Florence

Florence is an exceptional Kentucky town. It's just south of Cincinnati, and this gives residents a ton that they can do, and provides a lot of job opportunities for those who don't wish to live in the city but still want to enjoy the benefits.

People make pretty good money in Florence, with the average household income a little over $50,000 a year, and I'm sure most of this comes from the fact that both people in the house can find a job either in Florence itself or in nearby Cincinnati. And just because I keep mentioning its closeness to Cincinnati, that doesn't mean this town is small or has little going on.

There are around 30,000 residents in Florence, and these 30,000 have helped sustain a fair number of local businesses and restaurants. I'm a big fan of sushi. Try Mai Thai. You'll get some excellent sushi for a fair price. I know the other reviewer mentioned Mad Mike's, and he's right to recommend it. Really, really good burgers.

More interested in having drinks and meeting girls? You could try Hooters, but they're going to be nice to you anyways, so check out Freedom Bar and Grill, Turfway Park or, my favorite, Muggbees. Whichever option, you'll be sure to find a good drink, friendly service and a fair crowd without it being packed most nights. There are way more bars and options for nightlife in Florence than in much of Kentucky. And if you want you can head over to Cincinnati for even more fun!

I don't know too much about the schools, but there are a fair number of them, and you can no doubt find a decent public or private school for your kids. I won't give any particular school a recommendation, but they're all supposed to be pretty good. Solid choices all around.

Florence is a fantastic town. You are close to an airport, a major city and there's plenty to do and see. Get a bite to eat, have a drink and enjoy yourself!

Florence is another Northern Kentucky town fairly close to Cincinnati. Like my home town of Independence and Alexandria, there are a lot of benefits to being this close to Cincinnati, yet I think Florence does a nice job of being somewhat unique.

First, if you're in Florence you're right near Cincinnati Airport. This is a huge plus for anyone who works in a job where they have to travel a lot, but it's also good for those who love to go on vacations often. I travel more now that I used to, as two of my three daughters are in school far away (the third is only a little ways away so I can drive to her). When I need to get out to California I usually leave from this airport, and it's nice to have it so close. If I lived in Florence it'd be even better.

This close proximity to the airport and Cincinnati has led to a lot more job opportunities and more to do than many other Kentucky towns. There are plenty of restaurants to try out, and I've had some great food in many of them. Mai Thai is really good, or at least it is according to my youngest daughter, as she loves sushi. I'm not the biggest fan of sushi in general, but we've driven here a few times for birthdays and special occasions for her and I've always found something to eat. I'm sure if you like sushi it'll be your cup of tea.

I'm more of a fan of Mad Mike's Burgers, which serves very good, very large burgers in an old fashioned style. I love them! Get a side of fries and you're good to go!

There are also some higher quality pizza places and some fine dining options in Florence, so you're really covered regardless of what you're looking for.

The same thing goes for getting a drink. There are plenty of bars in Florence to wet your whistle or meet a girl. Saddle Club is very good, with great prices, and Turfway Park is a great race track with plenty of chances to get drinks and have some fun! Good place to stop by.

For recreation, my pick would have to be Boone Links Golf Course, a great 27 hole course with plenty of scenery to enjoy and a tough yet not impossible to complete course. I love to get out of the house on a Sunday morning and enjoy a quick 18, and this is a fantastic place to check out.

Obviously I have a lot of good things to say about Florence. I think it has a bit more crime than many other local towns, but it's not really bad by any means. I think the higher population and close proximity to Cincinnati means there's a bit more crime, but I wouldn't say it's dangerous at all. Florence is a wonderful place and definitely worth checking out.