http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070920/lf_afp/environmentsocialcountries_070920151 835

I know many of you have lived outside of the US or have visited other places around the world. Lets create our own favorite places list.

I have lived in Australia and have visited parts of Malaysia. Most recently have spent time in Denmark and Austria. My favorite place currently is a little town in the Austrian Alps called HallStatt. It is said to be the oldest town in Europe at about 7,000 yrs of age. Local legend that may have some real truth to it.

For those who serve or have served in the military I'm sure you have seen some beautiful places as well. Love to hear from all of you.

Beyond all of the hype Cabo San Lucas is a truly great place to unwind. 85 in the winter, water is 83, sand is warm, and the food is good! Who could want more than a nice breeze rocking your hammock and a cold margarita at arms reach, oh and someone sharing that hammock with you is way cool!

I've never been, but hear wonderful things about Costa Rica.

From my own experiences, the PNW for year-round comfort, and New England in the fall.

I'm a big fan of both Maui and Kauai.

I've been to Maui as well and would take Cabo over it any day!

I've been to Cabo as well, and although it's nice, it's not the US, and I prefer to stick within the US system myself.

I have not been to either Maui and or Cabo, but I love getting out of the US system. It's good to see how others work their commerce, lifestyle.

Being in Europe has helped open my eyes to incredible beauty, Austrian Alps, Denmark’s greenery, but the people, their customs, their language. I have realized that people are pretty much the same in many ways even though our cultures are different.

There is anti-American sentiment for sure but it's towards our political leaders and not American citizens. I have found Europeans intelligent (even though many smoke like a chimney), well informed and simply engaging in conversation. Also Europeans are very helpful if you simply ask. Many Europeans speak at least 2 languages if not 3 to 4. It's the norm.

Having lived and gone to school in Australia and participated in sports, music and other cultural activities, the kids I played with back then were no different than me. But I was the guest and I needed to blend in and not impose my culture upon them. Of course back then I was too young to know what that meant. Just being respectful was all I needed to do.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind getting out of the US system for a vacation. But when it comes to living, I'll stick to the US way of life, as I think we have it pretty good.

No doubt when you leave the states to live in a foreign land you do see the benefits that our country offers. Also you see the benefits the other country and society offer too.

My brother lived overseas in three different places, Saudia Arabia, Hong Kong and Vienna. All very different. His kids have such a wider and better understanding of the global community than their peers who haven't lived overseas. I think it should be a requirement for all of us to live someplace else for at least a year. I think as people we would understand each other better.

I have lived in vietnam, thailand, Philippines, Great Britian, USVI, Oklahoma, Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, and Washington, + I have visited many countries, and the US is by far the best to live in. different areas have different attractions and different negatives. I have found, you make the most of the attractions.

I've been to Israel, Sweden, Great Britain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. I would love to live in pretty much any of those places for a year - but I wouldn't want to leave the US permanently. As much as I've enjoyed overseas travel, I'm always thrilled to be back on American soil at the end.

In the US, I've lived in Pennsylvania (Philly suburbs), Arizona (Phoenix suburbs) and Portland. Pennsylvania is really wonderful actually, but I hate the weather, especially the winters. ANd the bugs - I hate the bugs. Otherwise it's a beautiful place.

Phoenix is really hot in the summer, and that's one of its better qualities. But, I did get a cheap education there, back when Arizona colleges had dirt cheap in-state tuition in the 80s.

So far, Portland is my favorite place to live, even though nowhere is perfect.

Andrew

I've been to:
Reno
Chicago
Fargo
Minnesota
Buffalo
Toronto
Winslow
Sarasota
Wichita
Tulsa
Ottawa
Oklahoma
Tampa
Panama
Mattawa
LaPaloma
Bangor
Baltimore
Salvador
Amarillo
Tocapillo
Barranquilla
And Padilla
I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere...

