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CarWashList.com – Our Partner

We have just teamed up with a new site called CarWashList.com. Car Wash List is a new site that is dedicated to bring users information about local car washes. You can find car washes in every single city in the United States. You can also get highly detailed information on each and every car wash in the database. You can find self service car washes, hand car washes, detailing services and more. Just head over to carwashlist.com and check it out!

Community Review: Memphis, Tennessee

memphisThe Great River – the Mississippi-shaped and defined Memphis’s early character and still gives the city and its hinterland a distinctive way of life. Before Memphis was founded in 1819 by Andrew Jackson and named by him for that other Memphis on the Nile, an Indian river culture flourished here from the 11th to the 15th century. Although a Deep South city, there are no antebellum mansions or definitive reminders of the Old South here. The city found real prosperity only in the late 19th century, when cotton and lumber barons built imposing Victorian mansions.

Memphis, the youngest major city along the lower Mississippi, took time out to listen and invent the blues and was slow to get caught up in the Sun Belt’s boom. But today, still making music, it stands tall on its high bluffs, facing the river with a burgeoning skyline. Memphis capitalizes on its location with a unique entertainment park on an island in mid-river. And downtown, for years down-at-heel, has come alive with new civic improvements, including the Main Street Trolley, the Pyramid arena, and the National Civil Rights Museum.

In a trend somewhat unusual for southern cities, a flurry of adaptive-use projects has brought a rush of residents back to the heart of the city. Two former hotels, both on the National Register of Historic Places, have been converted into luxury apartments, and rehabilitated cotton warehouses overlooking the Mississippi are now condominiums with a great view.

Elsewhere downtown, Beale Street bustles with clubs and restaurants as it did in its heyday, when W.C. Handy first trumpeted his blue notes in PeeWee’s Saloon. One young man, influenced by the city’s blues sound, went on to become the king of rock and roll, and today crowds flock to Elvis Presley’s Graceland, which is one of Tennessee’s major showplaces.

Community Review: Los Angeles, California

los-angeles-skyline-cropped-resized-more-heightThose from purportedly more sophisticated cities note what Los Angeles, California, lacks. Others from more provincial towns raise an eyebrow at what it has. Regardless of the varying opinions about Los Angeles, the city attracts people from all over – and lots of them.

We cannot predict what anyone Los Angeles will be like for everyone. You can laze on a beach, soak up some of the world’s greatest art collections, or tour the movie studios and stars’ homes. You can window-shop along the luxurious Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or browse for hipper novelties on boutique lined Melrose Avenue. The possibilities are endless. Indeed, you cannot do Los Angeles, California in a day or a week or even two. This second largest city in America holds too many choices between its canyons and its coast to be exhausted in one trip; you will be exhausted first.

Everybody’s a tourist in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a city of ephemerals, of transience, and above all, of illusion. Whether you love it or hate it, Los Angeles is an overwhelming spectacle in the best sense. There’s a feeling that anything can happen-and it often does.

Almost any time of year is the right time to go to Los Angeles; the climate is mild and pleasant year round, rarely dipping lower than 60 during the day. There’s no official tourist season in L.A.-it’s busy all year-but crowds swell around such big events as the Rose Bowl and the Academy Awards and during school holidays. Hotel bargains occasionally become available during the summer, when Los Angeles smog can be at its worst. The rainy season usually runs from November through March, with the heaviest downpours usually coming in January. Summers are virtually rainless.

Los Angeles’s street action is free and a great way to gain insight into what makes this metropolis tick. Explore West Hollywood’s Melrose Avenue, a thoroughfare of flashing neon and up-to-the-second trends, and Venice Boardwalk, the bohemian corner of Los Angeles, packed with jugglers, acrobatic roller skaters, sweaty muscle builders, leftover hippies, and a parade of bikinis. Melrose activity starts about noon every day, and Venice is especially hopping on weekends, particularly after lunch.

Community Review: Las Vegas, Nevada

lasvegasUntil recently Las Vegas existed for only one reason: gambling. Yes, there were cultural attractions and local events, but tens of millions of visitors came to this fantasyland for adults primarily to try their luck. With gambling becoming legalized around the country, however, the city is investing billions of dollars to turn itself into a Disney-like family destination, with a vacation’s worth of fun things for kids to see and do.

Non-gambling activities are proliferating as fast as casinos. Every major hotel built in the 1990’s has an amusement park, high-tech entertainment, free spectacles, or a theme so fully realized as to be educational; each of the many hotels slated to open has similar plans. Of course, Las Vegas is still the nation’s premier gambling destination, and thanks to the subsidizing effect of casino profits, visitors can play blackjack, ride a roller coaster, stuff themselves at an all-you-can-eat buffet, or partake of dozens of other amenities at prices that are cheaper than anywhere else in the world.

