US City Most Like Calgary?

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Phoenix perhaps.

Probably why there are so many snowbirds there. Heat is different but humidity is about the same. Both big golf cultures. Both large landlocked cities.

As strange as this may seem to some people though, I think there are far more cities around the world, that are closer to Canadian cities than American cities are.

I spent a lot of time in Melbourne Australia, and it's almost identical to Vancouver. I felt more safe, and more around family in that city, than any city ever in the States. The values are just so much closer. People don't walk around afraid, people aren't packing heat, people aren't railing against global warming and drugs and abortion.

There are a lot of the cities around the world, that have nearer cultures to us than the States.

Actually now that I think about it, Melbourne is great! A lot of the great stuff of Vancouver, without all the nozzle Canuck fans!

Seriously though, and this isn't an knock against the question cause it's an interesting question; there are cities all around the world that feel more like Calgary or Canada, than most, if not all the cities in the States.

This is obviously more common in countries like Britain, Australia, and other ex colonies, but applicable to a few others as well, especially in Europe.

Ditto, I'd live in Melbourne in an instant. Just a beautiful city.

[goodyear]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Phoenix perhaps.


I spent a lot of time in Melbourne Australia, and it's almost identical to Vancouver. I felt more safe, and more around family in that city, than any city ever in the States. The values are just so much closer. People don't walk around afraid, people aren't packing heat, people aren't railing against global warming and drugs and abortion.

There are a lot of the cities around the world, that have nearer cultures to us than the States.

Actually now that I think about it, Melbourne is great! A lot of the great stuff of Vancouver, without all the nozzle Canuck fans!

+2 for Melbourne! Although instead of nozzle Canuck fans, they probably have nozzle footy fans from the eight different teams in the area. I didn't recall hearing about massive team brawls, but that could be a rough scene if something goes wrong.

Similarly, I thought Sydney and Toronto had a similar vibe, maybe that's why I like Melbourne better!

I never made it out to WA, but I've heard a few people say Perth feels a bit like Calgary...minus the ocean and snow....

[Josh]

Originally Posted by goodyear

Conversely, I would actually love it if Calgary's transit system is a lot more like Portland's.

You mean have it be run by morons who can never get enough of the taxpayers money? Portland is a haven for wasteful spending and trimet is the poster child for it.

[_Q_]

I've never been to Australia, so I couldn't comment on similarities between Calgary and some Aussie cities. I do, however, think that Calgary is very similar to Frankfurt, Germany. Major city with a nice, dense, modern downtown on the river. Parks along the river and trendy neighbourhoods in close proximity to downtown. I also found the all work attitude of people to be quite similar to that attitude in Calgary.

[Shin Pad]

I agree with Phoenix, but not because they look the same. My neighbours in Alberta are also my neighbours in Arizona, (they all have places down there too). So, it feels like my Alberta neighbourhood.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Cleveland

the steamers there are some kind of awful.....

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Cleveland

Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video

Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video 2nd Attempt

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I spent a lot of time in Melbourne Australia, and it's almost identical to Vancouver. I felt more safe, and more around family in that city, than any city ever in the States. The values are just so much closer. People don't walk around afraid, people aren't packing heat, people aren't railing against global warming and drugs and abortion.

Seattle and Vancouver are almost identical cities in my eyes.
Can't speak on Melbourne as I've never been.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by goodyear

+2 for Melbourne! Although instead of nozzle Canuck fans, they probably have nozzle footy fans from the eight different teams in the area. I didn't recall hearing about massive team brawls, but that could be a rough scene if something goes wrong.

Similarly, I thought Sydney and Toronto had a similar vibe, maybe that's why I like Melbourne better!

I never made it out to WA, but I've heard a few people say Perth feels a bit like Calgary...minus the ocean and snow....

Perth is a lot like Calgary in a lot of ways, although moreso like Calgary was about 20 years ago. Calgary has the mountains and a much bigger downtown area. Perth has the ocean and perhaps the best weather in the world. Both yesterday and today I went for a walk along the estuary near the CBD and both times a pod of dolphins were hunting just offshore (at one point they were about 10 feet away from me) while a flock of parrots zoomed past my head. So, yeah there's that too. I've never been to Minnesota but I would say that Perth is more similar to Calgary than Denver, Houston, Dallas, Salt Lake or any other place I've been to in the US.

I love Melbourne but I'd say it compares more closely to Montreal than Vancouver. Obviously there's the difference in the french language/culture but the city itself reminds me a lot of Montreal. It is the cultural, food and sports hub of the country. It's a little dirty for my liking but otherwise it's a great place. We went to an AFL game the last time we were there and it was pretty tame so I don't think they have too many issues with sports violence, at least I've never heard of any. That said, Australia in general has higher violent crime rates per capita than Canada. So, maybe it's just old hat to them.

