Where in BC should I move?

[the beat]

I need to get out of Vancouver. Although I love the city, there's just too many fucking people here. I grew up on the prairies and I can't function properly in such a densely populated center. While I do have a certain criteria I'm looking to meet, I'm going to leave it out so I can hear some unbiased opinions on what others like and why. However, I will specify that I'm generally looking for good boarding, a chill vibe and cool people: the Canadian dream. Whistler felt like home when I was there, but it's out of the question due to costs. Halp?

[Township Rebellion]

Good boarding? Do you mind a fairly small town? Have you ever heard of Golden?

Golden is in the rockies, and maybe an hour or so away from the Alberta border. Golden is the nearby town that leads up to the epic Kicking Horse, one fuck-off of a mountain with some nice runs. The place gets jammed pack full of young backpackers, lots of Aussies, Kiwis and Poms as well as whatever other variety of travellers come out for some fun in the snow. So, there tends to be lots of partying. Apparently most of them get jobs up the mountain, but a fellow Canadian like you could theoretically get work anywhere thats hiring.

I grew up in Penticton. I wouldn't recommend it if you're a diehard boarder, Apex is a fairly small mountain that might not offer much to you. Penticton is a nice little town, but only during the summer when it's good and fucking hot. If you like yourself some beaches, that's the place to go..

I'm currently living in Victoria. I wanted to go to Vancouver - I was born in North Van, I have family out there etc - but honestly it's too fucking big and crowded. There's also lots of shooting and gang violence going on out there, which is gaysauce. Victoria is significantly nicer, though I admit sometimes being on the island has its disadvantages. Only a few, though.

[yawanur]

Revelstoke, for the pow!

Haha I don't know jack shit about the area, just read an article on how sick the riding is up there. I intend to someday buy a slope in that area and set up a private resort [of sorts], more ghetto rig DIY than posh touristy whatever. I'll give you a call in 10 years, we can match and shred my personal glades

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Yeh, it all depends on what you want, you weren't really too specific.. Have you ever been to Nelson (or anywhere else in the Kootenays for that matter) definitely has the chill vibe and a lot of chill people part down. Nelson has a ski resort too I belief, never been up there though. I'm moving to Nelson later this summer, can't wait. Great natural hot springs in the area too if you're into that sort of thing.

[seafoo]

Slightly off topic question: do Americans need a passport to get into Canada? I was thinking of a road trip this summer. And maybe I'll just stay up there if I like it cuz life in the states is bumming me out.

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Yes they do

[Mor3BL7]

Banff.

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Originally Posted by Mor3BL7

Banff.

Enjoy paying $50,000 a month rent.

[Mor3BL7]

Originally Posted by Mcrjtn

Enjoy paying $50,000 a month rent.

unless you work in a resort, that gives you accomadations.

[deus]

I read this as "where in Bat Country should I move?"

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Originally Posted by deus

I read this as "where in Bat Country should I move?"

That's because you're a limey bastard.

[the beat]

Originally Posted by Township Rebellion

Good boarding? Do you mind a fairly small town? Have you ever heard of Golden?

Yea my ex-girlfriend is actually from Golden. If you've spent any amount of time in Golden, you may know her. She bartended at the Lyric and was hot and kind of crazy. For that reason, I won't be moving there.

Originally Posted by Runaway_Stapler

Revelstoke, for the pow!

I've actually heard that Revelstoke has the sickest snow in Canada. I've also heard that Revelstoke itself sucks some major ass. I would definitely need to make a trial run trip to the city to see if it's worth living in or not. Good call on the snow though.

Originally Posted by Mcrjtn

Yeh, it all depends on what you want, you weren't really too specific.. Have you ever been to Nelson (or anywhere else in the Kootenays for that matter) definitely has the chill vibe and a lot of chill people part down. Nelson has a ski resort too I belief, never been up there though. I'm moving to Nelson later this summer, can't wait. Great natural hot springs in the area too if you're into that sort of thing.

I've been considering Nelson, it's definitely along the lines of what I'm going for. I've looked into some house rentals there and while there isn't many to choose from, what I did see wasn't too bad. I hear Nelson kicks ass.



Anyone know anything about Vernon or Salmon Arm? I'm kind of debating between the Okanagan or the Kootenays.

[Township Rebellion]

Vernon is okay, though I haven't spent a great deal of time there. Seems to me it's close to some sort of ski hill, I don't really know though. It is a part of the Okanagon, and it's a hop, a skip and a jump away from the rest of the valley, which means summers would pwn.

People give Kamloops a bad rap, but I spent a night there in the van a year ago. I thought it was nice. Quiet, clean, next to a river, though lots of trains around - we parked next to some tracks which made for a rude awakening that morning!

Don't know anything about Salmon Arm. I'm sure I've been there, but I can't remember anything of the place

Merrit is the place to go. It's full of rednecks and everyone loves country music, and the town itself is pretty small and bland. I was going to make this hugely sarcastic and hilarious but I've just remembered there's absolutely nothing else I could use, therefore I'll close that one off by saying don't bother going to merrit.

[Angry Blue Bird of Death]

Surrey - All Ragheads and Crackheads
Abbotsford - Same as Surrey
Langley - Cesspool of crime
Vancouver - Liberals, Foreigners and Homosexuals
Port Coquitlam - murder capital of Canada
Coquitlam - Okay in some areas, awful in others.
Richmond - All Chinese
Burnaby - All Chinese
New Westminster - Good, If you stay away from the dodgy areas.


