Relocate or not? Appreciate any opinions.
Dec 19th, 2005, 04:34 AM
#61
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Cargillman, I didn't "take offense" to your comment; I just disagreed with you. But petlover says those activites are unimportant to her anyway...
Be careful about 75218. That is where we lived and owned a "lovely, historic" house for 5 years. We finally escaped when our property taxes soared (thanks to Dallas' county hospital, Parkland), and our vehicles were each broken into outside our home within a year. We occasionally drive by the old place and it reminds us that we're glad we left...
Be careful about 75218. That is where we lived and owned a "lovely, historic" house for 5 years. We finally escaped when our property taxes soared (thanks to Dallas' county hospital, Parkland), and our vehicles were each broken into outside our home within a year. We occasionally drive by the old place and it reminds us that we're glad we left...
Dec 19th, 2005, 08:22 AM
#62
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Hazelmn, I will share the golf list with my husband. Looking over it I am surprised to see so many cities that are snowed in for months at a time on the list!
Love all the great info you guys are supplying me with!!!
Love all the great info you guys are supplying me with!!!
Dec 19th, 2005, 04:04 PM
#63
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" knew that people might take offense with some of my comments as ChristieP did. Yes, Dallas has some culture, but if you take a good look, so does every other American city of that size."
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has 6 million people, and indeed does have equivalent cultural opportunities to other cities that size, such as Boston, Philadelphia, Miami...
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has 6 million people, and indeed does have equivalent cultural opportunities to other cities that size, such as Boston, Philadelphia, Miami...
Dec 19th, 2005, 04:39 PM
#64
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Hi Pepper, I haven't read all the post but I noticed your comment about "Cali" not having mosquitoes.
Unfortunatly California does have mnosquitoes..in fact there was a worry about the West Nile Virus this summer.
Just wanted to correct that information in case anyone is thinking of relocating to California. However with the cost of housing here I doubt many would..our cost of housing is obscene.
Unfortunatly California does have mnosquitoes..in fact there was a worry about the West Nile Virus this summer.
Just wanted to correct that information in case anyone is thinking of relocating to California. However with the cost of housing here I doubt many would..our cost of housing is obscene.
Dec 19th, 2005, 04:51 PM
#65
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Petlover, Phoenix will be much hotter in the summer, so much that it makes a big difference. One summer, they had to close the airport because the aircraft regulations only had settings for the wing flaps up to 120 degrees.
Dallas summers, on the other hand, range from 75 to 95 degrees. At 4PM, the hottest part of the day, the 95 degree weather drives the humidity down to about 35% or so.
Dallas has more of a 4 season climate. Winters are mild, between 50s to 60s, with occasional cold snaps. It may snow 2 or 3 times a year, and 2 days after the snow, you're walking around in short sleeves.
Dallas summers, on the other hand, range from 75 to 95 degrees. At 4PM, the hottest part of the day, the 95 degree weather drives the humidity down to about 35% or so.
Dallas has more of a 4 season climate. Winters are mild, between 50s to 60s, with occasional cold snaps. It may snow 2 or 3 times a year, and 2 days after the snow, you're walking around in short sleeves.
Dec 19th, 2005, 05:03 PM
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Another consideration is size. Greater Phoenix has about 3 million people, and greater Dallas (DFW area) has over 6 million.
It is the largest metro area in the US after NY, LA and Chicago.
What this means is that there is more variety in things to see, do and experience. For example, take Mexican food. Dallas will have more varieties of the cuisine, from more Mexican states, to appeal to a more diverse set of tastes.
Or, how about radio stations. Dallas might have twice as many as Phoenix, but not necessarily the same number of formats. Since each station tries to be a little bit different than the next, you get more diversity and variety on the radio.
Multiply this numerical advantage by everything you can touch, feel, hear, see... you will have a much richer in Dallas than Phoenix.
I know... I did.
It is the largest metro area in the US after NY, LA and Chicago.
What this means is that there is more variety in things to see, do and experience. For example, take Mexican food. Dallas will have more varieties of the cuisine, from more Mexican states, to appeal to a more diverse set of tastes.
