Moving to PA from far far away. (Philadelphia, Chester: apartment complexes, to rent)

[Jack_Bragg]

Hello,
I am considering a job offer in Center City, Philadelphia. I live in Houston TX currently. Have a 2 year son who's probably going to need a good Pre-K school pretty soon. Plan is to rent initially and then look around for a house. More than likely I am not going to have the luxury of looking for an apartment for long, because my stuff will be on its way as soon as we fly outta Dallas.
I used to live in Norristown and worked in Conshohocken in 2000. But I was single then and an apartment was needed for sleeping and taking a shower.
Can someone please point out some good suburbs of Philadelphia.

My requirements are

1) preferably near malls, shopping centers etc because my wife is terrified of driving on highways (might change when she sees Philadelphia traffic?).
2) I would like to stay away from busy city type areas, prefer open spaces.
3) Train commute nearby to downtown, I can handle about an hour and change of commute.
4) Last but not least, safe. Don't mind paying a premium. From what I can remember of Norristown, the part of town where I lived (1 N dekalb) was pretty much a ghetto (no offense to residents, just my opinion).

[rainrock]

Valley Forge,King of Prussia,Gulph Mills,Chesterbrook,Wayne,Malvern,West Chester,Exton are nice towns with plentiful apartment complexes.

This is a fairly new complex close to the King of Prussia Mall not far from regional rail that could take you into Center City.

The Lofts at Valley Forge / www.theloftsatvalleyforge.com / Valley Forge / King of Prussia, PA

Good luck.

[Wisertime]

I'd also consider Elkins Park, Glenside, Jenkintown, Chestnut Hill, Ambler. Train ride is 25-35 min to CC, near shopping, many parks, beautiful old homes and trees everywhere and good school system I hear.
Nice balance between being able to walk to some things, drive to others and easy train access.

[Jack_Bragg]

Thanks for the prompt responses guys!! Really appreciate it.

[newmarlig]

Cherry Hill, Mt. Laurel, Haddonfield, Moorestown and surrounding areas in NJ. Close to many malls and about a 20 minute ride on the New Jersey High Speed Line to center city.

[killakoolaide]

Willow Grove is a mall suburb, I would suggest, because most of the homes are with walking diatance to the mall and the shopping centers near it. It has the turnpike, and a regional rail stop, and frequent buses to the subway, the 55 and 22 to Braod and Olney between those two buses, a bus to the subway shows up at the mall every 10-15 minutes during normal usage hours, and for open spaces, you have Penny Pack park It's not ghetto either it's safe.

[mcumberland]

I would look in the Ne area of Phila , Like a Foxchase area. There are regional train lines with 30 min commute, you get the advantage of the city but not the congestion, and it is safe. Mark Cumberland. Moderator Cut