I grew up in a suburban house with a backyard that opened to many acres of swamplands and nature preserves. It was also a bicycle ride away to go to a few different parks, the movie and video game rental store in the same strip as a corner store with all kinds of snacks and ice cream, go visit Space Center Houston, go fishing on the lake, and even take a canoe all the way to the bay. I had friends in my neighborhood, friends in nearby neighborhoods, and friends all over the city by the time I was 13.
Now my kids have a backyard. They are also a short walk to a city park with multiple playgrounds, a small trail through the woods, a fishing pond, and more. They can hop on the bus and go to the library or the many other parks. They can hop on grade separated bike trails and ride for dozens of miles through nature reserves. We take the train to watch hockey games deeper into the city pretty often.
Suburb doesn't have to mean isolation. If often does, but it doesn't have to.
Meanwhile I know many people who live deeper in the city who barely know anyone in the city and rarely interact with people outside of Discord.
I'm curious what suburb you're in, that sounds nice.
Grade separated bike trails and train service is something most suburbs in the US lack (though they might have recreational bike trails that don't go to the centre of town).
Visiting Houten in the Netherlands is a reminder that you can have a boring suburb that still gives kids freedom.
Now my kids have a backyard. They are also a short walk to a city park with multiple playgrounds, a small trail through the woods, a fishing pond, and more. They can hop on the bus and go to the library or the many other parks. They can hop on grade separated bike trails and ride for dozens of miles through nature reserves. We take the train to watch hockey games deeper into the city pretty often.
Suburb doesn't have to mean isolation. If often does, but it doesn't have to.
Meanwhile I know many people who live deeper in the city who barely know anyone in the city and rarely interact with people outside of Discord.