[mvgagn]

Hi we will be moving to the town of Colchester and was wondering if anyone could offer any informaiton I have a 10 & 5 year old. We are a diverse family and would like to know how the schools are doctors stores & restaruants.
Any information would be appreciated,
Thank you.
mvgagn

[skytrekker]

Colchester is a popular choice in south eastern CT-about midway between Hartford and the shore. Population around 15,000- pleasant main street and green with Gazebo. Schools are good quality, the High school Beacon Academy has an excellent reputation.

Starbucks in town. Stop & Shop and another smaller specialty market. CVS, Dunkin Donuts, Mc Donald's. Video store, Nice Movie theater, some shopping. (Eblens). Crystal Mall with Macy's and other stores about 20 miles to the SE in Waterford. State Police barracks in town.

A few restaurants- see another post here "Restaurants in Colchester-also some restaurants in New London, the Casinos at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Many fine places to eat up route 2 into Glastonbury.

I have no information oh Physicians.

[jerseymama]

Hi....
We are moving to Colchester in 2 weeks also.....i have been on this forum for awhile looking for info as well...check out the threads "moving from NJ to CT" and "Hospitals in Col." as well as "Rest. in Col"......i have gotten a lot of great feedback......where are you moving to? very excited to go, have learned a lot of great stuff about the town and hope we will be very happy there.....same to you!

[mvgagn]

I will look into your post. We will be moving off of windham road. Never really been in a small town so a little nervous about that but I am sure once we are there it will be great. We will be there in June hopefully finding some activites for the kids to do this summer there.
Thanks

[jerseymama]

Good Luck on your move....we will be living off West Rd....near the Salem border...still not too keen on where everything is since Colchester is pretty large and spread out. Since you will be there in the summer, you will get to enjoy our close proximity to the Ct. shore.....25-30 min.....I bet your kids will love that....also, there is a great Children's museum in Niantic that I look forward to bringing my toddler to....and the Mystic Aquarium is one of the best. I hope we both love our new home!

Originally Posted by mvgagn

I will look into your post. We will be moving off of windham road. Never really been in a small town so a little nervous about that but I am sure once we are there it will be great. We will be there in June hopefully finding some activites for the kids to do this summer there.
Thanks

[Melofdoom]

I moved from NJ to Colchester and it was like walking into a time warp...fashion, music and otherwise it was a decade behind. When I arrived in the town there were 3 second hand stores, 6 churches and a tractor supply place. A few miles away they had a Stop and Shop and one traffic light. When I left 5 years later with my 3 year old they managed to put in a Dunkin Donuts, another Greek pizza place and some new home developments. If you are looking for opportunity for your children in terms of choice of schools, after school activities and mixed cultures and ethinicities, you will not find it here. The closest mall is 45 minutes away and the biggest name department store is JC Penny... They have limited day care as well as limited diversity of restaraunts, clothing, people, churches etc. It is very WASPY which I am not. No body is too friendly and it is difiicult to make friends unless you live right in the center of town becuase the houses are so far apart their aren't any real neighborhoods. If you like to enjoy sushi, thai, japanese, vietnamese, good authentic italian, mexican etc...you will have to drive very far away from home, to Hartford, New London and occasionaly Glastonbury.

If you are looking to retire Colchester is a good choice, if you are looking to raise a few kids, it is nothing like NJ.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Melofdoom

If you are looking to retire Colchester is a good choice, if you are looking to raise a few kids, it is nothing like NJ.

You should state "...my (our) part of New Jersey." A friend of mine from Washington, N.J., says that Colchester is similar to his town(ship).

[cool_mommy]

I have lived in 2 of the bordering towns, East Haddam and now East Hampton. Colchester is nice because it does offer the smaller town charm and is convenient to the bigger cities such as Norwich and Hartford via Route 2. It is also convenient to central CT such as Middletown via Routes 16 and 66.

There is not a whole lot in the way of shopping but you can get to shopping districts within 10 to 15 minutes easily enough.

There are some really nice restaurants and a wonderful town green in Colchester. Throughout the year you will find various fairs, markets and exhibits on the green. Colchester also has a great Parks and Rec department which includes a wonderful playscape, water park, skate park, baseball and soccer fields and a nice gazebo with picnic tables. Its a great place to bring children of all ages.

There is also the Salmon River State Park which is a wonderful place for hiking, fishing, picnics and in some areas swimming.

Someone had mentioned the children's museum in Niantic. I have been there with my children (when they were a bit younger). It was nice but I prefer Kid's City children's museum in Middletown and Klutz children's museum in Glastonbury/Manchester line. They are both within a 15 minute drive of Colchester.

You are not only close to the CT shore but also the RI shore which is pretty awesome and offers a bigger surf, if thats what you are into. Living in Colchester puts you within about 1 1/2 drive of Providence where you can find the Roger Williams Zoo. My family loves this place. Your also about 1 1/2 drive from Boston, MA which offers sooooo to see and do.

As I said earlier I am next door to Colchester in East Hampton. This is a lovely town as well and has the incredible Lake Pocotopaug. Hey if anyone is interested in moving to East Hampton I have a house for sale by owner!

If anyone has any questions about the local area please feel free to PM me.

[Melofdoom]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

You should state "...my (our) part of New Jersey." A friend of mine from Washington, N.J., says that Colchester is similar to his town(ship).

I am very familiar with Washington NJ and while it is rural the people are not the same...the attitude and way of life is different, NOT BAD, just different. I can make friends just about anywhere and even I had trouble up there in Colchester. I am not slamming all of CT either, New London, Niantic, Glastonbury, etc...were all great towns, it was just this particular one that no one seemed willing to let you in to their group. Plus the taxes are out of control up there.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Melofdoom

I am very familiar with Washington NJ and while it is rural the people are not the same...the attitude and way of life is different, NOT BAD, just different. I can make friends just about anywhere and even I had trouble up there in Colchester. I am not slamming all of CT either, New London, Niantic, Glastonbury, etc...were all great towns, it was just this particular one that no one seemed willing to let you in to their group. Plus the taxes are out of control up there.

It sounds like you might be painting with a broad stroke. You've concluded that Colchester, collectively, isn't like Washington, collectively, even though you aren't familiar with the latter. Hmmm...

I live in Cheshire. It supposedly has a snooty air about it. I've been snubbed only once or twice by individuals in almost 15 years. For the most part, people are somewhat friendly. If you're looking for someone to invite you over for a cup of coffee after just meeting, it isn't likely to happen anywhere here.