We currently live in Northern VA, in one of the more desirable counties in the country however I grew up here and what I loved about it as a child has drastically changed and we are no longer happy here. Here is our criteria.
A nice home with property for under 300k. Not suburbs. Not west virginia style boonies.
Clean nearby town with a Whole Foods Market (a 24 hour one would be fantastic) or other large natural/organic type grocery stores.
Forests, mountains, lakes, rivers are all good things. We love the outdoors. Fishing, boating, bike riding, hiking, rally racing, horseback riding, caving, are all ideal activities.
Obviously decent school systems, low crime, no drugs.
Local events like small town harvest festivals, music/art shows, museums, historical sites are great.
Within at most an hour drive of "civilization". Which means some form of busy downtown with nightlife and preferably more upscale clientele.
Little to no nearby government and traffic!
States we are more interested than others: California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, but we will consider anywhere in the states!
DOOR COUNTY WISCONSIN! it is amazing. VERY cultural and non pretentious! fast food chains are not allowed. its orchard country. its out in the country but not a "redneck" (didnt know of a better word, sorry if i offended anyone) area. little crime. only crime i have ever seen there was someone wrote war under stop on a stop sign, (so it said "stop war" )thought it was kinda clever 
all kinds of music festivals! Near Green bay, green bay is a small city.
NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN(worlds second largest lake)! beatiful lake, one of the few areas of it with no pollution.
if you dont want your kids to grow up snobby but still expose them to culture, this place is wonderful. its where i would raise my family when i have kids.
also its only a few hours away from milwaukee(where i live), where summerfest is held.
door county is very anti-corporate.
also if you like scuba diving, there are loads of shipwrecks.
a calm night life, but still a night life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jBh755P47E
Wallsend, Tyne & Wear.
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DOOR COUNTY WISCONSIN! it is amazing. VERY cultural and non pretentious! fast food chains are not allowed. its orchard country. its out in the country but not a "redneck" (didnt know of a better word, sorry if i offended anyone) area. little crime. only crime i have ever seen there was someone wrote war under stop on a stop sign, (so it said "stop war" )thought it was kinda clever
all kinds of music festivals! Near Green bay, green bay is a small city.
NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN(worlds second largest lake)! beatiful lake, one of the few areas of it with no pollution.
if you dont want your kids to grow up snobby but still expose them to culture, this place is wonderful. its where i would raise my family when i have kids.
also its only a few hours away from milwaukee(where i live), where summerfest is held.
door county is very anti-corporate.
also if you like scuba diving, there are loads of shipwrecks.
a calm night life, but still a night life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jBh755P47E
References :
i dont live there, but i was born into an artist family so i go there for art festivals.
Try North Carolina! They’re some VERY progressive places, such as Asheville. And it is also one of the most beautiful states in the union. But forget about Whole Foods! Join a CSA, grow your own, at least head to a farmer’s market.
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