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AnaB
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| Posted: Aug 03 2006 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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Hi!
This is kind of a rabbit trail from the paradise location thread. I have always loved European countrysides with the sheep, rolling hills, old towns,forests, lakes, thatched roofs, cobblestone streets, flowerpots full of color. Mind you, I've never been to Europe but I've done alot of reading and video viewing. When I took that personality test someone linked a few weeks ago, I turned out to be Dublin, Ireland!
On the other hand, I love the US, born and raised! But that romantic, nostalgic side of me longs for beautiful scenery and simple lifestyles. Is there anywhere in the US that resembles this?
I live in Miami, FL (born and raised) and though there is much beauty that I'm sure I take for granted, it is becoming more and more concrete buildings, dirty streets, dirty billboards, and art deco with little natural (God created) beauty left. The hurricanes have taken so many of our trees. I really long to experience variety in our nature studies and seasons.
At the same time, I know the Lord is speaking to me about contentment. I just think of the persecuted Christians in China, so many of them in a prison cell, and am amazed that I have trouble with contentment. I also wonder if what I'm really longing for is heaven? The Bible describes heaven as a new earth/Jerusalem. All of the best of this world without anything that brings pain, sadness, or sin. I hope I get to tend sheep on a little farm with a thatched roof cottage and a nice garden in the back close to a town with cobblestone streets and a forest with a creek/river.
In the meantime, I'm wondering if there's a little slice of heaven somewhere close? Have you all ever visited a town/city with a European country feel (I'm thinking Yorkshire, the Lake District)? There's a slim chance that we'll have the opportunity to relocate in the next few years and I'd like an idea of where I'd like to go!
Thanks for your help!
Many Blessings,
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His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
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~Rachel~
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Try one of the mountainous regions in the Blue Ridge... I am from England, and the closest I have found to the downs and wolds of home is the lower regions of the Blue Ridge... Virginia and North Carolina.
I am told that climate wise, Washington State is very like it  .
As for TOWNS like home... my American experience is not that broad, but here in Va, towns similar in feel to home;
Fredericksburg Old Town, Smithfield, Charlottesville to some extent... even Alexandria (Old town) in places... most small town America towns with a nice streetfront shopping area remind me of home. It's not especially common and they are not really European in look but the spirit is similar.
HTH
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~Rachel~
Wife to William
Mum to James 13, Lenore 8
Lighting a Fire
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Aug 03 2006 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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My first thought was Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Like Cay, I love  it there! Kinda mountainous (remember, I am from CO) with little streams and springs and gingerbready houses, lots of green eco health shops/spas as it was an old Victorian Spa Towne. Lots of art and handcrafts like weaving studios. Land is cheap and the winters aren't bad at all, pansies bloom most of the winter. 
Just one thought...
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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jdostalik
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How funny, Jennifer!!  I was just going to post that Eureka Springs has a real feel of an European village to me....
We have taken 2 family vacations there in the last 2.5 years. It is only 5 or 6 hours from us and the drive isn't too bad with 5 crazy kids!
We always stay in a family-sized cabin outside of town 15 minutes or so. This allows dh to do his fly-fishing and allows the kids to have room to wade in the water (there is a nice beachy area that is safe) and play on the grassy spots in the lodge area...We always make a couple of day trips into town and have a nice lunch and soak up the Victorian atmosphere of the town. All the local folks are very friendly and happy to see children. It is really a fun, family vacation and dh and I always wish that we could find a way to move there but there is no semi-conductor industry anywhere near there! 
One of our favorite sites in Eureka Springs is St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. We actually made it to 7 am mass on Sunday there and the priest gave an excellent homily on the missions. It is a beautiful, historic church with stations of the cross lining the entry way into the church (which is located on the side of a hill, you actually enter the church through the bell tower!!). They have a very nice bookshop with religious items that are a bit unique.
This year our vacation is going to the beach but next year, with a new baby, I think we will do Eureka Springs again. I can't wait to sit on the wrap-around porch and watch the birds and nurse the baby! Can you tell we haven't had a vacation since October? I'm ready for one right now! 
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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MaryM
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Leavenworth, Washington is like a quaint Bavarian village.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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AnaB
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| Posted: Aug 03 2006 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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Wow! You all are blowing me away!! I love everything you all have mentioned! My parents just bought a vacation home near Asheville, NC, so we'll be visiting that area too.
My dh is talking about taking a trip for our 12th wedding anniversary (it's on the 5th, but we'll probably make the trip for the end of the month to forego the heat). You are giving me some wonderful ideas. Keep them coming!
En Cristo,
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His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
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Cay Gibson
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Eureka Springs, Arkansas is described as a 19th century Victorian village. I'm surprised (but delighted) to see that land is "cheap" up there. It's one of my prospects for retirement. 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
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stacykay
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jdostalik wrote:
...One of our favorite sites in Eureka Springs is St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. We actually made it to 7 am mass on Sunday there and the priest gave an excellent homily on the missions. It is a beautiful, historic church with stations of the cross lining the entry way into the church (which is located on the side of a hill, you actually enter the church through the bell tower!!). They have a very nice bookshop with religious items that are a bit unique.....
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Is this the one with the children of Fatima garden to one side? I know we visited a Catholic church in Eureka Springs (11 years ago, now!) while in Branson, MO for a family reunion. That church was beautiful, but we just missed the Mass.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Cay Gibson
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Stacy,
I do seem to remember this in the mini-courtyard before you come to the entrance doors.
The one thing I'm very sure of are the stations of the cross that are along the edge of the walk. You enter the bell tower and on your righthand side there is a beautiful walkway with the stations of the cross.
The Internet is such a wonderful thing.  Here are some images online of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and in the sidebar you'll see more images of Eureka Springs.
Makes me desperately want to go back.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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AnaB
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| Posted: Aug 03 2006 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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Are there any victorian villages (or Bavarian or whatever) in NC, or the northeast? I'm keeping a list of all the places I'd like to go!
Thanks!
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His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
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SuzanneT
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I'm right "down the road" from you here in Boca Raton, so I know what you mean about longing for rolling hills and quaint villages. I grew up in the hills of Tennessee & dh in Kentucky, so south Florida was a bit of a shock for us. I couldn't wait to leave TN, now I'd move back in a flash 
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Suzanne in Sunny S.Florida
dh('87),ds(90),dd(91),dd(95)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Does this exist in the US?