Or, how about radio stations. Dallas might have twice as many as Phoenix, but not necessarily the same number of formats. Since each station tries to be a little bit different than the next, you get more diversity and variety on the radio.
Multiply this numerical advantage by everything you can touch, feel, hear, see... you will have a much richer in Dallas than Phoenix.
I know... I did.
Dec 20th, 2005, 02:00 AM
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The physical landscape of the Dallas-Ft Worth area is a combination of forest and grassland. It has many rivers, streams, creeks and lakes, with heavy forest cover in the immeadiate vicinity. Parts of it are somewhat hilly, especially in southern Dallas county.
The Cedar Hills area, between the Dallas city limits and the suburb of Cedar Hills, is especially dramatic. The hills are 200-300 feet high and descend to the shoreline of Joe Pool Lake. Try the Cedar Hills state park for hiking, boat rentals, camping, picknicking, or self-guided tours of an old farmstead made into a historic site.
The Cross Timbers forest is a long narrow belt of dense woodland, more or less bisecting the DFW area. It is anywhere from 10-15 miles wide, and a couple of hundred miles long. Eastern Tarrant county, due west of Dallas county, is in this forest area, and the suburbs have names like Southlake, Westlake, North Richland Hills, Grapevine.
Southlake is quaint because it has a shopping district that is new, but laid out like a small town downtown, with sidewalk cafes, people promenading... very quaint. Downtown Grapevine is definitely a tourist attraction.
The mild winter weather and the terrain with its many woodlands and lakes makes the DFW a good place for hiking, camping and outdoor recreation, pretty much year round. It has several state parks, Federal campsites, hiking trails, forest preserves, scenic rivers... whatever you want. Very different from desert country like Phoenix or Tucson. My favorite is Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma... the rugged rocky cliffs on the lakeshore almost look like the California coast.
The Cedar Hills area, between the Dallas city limits and the suburb of Cedar Hills, is especially dramatic. The hills are 200-300 feet high and descend to the shoreline of Joe Pool Lake. Try the Cedar Hills state park for hiking, boat rentals, camping, picknicking, or self-guided tours of an old farmstead made into a historic site.
The Cross Timbers forest is a long narrow belt of dense woodland, more or less bisecting the DFW area. It is anywhere from 10-15 miles wide, and a couple of hundred miles long. Eastern Tarrant county, due west of Dallas county, is in this forest area, and the suburbs have names like Southlake, Westlake, North Richland Hills, Grapevine.
Southlake is quaint because it has a shopping district that is new, but laid out like a small town downtown, with sidewalk cafes, people promenading... very quaint. Downtown Grapevine is definitely a tourist attraction.
The mild winter weather and the terrain with its many woodlands and lakes makes the DFW a good place for hiking, camping and outdoor recreation, pretty much year round. It has several state parks, Federal campsites, hiking trails, forest preserves, scenic rivers... whatever you want. Very different from desert country like Phoenix or Tucson. My favorite is Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma... the rugged rocky cliffs on the lakeshore almost look like the California coast.
Dec 20th, 2005, 04:06 AM
#69
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xbt:
I have to disagree with you about the temperature going down after 4:00 PM. Just not true! I have spent many, many afternoons and nights at the ballfield watching my kids play. This past September it was 106 F at 6:00 PM in Coppell. Often at 11:00 PM it's still in the high 80's.
And where are those 75 F days? Maybe it's an overnight low. But I walk every morning and if I don't get out until 8:00 AM it's already over 80 F.
And the winters.... We had a low of 11 F a couple weeks ago. The kids had a "snow day" because of the ice. It has been in the 30's around 7:00 AM for many days already this year. Not that I'm complaining. At least I can put on more clothes.
If the temps were like you stated, I wouldn't be looking for a summer home!
I have to disagree with you about the temperature going down after 4:00 PM. Just not true! I have spent many, many afternoons and nights at the ballfield watching my kids play. This past September it was 106 F at 6:00 PM in Coppell. Often at 11:00 PM it's still in the high 80's.
And where are those 75 F days? Maybe it's an overnight low. But I walk every morning and if I don't get out until 8:00 AM it's already over 80 F.