A drive through town will show you an extraordinary collection of neon signs and flashing lights, especially on Fremont Street downtown. Drive only a few minutes from the flamboyant Strip and you’ll discover a Southwestern landscape of red rock, Joshua trees, and yucca. To the east, 40 minutes away, are Hoover Dam, one of the greatest man-made wonders, and Lake Mead, one of the largest “artificial” lakes in the world. Zion, Bryce, Death Valley, and some other natural wonders are only a few hours away.

Las Vegas, the largest city in Nevada, is 2,162 feet above sea level, but the desert still defines the climate: bone-dry and hot in the summer, sunny and pleasant in spring and fall, cool and sometimes downright cold in winter. The weather is best April-May and October-November, with highs in the 70s and 80s and a low of 45. In summer, the fierce desert sun pushes the mercury to above 110 (the heat is relatively free of humidity and more tolerable than, say Disney World in the summer). When the sun is at its fiercest, Las Vegas lives indoors, in the hotel rooms, showrooms, and the casinos, where everything is air-conditioned.

Best places to retire 2010

So your thinking about taking that big leap into retirement? Well, we put together this list of the top places to retire in the U.S.A. Whether you are looking to get that warm weather way down south or moving up north to find a relaxing community. This list will give you the best places to retire in 2010.

1. Sarasota, Florida (FL) – This community of about 200,000 people is mostly comprised of retirees and features some of the best weather and relaxing beaches in the U.S.

2. San Diego, California (CA) – San Diego is known for its 365 days of 70 degree days and rare rain storms. San Diego has been on the top places to retire list for the past 3 years and is one of the most popular places to retire.

3. Prescott, Arizona (AZ) – Prescott is a smaller town located right in the center of Arizona. The population of Prescott is about 75,000. It has great weather and good people and is a great place to live after retirement.

4. Austin, Texas (TX) – Austin is a booming town with great weather and very active lifestyles. If you are a active and healthy person, this Texas community may be right for your retirement home.

5. Asheville, North Carolina (NC) – Asheville, North Carolina is a great place to retire if you like cooler temperatures and great beaches. It also has loads of great schools and colleges.

If you are thinking about retirement soon, its good to think about where you may want to buy that retirement house and start planning where you want to spend the rest of your retirement.

Community Review: Key West, Florida

florida-key-west-hotelsWelcome to Key West, FL. If you have yet to visit this beautiful key off the southern tip of Florida, you should now add it to your to-do list. Beyond the beauty surrounding the island, the culture of Key West is like none other. The streets, restaurants, and shops are crowded with locals as well as tourists from all over the world. You can visit the historic home of Ernest Hemmingway, or enjoy some of the nicest fresh seafood on Duval Street.

Some of the best restaurants and bars include Hogs Breath Saloon, Sloppy Joes, and Louie’s Backyard.

While you’re on the island, don’t forget to take a picture next to the mile marker “0”—for you have reached the southern-most point in the United States! Also, it’s not a bad idea to take the Conch Train Tour (although slightly cheesy, you learn a lot about the history of Key West, as well as the present landscape and future plans of the island!)

Although Key West, Florida is not known for its educational institutions or famed sports teams, calling this place home could be quite easy if you are seeking the laid-back breezy island lifestyle! If sun, margaritas, and people-watching is your thing, then Key West, FL is the place for you!

Community Review: Miami, Florida

miamiBienvenidos a Miami, FL! Located in southern Florida along the Atlantic coast, Miami is home to one of the most unique populations within the mainland United States. Although the city of Miami lies within the mainland U.S., much of its population is of Cuban and South American decent, which makes the Spanish language a huge asset in this beautiful city!

Not far from the everglades, Miami features great tourist destinations such as South Beach, Key Biscayne and the Port of Miami (home to cruise ship departures for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival cruise lines). But don’t be confused—Miami is a great city to call home as well! Some of the finest four-year universities in the U.S. reside in Miami: University of Miami (UM), Florida International University (FIU), and Miami-Dade College (MDC) which offers two-year associate degree programs.

Like sporting events? Miami is home to favored sports teams such as the Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Heat (NBA), Miami Panthers (NHL), and the Florida Marlins (MLB).

With shopping galore, you will never get bored in Miami, Florida —as long as you have some money in your bank account! The Shops at Sunset Place, Dadeland Mall, Coconut Grove, and South Beach are lined with fine dining, casual dining, upscale shopping, boutiques, night clubs, and outdoor bars.

For information and promotions for local businesses in Miami and surrounding neighborhoods, please browse through Our Town Magazines – Miami.

Whether you’re looking for a coin launder or a sophisticated nightclub, you will be able to find it not far from US-1 in the city of Miami, FL. If you love sunshine, heat, and a diverse culture, Miami is the place for you!

