Looking for a certain community where kids run around (waterparks, home)

[jazcat]

We're looking for the ideal place to raise kids. We'd like to find a community, maybe a planned community (new urbanist maybe?), where people are friendly and look out for each other, and kids can run around and be kids. Other things we like...
- diversity
- near cultural center - art, music, ethnic foods
- non-super-religious, plenty of progressive thinking and conversation
- excellent public schools with lots of parent involvement (not just teaching to the test)
- major airport accessible
- clean air, lots of trees
- milder weather
- 3/2, 1500+ sq feet less than $700K

For example, The Waters, in Alabama, looks like such a kid heaven. But not diverse in the least. I want The Waters but with a progressive and diverse population, near a major airport. Any ideas?

[Ben Around]

I was going to say my neighborhood, Highland Park in St. Paul, till I got to your criterium for "milder weather".

[jazcat]

That's so nice you have all that! I'll check it out.

[SugarHazard]

Definitely South Orange County in California. Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Aliso Viejo. Good jobs in Irvine, LA, and San Diego. Super Safe, new neighborhoods. We're talking tot lots, parks, waterparks, skate parks, dog parks, tennis courts, and pools/spas. Lots of free community events several times a year with lots of cheap community classes for child care, child camps, yoga, social clubs and the like. In Ladera Ranch, even the internet access is free and they also have a community intranet for online socializing and communicating with the local hospitals and schools. The kids get laptops in school to bring home to use for school work. Conservative leanings politically but very liberal and PC about their beliefs. Most are religious but not pushy or even care if you're not - just don't pop up in their church. hehe. Near oceans, deserts, mountains, parks, lakes, etc. Ocean breezes keep temps in avg 70-80s, 3-4 days a year where it hits above 100 degrees if that and it's a dry heat. Winters are rainy with 48 degrees or so being coldest. No snow except in the mountains for skiing and then some of it is fake snow. Cooler than LA and San Diego but warmer than San Francisco and San Jose. Schools are not super great like some places (ie. Plano, TX or Greenwich, CT) but not as bad as others (Hawaii). Elementary to High Schools are okay but great UC's - you'll get tuition discounts for residents to attend the University of Ca school system such as UCLA, UCI, UCSD, etc. Lots of things to do San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Lego Land, Disneyland, Magic Mountain, LA stuff, Mexican food everywhere, Asian food in Irvine and LA, more new resturants every day. -sigh- this is where we grew up and it was a good childhood community-wise. Your kids would love it. Only downside is: the kids might grow up to be a bit spoiled, materialistic, and stuck up. eh, small price to pay for perfection and deep down I think most people wouldn't mind their kids being spoiled if they could afford it.