And the winters.... We had a low of 11 F a couple weeks ago. The kids had a "snow day" because of the ice. It has been in the 30's around 7:00 AM for many days already this year. Not that I'm complaining. At least I can put on more clothes.
If the temps were like you stated, I wouldn't be looking for a summer home!
Dec 20th, 2005, 05:24 AM
#70
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aggiemom, look at this website for Dallas temps. http://realestate.yahoo.com/re/neigh...sz=Dallas%2CTX
Average summer high: 95.3
Average summer low: 73.3
Average winter high: 60.1
Average winter low: 34.7
106 was a huge fluke, the result of the weather the hurricane pushed through that week. Summers are hot, no doubt about it, but that made it sound worse than it really is. As xbt noted too, as the temperatures go up, the humidity goes down.
We raised our kids in Plano, kindergarten through college, and could not have been happier with our life there, the people we met, the quality of the kids' education, the recreational activities and facilities available for them. It was a terrific move for us (from Boston), and they had to practically drag me kicking and screaming from there when it was time to move on.
Another Aggiemom. (and Longhorn and Red Raidermom)
Average summer high: 95.3
Average summer low: 73.3
Average winter high: 60.1
Average winter low: 34.7
106 was a huge fluke, the result of the weather the hurricane pushed through that week. Summers are hot, no doubt about it, but that made it sound worse than it really is. As xbt noted too, as the temperatures go up, the humidity goes down.
We raised our kids in Plano, kindergarten through college, and could not have been happier with our life there, the people we met, the quality of the kids' education, the recreational activities and facilities available for them. It was a terrific move for us (from Boston), and they had to practically drag me kicking and screaming from there when it was time to move on.
Another Aggiemom. (and Longhorn and Red Raidermom)
Dec 20th, 2005, 11:25 AM
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Malesherbes -
I might agree that the AVERAGES you posted are okay. But Texans would agree that not much in Texas (including the weather) is "Average." Texas weather really is about extremes. About two weeks ago, we had a high of 92 degrees on one day - the next day there was a low of 27 degrees.
My disagreement is with xbt - he/she says the temperature RANGE is 75-95 degrees in summer and RANGE of 50-60 degrees in winter. That's not my experience. And we haven't even mentioned the cold, biting wind and what THAT does to the temperature.
And I'm sure you can agree that the temperature STILL goes up after 4:00 PM. I'd stake my life on it! And at 35 percent humidity, that's still a bit much for those in Southern California (where petlover lives).
Anyway, happy holidays and
Gig 'em
I might agree that the AVERAGES you posted are okay. But Texans would agree that not much in Texas (including the weather) is "Average." Texas weather really is about extremes. About two weeks ago, we had a high of 92 degrees on one day - the next day there was a low of 27 degrees.
My disagreement is with xbt - he/she says the temperature RANGE is 75-95 degrees in summer and RANGE of 50-60 degrees in winter. That's not my experience. And we haven't even mentioned the cold, biting wind and what THAT does to the temperature.
And I'm sure you can agree that the temperature STILL goes up after 4:00 PM. I'd stake my life on it! And at 35 percent humidity, that's still a bit much for those in Southern California (where petlover lives).
Anyway, happy holidays and
Gig 'em
Dec 20th, 2005, 11:45 AM
#72
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I do know temps can vary from year to year...happens everywhere! I have never known mosquitoes near us in So. Cal but it is true about the West Nile Virus scares, maybe because we don't live near any creeks etc. I have never been bitten by a mosquitoe here. When we have visited relatives in Chicago and Oklahoma I have gotten many bites so this is why I was asking about them.
The more research I've done on areas, the more I realize how much I would miss trees and wooded areas. If not in our own yard, I would like to have them in our local community.
Lots to be said about the large variety of restaurants etc. as eating out is a favorite past time of ours (though we tend to go to a handful of good ones in our area) We should try more!
Thanks for the geography lessons, it is very helpful to someone not familiar with the layout and suburbs!
The more research I've done on areas, the more I realize how much I would miss trees and wooded areas. If not in our own yard, I would like to have them in our local community.
