[riveree]

Originally Posted by Wyndsong

Riv .... no marketing at all. Just heard from friends of friends, who moved to PC and love it. Husband also met someone from work who has been to PC and was considering relocating his family. The rest was my own reasearch. As far as traveling 20-40 minutes for shopping at the "stores", I basically do the same now so that part does not bother me at all.

Sounds like a good fit for you and you might already even know some people in the area.

Overall, it's hard to go wrong in Florida...I'm still really happy I made the move !

[RetGI]

Originally Posted by Wyndsong

My husband and I have decided to relocate our family out of NJ and after hearing nothing but good things about Palm Coast, we headed down there to take a look-see for ourselves. 6 days and 2500 miles later (yes, 2500 miles), we LOVED it and decided PC was a nice place to raise our family and plan to move there this summer. Now, after reading all the threads about Palm Coast, it has made me wonder whether I was driving around with a blindfold around my eyes the whole time or maybe I'm just insane. Living in northern NJ, PC is a different world to one extent yet a bit like taking a piece of "home" with you. First, most of the PC residents we met are from the NY/NJ/CT/MA area but WITHOUT the NY/NJ/CT/MA attitudes. Whether we were at the Winn Dixie, CVS or Dunkin Donuts, the people were extremely friendly, including the neighbors standing in front of their homes as we drove by, waving and asking if they can in any way help us. Second, the town was extremely clean and well maintained, as there wasn't any paper cups being flung out a car window, nor were the streets dug up and re-paved to the extent that you feel like you're riding down a roller coaster with your vehicle. Third, as we have 2 children ages 11 and 5, we drove by the public schools as well as followed some of the school buses as they dropped off the children. Immediately, we noticed the children were properly led out of school and into the buses, and they were dressed appropriately for school, meaning no pants half way down their bottoms with boxers hanging out for the world to see. I'm not saying that this "style" is not appropriate in any way, but I believe there is a time and place for it. There should be some level of respect towards these teachers, and I personally believe that this fashion style shows no respect at all, jmo. Also, as I mentioned we drove 2500 miles, we drove up and down, left and right, through all possible sections (R, W, P, U, B, F, C, L). Yes there were plenty of empty homes, but it seemed to me to be "over-built" and houses were sitting empty because of this surplus. What we also noticed was each section tendered to different age groups, i.e. R and B had plenty of children while not many were noticed in the F section. And yes, during the hours that schools let out, Belle Terre Parkway did become backed-up a bit. However, until you experience traveling 8 miles in 1 hour and 40 miles on any given day (yes, that is true), or getting stuck on the Cross Bronx Expressway on a Friday afternoon, I'll take the BTP back up any time. Yes there is limited shopping, however PC is located right in the middle of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Is it so hard to travel 20 minutes to get to a mall? A lot of people are already complaining about the "traffic" as it is now, could you image if there was a huge mall in PC?? What would people have to say about the traffic then?? I've also read about no "night-life". Based on what we saw, I would say that is a correct statement about PC. But again, you are not far from it. I would think that it just depends on what you want. I believe that most people from the NE region want to get away from all of these points listed above, and I believed Palm Coast was just that place. Please let me know what I am missing because I just don't understand all these negative threads.

P.S. About the "gang" shooting, isn't that the 2 boys from Orlando who stole a vehicle in Bunnell, and were caught by authorities in PC after the boys pulled a gun on authorities??? Or was this another "gang" incident?

Thanks for your post. I was beginning to wonder why everyone is so negative about Palm Coast. I'm in Oklahoma and will be visiting Palm Coast as well as several other areas to include Navarre in the Panhandle next month . I only heard of Palm Coast after researching different areas of the state when Palm Coast popped up. I'm retiring next year, will be sixty but still enjoy life and doing many things. I see Palm Coast as a centrally located area for visits to St. Augustine, Daytona, Orlando, etc. Although I've never been there, I plan to have an open mind when I visit and will be looking out for the positives and negatives as stated here. There is another website with loads of information about the area at www.palmcoastbiz.com. Good Luck!

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by RetGI

I'm retiring next year, will be sixty but still enjoy life and doing many things.

Palm Coast would probably be perfectly fine for retirees. It's younger people, and especially kids, that I don't think would be a good fit for the place because there's nothing there. Retirees have more time to travel around to do things and you may like the slower pace and not many people around.

[KeysDreamer]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

Palm Coast would probably be perfectly fine for retirees. It's younger people, and especially kids, that I don't think would be a good fit for the place because there's nothing there. Retirees have more time to travel around to do things and you may like the slower pace and not many people around.

We moved from Ft. Laud to Palm Coast 9 yrs ago before the big boom and being the fastest growing county. Have 2 daughters 27 and 18.

It is true that PC is more of a slower pace lifestyle and that's what's so attractive. It is definitely not a metropolitan area.

IMO and having a teen in the house, there is no limit to the activities for the kids. The young & teen kids can get involved with sports, church activities, cheerleading, environmental, fishing, boating, surfing, horses etc...just depends on what they are into. Our parks here are wonderful. You will always have your trouble makers and PC certainly does have it's fair share, just as Ormond & Port Orange.

