where should we move? Prescott, Twin Falls, or Walla Walla?

[thedfly]

Originally Posted by cleanairkids

Can anyone tell me about the elem. schools in Prescott vs. Prescott Valley? Specifically, Abia Judd vs. Taylor Hicks vs. Franklin Phonetic?

Abia Judd and Taylor Hicks are both A+ Rated Schools in AZ. I have a child at AJ and have been happy. There is a lot of parent involvement at the school. Main difference between the two schools is that Abia Judd is a newer facility.

Originally Posted by deangek

Whatever you do, DO NOT MOVE TO PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ!!!! I bought my first house there, lived there for 4 years, then moved. I rent out the property, but it's a complete nightmare dealing with the town of PV. It's not the tenants fault, they're great people! Prescott Valley thinks that they are the ultimate Home Owners Association. They will fine you for any chance they get. If tumbleweeds blow onto your property, they will fine you. If you park a car in the wrong spot, they will fine you. DO NOT MOVE THERE! It was the biggest mistake I have ever made. Even if you cover a vehicle, they fine you. I was fined $1500 for having a car covered and 3 tumble weeds!

Not all of Prescott Valley has an HOA covering the areas. When you are purchasing property, you are given the HOA rules & CC&R's which will outline whether you need to have your garbage can put away on the same day as trash pickup, if you're allowed to park a car in the driveway or street, if you can grow weeds 3 ft. tall and/or paint your house purple. If you don't agree with them, you have the option of cancelling your contract during the inspection period. When we lived in Phoenix, I received a friendly letter about weeds in our yard with a definition of 'spurge'...I remember thinking it was just a little ground cover growing and the green looked pretty. I would have let it grow. I had no idea that it could become pretty invasive. Had we not removed them, I'm sure we would have received a fine. HOA's are there to protect your investment and your property. Some are much more strict than others. If the whole idea of someone telling you what you can or can't do with your house, or if you want to leave your Xmas lights up year-round, chances are that you should buy a house in a no-HOA area.

Originally Posted by Shelly C

There is plenty to do for kids here. They have a pool open during the summer. YMCA pool indoors in Prescott. There is also the mall, hockey games, many concerts and different venues at the Tims Toyota Center (hockey rink) movie theatre and that is to just name a few. I really think that you have to live here and not just visit to get more involved and know what a town is like and what they have to offer. Prescott doesnt have as much for the kids as prescott valley but it is only a hop skip and jump away.

I have to agree. I think that both towns are really working on improving what is available for children and families and that they have been behind in this area for many years. Prescott has wonderful events for families...a great winter carnival downtown and parades (this year with an ice rink on the square, last year was fake snow-blowing) and July 4th the city goes all out with rides, entertainment, fireworks etc. at Pioneer Park really geared for families. Prescott Valley Parks & Rec has a program on Fridays during the summer for the kids that they put on (completely free) and every Friday the theme is different (water games, relay races, water balloon tosses, etc). Prescott Valley and Chino Valley have nice outdoor pools while there is the indoor pool with water slide at the YMCA in Prescott. I believe both Prescott and Prescott Valley have skate parks.

[esselcue]

Yuma is not a bad city at all, but be prepared for HOT, DRY & Dusty! People who are not from the desert forget than during at least four months of the year even the nights are HOT. It isn't bad dealing with desert heat of 110-120 degrees during the day, but when you cannot get away from air conditioning even at night it makes for a somewhat restricted life. You cannot open your windows and doors even at night from June through September unless you are really a hot-weather person.

Up in the Prescott area there are some hot summers days but the nights always cool off. It's a nice little town...crowded at imes because it is a popular tourist area due to rodeo, and other activities, but the weather is usually good.

Wickenburg is cute as can be, I love that town, but expensive and also desert=Hot. Just be forewarned when moving to a desert city or town that you really know what "desert" is all about. It can be unrelenting heat.

[Hunter Wold]

Having lived pretty much all over the west/SW/NW for your situation you might visit: Bellingham, WA, Whidbey Island, WA, and depending upon job situation Cottage Grove, Ore., Walla Walla even though there is (1) prison there, (not the only prison in Wa. state), the town is growing and has ok summers, winters can get snow, windy at times...
Coeur d'Alene Idaho is growing and has 4 seasons, winters can be long and cold, summers great as well as spring...
I think Coastal towns might be your best choice to look at..

HW Good Luck, Happy trails.

[MichaelinWA]

Coeur d'Alene is really nice.

It really isn't fair to dismiss Walla Walla as a mere "prison town," as an earlier post did. With its thriving wine industry and increasing popularity among tourists and retirees, it's almost more Napa than Florence. And Walla Walla is also something of a college town, with three institutions, including highly regarded Chapman. It's just a little too out of the way for me. A long way from Seattle or Portland, and the ocean.

Originally Posted by Hunter Wold

Having lived pretty much all over the west/SW/NW for your situation you might visit: Bellingham, WA, Whidbey Island, WA, and depending upon job situation Cottage Grove, Ore., Walla Walla even though there is (1) prison there, (not the only prison in Wa. state), the town is growing and has ok summers, winters can get snow, windy at times...
Coeur d'Alene Idaho is growing and has 4 seasons, winters can be long and cold, summers great as well as spring...
I think Coastal towns might be your best choice to look at..

HW Good Luck, Happy trails.