Relocating To Texas Need info on Cities (Houston, Dallas: waterpark, home)

[BKRoske]

Hi,
My husband and I are thinking about relocating to Texas for work for my husband. Total of 3 welding jobs in Oregon at this time. Listing all over Texas, Just which area to relocate to???? We will be visiting Dallas in July to job hunt and hopefully figure out what area we would like to settle in. We are from a tiny little town off of the Oregon coast and I know that I will be in for a hugh culture shock! My husband is a welder and we have searched out welding jobs in Texas and their seems to be a lot. Does anyone know what area there are the most Welding jobs?
I would also like to live in the part of the state where I won't cook to death from the heat (is that possible) and not freeze in the winter. Or die in a Tornado.. Again I am very shelter!
We like to do a lot of out door activities, fishing, hiking, atv's, camping. Then also we like to do a lot with the kids, water-parks, amusement park, museums, historical stuff.
I would like to live in a city of less then 100k if possible. Could someone please help me out and give us some suggestions and feedback. I am very excited about the possible move, but then again I have only lived in 3 other states then Oregon, so I am very nervous.
Thank you all for your help!!!
Kristi

[shoe01]

Maybe New Braunfels...between San Antonio and Austin, it has a waterpark and is close to a lot of attractions, and fits most of your requirements (probably has welding jobs within 50 miles). It has hot and humid summers, though.

[Poltracker]

Texas is hot...you just have to deal with it. Your not going to find a lot of museums in a town with a small population. Having said that...you might check out Longview. Not too much as far as museums but plenty of lakes and outdoor activities nearby, you can always day trip to Dallas for the museums.

[Dangerfield]

Check out the Tyler/Longview and Sherman/Denison areas.

[EasilyAmused]

Tyler/Longview

[Alatex]

Outdoor activities, waterparks and amusements for the kids, under 100,000 etc ?

You just perfectly described New Braunfels.

This little part of Texas has the best water activities in the state (the best waterparks, the best river tubing, the best swimming in spring-fed pools etc), and nearby Austin and San Antonio and the rural Hill Country offer a great variety of family things to do. You can be in places that feel extremely rural and small, even though you're within a short drive of some of the most interesting cities in the state.

[BKRoske]

Thank you all so much! I was afraid that I wasn't going to be able to beat the heat. I will adapt, I have lived in heat before (Boise, ID). I just didn't have any idea where we should really start Texas is so huge!
The way my husband and I see it, is that if we are relocating, we might as well find an area that we really like and hope that it has most of what we are looking for welding jobs being number 1 and then going down our list. Although coming from a hometown of only 3500, and the closest big city 2 hours away at around 100,000... Well we are in for a culture shock. Portland only has a population of 500,000. We are so excited though and having so many friendly replies, I am hopeful that even though we are leaving the small town, that even in a larger city we are going to find friendly people. I am going to go research these areas now. If you have anymore advice or something that we should know about the move please let me know.
Also being 10 mins. from a cold windy beach (in Oregon) we are excited about visited the ocean there, which area has a nice beach that would be a good place for us to visit while we are in Texas?
Thank you so much!
Kristi

[WillysB]

Kristi, visit the Texas Travel web site where you can view some local information about places in Texas from hiking to beaching and activities in between.

Also, study a google map of Texas, especially along the interstates from San Antonio, thru Austin, Temple and on to Dallas/Fort Worth, I-35. Or from Dallas to Houston, I-45. And from Houston to San Antonio, I-10. There's growth in many of the not so large cities along those interstates that may satisfy your search criteria.

On Hiway 36 is a town called Brenham, a sweet place on rolling prairie. It's where contented cows live and where Blue Bell ice cream comes from. And only an hour from Houston.

I mentioned Temple, on I-35, above because there's a lot of growth in the Temple/Belton/Killeen area, home to Fort Hood, the largest active army post in the country.

And don't worry about the heat. As recently as the 20th century Texas adopted the prevalent standard of comfort, with air conditioning supporting almost all facets of easy living. Unless, or course, you're outside in which case the cooling method is a shade tree, a breeze and ice tea (or adult beverage).

Finally, ultimately, it's an adventure, go for it. Not everyone lands in paradise with their first jump but Texas is a really big and very diverse country. You can find what you're looking for.

[Mark-Tyler is Special]

Tyler, Largest Zoo, one of a few, in East Texas. Two small water parks nearby, Highway 155 South at The Villages on Lake Palestine, one on Int. 20 near Canton. More shopping, only Level One Truama Center in East Texas. Largest Regional Medical Center in East Texas, U. T. Tyler Cowan Performing Art Center where major plays, programs from all over the country world perform, those that come thru DFW. Kids Discovery Musem, Airport Musem, lakes, golf courses, Musem Of Fine Arts, East Texas Symphony, compares favorably to the Houston Symphony, Houston, where I lived for 25 years, large selection of non-chain restuarants, very green city, largest municipal rose garden the nation, azaleas, dogwoods, etc, forested, only 1 1/2 hours to Big "D" housing of all types, prices, LOWEST CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE in Texas of any city over 15,000 population. Still a small city feel. Give it a shot !! Welcome wherever you decide to stay.

[CptnRn]

Welding is probably an excellent trade to be in. There are so many uses for it. You will probably find some jobs everywhere. There are a lot of marinas for commercial as well as recreational fishing and sailboats along the coast, that create a demand for welding for marine applications and boat docks. There are several factory, industrial, fabrication places that come to mind from my travels around the state, especially marine and oil industry fabricating plants along the coast and many are located in more rural areas. For smaller towns that have some pretty large factories or chemical plants of various types around them you might want to check out the following places:

Victoria: Has a large factory of some sort just south of town.
Aransas Pass & Ingleside: has a naval base, some large marine industry related fabrication plants and fleets of shrimp boats.
Port Lavaca & Port Comfort: there are some large chemical factories there.

My wife and I visit the beach at least once a year from Austin, TX, we usually stay in Rockport, Texas and drive over to Port Aransas to the beach, the free ferry boat ride is part of the fun. Rockport has a small beach on Aransas Bay.

I heard the South Texas Nuclear Project is expanding and will probably nead welders, it is near Matagorda Texas.

As you go further East from there there is even more industry as you get close to and around Houston, but you get away from the small town feel.