Need help with a move to California

letsgohoosiers · May 16, 2010

Where the California residents at?

I need to relocate to this state within the next month. Essentially, I will be taking a year off to establish residency before going to graduate school here.

Looking for recommendations on cities. I will be moving without a job. I have more than enough cash to do this. Might run into problems finding a place, but I'll find one eventually.

I am in my 20s and looking for a place with some nightlife/things to do. Prefer Southern to Northern California, but will live in either place. Got the following cities I am going to check out, anyone know of anywhere else, maybe cheaper than these places?

San Diego (Ocean/Mission/Pacific Beach)
South Bay (Hermosa/Manhattan/Redondo Beach)
Santa Monica
Santa Barbara

I do like the idea of being by the beach, but willing to sacrifice that for cheaper rent if the place has people my age and things to do.

LAMatty · May 16, 2010

if you move into the south bay stay in those cities. good night life. reason to stay there is less gang activity but flip side lil more expensive. san diego area is FULL of night life. west to pacific beach last 4th of july was amazed at the bar scene. and tons of dime pieces walking around. good luck hoosiers

texansfan · May 16, 2010

I used to live in Califonia back in the mid 80's so I'm not much help. I would think SD would be expensive. I lived in San Clemente which was by the beach and was very nice at the time.

Riv34 · May 16, 2010

I live in Huntington Beach. The nightlife is great if your into the bar scene and its always amazing have the beach right there. It is rather expensive (Orange County go figure).

best of luck !

focker · May 17, 2010

PB is a college town with major night life, close to downtown and airport and freeways. w/ very nice beaches. You should be able to find decent rent rates here. LA and OC are very differnt from SD. being born and raised here we offten refer to SD as the sleepy lil border town compared to LA county. Santa Barbara would be last on the list. I think PB fits what you are looking for......GL

Betallsports · May 17, 2010

Not a California resident, but I sometimes Travel to Santa Monica to see family.
Since you are looking to save Money, this...I would think is NOT the place.
But I would take it over all listed if money wasn't a problem.

Just talking about makes me want to make a call to one of my cousins, because it just might be time for a Visit...lol

OH, BTW....if you do decide to try Santa Monica, stay away from one area, which is not on the Beach. They call it the "Pico neighborhood"

Because like most Nice areas, theres always one part of the Neighborhood that's just not that nice.

SoCal · May 17, 2010

Pacific Beach, San Diego... is insane. While you're checking it out, have breakfast at "Kono's" on their side patio overlooking the beach. It's right next to Crystal Pier. They serve huge portions and there is a line that moves quickly. Grab yourself a "Reader" (the local city paper) and check out the rental section in the back. you might also want to use their web site. Reader.com I think. Also try backpage.com and search San Diego coastal rentals. For lunch, try a "rubios" fish taco. Yea, it sounds gross if you never had one. But it's a staple in SoCal. For checking out nightlife.. stick around that crystal pier area.. the main strip is right there, grand ave.. Start out at PB Bar and Grill and just bounce as needed. There are bars all along the mian strip all within a few blocks. If you need a hotel while you're checking out PB to see if you like it... try to get a hotel in PB. You can walk to everything and not worry about a DUI.

Further north a few hrs close to LA is Manhatten Beach. Don't know much about recommendations, but it's impressive for living and nightlife. I don't care for the traffic up that way, so I've made my home In San Diego. Plus we got the Chargers man.

DrunkenHorseplayer · May 17, 2010

Ocean Park Inn is right on the beach about two blocks south of Kono's and it can't be beat. Had an ocean front room last year and I'll be there this year as well.

letsgohoosiers · May 17, 2010

Riv34 said:
I live in Huntington Beach. The nightlife is great if your into the bar scene and its always amazing have the beach right there. It is rather expensive (Orange County go figure).

best of luck !

I initially didn't think of Orange County when doing this, I thought O.C. was more family-oriented and residential.

Nightlife is good in HB? What about Belmont Shore up by Long Beach? Or other beach areas in the OC?

Leaning to SD (Pacific Beach area) as of now.

HAT · May 17, 2010

OC is full of nightlife in the beach towns. The thing to do is live 1 city inland.

Costa Mesa is 5-10 minutes away from all the Newport/Baboa Peninsula nightlife but rents are cheaper than on the peninsula.

Same thing goes for Huntington Beach (Fountain Valley)

Parts of Lakewood grant easy access to Seal Beach, Belmont Shores & Downtown Long Beach.

As for the South Bay....Torrance, North Redondo and El Segundo all offer short drives to downtown Manhattan & Hermosa.

Almost anywhere South & West of the 405 between LAX and SNA and you're golden.

I've lived in OC all my life & worked in Redondo for 5 years so I know all of these beach areas fairly well. That being said, Costa Mesa would be my choice.

Biking distance to Newport/Balboa, pretty much dead nuts central between San Clemente & Manhattan Beach, easy freeway access to other OC area points of interest (Irvine Spectrum, Angel Stadium/Honda Center, South Coast Metro), close to a major airport, etc.

