Info on Wakefield (Boston, Reading: schools, place to live, restaurants)

[winafred11]

My husband and I currently live on the North Shore and want to move closer to the city. It's just the two of us for right now, but we're looking to start a family soon, so we'd like somewhere that's safe and a good place for young families (I know, basically what everyone else has been looking for on this thing). What do people know about Wakefield? Does it have much of a downtown? We're interested in it for its location, but really know nothing about it. Thanks!!

[in_newengland]

Wakefield is a good place to live. One great thing about it is the fun and vibrant downtown -- restaurants, little shops, banks, post office, and a really fabulous library are located right on Main St.

There is a newer Shaw's near the downtown. There's a large lake with a 3 mile walking path around it. I don't know anything about the school system but the people place a lot of emphasis on kids and kids' activities. It's a real family town -- maybe not much for singles, but I think it's a good environment for families. It's very safe, as far as I know--I haven't lived there for a few years but safety was never an issue. To me it seemed like a wholesome all American town.

[CityGirl52]

As the previous poster mentioned to you, it's got a really nice downtown atmosphere. I know about it because I cut thru there a lot when I'm driving from the Reading area to visit family members. Wakefield Center's got a real New Englandy look to it and then as an added bonus? They have a beautiful lake there! So absolutely check it out, I'm even considering it for down the road, I want to be closer to Boston myself and that town's on the A-list. I have been to dinner several times at the Ristorante Molise located at 464 Main Street in Wakefield. GO there if you and your significant other get the chance because it's WONDERFUL there. You might be able to talk to some local yocals here that way that will give you some good tips about Wakefield for down the road when you have kids & need to know about the schools.

Like I said, there's a beautiful lake in Wakefield, it's called Lake Quannapowitt. It's great for walking, running & people watching from what I'm being told by my relatives that live near it. It gets crowded at certain times of the day and some times there's no parking spots for your car; that's the only thing people don't like about it along with the stubid ole Canadian geese, but hang in there, people usually just do a lap around the lake and leave 9 times out of 10. It's a 3 mile walk/run around that lake, so it's a pretty good little jaunt! There's also a Yacht Club there as well. It's the Quannapowitt Yacht Club (QYC for short). Here's the website to check it out:

About QYC | Quannapowitt Yacht Club

Well that's about it from this end, good luck with exploring Wakefield. I'm sure you'll get more assistance when people read this thread, but I also think if you go to the Ristorante Molise right in Wakefield on Main Street some night, that's what I'd do, go right to the restaurant & ask away! You'll get some great tips from the waitstaff there as well as patrons sitting right near you most likely.

Good luck!