHL team (Oilers) and a USL Championship team (FC Tulsa), sprinkle in a minor league baseball team (Drillers), and there is much for the sporting fans. Tulsa is home to the best park we have ever seen (The Gathering Place), and its location on Route 66 was a huge plus for these purveyors of history. Driving is great if you avoid the toll road.
The Bad… It is going to get hot in Tulsa during the summer months. We didn't encounter many mean-spirited people while we were there, but in the same breath, those people never really went out of their way to be congenial. The main road (I-44) in and out of the city is a toll road, which we hate. Tulsa has an emerging vibe but still has a ways to go.
In Regards To Des Moines…
The Good… Des Moines maintains teams within the highest minor leagues in hockey (Go Wild!), basketball, baseball, and soon soccer. Whoever headed up the road planning for the Des Moines Metro deserves a prize or large raise. When you navigate the city, they feel years ahead of the population growth. Pappajohn Sculpture Park houses a significant collection.
The Bad… Climate… Climate… Climate… Cold, harsh winters and hot, humid summers! We have very little interest in ever shoveling snow again… Oh, wait… did we mention the wind? Yes… we love it as a renewable energy source, but we didn’t realize how relentless it was until we didn't encounter its eternal presence. East Village has a vibe... but that is close to it.
The Word On KEY WEST…
The Good… The locals are some of the most chill people we have met during our travels, and the food is off the hook. You can't argue with the vibe of a tropical paradise, especially when it is not overrun with tourists. The breeze off the ocean and gulf makes it pleasant year-round, and there isn't brutal winter weather to deal with.
The Bad… These little things called hurricanes seem to find their way to Key West quite often. There are no sports except for youth and high school, and it takes a trip on the Seven Mile Bridge to begin to even consider attending professional hockey or soccer. Tourist season means tourists... and tourists can be jerks. I told one tourist woman to piss off.
The Info On
Huntsville…
The Good… I cannot say enough positives about our experiences attending Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball games and events. It is a beautiful organization. The Havoc (SPHL) adds some winter fun, and the terrain is pretty lovely. A few spots offer a vibe (MidCity and Downtown), and the people in those areas seem pretty nice. Soccer too!
The Bad... There has been a total lack of road planning to keep up with the population expansion. It is almost like they didn't even want to try. It ranks as one of the worst cities we have visited in this pursuit, and this error makes driving in some areas almost unbearable. We don't mind the winters here, but the summers are flat-out brutal.
The Details On
Tuscon…
The Good… We had an absolute blast at the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) game, and there is lower-level soccer in the area, too. Plus… Phoenix (a city with teams in all four major league sports... for now) is a short drive up I-10. The climate is glorious from fall to mid-spring and avoids any sort of real winter. The sun sure shines here a lot. Saguaro National Park is a beauty.
The Bad… Interstate driving is great here, but other main roads through the city and suburbs are terrible… so so so much traffic. The late spring and summer here are so damn hot, and that excuse about "It’s a dry heat” is BS. People out in public aren’t overly friendly or eager to go out of their way for others. Nothing super special about the vibe.
The Lowdown On Springfield (MO)…
The Good… Springfield is unbelievably easy to get around in, as the main roads connect nicely. We loved the people we met out and about the community; they were some of the nicest we have encountered during our travels. It is far enough south that winters are mild enough. Any place located on Historic Route 66 is cool in our book.
The Bad… No Hockey… unless you travel to St. Louis, and who the hell wants to see the Blues? It doesn’t have a real vibe as of yet, but it seems as if the place has the potential to develop one, as some businesses are moving the needle… It can get a bit on the "too warm” side in the summer, but most of the year, it would be adequate.
