The Greatest Places to Live in the West 2011

Kevin Carmody

What, exactly, calls us to the West? Maybe an old-time movie stirred in us the urge to return to our roots. Or, the allure of experiencing still-pristine slices of our great country, unchanged by the ills of metropolis, was too strong to resist. Yes, these places still exist. From a temporary getaway to a permanent homestead, American Cowboy visits 20 places you might want to experience or call your own someday, complete with old-style ideals, a place to hang your hat and plenty of room to stretch out.

California/Nevada

Northwest

Southwest

Rockies

Texas/Oklahoma/Great Plains

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Texas all the way!

barrelchick89 — Wed, 2011-12-07 18:49

I've been living in Texas for about a year now, and from the clear skies to the rolling hills of North Texas, there is no place better/prettier to live. I'm in love with Texas and will NEVER leave!
Cheap land is a super plus too.

I'm with you

upd103 — Fri, 2011-12-09 00:59

I was born and raised in Texas. I've been all over the west. Shoot, I've been all over the country. Don't get me wrong. There are some beautiful places out there. I would say there are some places that are even prettier than Texas in some regards, but when you factor in the climate, cost of living, etc, you are absolutely correct. I've never found a place that I would rather live than on my own little piece of heaven that everyone else calls Texas!

I am always amazed

TimsBoots — Fri, 2010-11-12 19:01

I am always amazed that there are still such beautiful places left with all the cities and such that are moving in. Thanks for the list.

Home. It's good to be home.

South Texas Cowboy — Wed, 2010-03-31 22:28

Home. It's good to be home. Such an emotional delight one feels after being away from what we have grown to call home. Home for many different reasons. Home because it is where we grew up, home because it is where we raise our families or we are building our dreams. Sometimes return to our roots is home perhaps after being away for one of many reasons. That warm emotional feeling that can only be felt to best understand.

One never gives much thought as to what it took to develop the land we now call home. To acquire the rights of the land, long before the deeds, the promise this land is my land. Oh, true we know our servicemen go off to protect our freedom and liberties, while only forgotten history shadows the crust of our soil with such lack of care. It's for easier to enjoy viewing over our children grow from that front porch view. Season by season, change by change. Unnoticed until one reflects back stating, "Remember when".

Another generation grows and those young tots now flock from the nest. While still so very hearty to return on visits to mom and dads. Then another generations grows and once more the season seem to fade. Once was home, no more the place I knew and how time has taken on a change for someone else to call my home. Just not the home I knew. Oh yes home is surely a state of mind. It's more than a place to hang ones hat. It sincerely is the place I leave, I find myself always going back.

Roger Edison

http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/