Beautiful Towns Outside of Southern California Cities

[Cassie Chancey]

You are looking in the wrong part of the country. You should try the south. The south is made up of beautiful little towns all around larger cities. For instance in Georgia, there are small towns all around Atlanta, and you can't beat Atlanta (Hotlanta) for night life, shopping, etc. The mountains of Northeast GA are lovely with small towns such as Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Morganton, and closer to Atlanta you have Jasper, Canton, Cumming, Alpharetta; closer in is Marietta which really, is now pretty much an extension of Atlanta.

I lived in Blue Ridge, GA for 14 years and it is 2 hours from Atlanta GA, and 2 hours from Chattanooga, TN and not far from the the Smokey Mountains, just up the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Georgia is a beautiful state. Also Tennessee, lovely small towns close to Nashville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Henderson to name a few of them.

We normally have mild winters and lovely spring and fall seasons, but it does get hot in the summer. Cost of living is lower here, but of course the wages are too in comparison to the north and west. But, the south is a lovely place to live.

[Snort]

Originally Posted by Cassie Chancey

You are looking in the wrong part of the country. You should try the south. The south is made up of beautiful little towns all around larger cities. For instance in Georgia, there are small towns all around Atlanta, and you can't beat Atlanta (Hotlanta) for night life, shopping, etc. The mountains of Northeast GA are lovely with small towns such as Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Morganton, and closer to Atlanta you have Jasper, Canton, Cumming, Alpharetta; closer in is Marietta which really, is now pretty much an extension of Atlanta.

I lived in Blue Ridge, GA for 14 years and it is 2 hours from Atlanta GA, and 2 hours from Chattanooga, TN and not far from the the Smokey Mountains, just up the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Georgia is a beautiful state. Also Tennessee, lovely small towns close to Nashville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Henderson to name a few of them.

We normally have mild winters and lovely spring and fall seasons, but it does get hot in the summer. Cost of living is lower here, but of course the wages are too in comparison to the north and west. But, the south is a lovely place to live.

...brought to you by the Georgia Tourist Bureau.
By the way, when you get close to Cumming, think of baseball.

[A.J._in_L.A.]

1) Port Hueneme
2) Rancho Cucamonga
3) Santa Barbara
4) Catalina Island

[kbat]

You would probably really like Idyllwild, although it may be more rural than what you say you're looking for. It's a small, quirky art town in the San Jacinto mountains above/in between Hemet and Palm Springs. It does get some snow in the winter, less so the further down the mountain you go toward Mountain Center or Garner Valley and there's hardly any in Anza. Pine Cove (at the top of the mountain) gets much more snow than the aforementioned so you might avoid it. Idyllwild with its surrounding towns is one of those little places where everyone knows everyone, the post office is a meeting place, people help each other out... it's just a neat place. Lots of pine trees and incredible views, though the pines have been hit hard by a massive beetle infestation and the wildfire risk is staggeringly high. No chain stores of any kind. You can drive off the hill to Hemet or Palm Springs for shopping and entertainment, and north coastal San Diego County is about 90 minutes away. Riverside is about an hour or so. Orange County is about 2.5 hours. It's far enough away to feel secluded and to be above the cloud of smog that hangs over Hemet, but close enough that you can go anywhere you want within a fairly reasonable drive. You do, however, have to drive to go anywhere. Idyllwild is a hotbed of artists and writers. It's lovingly referred to by locals as "Idyllweird" because it seems everyone marches to their own (very different) drummer. Bonus: housing there is relatively cheap compared the the rest of Riverside County. I like it where I am now and don't intend to go back, but if I needed to return to California that's where I'd go.

[kttam186290]

Ojai has my vote!

[Capt. Dan]

Morro bay/cayucos

[Gentoo]

My opinion leans toward the mountain areas within SoCal. Big Bear is too touristy but try Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernadino mts. My personal favorite is Wrightwood in the nearby San Gabriel mts. In San Diego County there's Julian.

[the city]

She might be thinking of ex-urbs.

[Fontucky]

We'll never know, as she hasn't logged in for almost 5 years.

[Malloric]

Sebastapol, Petaluma, St. Helena, Fairfax, Danville/San Ramon/Walnut Creek (getting a bit built up though, tbh), Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel -- but those are pushing two hours. If Sacramento is big enough, tons of options in Gold Country.