Best places to live . . .

[judybigredpony]

[QUOTE=lily04;6268999]
Fair Hill, MD. Property tax is low in Cecil County, DE is 5 miles away with no sales tax. 7,000 acres of trails with tunnels or bridges to cross every road. There are 6 TB tracks all less two hours. 3 hunts at FH and several more less than 30 minutes away. Lots of shows every week. Mountains an hour away and beaches an hour away. Baltimore and Philly 1 1/2 hours away. DC 2 hous away. NYC 3 hours away.[/QUOTE]

:yes::yes::yes::yes: Major Airports, cultural centeral like Smithsonians in DC,Kennedy Center lots of Sports stadiums Major and Minor, Convenient to interstate 95 for travel.
All Major Horse show Mecca’s sans WEF are do able for day showing.(Devon is 50 miles, Culpepper and Upperville 2 hours, Harrisburg 90 minutes)
Quarter Horse and H/J trainers abound and yes summers can be humid, but w/ the ever changing climate cycles its been a roll of the dice across the nation. Racing year round and Thoroughbred’s everywhere…

[beaujolais]

OK, I do have to say the above sounds really awesome !

[tradewind]

NY state especially up by the fingerlakes would probably suit. I have a friend with a boarding barn there, have been there in August, it was not bad at all. I however, am the opposite, can’t take the cold and am miserable all winter. So no NY state for me.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=tradewind;6272743]
NY state especially up by the fingerlakes would probably suit.[/QUOTE]

Central New York brings with it considerable taxes and higher cost of living, plus more regulation, and depending upon which part of Upstate there is potentially the threat of the Marcellus Shale hydro fracking coming to taint a water well near you. Lovely topography and having truly four-seasons can be wonderful, but compared to lower cost states like Kentucky mixed with mild winters and its hard to justify.

Of course buying is always a personal decision. Proximity to family, historical ties to a particular region, being close (or not) to large urban areas and with it cheaper air travel, and the ability to turnout horses all year long … etc … many factors tie in well beyond just value-for-the-dollar with buying a farm.

[brightskyfarm]

[QUOTE=sonomacounty;6271364]
[B]
Brightsky: Hi ! Your place sounds lovely and the pictures of the trails are awesome! I Love PA. Are there any areas that are near Parx, (Devon is how far from Parx?), have good h/j, hunts, good schools and things for my son? Thanks so very much.[/QUOTE]

Oh, now you are comparing apples and oranges. My farm is in upper adams co, very—remote, good schools but its rural living. Surrounding the forest is 120K ac’s of fruit orchards owned by the big boys> Musselmans, Dole, etc with some processing plants locally near, rest is shipped.
Devon, Main Line, Philly are a couple hours away, higher taxes, urban living, YES!! Horses~ Radnor Hunts, and the rest of the Northern Chester Co hunts of Bellwood, LudwigsCorner, DocAddis. Sort of northeast of Philly is the famous Bucks Co! again, higher taxes, huge horse area, an awesome Horse Park!
If you can handle the north of Philly(Conshohocken area) there is the Fairmount Park, with boarding, trails and the quaintness of still living in the city. Green Hills area adjoins it, still with some reasonably priced homes.
I grew up in that area, and for lack of trails have continued slowly moving west year after year. However, its still a wonderful horse area if you can afford it.

 Winters? In Pa its a crap shoot. Anymore we go from Tank Tops to Turtlenecks, weather changes by 30*'s at a time, we had a mild, (no snow) winter except for a freak storm at Halloween. Normally, theres a Nor'easter or two, a few weeks of totally freezing weather.

 IF *I* were looking, Id be in NC, Tryon area. Hunts, Shows, close to lots of Eventing, the Block House Park, theres work, its still rural, people there are just the best, friendly,(that good ol' southern hospitality type of thing is there).

Schools? Im in the camp of homeschooling. I was tutored, so it was natural to do the same for my girls.