Aye well we've got all that, on the same scale. We can drive up to Scotland to ski (well maybe 7 hours if you're VERY lucky) but ANYWHERE in 5 hours to camp, and 4 hours across the Channel for the beaches in France. :-)

>10+ hours for a weekend? No, that's too much. I routinely drive 4 hours to ski, 3+ hours for the beach and about 5 to camp in the mountains. That tells you something about NC. Like Tracy said, we have it all and, for us anyway, it's not that far away.
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>>I think Americans routinely drive greater distances than us. I had a friend who thought it was no big deal to drive 600 miles at the weekend to go skiing.
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>>>>Just go to Mexico and walk across the border along with 12 million others. :o) Then, when asked, you can honestly reply that you came here from Mexico and you can get medical care for free and a path to citizenship (which you probably don't want). Honestly, I believe that when the hiring is instigated by the employer, it is a much simpler process to get the work visa.
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>>>>Although, keep in mind many do not like the climate here for the first couple of years until they get acclimated. We have mountains and the beach though and we're not too far from NY and DC and Florida.
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>>>I've just checked Google Maps and you're at least 100 miles from the beach!
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>>>>>I don't really know much about NC but, yes (anything to be near you :-) I'd have to check it out for entertainment, std. of living, quality of life, crime, etc.
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>>>>>But isn't this just castles in the sky as the US is very fussy about who and what age they let in, and whethr the job couldn't be filled by a citizen first, and all that. Mind you, they let Dragan, Naomi et al, here in. And they allow John Harvey to stay. so can't be THAT bad! :-)
>>>>>
>>>>>>Would you consider North Carolina? There may be something available here...
>>>...