Help!!! Possibly relocating to Lafayette & Baton Rouge (Opelousas, Zachary: environment, travel)

[SDDeutsch]

I may be relocating from Phoenix, AZ to either the Lafayette or Baton Rouge area. The company I may be working for has offices in both cities and there is a chance I may be working out of both from time to time. I know there is a 50 mile+ distance between the 2 offices so I need to know if there are any good cities in between the 2 offices so that way my commute isn't as long??? If not, which area has the best schools and least amount of crime?

I am very excited about this potential move but I have never even visited Louisiana so I am also very scared about it also.

Is this a good place to raise my children? Are the schools really that bad? Phoenix doesn't have a good "reputation" either and the school district that my daughter is in right now is outstanding. So I tend to not believe a lot of the reports out there. It would be nice to hear from someone familiar with the area that can give me a real understanding of what life is like there.

Honestly I am just looking forward to GREEN GRASS and BIG TREES!!! Coming from the desert, this is huge thing!

Any help anyone can give will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Caa]

Hello. I have lived here for 3 years and love Baton Rouge. I get sad sometimes as my family lives in Florida and we are here, but it is a great place to raise a family! The public schools are really bad here in Baton Rouge and I would suggest private for K-12th. The people here are very friendly, especially in our neighborhood. There are tons of activites for kids, plenty of parks and things for small children to do. There are about 5 indoor play places and 2 Chuck E cheese places. BREC parks have lots of activities, soccer etc. The weather is great, it does get cold(today it is 60), but we love that. There is also a big Christian base here so you are allowed to say "Lent" and Christmas" and not too many get offended! It is great here and we love it! The traffic is the same as anywhere else, busy at 8 and 5ish, don't let anyone tell you different, it is the same as traffic anywhere else, only drivers here are nicer than average in my opinion.

[darylwi]

If I lived between Lafayette and BTR, I'd pick either WBR Parish (Port Allen, Lobdell area) or Breaux Bridge, but I find Breaux Bridge a little more country. The people are fairly nice in either city. I do not know about St. Martin Parish schools (Breaux Bridge), but WBR are pretty fair, especially when compared with EBR. Brusly actually has fairly good schools, but you have to live in Brusly to go there (which is just down LA-1 from Port Allen). Living in Port Allen, it is nothing to cross the bridge into BTR. To get to Lafayette, you will have to cross the great divide (the basin). It's not bad every day, but when it's bad, it's bad. Seriously, there is almost nothing between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Take a chance and drive it and you'll see why.
If drive time isn't a big issue, you'd probably do better looking for a house along US 190 somewhere and then taking 190 to Opelousas to Lafayette, and 190 also connects to BTR via the old bridge.
There are a few nicer subdivisions going up in WBR along LA-76 (Court Street) heading west from Port Allen, also north of Port Allen along 190, and there are a few new subdivisions south of Port Allen along LA-1.

South Louisiana will be a lot different from the desert although it typically stays warm. We'll have one or two warm days for every cold day throughout the winter. It's not uncommon to see people walking or playing golf in the dead of winter because it'll be 70 degrees.
For the most part, it stays wet and green, which is good too. Although I love the drives out west where you can see for miles and miles.
Best of luck to you.

[JesusisLord]

You might be extremely shocked by the very humid climate. I would visit in the summer to see how you like it, especially if your coming from such a dry place as Arizona. I know it's hot there, but the humidity in the Bayou is intense.

[fira12]

I moved to Baton Rouge four years ago from Ohio,my husband is from Riverside,Ca.I agree with you totally about people tending to post a lot of negative aspects of cities. I can only comment on Baton Rouge,although I have heard a lot of nice things about Lafayette.Baton Rouge traffic is terrible-all day,it is not so much the volume of cars as it is the lack of alternate routes so you pretty much just sit-bumper to bumper and burn gas,but hey,you just work the delay into your travel time,you get accustomed to it.Also the weather(humidity) really does a number on sinuses and allergies-none of which I had before moving here. The people are so friendly here and we have really appreciated that. Overall I would say that housing prices are great here,schools-go private no question(we currently have our 2nd grader in public since K,curriculum is great but the environment is not good,fighting,swearing,etc.even among the little ones)This isn't the most family friendly environment,a lot to do for adults though if you enjoy casinos and dining out.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by SDDeutsch

Honestly I am just looking forward to GREEN GRASS and BIG TREES!!! Coming from the desert, this is huge thing!

You are so going to love Louisiana! I'm a native of Indiana and have lived in the south for most of my adult life. I HATE the summers down here, but it's the price we pay for an incredible fall thru spring. Baton Rouge is bigger than Lafayette, but if I had a young family I might be tempted to settle in Lafayette. Lots of culture and a great family environment. I think the public school system is better there. Course anywhere is better than Baton Rouge ... sad but true.

Traffic in BR has increased since Katrina, but it's nothing compared to other major cities. Once you learn the city, you learn the alternate routes. Growing cities have growing pains.

Get ready to eat lots of boiled crawfish. Only another month or so before the new season begins. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (let the good times roll!)

[Caa]

I have to disagree with the post that said not family friendly! There are so many festivals in Baton Rouge that I have lost count. Also there are about 50 BREC parks and they all have tons of activities for children and teenagers. There is also the LASM and about 5 indoor play places for ages 12 and under. Also the planetatium and the Highland Road Observatory, not to mention Blue Bayou and Dixie Landing for the summertime! Also, sports galore to get kids involved in, along with LSU sports events to attend. I think this is one of the most family friendly cities I have lived in, and the people here are all great for the most part. There are also lots of Holiday things around Christmas and Easter as well.

[teeumup21]

I have a son in Pheonix, so I know a bit about both. I moved to Zachary, 4 -06, from Houston TX. My daughter lives in Lafayette. NO there is nothing in between but a huge Bayou and a 20 mile bridge. It can be dangerous at times during the year crossing that casway, fog and the like. You have to really watch traffic. Lafayette is nice in many ways, the town is younger and better suited it seems to the younger crowd. Though the schools in Zachary are listed as the #1 public schools in LA. It will be an adjustment for you! BE Prepared for that! But all in all I think you will like it. My husband has been transferred to the Chicago area. Moderator cut: please use direct message feature - no advertising or soliciting on C-D

[yarbreaux]

Nice to hear your considering the area. I like the suggestion about "testing" the humidity...although most usually get used to moving a little slower after the first year or so. I relocated to Lafayette about 12 years ago and made regular trips to Baton Rouge. I love Lafayette, the people, the pace, and the general feel of the community. The festivals (best is Festival International) are VERY family friendly. Housing in Louisiana is a little pricey - and with the cost of gas, you may want to pick the city where you will be spending the most time. Public schools in Lafayette are OK - still many choose private. In Lafayette, I like the southern sections, including south Lafayette, Broussard and Youngsville. In Baton Rouge, you can avoid some traffic if you are able to locate toward the campus (LSU) side (west) of the city.

[shaneevans1]

Zachary or Central. Both on the north end of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Anywhere else, you will likely want to look at private schools.

Both have relatively easy access to I-110, which will get you to I-10 without having to go through the needle in your eye traffic of south Baton Rouge.

PM me if you want a phone number, Id be willing to visit with you on the phone and answer your questions.

Shane