Good thread! Yes, the weather has been gorgeous here lately! I defy anyone to say the 86* with 85* water temps is not ideal!!! Just imagine taking the kids to the beach every weekend, yes? I live in FLL and Bayview elementary(right down the street) is one of the top schools in Fla, but it is way too far from Miami. BTW, your children will love the lizards, they are cute IMO.

Hi all,
Just discovered the exact location of the job (address) it's in Miramar. So, looks like some of the N. suburbs are perhaps closer than living in Miami. Thoughts on places with the same criteria of good schools, cool environment, etc? Can't home school or I'd go insane. I guess I'll pay for school. I appreciate the thoughts though. I guess I'll need to rent first and scour the area.

Well Miramar is a whole other kettle of fish. You definitely don't want to live in Miami-Dade county. Your options for good neighborhoods have just widened a great deal. Davie, Coral Springs, Parkland and Plantation are nice suburbs out west (more home for your dollar). In the eastern county, near the beach, are historic neighborhoods in Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale. Less square footage, more charm, and a quick drive to the beach. You also have the option of high-rise condos on the beach. I'm not sure what you could get in your price range in that department.

If your husband doesn't mind a bit of a commute (not bad, really), you might consider Boca Raton, in Palm Beach County. It's where I live. Somewhat upscale. Pretty Mediterranean architecture with a lot of prisitine beaches. There are posh, gated communities if you want them. Relatively good public schools.

The public school to go to in Broward is Nova--it goes K through 12--but I believe there is a waiting list. That's a school I could, perhaps, be persuaded to send my kid to. (Don't confuse it with Nova private school. That's something altogether different.) The "fancier" private schools are Pinecrest, North Broward Prep, and St. Andrews School (in Boca Raton).

We lived in the Miami area [Dade County, now Miami-Dade] for many years, it is slowly becoming a third world non-English speaking area of our country. Many people that have lived there are moving out of the area. The school system must teach, or should I say try to teach in many different languages. I have known second and third generation people that lived in the South Florida area that spoke little or no English. In all reality it is not really a necessity or requirement to speak English. Their kids start school and that is, in many cases, the first time they are exposed to a day to day English language situation. Enjoy your South Florida experience.

Hello,
I'd have to say to move into the Coral Gables or South Miami areas both which are about no more than 30 minutes to downtown. In South Miami try to stay up to 62 ave and between 40 street and 56 street. There is also Schenley Park right outside of Coral Gables. All of these areas have great schools. Coral Gables Elementary, West Lab, David Fairchild all of which are good schools. Pembroke Pines is much more than a 1/2 hour drive.

Wow RedRock I have never met a 2nd or 3rd generation that didn't speak English. I guess you must have found the only one in your few years here. Third world huh? I wonder if that is why major companies have their satellite offices here or why downtown Miami is full of companies with their headquarters here?

keli -- I have seen kids raised in homes where the language is not English and its not spoken in the home. The first time the kids get a dose of English is when they start to school. The school system then must compensate for this lack of mastery and it can be difficult for the children not to mention the teachers. Major companies are headquartered and have offices all over the world.

keli, Miami is full of companies from other countries that have headquartered there. Most are from Spanish speaking countries.

My sister and brother in law are both pediatricians in Miami and it is common for second generation Miami residents to only speak Spanish.

keli, my experiences are similar to RedRock's as well.

Hi Lenlu!

Congrats on the relocate! If your company is located in Miramar, then you could choose to live in either Dade or Broward County. There are some great neighborhoods in the area.

Go to the Miami-Dade and Broward County Chamber of commerce websites for more information on relocating to the area.

My suggestion would be for you to rent close your jobs and then over the course of your lease, figure out where you would like to be.

There's no doubt South Florida is culturally diverse and like everywhere else, it has its pros and its cons.

I'm a little confused as to the talk of 2nd and 3rd generation "Miamians" not speaking English. I am proud to say that even my grandmother who migrated to this country over 30 years speaks English.