Never Surrey or Abbotsford, they're the hell holes of the province.

[Euda]

I've got a friend doing some work in Salmon Arm right now and he loves the place. The whole Shuswap area is nice. There's a fair bit of work in the area.

Never heard a good thing about Vernon. Everybody I've talked to about it just wanted to get out of there, but nobody could provide a very good reason.

Have you considered Fernie at all? It's a wicked chill place, has a lot of friendly people, and provides a lot of options for fun.

[Spam Man Sam]

Originally Posted by Township Rebellion

Don't know anything about Salmon Arm. I'm sure I've been there, but I can't remember anything of the place

THAT CITY SUCKS SHIT. Back in the day when I was living in Kelowna, I had to go there for work for six hours. Fuck that place. FUCK IT FUCK IT FUCK IT HARD.

[Euda]

Originally Posted by Spam Man Sam

THAT CITY SUCKS SHIT. Back in the day when I was living in Kelowna, I had to go there for work for six hours. Fuck that place. FUCK IT FUCK IT FUCK IT HARD.

How could you hate it, Military Man Sam?

[Resign the King]

Originally Posted by Township Rebellion

I'm currently living in Victoria. I wanted to go to Vancouver - I was born in North Van, I have family out there etc - but honestly it's too fucking big and crowded. There's also lots of shooting and gang violence going on out there, which is gaysauce. Victoria is significantly nicer, though I admit sometimes being on the island has its disadvantages. Only a few, though.

Yeah the Islands not too bad, Victoria is a nice city. I live North Island. In a pretty small city, not much to do, but I really appreciate nature here, beautiful area makes up for lack of exciting social situations.

OP, Mt Washington is close by and lot's of people snowboard there. If you're looking for something more secluded than the big city, the north island might be something you would appreciate.

Personally I'm moving to Vancouver next year.

[Euda]

I've heard a lot of good things about Parksville, and the Sunshine Coast in general.

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Originally Posted by the beat

Yea my ex-girlfriend is actually from Golden. If you've spent any amount of time in Golden, you may know her. She bartended at the Lyric and was hot and kind of crazy. For that reason, I won't be moving there.


I've actually heard that Revelstoke has the sickest snow in Canada. I've also heard that Revelstoke itself sucks some major ass. I would definitely need to make a trial run trip to the city to see if it's worth living in or not. Good call on the snow though.



I've been considering Nelson, it's definitely along the lines of what I'm going for. I've looked into some house rentals there and while there isn't many to choose from, what I did see wasn't too bad. I hear Nelson kicks ass.



Anyone know anything about Vernon or Salmon Arm? I'm kind of debating between the Okanagan or the Kootenays.

Okanagan southern part is all hindus/pakis, fucking desert.

Revelstoke rent is going through the roof I heard, due to the new ski resort. Don't know hoew much $$ you have, if thats a factor.

[the beat]

Well at this point, I'm thinking Nelson. If I am off the mark with my reasoning, please tell me so.

The reasons I'm leaning towards Nelson include: it's small size, low traffic, beautiful scenery, a seemingly high concentration of very cool people, decent proximity to some good hills, relatively moderate rental prices, closer to the prairies (family). I might also note that me and a good friend are planning on starting an 'herb garden' in our new home, so this needs to be taken into consideration as well. As far as I know, Nelson is an acceptable place to do such a thing.

So that's why I'm currently leaning towards Nelson. Is anyone aware of any reason as to why Nelson might not fit the description above? Or perhaps know a city or town that would better suit my needs?

[zooting22]

I'm looking for a place with a good university in a mid-large sized city, with access to lots of mountains and trails. Where in Canada could I find this?

University of Vancouver is my choice atm, considering I don't know much about Canada.

[Stock Market Anomalies]

Originally Posted by lockedbanana

I'm looking for a place with a good university in a mid-large sized city, with access to lots of mountains and trails. Where in Canada could I find this?

University of Vancouver is my choice atm, considering I don't know much about Canada.

I think there's a lot of trails around Kamloops, that would be Thomson River University.

[water bottle]

Originally Posted by lockedbanana

University of Vancouver

No such place exists. I believe you mean UBC, and it fits your description pretty well.

[Spam Man Sam]

Originally Posted by Euda

How could you hate it, Military Man Sam?

A series of bad experiences. The day started out with driving over one of their large potholes and putting good size dent in my front fender and undercarriage. And it ended with me getting sick from eating at one of their shitty restaurants downtown.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Angry Blue Bird of Death

New Westminster - Good, If you stay away from the dodgy areas.

Top notch advice.

[zooting22]

How's Victoria for living?

[Euda]

I asked around and nobody had anything bad to say about Nelson. Good luck with the move.

[water bottle]

All things taken in, I'd have to say Victoria is probably the best place in BC. Of course, I'm a Vancouverite, so I disagree with the preceding sentence, but overall, it's true. The Okanagan is AWESOME in the summer, but fucking horrible in the winter. That region has two temperatures: cold as shit and hot as fuck. Plus, it gets full of obnoxious Albertans with boats and seadoos and huge trucks in the summer. The Kootenays are pretty cool, but I could see that getting lame. The south of Vancouver Island FTW. And then there's the north... yeah.