Carmichaels, PA

[WSSix]

Anyone live in this area of the country? Just curious to know what it's like. Is it country out away from everything? What's there to do when not working? How close would I be to good riding/driving areas with turns and elevation changes? I'm really getting tired of Kansas, and while I'd love to go back to Colorado, it may be easier/better for me to go to PA. I'm just not sure what it's like. Any feedback from people who are near there would be appreciated. Especially motorcycle riding info. Since this is a car forum, I haven't mentioned my bikes. I have a 98 Ninja 9R that I'm hoping to get on the road soon and an 09 Ducati Monster 1100s. Yeah, I love to ride as well as drive :) Not too much fun out here in the flat lands though


Thanks

[Spiffav8]

Anyone live in this area of the country? Just curious to know what it's like. Is it country out away from everything? What's there to do when not working? How close would I be to good riding/driving areas with turns and elevation changes? I'm really getting tired of Kansas, and while I'd love to go back to Colorado, it may be easier/better for me to go to PA. I'm just not sure what it's like. Any feedback from people who are near there would be appreciated. Especially motorcycle riding info. Since this is a car forum, I haven't mentioned my bikes. I have a 98 Ninja 9R that I'm hoping to get on the road soon and an 09 Ducati Monster 1100s. Yeah, I love to ride as well as drive :) Not too much fun out here in the flat lands though


Thanks

Ducati! :D I love those.

Don't know about that part of PA, but every part of PA I've driven through or flew over I really liked! Beautiful part of the country.

[ccracin]

Trey,

That is about 20 minutes from me. You would be about 45 minutes outside Pittsburgh. There are lots of great things about Southwestern PA. you would definitely have no shortage of winding, hilly terrain. The worst part to me is the weather in the winter. I hate snow! What type of work are you looking into. Carmichaels is a small town and not one most people from out of town have even heard of. I was just curious. If you have any specific questions, let me know. I am happy to help.

[flagmissd]

Our companies shop is in in Carmichael. I have only been there twice but i have been up north to Washington and Pittsburgh, PA quiet a bit. I like it because of the old Victorian houses and the area seems to have a sense of history you don't find in the midwest. Main roads are nothing special but you should be able to have some fun on some side roads. Can I ask what kind of work you do?

[WSSix]

I blow stuff up :) Yeah it's thousands of feet below the surface of the earth but still, I make things go boom!!!! I work for Halliburton so I'm in the oil industry. I'm honestly trying to get out of the field so I can have a more routine schedule and a life away from work. However, if that doesn't happen I believe as long as I have activities to do when not working, I'll be alright for the time being.

So what kind of social activities are in the area? I was looking at a map and doing some minor research and noticed WV was very close. Would it be better to live in PA or WV in regards to taxes and social life?

Thanks guys

[flagmissd]

I work for Halliburton also but I am on the Sperry side. I make the hole for you to blow up. I have done a couple of wells down in the area. Morgantown is a good time with the college there and I always found something to do when I was up in Cannonsburg also. As for taxes I think that they are better in PA. That is why they moved the shop from Waynesburg to Carmicheal.

[WSSix]

thanks flag. I appreciate the feedback. My next move really needs to be some place where I can have a life outside of work. The money isn't enough for me to suffer any more.

[ccracin]

What kind of stuff are interested in? I can give some idea as to what is around.

[GregWeld]

I blow stuff up :) Yeah it's thousands of feet below the surface of the earth but still, I make things go boom!!!!



:willy: :unibrow: :willy: :unibrow:


I've done a bit of that -- although mine goes up in the air!! The good news - I do mine for fun not for a living!


Droppin' 6" mortars...before we load the shells


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad33/gregweld/4th%20of%20July/fireworkscatchanddrop.jpg



In Inchon, Korea at a factory that makes all manor of military explosive devises - and they were working on building a 50" Fireworks shell!



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad33/gregweld/4th%20of%20July/50inchesofboom.jpg

[WSSix]

What kind of stuff are interested in? I can give some idea as to what is around.

Well, I'm single and 31 so anything where I can meet the local hotties, lol. Seriously though, I like hiking and biking and exploring outside. I'd love to get into crossfit as I think that would be a good way for me to exercise and not get bored but until I get more of a desk job, I won't be able to commit to any sort of workout thing. Obviously, the car and motorcycle thing as well. Going on cruises through the mountains or car shows/meets are cool too. I'm really open to ideas but from what I'm finding, I'm not a typical guy. I don't drink so bars are typically boring. I don't hunt and don't give a damn about any sport. I honestly prefer going to a national or state park over going to a bar.

