(Photo : The Guide for Great Cities to Raise a Family)

When you are starting a family, setting is integral. It is important for you to put a great deal of thought into where you are going to plant your roots. Not only is it important to think about where you are going to plant your family tree, you should also consider what kind of home you should make and how you should put that plan into action. If, for example, you are just beginning your family and don't have the foundation of your own fully furnished place, you can find perfectly furnished apartments in so many of these cities. The most important thing to remember is that you have plenty of options.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a great place to raise a family. Not only is it an accessible and affordable city, it has so much to offer. You can find a place for a reasonable price and enjoy the diverse array of activities in the great state of Utah. Salt Lake is perfect for young, vibrant couples who love the outdoors, professionals with children, and big families who want to find some space in the suburbs.

With an array of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, the city is far from just the center of the Mormon Church. It has art museums, craft breweries, terrific parks and gardens, and a vibrant metropolitan culture. You won't get sick of Salt Lake City, you'll have varied communities in the city's suburbs and eclectic art and culture in the urban areas. It can offer so many possibilities to create the foundation of a household and a family.

Nashville

Nashville is another urban option that you might not think of right away but oh is it awesome. Not only is Tennessee's capital a thriving hub for music and culture, it is still cheaper than most big cities in the United States. While prices have gone up, it doesn't compare to coastal metropolises or Chicago. It can be a great place for hip couples, whether you have kids or not. It also provides that Southern hospitality you'd be a fool not to love. People in Nashville are accepting, but don't forget you're a carpetbagger so show some respect. Jokes aside, Nashville is an amazing and reasonable place to live.

Austin

Austin provides a similar atmosphere as Nashville. Both are full of live music and great food. While young and liberal for Texas, Austin is making its mark as a great city on its own. The laissez-faire attitude is attracting a diverse group of people, everyone from Joe Rogan to the tech industry, and some of the best chefs out there trying to continue their crafts in a post-COVID-19 world. It is still affordable so if you are going to move to Austin, it would be better to do so earlier rather than later. If you have a little money to spend, you can carve out your little place in the world. Austin abides.

Colorado

Colorado is full of mid-sized cities and open land to make your foundations just what you want. When it comes to choosing a place to live for the foreseeable future, you can't ask for better in the Rocky Mountain State. As far as cities go, there is Denver for professionals and restaurateurs. Boulder is for artsy types, counter-culture, family businesses, and college students. It offers a wealth of nature, things to do, and interesting people to talk to. There is also Fort Collins and Loveland, which are terrific spots for raising a family with kids. In Colorado, you can find the place for you.

When it comes to laying down your foundation and planting your roots for a family, you have a lot of options beyond the coastal cities. We have a large, diverse country at our disposal that should be utilized for all its great places to spread out. We have cities to be near the action but a safe distance away from the day-to-day. Whatever you are interested in, there are places across the country that could fit you in ways you haven't imagined yet. Dig into these places and find the absolutely perfect place to settle down, create your family and, in a sense, your own world.

Ryan Beitler is a journalist, writer, and travel blogger who has written for Paste Magazine, The Slovenia Times, New Noise Magazine, and many more.