My Hometown

What constitutes the ideal hometown? Forbes.com recently ran a piece that listed the top hometowns in America and the characteristics that were important to their residents. It's interesting to see the different qualities people find important in a town.

Little Rock, Arkansas:

MISSION VALLEY

Apparently the cultural scene in Little Rock is outstanding with such venues as the Symphony, Rep theater, art museums, historical sites, and great Louisiana influenced dining establishments. Add to this, excellent medical facilities, beautiful natural surroundings and you have the perfect recipe for a great hometown.

Huntington Beach, California:

Its proximity to Orange county, Los Angeles and Long Beach can't be beat. The options for recreation activities, cultural venues, industries and higher education are almost endless. The weather and surf is among the best in the state.

San Jose, California:

San Jose has great proximity to San Francisco, Carmel, the giant redwoods and Lake Tahoe. The weather is among the best in the world, and Silicon Valley is brimming with jobs. San Jose favorites include the La Maison De Café and the San Jose Museum of Art.

Aurora, Colorado:

Aurora is most loved for its many trails and parks that allow for year round recreational activities. There are also numerous businesses and career opportunities.

Fort Collins, Colorado:

What's not to love here. Fort Collins has gorgeous mountain scenery, a diverse and active industrial sector, proximity to the big cities, and premier schools. High points include the vibrant Old Town that is hopping with activity most evenings and weekends, and best of all, public parking rates at only 50 cents for two hours.

Tampa, Florida:

This Florida hometown has great weather, a good tax policy and is a great place to start a business.

Skokie, Illinois:

Skokie has that small town feel with big city amenities. Residents love the excellent transportation system, and the new Science and Technology Park which continues to attract high-tech companies worldwide. It's the type of family-friendly town that has great parks and schools, and still has neighborhood block parties.

Indianapolis, Indiana:

In addition to the variety of businesses, good transportation system and reasonable cost of living, residents of Indianapolis love the safe, friendly downtown area. It's full of restaurants and entertainment venues and has excellent sports facilities.

Marblehead, Massachusetts:

Marblehead is a coastal town just east of Boston. This is a unique town, full of artistic and cultural diversity, and an active population. Come summer time, the beaches are full of residents out enjoying warm weather activities common in coastal environments.

Omaha, Nebraska:

Omaha has a lower unemployment and foreclosure rate than most states, short work commutes, and a relatively low cost of living. Residents love the "Playing With Fire" music event that involves five free downtown concerts in the summer.

Fort Worth, Texas:

Fort Worth is the type of place where you'll always run into a familiar face, and where people take care of their city and fellow residents.

Park City, Utah:

This family-friendly city is known for its great schools and premium ski resorts and golf courses. Resident's top picks include Deer Valley, The Canyons and Park City Mountain resorts.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

Milwaukee boasts the longest commute in the area as being only 30 minutes. They also have a booming and diverse industrial sector. City highlights include 10 days of concerts at the lakefront during Summerfest, and tailgate parties at Miller Park.

My Hometown

MISSION VALLEY