Small Town Feel w/ in 45 miles of Children's Hospital?

[caieva]

Wales!
Small village, blue ribbon public schools, great community feel, very close to both total nature (kettle moraine, lake country) and a mere 20 minutes straight west on the freeway from Childrens.
Lots of big city amenities very close, but a wonderful small community feeling where we all know our neighbors.
I think Cedarburg is great, but a bit expensive, and the drive from Cedarburg to Childrens is acky.

[marchesefam]

My father and step-mom live in Dousman. They're suggesting Cedarburg, Mequon, Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Sussex, Pewaukee, Hartland, Delafield, Nashotah, and Lannon. Thoughts on those? I had mentioned Eagle to them (I have a friend there) and got a resounding NO!

[#Littledog]

I really think Cedarburg is what you are looking for.

Lake Country (Hartland, Nashotah, etc) will not give you that small town. Snooty, overly competitive. Extra-marital affairs, swingers, 45 year olds smoking pot in hot tubs....I'm not even kidding-this is what I hear from anyone who lives there. Lots of people who make a lot of money having mid-life crisises.

Cedurburg is more quaint, wholesome.

[newto53202]

I am a big fan of the Grafton/Port Washington area..although Port is kind of far to drive to Children's Hospital

[caieva]

You know littledog, people smoke pot everywhere. Extra marital affairs - everywhere. Mid-life crises - again...
Swingers, well now, that makes me wonder about your friends, because sometimes you find what you are looking for!
Delafield and Wales both have a small town feel, but you are are right Lake Country - Delafield and north of there- are very wealthy and competitive.

Eagle does not have a good school district or public services and it isn't easy to get from there to anywhere.
Since your family lives in Dousman - this is to the OP - you might enjoy the way the children, in their delightfully cruel way, describe it. Kettle Moraine blue ribbon schools pull from the Dousman Dirties, the Wales Whiners and the Cushing (that would be those Lake Country rich kids) Crybabies.

[BrewCityMama]

marchesefam - Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and the Herma Heart Center are incredible, as I am sure you know. We had to move out of state (500 miles away), but will continue to have our son (with heart defects) followed there. We lived in Fox Point and had the life style you are describing. I would recommend looking at Fox Point as well as the other suggestions previously mentioned. There is a great Moms Group in the Northshore (Fox Point, Bayside, Whitefish Bay), the schools are incredible, and our kids were out in the neighborhood playing with the other neighborhood kids all the time.

I also wanted to let you know, if you are interested, that there is a Mended Little Hearts of Milwaukee group. They are a wonderful group and great resource. Good luck with your move!!

[diddynas]

Not sure how big is too big, but what about West Bend?

[urbanideas]

When we were looking to buy a home 2 years ago, we stumbled with Sussex by chance and thankfully so. We were looking at similar places such as brookfield, cedarburg, menomonee falls, mequon, etc
We are so very happy to have ended up in Sussex. It is a breeze to go north or east from here, people are real friendly, school system is fantastic. for such a small place we actually have a variety of restaurants to choose from, two supermarkets, etc. I have a feeling ther is still much growth happening within the next 5-10 years in sussex.

[jlckmj]

I would suggest the Lake Country area,
Oconomowoc, Delafield, Hartland,
great schools, all within 45 minutes of Children's
PLUS, you would be close to the grandparents but not too close.
Jim