Mr.Leisure · May 17, 2010

hat said:
oc is full of nightlife in the beach towns. The thing to do is live 1 city inland.

Costa mesa is 5-10 minutes away from all the newport/baboa peninsula nightlife but rents are cheaper than on the peninsula.

Same thing goes for huntington beach (fountain valley)

parts of lakewood grant easy access to seal beach, belmont shores & downtown long beach.

As for the south bay....torrance, north redondo and el segundo all offer short drives to downtown manhattan & hermosa.

Almost anywhere south & west of the 405 between lax and sna and you're golden.

I've lived in oc all my life & worked in redondo for 5 years so i know all of these beach areas fairly well. That being said, costa mesa would be my choice.

Biking distance to newport/balboa, pretty much dead nuts central between san clemente & manhattan beach, easy freeway access to other oc area points of interest (irvine spectrum, angel stadium/honda center, south coast metro), close to a major airport, etc.

+1

Riv34 · May 17, 2010

I actually lived in Costa Mesa for the first year I moved out to Orange County, HAT nailed it right on the head.

FairWarning · May 17, 2010

I am soooo envious of you Hoosiers. I love the Newport Beach area. The Pacific Beach area is incredible too.

Doug · May 17, 2010

Pacific Beach sure would work for me, if I was 25, and wealthy.....I'm old 46, and married,,,,,AKA (dead)

texansfan · May 17, 2010

When I live out there I would always take a drive up to Laguna Beach, put on the scuba gear, and head out into the ocean. Loved it.

steaktartar · May 17, 2010

i live 5 minutes from seal beach pier........not much cheap rent around here at all.....but a great place to live

seanjohn007 · May 17, 2010

i live in santa monica so i can give you some of the details on what bet all sports is talking about. the "pico neighborhood" is where the santa monica gang lives, and its really just a 10 block area. stay south of pico, north of olympic, east of bundy, and west of the grave yard. i live two blocks south of pico and have no trouble with the gangs, never even see them over there to be honest. as far as traveling around the city you will find yourself going through this area alot, during the day dont worry unless your trying to start a problem, and at night stay on the busy streets. the gangs around here generally stick to them selves and only start problems with other gangs (unless you go into the heart of inglewood and compton). basically ill tell you that you wont have a problem with the gangs in santa monica but you probably dont want to live in that area.

the night life in santa monica is actually pretty small, couple bars but no clubs. if you want to go to the real night life youll have to go to the hollywood area of sunset (the place you see on tv), which is about a 20-30 min drive (it has taken me over an hour but that was during rush hour).

all of those areas are around the most expensive in so cal so i cant help you there. as a whole the party life is in the same order you have above, unless you dont mind driving the hollywood every weekend, in which case id put santa monica/la at the top

HAT · May 17, 2010

steak tartar said:
i live 5 minutes from seal beach pier........not much cheap rent around here at all.....but a great place to live

Absolutely Steak. I love Main Street SB. Might not be enough action for a guy in his 20's but the Irish pubs & Mahe suit me fine! :toast:

HaloFever004 · May 17, 2010

San Diego- I spent four years in San Diego as I went to college there. It's one of the best, if not the best, cities in America. I spent two years living in Mission Beach as this is the norm for many college students. PB also has a college atmosphere to it. Mission Beach and PB are great areas to live but it does get crazy busy in the Summer time as everyone, and I mean everyone invades the coast (especially the Zonies (people from AZ), I'm pretty sure half their state comes to San Diego in the Summer. Mission Beach is my vote, South Mission to be exact. It's a little quieter than other areas in the beach district and usually has a little more parking.

If the beach is too much of a temptation to party all the time, as it is for some 60 year olds who still live in the Mission Beach and PB areas, I suggest downtown SD. I've always wanted to live downtown. It's a great area and has the Gaslamp district which has great bars and nightlife. There are brand new apartment buildings all over downtown, but my favorite area is the East Village. This is the part of downtown directly surrounding Petco Park and it's a great spot. I highly suggest it...

Orange County- This is where I live now. OC is a little more toned down compared to San Diego with regards to nightlife and such, but it's a great place to live. The quality of life has to be one of the best in the country. I grew up in the Newport Beach area (and still currently live there) and it's incredible. The Peninsula is your typical beach scene (like PB and Mission Beach in SD) with your college students and laid-back atmosphere, however, its much more upscale.

Nothing against LA or anything, but I just DO NOT care for Los Angeles whatsoever. I highly suggest San Diego or Orange County.

Please feel free to message me for any more detailed info. I would be happy to share.

steaktartar · May 17, 2010

HAT said:
Absolutely Steak. I love Main Street SB. Might not be enough action for a guy in his 20's but the Irish pubs & Mahe suit me fine! :toast:

eat at el burrito jr facing the pier awesome food:toast:

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