Where’s the (real) best place to live in the North Country?

I just unwrapped my Outside magazine (I think I subscribed when a friend’s kid was trying to raise money for a trip to New York City) and it includes one of those goofy articles about the 20 best towns in the U.S.

It started me wondering about the best towns in the North Country. What are the best places to live in terms of affordability, culture, view, jobs, nightlife, etc?

I’d love to hear your posts…and what I’m looking for here are the positives and maybe some gentle, constructive negatives. This is not ‘flame’ time.

So here’s my take on Saranac Lake, my home town:

Positives: A vibrant “lake” scene, with boats and paddlers and farmers markets and concerts and ice castles decorating the shore of Lake Flower most seasons of the year.

A pretty fantastic night-life, from big concerts in the town hall to open-mic nights at Bluseed.

Some cool music on the local radio station (Ten Dollar Radio Show, Ctl-Alt-Delete).

A mini-baby boom which means tons of kids everywhere. A crazy and growing collection of artists.

There’s the view from Baker…and skiing Pisgah.

But the biggest plus for me is that it’s still a real town. It functions year-round. We have a great local newspaper.

And I can walk to buy a lawnmower, a quart of milk, get a haircut and buy a book — and, yes, underwear.

Negatives: I want a better village swimming beach. Lake Colby just doesn’t cut it for me. When I see Long Lake’s beach, I go green with envy.

I’d also like to see more ties — and warmth — between the long-time locals and the newly arrived locals. The cross-cultural feuds can be painful.

And if I’m pushing my luck I want a Thai restaurant.

So there’s my scorecard. Saranac Lake: One of the 20 best towns in the North Country.

How about your town? Indian Lake? Tupper? Canton? What makes it a great place to live and what could make it better?