I just stumbled upon this website a couple hours ago, and just thought that I would voice my thoughts on Wood River, and the areas surrounding it. I think that this small town is a great place to live. I am 23 and have lived here all of my life. I just moved out with my boyfriend, but before that, I had lived in the same house since I was born. There is great comfort here, and I really feel as though this town is my "home." Wood River is a very stable place; I went from elementary to high school with many of the friends I have now, and they still live in this area.
I had a great childhood here, and definitely want to raise children of my own in this town. There is always something family oriented to do, and many local sports that children (and adults!) can play.
http://woodriver.org/If (broken link) this says anything for Wood River, the local Sports and Rec. director recently died of a heart attack, and I think literally almost the whole town came to the visitation. There are many parks, and they are all VERY well kept. Here is a lost of all the parks in Madison County:
Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
Services, Parks and Recreation, Wood River, Illinois (IL) The Aquatic Center in Wood River is also great, and has awesome swimming programs for children (I took lessons there growing up). It is located right next to the high school:
EAWR - Home of the Oilers!
The Wood River Firestation is having its annual fish-fry this upcoming weekend, and it always draws a big turnout!
Wood River, Alton, Edwardsville, and East Alton each have a big Halloween parade every year that isn't to be missed. I was shocked to hear that a lot of places in the U.S. don't have Halloween parades!! I look forward to them every year! Trick or Treating around town is very safe, and goes on on the 30th and the 31st. There are always Easter egg hunts and fourth of July fireworks, and Santa comes by the libraries and malls.
The area is very diverse...you can travel 10 minutes one way and be in the middle of a corn field, and 10 minutes in the other direction and be in the middle of a crowd of people and lots to do. The country drives are great, especially when there are meteor showers! In the fall, I HIGHLY recommend driving down the Great River Road, where the trees look so beautiful along the bluffs of the Mississippi. Grafton, also along the river road, is THE town to go in the winter, as Bald Eagles come here in the cold months. Another must-see attraction along the river road is the huge painting of the Piasa Bird on the bluffs:
AltonWeb - Piasa Bird Legend - Alton, Illinois
Alton, about 10 minutes away from Wood River, has a great history. It is considered to be one of the most haunted towns in America
McPike Mansion Home Page many buildings here were once part of the Underground Railroad. The world's tallest man, Robert Wadlow, also lived here, and there is a life-sized statue of him in the town.
http://www.theartofnothing.com/image...oe6wadlowB.jpg The last Saturday of the summer months, there is always a big block party in downtown Alton.
http://hereandthere.freedomblogging....nd-crowd-2.jpg
This is a very good website to go to, also:
Alton Regional CVB
There are many job opportunities around, and even St. Louis isn't that far of a drive at all, about 15 miles.
The schooling systems are great, and Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (SIUE) is a fantastic university, and Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey is VERY respectable. In fact, my boyfriend and I just went to the LCCC campus today because it was heritage days, an every-year event:
Heritage Days on the Goshen Trail
Bethalto, also a nearby town, had their annual fly-in today, with planes on display, and even free flights for kids!:
St. Louis Regional Airport: Events
Edwardsville is a booming town/city, with many places to shop, a very nice movie theatre, TONS of places to go out to eat, and just a lot to do.
City of Edwardsville, Illinois -- Welcome to the City of Edwardsville Web site! also have a great downtown area
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles14026.jpg In one of the town parks, they have montly "movies in the park," where you are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, food, etc. and watch a movie.
All in all, I can't think of a better place to live than this area. It is very family friendly, the schooling systems are good, all 4 seasons are beautiful, and there is almost no crime rate whatsoever (I don't know anyone whose car has been stolen, whose house has been broken into, etc.). If you are thinking about relocating by yourself or with a family, I would highly suggest any of these towns, each within at MOST a half hour from each other (Wood River is basically in the center of them all).
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Family Friendly St. Louis towns...on the IL side of the river : ), only about 15 miles from STL
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