I've lived in;

Rochester, NY (5 years)
Glenview, IL (6 years) (outside of Chicago)
Glendale, MO (13 years) (outside of St. Louis)
Independence, MO (3 months)
Overland Park, KS (3 Months)
Tampa, FL (3 years)
Maplewood, MO (2 years) (outside of St. Louis)
Webster Groves, MO (5 years) (outside of St. Louis)
Streamwood, IL (4 years) (outside of Chicago)
Grays Lake, IL (9 months) (almost to WI, North of Chicago)
And
Vancouver, WA (12 years)

I've also at one point or another visited every state on the US except; OK, NC, SC, CT and VT.

Basically I grew up in the Midwest.

By far my favorite place to live is here, Vancouver.

I like outdoors stuff and I can be (as anyone that lives here knows) in 3 different terrains within about 2 hours travel. East to the mountains and high desert and West to the ocean.

I can be out in the woods to go 4 wheeling and shooting in about 20 min from where I live in East Vancouver.

I like it here just fine and don't ever want to have to move again, other than to find some place with 5 acres or so.

Best place to live ... well, I have traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada ... but never abroad.

Lessee, I've lived in ...

Toledo, Ohio
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Portland metro area (in and out as child and adult)
Hinton, Alberta (by far the most beautiful place)
Pittsburgh
Soda Springs, Idaho
New Orleans
Spokane
Deadwood, South Dakota
Mt. Vernon, WA
Seattle

I've been in all the lower 48 and most of Canada ... and my favorite place has to still be Spokane. I can't describe why, except it's home, and it is where I feel best.

Now if I can just convince my wife of that ...

Man, I spent a month in Spokane one week a few years back.

We were moving our transmitter that is up on Fancher Beacon. It had to be 100 degrees outside, no breeze and dry as a bone. It was really dusty up on the hill and every night we came back just filthy!

That being said, Spokane really isn't a bad place. I have to go over there in a few weeks to pick up some equipment. I like the drive.

Hah I made out with many a high-school (and later) girlfriend under those radio towers ... that's why they call it Tower Mountain.

Ahhh the memories ...

brian L sez: "Toledo, Ohio"

I'm still trying to get that off my birth certificate.

Brianl,

Are you saying those radio waves enhanced your, uh, manliness to frightfully towering heights or what? I thought they were dangerous to your virilty! Is it the steadily blinking lights?

Don't I remember that CT has spent some quality hilltop car-time there as well in PDX?

Of course, I'm well aware that you boys were just checking out the city lights, the view, and of course the radio reception...

Unfortunately, Dallas's KROW (KWIP) tower was out in a flat cow pasture, and at the end of my street and a little too close to Mom and Dad.

Yeah Skep, that is where I was born too.

Trust me, NOT by choice!

There's a reason why it's called "Toilet Town". It smells like a giant sewer. When you're sandwiched between Detroit and Cleveland, there is NO hope for you!

Hah ... well, being that close to the towers was a bit spooky ... but for some reason I never concentrated on that. You could either drive up to Tower Mountain and get a great view of Spokane from the south ... and have it be a ten-minute drive ... or you can drive an hour north to the summit of Mt. Spokane and get the view from the north.

Either way, great place to ... y'know!

I would like a second home on Poipu, Kauai; near Zihuatenejo Mexico; or on the beach in Thailand, in that order.

Oh, and Telluride CO, or Snow Basin or Kamas, UT. too. But I'm not greedy.

Cabo takes it hands down,the ladies,the weather, one dollar beers .,tasty food [just dont eat the food from the street vendoors}Cabo Wabo tequila , geez i wish i was there now

Bern Switzerland

http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/bern/

The Mrs. traveled to Europe before we got hitched. Not me. But we've traveled extensively around the continental U.S., every state except the southern states, NY, and D.C.

I could visualize living anywhere in close proximity to the Rockies. Take away the traffic mess, I'd love to live in Seattle and all that water. Take away the annual tornado parade, I'd love to live in small town Nebraska. If I were a gazillionaire, I'd be living on Balboa Island at Newport Beach- the greatest spot in SoCal.

We had opportunities to move back east earlier in my career. But we chose to stay here. Why? an example: One particular Valentine's day long weekend, we spent two days at Timberline Lodge, skiing from its doorstep. Then we drove to the Oregon coast and spent two days beachcombing.

Within a two or three hour drive, Oregonians have such great choices: at the beach, in the mountains, in the woods, in the desert, in the city or in the country.