[maggiemay]

Oh gosh, I don't know how you can leave. I just spent the weekend at Inlet Beach. White sand, turquoise sky and azure sea. Just Gorgeous. Add in a few mojitos at Bud and Alley's and a fantastic dinner at 331, and you have a perfect evening. Wake up, and start all over again.

I may have traveled every coastal area in this country: the entire Atlantic seaboard (excluding Maine), the Pacific Coast Highway, Florida on Atlantic and Gulf, Alaska, and Hawaii (only Oahu though). I loved, loved my trip down PCH, but excluding Hawaii, I can't imagine a more beautiful beach than the Emerald Coast.

We're moving to CT and are happy about it, but I'd think hard about leaving that amazing gulf coast. Good luck.

[Iska]

Maggiemay, in my opinion, the most beautiful beaches in America, maybe the world, are the fine white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. They don't come any better. I'll miss those. But even in Destin, there isn't much to do. Artist colonies exist as you move east on the scenic route along the coast and that's about the most urban variety there is.

Hurricanes are becoming a real nuisance all along the gulf coast, however. Two or three times a year cowering in the closet of a 5400 sq ft house with the whole house creaking, groaning, and threatening to come crashing down on you at any time you gets old. Windows designed to withstand wind gusts of 125 mph begin letting in wind-driven water as you look helplessly. Then you have to saw through fallen oak trees to get get through the long drive way to your house. And insurance keeps going up. As high as insurance is, I cannot get less than a minimum $12,000 deductible on my house.

A few people I know threatened to leave the gulf coast permanently if we'd had just one hurricane last year. I have friends who own rental condos in Destin who are getting nervous.

It's really not bad down here. I love it. It's just time to try something different. I can always hike back here in the calm months.

[Iska]

Did a quick tour, thanks to all the input from the very knowledgeable regulars on this forum. Here’s what I found:

Started on Route 6 south through the antiques capital of CT, Woodbury. Loved Woodbury. Loved the town center. Could live there.

Continued to 84 W. Drove straight down to Rte 7. Started at Ridgefield to work my way back up. Ridgefield was beautiful. Downtown was nice, but not as great as I had pictured it in my mind. Did not really get a feel for what goes on here in terms of activities.

Continued through Wilton, which appeared to be a bedroom town. Gorgeous homes. But there did not appear to be anything to do. Continued to Redding and Weston. They all seemed bedroom.

Continued from Weston on Route 53 or 57. Can’t remember which. Went under
the Merritt Parkway into Westport. Really nice, with more liveliness - stores, a downtown, water activity - than Ridgefield, Wilton, Redding, or Weston. I thought I’d be bored to death living in RWRW. Loved Westport. Could live there.

Came back on 53 or 57 - can’t remember which route. Drove through Bethel. Nice town. Very close to urban activity in Norwalk.. Could live there.

Got back on 84E. Swung into Brookfield and Newtown - both very lovely. Could live there.

Continued to Oxford. A really confusing place. Could not wrap my mind around it. No distinctive persona. A very confusing place. Disappointed by the fact that I did not fall in love with it. Was really, really, looking forward to visiting and liking it. I’m sure it’s a wonderful place to live. Didn’t understand it. Oxford is out - or let’s say tabled.

Drove on Rte 118, I think, to Harwington. Quiet small town. Ok. A bit too quiet from what I could see. They’re trying to create a real town. Applaud their efforts.

Continued through Brooklyn. Too brief a reconnaissance to form a judgment.

Continued to Farmington/West Hartford. Instantly grabbed by Farmington/West Hartford. Upscale but urban - I think that’s what I’m really looking for. I want to have an active retirement, not sleep the rest of my life away in a bedroom town. Want to see what Blue Back adds to the ambience. Grimier part of Hartford right up against the west end.

Crossed the CT River into Glastonbuury. I think I found my town. Really neat place. Been visiting Wethersfield for years. Never knew Glastonbury was just around the bend. So glad I’ve now discovered it. Took daughter with me. She loved it. A mini-West Hartford, but quieter. Just enough quiet and activity for me. Reminds me of where I live now. Was wondering if I could ever find such a place in Ct. I found it.

Continued to Marlborough. Loved the acreage of the homes. This would really be my preferred place, if you could move Glastonbury center into it. Really loved Marlborough. Thinking about winter and snow, I was not thrilled by the prospect of having to drive to Glastonbury in extremely cold weather. for some amenities.

So we’re back to Glastonbury. Looked at the Toll Brothers developments. Nice homes. Not really impressed by the treeless expanse of expensive homes. Didn’t really look as great as they did in pictures. In Marlborough, they have trees and woodsiness. Fantastic. No trees in upscale developments in Glastonbury. Really disappointing. I’m looking for a place where developers have not cut down every single tree in sight. I may have to buy land and build.

Now I need a more thorough reconnaissance when I have more time. Would like to visit Hebron, the Quiet Corner, and more of NW CT.

