[GretchBriBri]

My family and I are planning to relocate from Upstate NY to a somewhat warmer climate within the next two years. I thought it would be fun to take a month long road trip next summer (when our two children are a little older) to visit 5 or 6 towns that we may want to move to. If anyone has any suggestions about where we should look into I would be open to your ideas. I have done extensive research regaring crime, weather, schools, jobs, etc using the internet but there is nothing like first hand advice.

Our kids will only be 8 and 6 so a good school system may be important unless we utilize private schools. Low crime is very important to us. Weather needs to be less cold than upstate ny (which shouldn't be hard to find!) Some jobs would also be a plus, I will be looking for a teaching job and my husband for something in law enforcement. We currently live in a small rural town about an hour from Rochester and would like to be a little closer to 'things', but a small town would be ok.

I appreciate any information you can give us in our search for a great place to call home!

[Eastbound1]

....how about checking out "Niceville, Florida" (no kidding) in the FLorida Panhandle, between Pensacola and Panama City. It is the nice small town, with really good school you might be looking for....

[delandite]

DeLand, located in Volusia County, Florida, may be one of Florida's best kept secrets. Imagine a college campus classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown brimming with notable gift shops and restaurants. Then place it between the shores of the St. Johns River and the silvery surf of the Atlantic Ocean.

Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes from Daytona Beach and about 40 minutes from Orlando. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities and hospitality a small Southern town can offer.

Tree shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the campus of Florida's oldest private college, Stetson University. Stetson's presence enhances the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals, museums and a vibrant speakers program.

Nearby parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving and canoeing. Get a peek at Manatees in Blue Springs, or boat over to Hontoon Island State Park to see a cypress swamp on the St. Johns River. Explore the early settler's history at DeLeon Springs State Park, where you can griddle your own pancakes at The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, then paddle a canoe through the wilderness.

When you need a beach for cruising or sunning, drive on the sands of Daytona, or seek out a calmer shore in New Smyrna Beach. Still feeling restless?... Skydive DeLand offers instruction on jumping from planes.

[doni]

Niceville is indeed a very nice little town. Great schools(A+) clean with low crime , close to everything. Lived here 10 years.

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by GretchBriBri

My family and I are planning to relocate from Upstate NY to a somewhat warmer climate within the next two years. I thought it would be fun to take a month long road trip next summer (when our two children are a little older) to visit 5 or 6 towns that we may want to move to. If anyone has any suggestions about where we should look into I would be open to your ideas. I have done extensive research regaring crime, weather, schools, jobs, etc using the internet but there is nothing like first hand advice.

Our kids will only be 8 and 6 so a good school system may be important unless we utilize private schools. Low crime is very important to us. Weather needs to be less cold than upstate ny (which shouldn't be hard to find!) Some jobs would also be a plus, I will be looking for a teaching job and my husband for something in law enforcement. We currently live in a small rural town about an hour from Rochester and would like to be a little closer to 'things', but a small town would be ok.

I appreciate any information you can give us in our search for a great place to call home!

You may want to check out where i live in Inverness (citrus county) it's on the west central coast. It's a small fairly quiet town with some of the better schools in FL according to the school ratings list anyways. Plenty of law enforcement who are good at keeping on top of things around here. Most of the crimes around here are minimal ones. Always have a few teaching positions open. We have several schools in the county. Inverness alone has the elementary and high school next door to each other and the middle school is less than a mile from them so it's good if you'll have kids in different school grades as they are all close by.

[PeteU]

Originally Posted by delandite

DeLand, located in Volusia County, Florida, may be one of Florida's best kept secrets. Imagine a college campus classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown brimming with notable gift shops and restaurants. Then place it between the shores of the St. Johns River and the silvery surf of the Atlantic Ocean.

Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes from Daytona Beach and about 40 minutes from Orlando. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities and hospitality a small Southern town can offer.

Tree shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the campus of Florida's oldest private college, Stetson University. Stetson's presence enhances the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals, museums and a vibrant speakers program.

Nearby parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving and canoeing. Get a peek at Manatees in Blue Springs, or boat over to Hontoon Island State Park to see a cypress swamp on the St. Johns River. Explore the early settler's history at DeLeon Springs State Park, where you can griddle your own pancakes at The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, then paddle a canoe through the wilderness.

When you need a beach for cruising or sunning, drive on the sands of Daytona, or seek out a calmer shore in New Smyrna Beach. Still feeling restless?... Skydive DeLand offers instruction on jumping from planes.

Absolutely. DeLand is a great place. My parents are considering it as a retirement town. As a Stetson grad who lived 4 years in DeLand, I can vouch for it as a nice place to live.

[TriMT7]

Hobe Sound, Tequesta, and Jupiter are towns you might want to look into on the Southeast/Centralish coast. They have a smaller town feel and are still convenient to South Florida amenities with low crime, and good schools.

[Sueilp]

Sebastian or Vero Beach are small towns with low crime and good schools too. By the beach which is nice. One and half hours from orlando if you want to do Disney and half an hour from Melbourne which is another nice place to be

[Hyperbole]

Originally Posted by delandite

DeLand, located in Volusia County, Florida, may be one of Florida's best kept secrets. Imagine a college campus classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown brimming with notable gift shops and restaurants. Then place it between the shores of the St. Johns River and the silvery surf of the Atlantic Ocean.

Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes from Daytona Beach and about 40 minutes from Orlando. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities and hospitality a small Southern town can offer.

Tree shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the campus of Florida's oldest private college, Stetson University. Stetson's presence enhances the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals, museums and a vibrant speakers program.

Nearby parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving and canoeing. Get a peek at Manatees in Blue Springs, or boat over to Hontoon Island State Park to see a cypress swamp on the St. Johns River. Explore the early settler's history at DeLeon Springs State Park, where you can griddle your own pancakes at The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, then paddle a canoe through the wilderness.

When you need a beach for cruising or sunning, drive on the sands of Daytona, or seek out a calmer shore in New Smyrna Beach. Still feeling restless?... Skydive DeLand offers instruction on jumping from planes.

Is it an expensive "little" town, as far as housing is concerned?

[southernms]

We just found out we are moving to Niceville Florida.....very excited, but really I do want all the scoop I can get. We have two children 12 and 10 and my husband is taking a job at Eglin, but in a civilian position. Information on neighborhoods and opportunities for children as far as sports and rec go...would be great. Thanks for any help anyone can provide