FamilyDestinationGuide.com, a kid-friendly vacation ideas site, surveyed 3,000 families to find out where they would move to if they could hypothetically make a clean break, pack up, and leave the commonwealth.
Florida proved to be the state of choice for Virginians. Internationally, the country of choice was France.
In the wake of another challenging year with high food and gas prices and a summer of travel chaos, fourteen percent of the families surveyed said they have seriously thought about moving permanently. That they picked Florida as their destination was no surprise considering the state’s warm weather and beautiful beaches, its lack of state income tax, its diverse population, its reputation for delicious food, and its many attractions. Each day, the Sunshine State welcomes hundreds of newcomers into its borders.
The poll did reveal some surprises, however. Californians, for example, are apparently quite happy to turn their backs on permanent sunshine and heat and move to the chilly east coast to New York. However, New York State does offer advantages that California cannot match including better public transportation, four distinct seasons, and more favorable time zones for employees who liaise with European-based colleagues.
Across the country, the majority of families surveyed chose the United Kingdom as their international first country of choice perhaps because of the lack of a language barrier and the country’s history.
Virginians, however, opted for France, which offers American families a high quality of life, a strong economy, beautiful scenery, proximity to other European countries, and the opportunity for cultural immersion. Moving to France can be a rewarding and enriching experience for families looking for a change of pace and a new cultural experience.