Well, I will try
My vote is for the Shoals
I live in Muscle Shoals and will for a very long time. The first and foremost thing about North Alabama is VERY LOW COST OF LIVING. I bought 2 acres of land just outside the city limits and am building a 2500 square foot house with a 1500 square foot double garage for less than $225,000. This is is a nice neighborhood. The cost of living is low. I watched a television program the other day of this family buying a house somewhere up north for $250000 and it blew me away. You can buy an increadibly nice house here for the amount of renting a one bedroom apartment in a lot of other places.
The people who live here are among the nicest in the whole US. Are we rednecks? yes most of us, but nice people. The kind of people that will stop and help you on the side of the road if you need it. The kind of people the wave when we drive past you. The kind of people the actually enjoy saying hello at Walmart.
From my house, I live within an hour or and hour and a half from some of the finest fishing lake anywhere. I live 10 minutes from Wilson, 15 minutes from Pickwick, 35 minutes from Wheeler, 45 minutes from Cedar Lake, Little Bear, and about a hour from Smith Lake, and an hour and a half from Guntersville. Remember, Bill Dance's all time favorite lake in the world is Pickwick Lake.
I grew up in Panama City, Fl. You couldn't pay me enough money to move back there. This area you can enjoy all the seasons. Cold enough to get occaisional snow, but not much. Warm enough to enjoy the summers, but not too long. Spring gives you some the the most awesome fishing in the world. And, fall here is beatufiul with the rolling hills all the hardwood trees that change color.
You are one hour from Huntsville, 2 hours from Birmingham, and 2 1/2 hours from Memphis. Nashville is alos 2 1/2 hours. You are in between several larger cities, but rural enough to live in that small town where everyone somehow knows everyone.
Muscle Shoals school system is very good. The town is growing. I live outside of town and right on the edge of being considered rural. And, I live exactly 10 minutes from the high school. The best of both worlds. This is a tri-cities area. Florence, Muscle Shoals, and Sheffield. McFarland Park on Pickwick brings in the biggest bass tournaments around. And, this year Crappie USA is hosting their CLASSIC here on Pickwick and Wilson. I catch numerous 2 pound crappie every year and the smallmouth grow very large here. Catfishing is unbeleivable. Anytime you want to you can catch a huge mess below WIison dam. And, this are is known for the huge deer population if you are a hunter.
I hope I have talked you into looking at the Shoals. I promise you can get more for your money as far as living is concerned here.
Last edited by David Waters; 12-04-2005 at 08:16 AM.
Shoals Area Crappie Association