• Parents network in Sacramento?
• Moving to Davis
• Moving to Roseville
• Moving to Sacramento
• See also: Visiting Sacramento

Parents network in Sacramento?

I've just recently moved to Sacramento from the Bay. I am single mom of a 9 year old boy and have found BPN invaluable!!! Does anyone know of anything similar in Sacramento? Letitia

Moving to Davis

I've lived in Oakland and Berkeley almost my entire life, but lately I have been thinking about possibly moving to Davis in order to (a) provide my children with better public schools and (b) have a simpler lifestyle. Other than the weather (Egads, the heat!), I'm trying to anticipate what this move would really be like. Davis is a University town, they have Peet's Coffee and Noah's Bagels, and a public library (all key requirements!), but what is it really like living in Davis compared with Oakland or Berkeley? Has anybody on this list made such a move, and if so, what did you miss the most? (Also, is there anything -- coffeehouses perhaps? -- in Davis other than bars that are open in the wee hours of the night?) - hesitantly exploring all my options

My husband and I are considering moving our family to Davis from Berkeley this summer. I would appreciate input from people who live in Davis, especially people who moved there in the past few years from the Bay Area or elsewhere. We are considering moving there because we feel it might be a better fit for our family and the cheaper (relative to Berkeley) housing would allow my husband the flexibility to consider leaving his job to do consulting or work with a start-up. If anyone out there knows someone who has moved to Davis as an adult and who has school-age kids, I would really appreciate having my email address passed along to them. I read the posts from last December responding to someone's question about moving to Davis but I have additional questions that weren't answered. Here's what I already know: it's really hot there in the summer (but I think it's really cold here in the summer), it's a bike- and pedestrian-friendly community, the schools are pretty good-- and kids typically go to public school rather than private school, the housing stock is dreadfully uninteresting, the parks and greenways are nice, it's politically liberal. What I wonder: Is having a university connection crucial to developing a social life as newcomers? Are there any stores like Berkeley Natural Grocery or Monterey Market? Are kids getting a balanced experience in the schools, or are they stressed by unrealistic academic standards with too little time for art, music, etc? Can you find just about everything you need for kids (music lessons, drama groups, dance lessons, sports, etc.) in Davis without commuting to Sacramento? Should we compare the schools in the district before deciding where to live (e.g., is one middle school considered better for the arts, another for science, another for writing and humanities?) How do we get information about the schools...beyond test scores? Are people generally friendly with their neighbors? Do people share a general feeling of community? I'm sure there's more, but you see what I'm looking for. Any comments will be appreciated! mariab

due to the high costs of living in the immediate bay area, we are considering moving to davis, ca. i would like to go to grad school (teacher's ed) there, but also was interested in seeing how life in a smaller college town might be. would love to hear what it might be like to raise a family there. we have a toddler at present...

Some considerations:
1)Not as inexpensive as you would think. Housing prices have really increased in recent years.
2)Very hot summers with 100+ temperatures
3)Definitely not as much to do in the way of the arts, cultural events, places to go, restaurants, etc.
4)Definitely the family community is not as diverse as what you would see in Bay Area. Judy

We (me, husband, 2 boys) moved to Davis August 2002 from San Francisco. Financially it was a very good move. We can afford to live on one income here (my husband's--he's an attorney). We were able to buy a house here. Neither of those was possible for us in the Bay Area. Judging by home sales in our neighborhood, our house has appreciated pretty significantly in the year we've been in it. That's kind of nice.

But we wouldn't have moved unless we had to, and we really did have to (I'm on disability with a serious RSI that rendered me unemployable). If I won the lottery tomorrow, we'd all high-tail it back to the City. Here's what sucks/isn't so great about Davis:

*Hellish summers: 90 degrees can feel nice. 100 degrees is awful. 100 degrees for days on end, and I was nearly raving. People say you get used to it. I'm not sure this is going to be true for me. My kids hated it too. It was a rough summer. I'm already plotting how to get away for at least 2 weeks next July or August.

*Food: There are very few decent restaurants. Shopping is also a chore--seems like we often have to go to 2 or 3 grocery stores to get the ingredients we need. We desperately miss good bread. My mom brings Acme bread from the City when she visits, and the children sit on the kitchen floor with a loaf and consume great fistfuls like starving urchins.

*Small-town mentality: Davis prides itself on being really progressive, but the NIMBYism here is extreme. Anything that might remotely affect the value of real estate--like the University building more housing for students--is the subject of protracted discussion and protest. It can be exceedingly annoying.

*Bad air: Air quality is a real issue here. We have it all: Bay Area pollution that floats over here and doesn't leave; agricultural pollution (we can smell fields being burned even in town); horrible allergens. We all had the worst allergies of our lives this past spring. A bad place for asthmatic kids.

*Ugly houses: We moved from a very small but gorgeous Edwardian flat in the Mission into a very plain, one-story ranch house. Very few homes here are at all interesting architecturally. They were mostly built in the 60s and 70s, and look it. The workmanship's not great. But hey, it's my boring ranch house.

Okay, here's what's great/good:

*It's aggressively bicycle friendly. We do everything on our bikes. Our 6-year-old learned to ride within a month or two of moving here. The drivers here are way more bike-aware and friendly than any place I've ever lived (including Palo Alto). It's a great lifestyle (as long as the temperatures stay below 95).

*The public schools are excellent. No jostling for those coveted few spaces in the ''good'' schools. The entire district is just top-notch. The town continues to demonstrate its commitment to the school system by renewing bond measures that support the schools (meaning we haven't been as devastated by state budget woes as other districts).