Sydney compares quite a bit to Toronto. They are both the biggest cities in their countries, but they are also the financial centers and home to most of the corporate headquarters.

[macker]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

Is there a city in the US that you would consider as being reasonably similar* to Calgary?

If so, what would that city be?



* In terms of climate, walkability (at least for those who live and work downtown), public transport options, outdoor activities, quality of life, air quality, and so on?

This takes Salt Lake City out of the running. Worst air in the country.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_1...mean-for-city/

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...on.html?pg=all

A great place to go spend a long weekend but this would rule out me ever wanting to move to SLC. Sick/lung/cough....

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Seattle and Vancouver are almost identical cities in my eyes.
Can't speak on Melbourne as I've never been.

Seattle is much more of a corporate city than Vancouver.

Vancouver is just a bit prettier and cleaner - Seattle felt to me a bit grubbier - rougher around the edges. Its downtown freeways are also a massive liability Vancouver is fortunate not to have.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Vancouver is just a bit prettier and cleaner - Seattle felt to me a bit grubbier - rougher around the edges. Its downtown freeways are also a massive liability Vancouver is fortunate not to have.

Very true, Seattle is the more "Americanized" version of Vancouver...and with that comes the good and the bad....but in a lot of ways I think Seattle is more livable. It has an an actual economy (what is Vancouver's again...yoga pants?), is a lot more affordable in terms of real estate, and has some top-notch cultural amenities. And you can still do more or less all the fantastic outdoorsy stuff that you can in Vancouver.

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places in the world....but I'm still kind of puzzled how the average person manages to live there.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by nik-

Minneapolis is the correct answer IMO. Denver is only similar in geography, not so much climate, and Denver is a driving nightmare.

Minneapolis even has a +15 system in their downtown.

Unless you believe cliamte = temperature extremes, Denver's climate is waaaaaaay closer to Calgary than Minneapolis.

Yeah, it gets colder in Minneapolis than in Denver. That isn't what climate is though.

[missdpuck]

Wow, anything in Texas being comparable to Calgary is really surprising to me. I have not been to either place. My image of Texas is pretty grim.

I've never been to Denver either, but I know several native Floridians who haved moved to there or Boulder and would never come back here. I thought the weather would chase them out.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

Wow, anything in Texas being comparable to Calgary is really surprising to me. I have not been to either place. My image of Texas is pretty grim.

I've never been to Denver either, but I know several native Floridians who haved moved to there or Boulder and would never come back here. I thought the weather would chase them out.

Might be a bit cold, but really cool young energy going on there (bit of a collage town) and tons of outdoorsy stuff to do. I'm hoping to move to that area in a few years! Boulder, Canmore, Squamish/Whistler, South Lake Tahoe.... all somewhat resemble each other.

One oddball I'd throw out there, though no as much as Denver..the outskirts of Las Vegas actually have a bit of a young active culture growing there. Kind of surprising since the core part of Las Vegas is the exact opposite.

[missdpuck]

Good point Phan. A lot of the people I know who moved there are actually retired, but don't want to vegetate in a condo somewhere. They're looking for second careers, and want to be where things can inspire them

Florida is no longer just a bunch of old folks, but very few young people here really seem to be doing anything, even though this is advertised as being some artsy and innovative place.

If you want to have a gallery it's okay. But actual artistic creation, no.

Central Florida is a bit different.

But I doubt Orlando is anything like Calgary.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Thanks, all.

It appears that the general consensus is Denver or Minneapolis.

As someone who has been many parts of Texas many times, I feel comfortable in stating that there is nothing in Texas that is Calgary-like except in regard to commercial, energy, and agricultural similarities. But in terms of Calgary's climate, walkability, public transport options, outdoor activities, quality of life, and air quality, there is nothing in Texas that compares favorably.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

I agree with Phoenix, but not because they look the same. My neighbours in Alberta are also my neighbours in Arizona, (they all have places down there too). So, it feels like my Alberta neighbourhood.

Unfortunately you failed to mention your 350z in there.

A quick search reveals:

Shin Pad mentioning Phoenix: 67 posts

Shin Pad mentioning his 350z: 18 posts

Not bad, but your car is going to get jealous of your vacation property.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

Thanks, all.

It appears that the general consensus is Denver or Minneapolis.

As someone who has been many parts of Texas many times, I feel comfortable in stating that there is nothing in Texas that is Calgary-like except in regard to commercial, energy, and agricultural similarities. But in terms of Calgary's climate, walkability, public transport options, outdoor activities, quality of life, and air quality, there is nothing in Texas that compares favorably.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. I've been to Calgary numerous times and have a blast, but would say it ranks below Austin, Tx in most of those.

[Tinordi]

Dallas reminded me of Calgary.