When it comes to the 18 and over crowd I would say it's a lack of clubs, but they do travel to Ormond, Daytona & St. Aug. My oldest has complained about that. She has done just fine though and has an extremely well paid job. Palm Coast is not perfect, no place is.

We do have a Super Wal Mart and Beall's and within the next year have a Super Target, Belks, Bed Bath Beyond along with other stores that I don't even know about. A 12 screen movie theatre will also be coming but I don't believe that will be for about 2 yrs. The lack of a good movie theatre here has created a lot of problems for the kids and we've had to travel to the Regal in Ormond for that. But once we have it all here, won't be a need to go to Ormond!!

Belle Terre does get backed up and do wish they would widen the road. They were supposed to start last Oct but have no idea why it's delayed. Traffic has definitely gotten heavier all over and will only get worse but it's that way to the north and south of us also. Port Orange is a beautiful area and if you are into boating it's great. What we didn't like was the way the mobilehome parks were interspersed between the neighborhoods. We don't have that here.

I would not move here without having a job lined up. Housing prices are going down due to the overbuilding and the backlog of homes on the market. Sorry for the long post and hope I've been helpful. Good luck!

[Wyndsong]

Keys: THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I was hopeful that someone who currently lived in PC would read this thread and respond as to their personal experience, and I got just that from your reply. And that fact that you do have 2 children of your own is an added bonus, to put my mind at ease!! The fact that PC is not a metro area is perfect for me and my family. Being from the NYC area, we have had enough of the craziness and need some peace in our lives . I am in no way saying that PC is "perfect", however it is "different" and that is what we liked about it from the beginning.

We are planning on renting before buying, which I believe will give us better insight to the area itself before making a full committment to any particular place. However, as I noted in a previous thread, being that we do have children (ages 11 and 5) we would like to live in a child-friendly section. I noticed that the "R" and "B" sections had plenty of children. Would you say this is a correct statement?? Is there any other section of PC were my children would "feel comfortable"? Also, what is your opinion on the PC school system? Is there any particular schools you find are better/worse and why?

I hope you do not mind answering these questions for me. Since you currently live in PC, I find you to be someone who can answer these questions honestly and sincerely, rather than hearing it from "a realtor" whose job it is to boast about an area. I truly appreciate it.

[RedWingsFan]

Keep in mind his children were already grown up when he moved there - ages 18 and 27! That's much different than raising little ones there.

I know someone that grew up in Palm Coast. She couldn't wait to get out because it was so boring and there was nothing for kids to do. When she hit 18 she headed for a place in Daytona Beach.

[ssg II]

Originally Posted by Wyndsong

We are planning on renting before buying, which I believe will give us better insight to the area itself before making a full committment to any particular place.

That's a very smart thing to do, especially now in PC, since there IS so much for sale.

Has anybody read about the raids? I think they've found 4 homes so far where marijuana was being cultivated indoors on a MAJOR scale. One of the perps was a sheriff's deputy's brother and all the neighbors say they were nice people, kept the yards up, etc. Actually, I'd rather have reefer growers as neighbors, compared to some I've had! LOL!

[Wyndsong]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

Keep in mind his children were already grown up when he moved there - ages 18 and 27!

I know someone that grew up in Palm Coast. She couldn't wait to get out because it was so boring and there was nothing for kids to do.

I thought that was the age of Keys' children now, at least that is how I read it. Also, when my kids do reach the age of 18 years, I am hopeful they will be in college and they don't have to stay in PC. And if they don't want to go to college, that's fine too. At 18, its really their choice. But it's the time frame between now and then that I believe is crucial to their well-being.

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by Wyndsong

I thought that was the age of Keys' children now, at least that is how I read it. .

Could be, I took it that those were the ages when he moved there.... even if it is their age now it means one was 9 and one was like 17? Not quite the same as raising kids from birth there, trying to find things for little kids to do so they can particpate and be exposed to activities.

I still don't believe there is much there for raising kids in the area....

[KeysDreamer]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

Could be, I took it that those were the ages when he moved there.... even if it is their age now it means one was 9 and one was like 17? Not quite the same as raising kids from birth there, trying to find things for little kids to do so they can particpate and be exposed to activities.

I still don't believe there is much there for raising kids in the area....

As you don't live in Palm Coast "Red Wings Fan" nor raised children here then you really truly don't know what it's like.

We live in the "B" section and my youngest started 4th grade at Indian Trails Elementary and is just graduating from the high school this year. I would say raising my youngest from that grade qualifies her as being raised here.

Life all depends on what you are involved in. Sure they get bored here but there's plenty of activities for them, you just have to look for it. The town is continually changing and growing and as time goes on there will be even more for the kids. We moved here specifically to get away from the big city and PC definitely qualified at that time. It's obviously changed since we first moved here though, some good and some not. The "not" is definitely traffic...but it's nothing like the big cities.

There is also a new school near the R section which is very nice from what I've heard. The original high school is ok and it really depends on your child on how they adapt. If you want trouble you'll find it, just like anywhere else. The new Matanzas High is supposed to be very nice and I believe is mostly for the northern end of PC kids.

The article about the marijuana being grown in the house also mentioned it's happening everywhere, not just here. There does seem to be a little gang activity from what I'm hearing but I'm sure that's in Daytona, Ormond etc...and I believe the police are trying to get a handle on that.

Definitely rent a home first and see how you like it here.