Most family-friendly suburb in TX (Houston, Dallas: new home, neighborhood, theater)

[Bighorn911]

I hope I can get some insight into a question that my wife and I have been thinking about.

Out of the major cities in TX(Houston, DFW, SA, and Austin), which city do you feel has the most family-friendly suburbs? We have three young children, and enjoy being able to walk the dog, head to the park, hit a lake, or do some shopping and not have to always pack up and head into the big city to run all our errands. Im sure there will be many opinions and responses, but if there are any suggestions or cities to check out, please let us know. And also feel free to post some pictures of any suburubs if you have any. Its good to see some pictures with the words, haha.

Thanks to all.

EDIT: To narrow down the choices, we are looking to spend no more than $250-300K for a home.

[hamiltonpl]

Most of our cities are laid out like suburbs with single family homes and nearby strip malls. Suburbs have the same (and sometimes even denser) population densities as the city. I don't think there is any reason to go to a suburb just because it is a smaller city. It may be just as dense as the big city but without all the services, stores, restaurants and cultural activities. Personally, I live in the city of Dallas and I never have to get on a highway to go anywhere. If I lived in a suburb, I'd have to deal with bumper to bumper traffic. Everytime I go to the 'burbs it feels really congested.

For example, this is my suburban neighborhood inside the City of Dallas. It is called Lakewood:

White Rock Lake:




Lakewood Shopping Center and Theater:




Lakewood Shopping Center in the 1930’s:

Woodrow Wilson High School:

J.L. Long Middle School:

Street in Lakewood:













Swiss Avenue

[Bighorn911]

Wow, beautiful homes! Very true about the burbs being more congested. I guess the burbs are home to us, seeing as thats where my and I both grew up.

I appreciate the response and we will look into the City of Lakewood.

[hamiltonpl]

Originally Posted by Bighorn911

Wow, beautiful homes! Very true about the burbs being more congested. I guess the burbs are home to us, seeing as thats where my and I both grew up.

I appreciate the response and we will look into the City of Lakewood.

It's a neighborhood in Dallas. Not a city.

[Bighorn911]

Thank you for the clarification.

[DanielWayne]

I would think any well known suburb in any large city would fit your needs. That being said, we live in Clear Lake (multiple small cities in SE Houston) which is an older suburb. It sits on Galveston Bay midway between Houston and Galveston Island. At least 3 Targets, 3 Wal-Marts, Barnes & Noble, 2 hospitals, a symphony, etc. Look up Johnson Space Center and the Kemah Boardwalk, too. League City, right south of Clear Lake is where all the new homes are being developed. League City has summer concerts in their park, and is home to a national bluegrass association. Also look up Friendswood, Tx which is right next door.

[getmeoutofhere]

Originally Posted by Bighorn911

EDIT: To narrow down the choices, we are looking to spend no more than $250-300K for a home.

Cross off Lakewood.

[ClarenceBodiker]

The big Texas cities have pretty comparable suburbs. I would focus more on which city you like best out of the ones you listed and then look at that individual city's suburbs.

[jcorfry]

and, of course, that would be austin.

[FarNorthDallas]

The obvious choices around Dallas are Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Keller, Rockwall, Plano, Grapevine, Colleyville, Coppell.