Your recommendation for 2 women, 1 child ...? (public schools, live in, restaurants)

[chally]

Hello, folks, I'm new here and have enjoyed catching up on all your opinions and ideas. Now I'd like to get your suggestions for my situation.

We're two women (one caucasian, one latina) with a 12-year-old boy and we're looking to move to an accepting, open, beautiful town anywhere in the US. Big enough to have good library, restaurants, some ethnic/racial/etc. diversity, lots of fun things to do, outdoor activities, and alternative religious/spiritual resources (for example, Religious Science and/or Unity churches, Abraham-Hicks study groups, or the like).

We're educated and have a successful business that can operate anywhere (it's internet based). One of us is a runner, the other getting back into bicycling. The young man is a little shy but really enjoys public school and is looking forward to a great new one. (Not into sports, but a whiz at computer games and an excellent writer as well.)

Don't know if any of that is useful, but might as well take a shot! We are free to move anywhere and are ready to do it right away. (We've been traveling for several months and are ready to settle down somewhere lovely and welcoming.)

Thanks so much for your help.

Chally

[sweettea1]

Don't know if you're looking for big city or small town but here are a few places that come to mind:
Seattle
Asheville, NC
Portland
Santa Fe

I live in Atlanta and would recommend a few places intown, such as Decatur, Virginia Highland, Grant Park or East Atlanta. But these other cities (IMO) have much more to offer.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Minneapolis
-One of the highest used library systems in the nation. They have had some troubles with hours, but the new Central library was designed by Pelli. Amazing.
-Very gay-friendly town, huge pride fests. Very, very accepting.
-Tons of restaurants. Mpls. doesn't like $150 entrees, but dozens of ethnic restaurants and even more traditional choices. Check out eat street on Nicollet Avenue,
-I am not aware of the specific religious resources you outlined, but there are congregrations of every religion I can think of.
-There are miles of paths in the cities. The city Rounds goes for 50 miles around the city proper, and that is just one system. Lakes, Creeks, Rivers and old railroad tracks are now paths. Mpls. has the highest bike ridership rates behind Portland, and that includes winter.
-The public schools in Minnesota are unparalleled.
-No shortage of outdoor activities: fishing, boating, trails, hiking, et. cetera.
-Not as diverse as some other large cities, but large numbers of American Indians, Indians, Hispanics, Hmong and Somalis. The city of Mpls. is probably 65% white.
Hope you find what you are looking for
---Minnehahapolitan