*My kids have a yard. They have trees to climb in. We have multiple fruit trees that feed us. We have plenty of space for gardening. A giant mulberry tree provides branches for swings and shade for warm days. We spend a lot more time outside.

*It's safe. The weekly crime report in the local paper is one of my chief entertainments. There was more crime on my block in the Mission than in this entire town. I still have city instincts about leaving doors unlocked or kids unsupervised outside, but most people here are way more relaxed than I am.

*It's a real town, not a suburb. Local events like the weekly Farmer's Market and the annual Picnic Day actually bring everyone in town out. There's a small but charming downtown, and it's not all just chain stores. The place has character. I'm constantly running into people I know. It's friendly. There's very little attitude.

*I miss the City, but this is an easier place to raise kids, no question. The array of summer programs available to my kids this year was staggering--science camps, art camps, equestrian camps, swim camps, tennis camps, moviemaking classes--it went on and on. No waiting lists, no getting up early to camp out for a space in that popular program. And everything was much cheaper than in the Bay Area.

*There's a general acceptance of children here that I never realized was missing from the City till I left. I'm less apologetic about my kids everywhere--in the grocery store, at restaurants, at church. Our neighbors all came over to welcome us when we moved in & said they were thrilled a family had moved in. I couldn't believe it.

*Finally, I'd say Davis is equally friendly to both working and stay-at-home moms. There's a lot of support for working parents in the way of after-school programs and the like, and at least in my little sphere, a fair bit of mutual support between working and at-home moms. As a reluctant and not-by-choice at-home mom I was thrilled & relieved to discover that I have a lot in common with other at-home moms here (in terms of education, interests, values, etc.).

Good luck with your decision. Again, I miss the Bay Area a LOT. But I'd be lying if I didn't say my life is considerably less stressful than it used to be. The living is easier here. Anon.

Davis is a very safe community offering many wonderful opportunities for kids, adults and seniors, but affordable housing is what prevents us from moving back. (Bay Area housing prices are moving east.) To give you an example, 5 years ago my mother purchased her house for $195,000 (approximately 1,600 sq.ft.). Last week the house 4 doors down from her sold for $450,000 and has less square footage. Since I don't work, my husband and I fall into the moderate income category, and Davis offers very little moderate income affordable housing. I have not actively looked into the rental market, but from what I have gathered from the Davis newspaper, rentals are beginning to surpass some bay area communities.

As a student, you could always first live in married student housing, which provides a nice community in itself. This would also give you the opportunity to scope out the town and see if this were a place you would want to settle.

As I said, Davis is a wonderful place to raise a family. There are wonderful city parks, lots of bike paths (Davis is the biking capital of the State), great churchs, and now with the Mondavi Center, wonderful performing arts and cultural events. Housing prices are the only major obstacle. Good luck with your decision. Charlotte

Hello. I will be moving to the Davis area late this summer with a 2.5 month old...and then starting school. Can anyone give me advice about childcare, neighborhoods, and some of the surrounding communities?? Is there a list like this for UC Davis (I haven't found one yet)? Any advice about housing? Thanks, future UC Davis student

As far as neighborhoods, it is hard to go really wrong here! I don't know much about student options (though Davis Commons area looks nice) but I can tell you that most anyplace you look will be relatively safe and your decision will be based on preferences such as aesthetics, budget and location. Keep in mind the market is tight. Be sure to go online and check out the Friday edition of the Enterprise for its real estate section and neighborhood classifications. Good luck! Kristin

Moving to Roseville

We are thinking of moving up to Roseville from the Bay Area as my husbands ex has moved his son up there. We don't have to move but I was wondering if there is anyone who can say the good and bad things about it, as I know nothing about the area, besides a nicer, bigger house, and it's very hot, too hot?? I have a 5 month old baby and was wondering if there was anything I could join up there to meet mums like me. Paula

You may also want to check out the group sacramentomoms at Yahoogroups. It's a list similar to this one but much smaller in membership. I've been able to get recommendations about preschools and things there. They might be able to answer more questions you may have or you're welcome to email me. cjc

Moving to Sacramento

Hello - We are considering relocating to Sacramento/El Dorado Hills area, however, we know nothing about the area. We would like to buy a house in a ''nice'' area with excellent schools and lots of trees and outdoor activities. Can anybody recommend cities or communities around Sacramento that might fit the bill? Where are the good places to live up there? Any other information on the area would also be appreciated. We have two kids under the age of two. thanks!

Here are my four suggestions:

1. Arden Park Area - My sister and her family live there. It is bounded by Arden Way, Watt, Fair Oaks, and Eastern Ave. The public school there is very highly rated (MarieMont). There are also excellent private schools nearby.

2. If you like a more urban environment try mid-town sac. It's the area surrounding 21st and L street.

3. Another great area is the ''Fab 40's.'' This is around L and the 40th to 50th area. Old cute houses and some old, big, beautiful houses.

4. I would not recommend El Dorado Hills even tho the houses are new and big, you are basically out in the middle of nowhere. Driving into Sac in the morning from that area can easily take an hour or more, because the traffic is horrible. Also, in the midtown and fab 40's you are close to UC Davis Med Center, which is a wonderful resource. Hope this helps. Julie

We've also considered moving to the Sacramento area, so I've done a bit of research into where we'd like to live if we did.

The City of Roseville website is at http://roseville.ca.us/

And Yahoo's Sacramento Metro info is at: http://local.yahoo.com/?spid=9265633

I find a lot of good info from Yahoo Locals.

Hope this helps! Jen