Marina/Seaside? (San Jose, Salinas, Santa Cruz: vacation, employment, housing)

[Mika>Kimi]

My wife was born and raised in PG, always telling me what a wonderful place it was (while I rolled my eyes). This spring I did some work outside SF, followed by a few days in PG/Carmel. I instantly fell in love with Northern California--which apparently was her plan all along!
We have been looking at property in Marina and Seaside as it is somewhat more affordable than PG/Carmel ("affordable" still sounds like a funny word compared to the prices here in the mid-west). Our biggest concern is the school as we have two children (Jr. High/High School). My wife does not remember much of those areas as she was a teenager when she left a few moons ago. Any input from someone with recent experience of either area would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[jazgrl]

Hi and welcome from So. Salinas (but I lived many, many years in Marina). You'd probably be better off in Marina (ok, I'm biased, but there you go - when I was in High School, everyone wanted OUT of Seaside), a lot of new building going on and the prices are somewhat lower than those in Seaside. Also, the middle school in Marina is still a middle school - they converted the middle school in Seaside to a K-8. My brother and sister, as well as most of my neices and nephews, went to Los Arboles in Marina, and I've heard it's probably one of the best middle schools on the peninsula (I don't know myself, we moved here when I was in High School). Speaking of High School, Seaside High is not bad, but they've finally opened a new HS in Marina. It started last year with only 9th-10th graders, but will be expanding as they move up and new students move on up behind them. Marina does tend to be a bit cold and damp, but it really is a nice little town to live. Even though we've moved to South Salinas, I still keep my older son in sports activities in Marina, and attend church there also. It's got a small town feel, and a lot of the people I went to school with have either stayed or moved back after college. It seems that no matter where you go you see someone you know (okay, that could be good or bad - I choose to see it as a good!)

If you want a somewhat warmer area, I would also recommend South Salinas. I don't know as much about the schools as I homeschool and my boys are still quite young, but there are a couple excellent private schools here just a few minutes from my home. Prices are comparable to Marina and Seaside, perhaps a bit lower, but you would get a more established neighborhood - in many areas the houses can be 40+ years old, but still in beautiful condition.

Anyway, hope this little novelette helps answer some of your questions. Good luck!

[Mika>Kimi]

Thanks jazgrl, your comments are appreciated!!

[Ingeborg]

Hi,
We live in Aromas, the best kept secret in the Monterey Bay Area. There are just a couple of thousand people in the town limits with many more on acreage parcels in the out-lying areas. We are two blocks from the center of town where we can get groceries, gas, stamps, our car fixed or a gourmet meal. We love it here. Although we don't have children I understand the Aromas Elementary School is outstanding. The relatively new High School in San Juan Bautista is small, with limited programs, but also good. This area is good because of commute distances to many employment opportunities. We are within 45 minutes of San Jose, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Thirty minutes will get you to Seaside and twenty to Salinas and Gilroy. Housing prices right now are approx $470,000 to 2.7 million plus.

Hope that helps.

[yakker]

If you look at the crime stats for Seaside you'll see that crime has gone down steadily since 1999. Jazgrl mentioned that when she was in high school, and I assume that was Seaside High, everyone wanted out of Seaside. I don't know how long ago that was, but when I went to school in Monterey, everyone wanted out of there too. Maybe it was just high school they wanted out of! (Just kidding).
Seaside has changed drastically in the last ten years with everyone jumping on the remodel bandwagon. This is mainly because of the outrageous prices of the homes. I've lived on the Peninsula all my life (55 years) in every town and can tell you that there are parts of every one of them I wouldn't want to live in. That being said, there are some very nice areas in Seaside and the prices are generally lower than the other cities, in my opinion because of left over bias and prejudice that is perpetuated by people with long memories. No reference to anyone here. The area, like all others, has its own micro climates where fog clears first and the wind blows less. You should probably consider renting first and seeing for yourself, as well as talking to the locals. I live in the upper portion of Seaside next to one of its many parks. The people are mostly friendly, certainly not more than cultures in the south but on a par with those cities previously mentioned. All of the cities adjoin each other also, so it's really better to think of the entire area, rather than a particular town. Don't let anyone sour you on any particular town until you've seen it for yourself. Oh, and although most people are down on Salinas, they don't seem to mind going there to do their shopping.

[Mika>Kimi]

Great comments yakker, thanks a bunch!

[jazgrl]

Maybe it WAS just a high school thing .

I still like Marina, it had become our "community" - but finances led us to south Salinas. I still go to Marina regularly, but my husband and I have decided to stay where we are for the SUNSHINE! I'm actually able to grow tomatoes - something I never was able to accomplish in all my years living in Marina. It's been pretty consistently sunny on our end of town, and then when driving onto the peninsula the fog hits, oh, about Marina .

I know there's been a lot of contention about the shopping area being built over at 12th street, but I'm really looking forward to it. It actually takes me less time to drive to Marina Grocery Outlet than to Salinas Grocery Outlet at the north end of Salinas. If they are putting in the same stores at 12th street as they have by Northridge (ie. Target, Bed Bath & Beyond) I will probably be there even more than I am now.

Take it how you will... As far as I see it, all the communities have good and bad points - you just have to decide what it is you are looking for and see which town meets it the best.

Kris B-T

[jazgrl]

Maybe it WAS just a high school thing .

I still like Marina, it had become our "community" - but finances led us to south Salinas. I still go to Marina regularly, but my husband and I have decided to stay where we are for the SUNSHINE! I'm actually able to grow tomatoes - something I never was able to accomplish in all my years living in Marina. It's been pretty consistently sunny on our end of town, and then when driving onto the peninsula the fog hits, oh, about Marina .

I know there's been a lot of contention about the shopping area being built over at 12th street, but I'm really looking forward to it. It actually takes me less time to drive to Marina Grocery Outlet than to Salinas Grocery Outlet at the north end of Salinas. If they are putting in the same stores at 12th street as they have by Northridge (ie. Target, Bed Bath & Beyond) I will probably be there even more than I am now.

Take it how you will... As far as I see it, all the communities have good and bad points - you just have to decide what it is you are looking for and see which town meets it the best.

Kris B-T

[jazgrl]

Didn't mean to post it twice - still getting used to this new computer

[i_m_on_vacation]

I was just on vacation and wanted to go where it was cool. I live in the Sierra Foothills where it stays in the 80's and 90's and was pleasantly surprised by the cool ocean breezes. The morning fog had already lifted when I had arrived with my husband. It was a long drive from our home, almost 300 miles. So we stayed in Marina and went to the wharf in Monterey for dinner, but got a HUGE surprise! The sea lions were in season and frolicking in the water like crazy! Fortunately, I had my camera with me, and took some pictures as well as short clips of the action. We heard a very loud noise under the wharf, and my husband beckoned me to look under the wharf, and I swear...this guy must have been two-thousand pounds, it was HUGE! I took his picture, too! WOW! Last time we went to Monterey, we went to the aquarium, but this time we just saw the sea life for real. Even a jellyfish floated to the surface for a photo op! Just coming to the coast for a couple of days to cool off. A good place to stay was in Marina, just a few miles away from the wharf. And, in Marina, a couple of really excellent places to eat as well, not just the ordinary stuff. Has anyone just stayed there for a visit?