[WSSix]

You're into fireworks too, Greg? Man, you really are my new hero!

[duk007]

I live in the south hills of Pittsburgh , there is a good bit of stuff going on here. First the Marcellus shale industry is booming so you should be able to find work all day long anywhere in southwest pa. There is more to do in Pa than Wv so I would suggest pa but it is an easy drive to Morgantown or Wheeling just not much going on further south.

Pittsburgh has a racing facility, Beaverun, which has a road racing, rally,autocross,and kart events for all types of gear heads. Pittsburgh also has a decent drag racing scene but only one track in the area, but several within an hour drive.

Tons of outdoor stuff, hunting,fishing,atvs,off road,mouton biking ect... Skiing in the winter, a few lakes for waterspouts in the summer.

Nightlife is ok, I'm not a big drinker and a little old for the bar scene if I was single but downtown has something going on.

Steelers, Pens, Pirates... Ok maybe not the Pirates, but we have three brand new killer sporting venues, so there's lots of sports if your into that, and if your not you better fake it cause some grandma waving a terriable towl and a #7 on here back will beat your ass for not being a fan.

So Southwest pa doesn't suck.

[billscamaros]

It looks like Carmichaels is located centrally between Uniontown, Pittsburgh and Morgantown. I grew up northwest of here and currently live a few hours to the east. If you're interested in mountain biking, hiking, white water ... anything outdoors .... then you'll love this area. Ohiopyle State Park is east of Uniontown and it's a mecca for white water kayaking/rafting, along with some pretty nice mountain biking. History abounds in this area, as National Road (Rt 40) routed virtually everyone westbound in the 1700's and 1800's thru Pittsburgh, the gateway to the west. Fort Necessity is local and George Washington surveyed half the land around this area. I think that Seven Springs ski slopes are fairly close, and Canaan Valley (WV) and Snowshoe (WV) are to the south.

Pittsburgh would be the closest "big city" and Morgantown is a huge college town located to the south. Both have all of the restaurants that you would want, and Pittsburgh has all of the shopping that you would need. I'm not sure about the car action in this area (car cruises and shows), but I think that Pittsburgh has a couple of "cars and coffee" get togethers near Robinson Town Center. Every road in this area is twisty and turny ... so there should be some good motorcycle riding.

I've not spent much time in Uniontown, but I have visited the Nemocolin Resort several times, along with Ohiopyle State Park. I think that the bike trail thru that area is called the "Great Trail" or "Allegheny Trail" .... either way, you can ride a bike from Pittsburgh to DC without spending any time on a road.

Everything that I read says that this is an up and coming economic area.

Good luck and let us know what you think of the area.

[WSSix]

thanks Bill. I haven't decided yet where I will go. I'm just wanting out of Kansas. I grew up in Georgia and spent 11 years in north Georgia. I love the Appalachian Mountains. I just can't get over the Rockies though and really want to try and head that direction again. The scenery out that way is unreal and completely different that anything the Appalachians can offer. But we can't always get what we want so I'm keeping the door open to alternatives such as PA. Either way, it will be a few months before anything happens.

Do you know which state would be better as far as taxes go, WV or PA?

Thanks

[billscamaros]

Yeah ..... I hear you about the Rockies. I've been to Colorado twice and it was beautiful. Go if you can.

I can't provide any insight into PA taxes. But WV isn't too bad.

Good luck.

[ccracin]

Trey,
Bill handled a lot of the activities. Taxes are another thing. In PA it depends on the county. Stay far far away from Allegheny county. Washington and Westmoreland are better. I live in Westmoreland. Greene and Fayette are even better. I hear WV is not bad but can not speak first hand. Good luck with your decision. :thumbsup:

[WSSix]

Thanks guys. I care about taxes from the stand point that I don't want to be raped. I got raped here in Kansas with my Monster. I can understand paying sales tax in a state with no income tax like Texas where I was. However, I pay state income taxes here in Kansas and was still charged $900 in taxes and fees for my used Ducati that I bought in Chicago. It was close to 10%. I was ticked. So I'm paying more attention now.

Thanks for the info and help. Eventually I'll move. Yáll's info has helped greatly.