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Ithaca,
New York
Engaging
Ithaca, New York (population 31,000 plus students,
with 100,000 in the surrounding area), once known
as the "City of Evil" for its tolerance
of gambling, drinking and swearing, is today a
mellow metropolis that is home to the Ivy League's
Cornell University and three other colleges. It is
situated in the rural center of New York state,
along the southern tip of 40-mile long Cayuga
Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, and has a
reputation as a very liberal, casual and
enlightened city. Youthful and laid-back, it
boasts an average cost-of-living, lush natural
beauty, a low crime rate and plenty of activities
to keep any retiree busy.
Lexington,
Virginia
Nestled
in the inspiring natural beauty of the Shenandoah
Valley of west-central Virginia, Lexington
(population 7,000) is a quaint, quiet burg steeped
in history and tradition. Settled in 1777, it is
home to the prestigious Virginia Military
Institute (VMI), established in 1839, and to the
highly regarded liberal arts college of Washington
and Lee, established in 1749. The entire downtown
is listed on the State and National Registers of
Historic Places, and General Robert E. Lee and
General "Stonewall" Jackson are buried
here. Although Lexington is a bit isolated
geographically, Civil War buffs and other tourists
wander into town, and the two colleges give it
vitality not always present in small southern
communities.
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