Community Review: Spartanburg, South Carolina

spartanburgSpartanburg, South Carolina is really a laid back city with growing population. There are lots of friendly people, nice climate, and beautiful scenery. The city is located in the foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains and close to beaches and resorts where residents and visitors alike can enjoy themselves.

Spartanburg also hosts a lot of fun events such as Music on Main and Jazz on the Square for people to enjoy. The city is very community friendly. Aside from events, there are also very popular parks, lakes, and museums such as Hollywild Animal Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, Barnett Park, and Lake Bowen where many residents visit.

Dining and shopping in the city of Spartanburg is also a fun experience. There are many different restaurants where you can dine and enjoy great food. One popular restaurant and a famous Southern landmark is the Beacon Drive In know for their famous iced tea, chili cheese a-plenty, and other foods. It is like a tradition to eat at the Beacon Dive In for Spartanburg residents.

There are also many different shopping plazas in Spartanburg. You can also enjoy shopping at the famous Westgate Mall. Many people go there everyday to shop for all kinds of stuff and when they are tired of shopping, they can go enjoy a movie inside the mall.

For adult fun, there are many clubs and bars in Spartanburg where you will feel welcomed as soon as you enter. Popular bars and clubs include Chiefs Wings and Firewater, Delany’s Music Pub & Eatery, Lil D’Z, Mirrors Nitelife, WildWings, Club Hush, and more.

Overall, the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina is a friendly and enjoyable city that is continuing to grow. It is great for those who just want a laid back life. It is a very peaceful and entertaining city attracting more and more people with all it has to offer.

Community Review: Boston, Massachusetts

New England’s largest and most important city, the cradle of American independence, Boston, Massachusetts, dates from 1630 – far older than the republic it helped create in the days of its vigorous youth. Its most famous buildings are not merely civic landmarks but national icons; its great citizens are not the political and financial leaders of today but the Adamses, Reveres, and the Hancocks who lived at the crossroads of history and myth. In modern times, only the Kennedy clan has come close to rivaling the lore.

At the same time, Boston is a contemporary center of high finance and higher technology, a place of high granite-and-glass towers rising along what were once rutted village lanes, dwarfing the commercial structures that stood as the city’s largest just a generation ago. In this other Boston, Samuel Adams is the name of a premium beer and the price of condominiums is as hot a topic ad taxation without representation ever was. The area’s enormous population of students, artists, academics, and young professionals has made it a haven for foreign movies, cafes, bookstores, racquetball, trendy nightclubs, and unconventional politics. Happily, these elements peacefully coexist alongside the more subdued bastions of Yankee sensibilities.

Best of all, Boston, Massachusetts is meant for walking. Most of the city’s historical and architectural attractions are located within compact areas, and Boston’s varied and distinctive neighborhoods only begin to reveal their character and design to visitors who take the time to stroll through them.

The best times to visit Boston are late spring and the months of September and October. Like other American cities of the Northeast, Boston can be uncomfortably hot and humid (75-80) degrees in high summer and freezing cold (25-30) in the winter. Yet the city is not without its pleasures in these seasons. In summer there are Boston Pops concerts on the Esplanade, harbor cruises, and a score of sidewalk cafes. In winter there is Christmas shopping on Newbury Street, the symphony, the theater, and college drama and music seasons.

Each September, Boston and Cambridge welcome thousands of returning students, along with the perennially wide-eyed-freshmen beginning their four-year (or longer) stays in the Hub, as residents call the twin cities. University life is a big part of the local atmosphere.

Community Review: St. Louis, Missouri

US-358-0102St. Louis, Missouri is one of the most widely known cities in the United States. At the heart of America, Saint Louis features many attractions and is one of the best places to live.  St. Louis is known for many things including baseball, beer, and it’s nightlife.

Saint Louis has some of the coolest events in the nation. With a baseball team like the St. Louis Cardinals; you can’t go wrong with a baseball game.  While your downtown you can visit one of 24 of the best bars in town.  They have something for everyone and you’ll be sure to find what your looking for in saint Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis is also the home of the Anheuser Busch company. Every single Anheuser Busch beer comes straight from this plant in Saint Louis, Missouri.  As many people know, St. Louis is also home of the famous Saint Louis Arch. The arch was complete in 1965 and is 630 feet (192 m) wide at its base and stands 630 feet (192 m) tall. This extraordinary piece of architecture was made to symbolize the westward expansion the to west.

Saint Louis is also known for it’s popular private schools. Saint Louis University is a very high prestige school. St. Louis also features some great high schools like Marquette High School and Fox Sr. High.

If you are a die hard sports fan and love a lively city with lots of great things to do. You should check out St. Louis, Missouri.