Best of luck to you!

Wink, the reason being is because so many people in Miami speak Spanish as a first langauge, many never need to learn English at all.

Entire neighborhoods are Spanish speaking; doctors, lawyers, city services, grocery, etc.

I've been in stores where clerks did not speak any English - or at least claimed they did not.

Just a word on raising kids in South Florida - I asked my kids if they think being raised here (Boca Raton) was a good experience or would they have rather been raised in a place like NY. The answer was an unconditional YES to Florida. They love it here and they are 18 and 22. Come on down.

Hey GoTravel!

I consider myself a native-Miamian and am aware that there are neighborhoods where Spanish, Portuguese and Creole are the norm. But, wouldn't go as far as calling Miami a third-world country with such generalizations.

I for one love living in Miami. One of my biggest gripes isn't its cultural diversity, it's the traffic.

Oh no! Please don't think I called Miami a third world country, far from it! Not at all just the primary language spoken in many cases is not English.

Tons of money in Miami.

I personally love Miami and it is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Well,
I must say I feel better about the relocation after getting so much guidance all of you. I have always felt like getting things from locals is the best way to learn about a place. I do not speak Spanish (French) but perhaps I should learn! It doesn't really worry me in that I wouldn't live in an area that's only Spanish speaking, since this is America. However, I'd encourage all of us to learn because I see languages as a huge benefit to one's character. This has given me much to ponder on. I agree renting is wisest first. Wow. Next I'll have to ply all of you for restaurant and food info! Thank yoU!

lenlu, for food info, search for the "favorite cuban food" thread. Mouth-watering good stuff! And I agree, there is lot of good from knowing more than one language.

Last week, I spent the night at my elderly father's house in Pembroke Pines and took my first commute to Coral Gables from there at around 7:50 am. It took me an hour and a half to get there! I can't imagine doing that every day, though I suppose you learn the loops once you're there.
We live in Miami Springs, 7 miles to Coral Gables, 7 miles to the beach and pretty much in the center of the county. We have our own police department, a lovely golf course. This town is definately a step back in time and an oasis in the center of this sprawling city. Miami Springs is a Tree City USA. We have a lovely 4th of July parade culminating into fireworks at the end of the night, where you will find families gathered in rows and rows, blankets and lawn chairs strewn on the golf course. There are parks and sports activities for the children, bike trails and even a doggie park! A new ice-cream shop has opened at the "Circle" and there is a buzz about a possible contract with Starbucks (imagine that, a Starbucks, right in the center of town!).
Depending on what you are looking for, houses are old and relatively old - so you pay more for what you get. But prices are lower than Coral Gables and Pinecrest. Certainly, though, it looks nothing like the gated communities you will find in Broward.
As for schooling, my daughters attending the public elementary school (there are two, here). During the middle school years, they attended the Catholic School (there is one). For high school, one child attended a Catholic school in Miami, a magnet program in Coral Gables is where the other one went. I cannot say that I recommend public middle or senior high schools, for the most part. But that's just me. One exception are the magnet programs, which I highly recommend.
Best of luck.

I will second Miami Springs, we lived there for a number of years, on Glen Way one block off Curtis Parkway. It is a true oasis in that part of the county.

Lenlu - consider your self lucky! My cousin lives in Boca Raton and it's a lovely place - despite the ocassional palmetto bug!

She is from Dallas, and, like you, had a fear of six legged critters, felt they reflected on her housekeeping, etc. She got over that quickly, and says that with a little boric acid (a safe pesticide) they are under control.

The one thing she said that made a HUGE difference in her enjoyment of life in the tropics? A swimming pool! Most houses in the area have them, and it makes a huge difference to be be able to relax and cool off in your own backyard. And needless to say, winters are a delight - sunny, balmy, and usually dry.

Good luck on your move -- it's overwhelming of course -- but it's a beautiful area. Congratulations!