Lots to be said about the large variety of restaurants etc. as eating out is a favorite past time of ours (though we tend to go to a handful of good ones in our area) We should try more!
Thanks for the geography lessons, it is very helpful to someone not familiar with the layout and suburbs!
Dec 20th, 2005, 01:16 PM
#73
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Lakewood (area of East Dallas - near White Rock Lake)) is a good heavily treed area - zip code 75214. And has two old-school Italian restaurants - Scalini's and Angelo's.
Re: mosquitos - there are companies that can set up a misting system in your yard to keep mosquitoes away. Not sure how effective they are. Also heard of exterminators spraying yards and trees with garlic juice to keep them away.
Sounds like you are looking at homes on-line. You've looked 75228. Also look at 75218 (I know Christie had problems there, but friends of mine haven't), 75214 (Lakewood/ East Dallas), 75206 (M-streets), 75223 (Hollywood Heights). These are all East Dallas areas.
Park Cities areas: 75205, 75209, 75225.
Re: mosquitos - there are companies that can set up a misting system in your yard to keep mosquitoes away. Not sure how effective they are. Also heard of exterminators spraying yards and trees with garlic juice to keep them away.
Sounds like you are looking at homes on-line. You've looked 75228. Also look at 75218 (I know Christie had problems there, but friends of mine haven't), 75214 (Lakewood/ East Dallas), 75206 (M-streets), 75223 (Hollywood Heights). These are all East Dallas areas.
Park Cities areas: 75205, 75209, 75225.
Dec 20th, 2005, 04:17 PM
#74
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Aggiemom, when I say the temperature range is 75-95, that means the NIGHT and DAY range.
No... I've never had a day in Dallas in August with a high of 75 degrees...
The night and day range is a meaningful stat because the air is not normally at 95 degrees around the 24 hour clock... you get out of your house to go to work and the air is cooler... you sit outside at a sidewalk cafe for lunch, and it is warmer, but not that bad in the shade... at 4PM, it's hot... albeit much less humid than at 7AM.
No... I've never had a day in Dallas in August with a high of 75 degrees...
The night and day range is a meaningful stat because the air is not normally at 95 degrees around the 24 hour clock... you get out of your house to go to work and the air is cooler... you sit outside at a sidewalk cafe for lunch, and it is warmer, but not that bad in the shade... at 4PM, it's hot... albeit much less humid than at 7AM.
Dec 20th, 2005, 04:22 PM
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Petlover, the mosquito threat is overblown.
This spring and summer and fall, I tent camped out quite a lot at the state parks around Dallas. Occasionally, I would have some ant problems, when I got careless and didn't sweep them out of my tent...
But I never had a problem with mosquitoes...
When I go to Disneyworld in Florida, I notice that the houses have their back yard patios, or even thei entire yards, completely enclosed with screening... I've never seen that in the Dallas area, so I'll assume it isn't common...
This spring and summer and fall, I tent camped out quite a lot at the state parks around Dallas. Occasionally, I would have some ant problems, when I got careless and didn't sweep them out of my tent...
But I never had a problem with mosquitoes...
When I go to Disneyworld in Florida, I notice that the houses have their back yard patios, or even thei entire yards, completely enclosed with screening... I've never seen that in the Dallas area, so I'll assume it isn't common...
Dec 20th, 2005, 04:32 PM
#76
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Petlover,
What you have not been told so far is that the Park Cities are the Dallas equivalent to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles... a mansion-studded enclave, with its own town government, catering to the wealthy or nearly so...
What you have not been told so far is that the Park Cities are the Dallas equivalent to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles... a mansion-studded enclave, with its own town government, catering to the wealthy or nearly so...
Dec 21st, 2005, 01:31 AM
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Well, most of California is very hot in the summer, except for a narrow coastal strip that is cooled by the Pacific, and the high altitude areas in the Sierras. In fact, almost all of America is hot in the summer... that's a normal condition of life.
When you're choosing a place to live, a 5 or even 10 degree difference in average July temperature is just a small part of the equation.
When you're choosing a place to live, a 5 or even 10 degree difference in average July temperature is just a small part of the equation.
