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.<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
So here’s my take on Saranac Lake, my home town:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A pretty fantastic night-life, from big concerts in the town hall to open-mic nights at Bluseed.<\/p>\n
Some cool music on the local radio station (Ten Dollar Radio Show, Ctl-Alt-Delete).<\/p>\n
A mini-baby boom which means tons of kids everywhere. A crazy and growing collection of artists.<\/p>\n
There’s the view from Baker…and skiing Pisgah.<\/p>\n
But the biggest plus for me is that it’s still a real town. It functions year-round. We have a great local newspaper.<\/p>\n
And I can walk to buy a lawnmower, a quart of milk, get a haircut and buy a book — and, yes, underwear.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
And if I’m pushing my luck I want a Thai restaurant. <\/p>\n
So there’s my scorecard. Saranac Lake: One of the 20 best towns in the North Country.<\/p>\n
How about your town? Indian Lake? Tupper? Canton? What makes it a great place to live and what could make it better?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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