rin__iris

Does anyone have any recent experience with Spokane? I will hopefully be moving there this summer (depending on funding decisions), and I'd like to know more about the area. Are the people there nice? Accepting? What is it like living in the city? Are there many creative types? What's the cost of living like?

Are there any updates on Carbondale for 2021? The information that has already been posted is very useful, but I want to know more about the people and about hiking/trail options in the area. Thank you!

Let me put it this way: I am very glad that I was born in Toledo, but I absolutely do not want to die here. Let's start with the basics: 1. cost of living is very, very low. You'll be able to find an affordable house or apartment rather easily. Toledo is very connected to its suburbs, so living in Perrysburg (like many medical students), Holland, Maumee, Sylvania, or the like is an option. Many people in Holland or Maumee just say that they're from Toledo because of how close everything is. 2. Many choices for food. Toledo actually ranks 5th in the nation for most bar-dense cities in the US. It's pretty hard to say you can't find anything to eat, as there are restaurants and groceries stores all over Toledo and the nearby suburbs. (My favorites are Tandoor and Balance) 3. Entertainment is...acceptable. Toledo has a VERY dedicated arts scene with tons of local bands and artists. It also offers glass blowing classes at the Toledo Museum of Art! These are open to anyone, and it's easy to apply for financial assistance. Several local movie theatres, two local sports teams (hockey and baseball), and arena with plenty of concerts and such throughout the year, parades in downtown Toledo, community involvement opportunities, etc. The people from the area that have bought into the "You Will Do Better in Toledo" signs are VERY passionate about making that statement come true. 4. Nature is EVERYWEHRE. Toledo sits on the Maumee river and the western tip of Lake Erie. If you like kayaking, canoeing, boating, etc, the local metroparks have you covered. There are also trails all over the area. Check out Wildwood, Oak Openings, Middlegrounds, or Swan Creek if you enjoy a nice walk through the woods. The Metroparks are VERY well funded, so they offer a wide variety of activities throughout the year. 5. Close to Ann Arbor and Detroit. If you really want to experience a big city but don't want to live there, Toledo has you covered. Ann Arbor is about an hour drive from Toledo, and Detroit isn't much further than that. We're also 35 minutes from BG, so you can visit our rival university and go to one of their MANY nightclubs or bars. 6. Campus is very easy to navigate and relatively small, so the longest walk you're likely to have is about 10 minutes. Food isn't great on campus, but it's literally surrounded by restaurants and fast food joints. The library is nifty newly renovated, so most students tend to congregate there. 7. Pretty LGBTQIA+ friendly! There's a Pride parade every summer that is super popular, and many of the art communities are very welcoming. Now for the not-so-nice stuff... 1. There is a lot of crime and it's a hub for human trafficking. Do not go to the mall alone. Do not use the restrooms alone. Do not walk around downtown alone night or day. There is also a lot of homelessness, so it's common to see three or four people standing at intersections during all seasons. This being said, they're usually super nice. 2. Once you've explored all there is to explore, that's it. 3. It's grey. Lots of empty storefronts, foreclosed homes, bad weather, and depression. Winters are either mild or brutal, but they last FOREVER. Summer is long-ish, but it's hot and humid, and somehow still grey. Overall, I think it has been a great place to live and study. You get very close with others in your niche, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore your interests. I Think the good outweighs the bad, but you do have to work to find these things.