I think, based on what I’ve seen, it’s going to come down to Farmington/West Hartford vs. Glastonbury. I really consider Farmington/West Hartford as one. Farmington is in the mix because I think I can get more land and newer homes than in West Hartford. Farmington will be kinder to my wallet when it comes to property taxes, I think. I may be wrong. Glastonbury has lower taxes than West Hartford. That’s attractive.

Did not check out Simsbury and Avon. The areas immediately east and west of Hartford right now have captured my attention.

Let me just say what a beautiful place CT is. When I came back south, it occurred to me that what enhances the captivating beauty of CT is its compactness. The South is really big - long, interminable highways and large residential developments. The South is beautiful but its vastness renders the beauty not as immediately palpable and as that of CT. CT’s smallness and compactness give it a warm kind of beauty.

It was a quick but enjoyable tour- a feast for the eyes. Advantage Glastonbury.

[skytrekker]

Glad you liked Glastonbury

It has some great restaurants as well- and many upscale venues that one can enjoy. I agree about the homes with no trees- the one thing I like about Marlborough is in fact that woodsiness. Its just so nice- and you can go to the Marlborough tavern (popular, famous and historic meeting place) in the town center for cocktails and dinner. I would not worry too much about 'getting to Glastonbury' in the snow on route 2- its a mere few miles up the road- and is cleared very quickly in the winter. And with global warming- well the winters are not nearly as intense or as long as they once had been.

Your description of West Hartford/Farmington is apt- it is a jazzy upscale existence. However Glastonbury and Marlborough have quicker access to the 'quiet corner' and its incredible number of gems- plus its a quicker drive to the beaches of south eastern CT and RI.

[Iska]

Sky, I now understand why you use the word "nice" and sometimes double up on the word when describing Glastonbury. It really is nice. I'll do another scouting mission to Marlborough.

On another point, my trip down 95 and the inexplicable congestion at 1:00 P.M. weekday between exits 6 and 15 sent me a gut message that maybe I don't need to fool with Fairfield Co. I swung into Milford and swung right out. With all apologies to Milfordites and those who like Milford My first impression was flat. I drove to the waterfront and couldn't see what the rave was all about. I know waterfronts.

[skytrekker]

Well ISK

I avoid south western CT -allot. I 95 is a real nasty scenario- from New Haven west- and Fairfield county? Well the only parts I like are those that border Litchfield county. After the 'redneck' coast, Milford and its shoreline I am sure would not impress you. Actually the shoreline east of New Haven is far more sedate, charming and pleasant. With some nice state beaches and very pleasant towns. Watch Hill over in Rhode Island is a great little town, with a fine beach and many Victorian homes and mansions. As for I 95- east of New Haven it is far more tolerable.

[JayCT]

Iska - I am glad you liked Glastonbury, but don't judge the whole town by the Toll Brother's developments. There are a lot of very nice neighborhoods here and a couple of better builders that you could use. Let me know if you want any additional information on Glastonbury. I would be happy to help.

Marlborough is very nice and Hebron is similar but a little less expensive. It has a small town center that does not have the upscale shops and restaurants like Glastonbury. It is also a little more rural. Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip here. Keep us informed on what you end up doing. Jay

[Iska]

Thanks for the offer, Jay.

[JayCT]

Iska - Which Toll Brothers development did you visit? There are two in Glastonbury. It sounds like you visited High Meadow which is being built on the site of a former sand bank. There weren't too many trees to remove at this location, just some near the entrance road. Their other development is Glastonbury Heights. They saved a lot more trees here.

Both of these developments are almost sold out. Funny with all the talk of a downturn in the housing market, these two developments are still selling. They just increased their prices too. I believe the Heights only has 3 lots left and High Meadow had about 5 when we visited there a few months ago. I also know that there are future phases being planned at High Meadow but they have to get local approval. Was there any mention of this when you visited? I was wondering what thye are telling new visitors.

Anyway, there are a couple of local builders that I think build nicer homes. At least they are building something other than the same brick fronted, front gabled colonials with the side loaded garages that stick out blocking access to the front door from the driveway, which is being built at a 100 other Toll Brothers developments in the northeast. While the homes are nice, they can be a turnoff when there are so many of the same models being built. JMHO, Jay

[Iska]

I'm not sure which TB development was which. I remember one that's adjacent to some older condos. I'm not sure if it's on the New London T-Pike or Hebron Ave. The earth on which the buildings stood seemed a tad unstable from a cursory inspection - so it my be High Meadow. Having built my own house myself, it's something I'm very conscious of. Houses adjust to earth movement and that can create some interesting situations inside. I saw a worker and asked him about some red flags on a lot at the end of a cul-de-sac and he said that they had to do with perc tests. Nothing wrong with that, but I started thinking about the way the earth appeared to me. The condition of the land - maybe it's just my imagination - was not very appealing to me.

The brick/siding combos I saw were not at all appealing. My daughter was of the same opinion.

I did not talk to any real estate or TB folks. I'll be back in August and take another look.