Southeastern Pennsylvania
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5/15/2006
Wonderful school district, probably because of the high taxes required by homeowners. They go above and beyond for students needing special help or an IEP.
Excellent diversity with a higher-than-normal percentage of Asian and Middle Eastern nationalities.
They have good public transportation (buses and trains).
Crappy highway system where commuters are forced to take 2-lane highways through towns and every corner has a stop sign or street light, which makes the drivers tend to tailgate and/or speed through residential neighborhoods as they cut across to 'major' roads. Also, when the light turns red, two or three cars keep coming through so you have to be very careful when you drive. The police do not use radar guns and rarely ticket for these offenses. Another quirk - in PA it is LEGAL to pass a car on the right using the shoulder to get around people who are turning left. Pity for bicyclists!
The city hosts brown-bag concerts Wednesday summers at noon and is revitalizing the railroad center of town.
Climate-wise, the falls and springs are spectacular and the summers are not too hot. We've gotten a few heavy snowfalls in the past couple of years, averaging about three that come later in the winter.
Schools start after Labor Day and go through the second week of June. Kids will have random half-days off, but secondary schools and elementary schools will rarely have these days off at the same time, so if you need daycare you'll have to figure that in as well.
Lots of people walk their dogs daily and they always pick up after their pets. Because the climate is favorable, you'll see lots of folks on the sidewalks. A nice family place close to historical Philadelphia and all it has to offer.
Jeannie | ,