Santa Barbara, Santa Maria or San Luis Obispo? (Orange, Laguna: landscaping, neighborhood)

[overrestored]

SLO gets down to freezing maybe one or two nights in Feb. and is in the 60's during the day then...

The Santa Lucia Mountains that run just north of SLO... (cuesta grade on the 101)... define the weather line in SLO county. West of the Grade... the mountains... it is warmer in the winter... and cooler in the summer.

East of the Grade... it is similar to Santa Ynez. Hotter in the summer... and cooler in the winter. IT freezes regularly over on the east side of the grade... and is 100 plus for july and August and part of Sept.

SLO and AG are maybe 100 for a week in the summer... 90's and 80's are more common. At the beaches it is foggy and cooler.

I would say that SLO is about 5 degrees cooler than SB in the winter... and 5 degrees hotter in the summer. SB gets foggy all day in may june and july... SLO is foggy until 10... but it burns off.

I would guess that Santa Ynez is about 17 degrees cooler than SB in the winter and 17 degrees hotter in the summer... same as Paso Robles area

They grow great Apples in See Canyon... near Avila beach. I don't know of any other Apple areas in particular in the SB SLO area.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has a huge "Rare fruit Growers" club...

We have an orchard on our small lot downtown slo... Oranges, Avo's, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Lemons, Figs do great here... Apples need a bit more chill... but we do have an apple tree. just not the best apples.

The best time here in central Cal is in the fall... right now through Dec. It is better than summer. It is warm... but not too warm... and most of the tourists are gone... and the kids are in school. Good time to go out to the beach etc.

[Westward]

Just the info I needed, thanks. I suspected that Santa Ynez was hotter - it sure was when we came through last June.

I suppose paying for apples is not a big deal when you're growing everything else. Would I be correct in assuming that you have some excess to sell at the farmer's market? How does that work out? Down in LA, I always had tons of lemons, oranges, apricots and peaches to get rid of. I gave them to neighbors back then, but with the convenience of a weekly sales outlet, I might do something different.

My daughter is applying to CalPoly this year. My only problem with moving to SLO at this point, is if she does not get accepted. (CalPoly only takes about 5% from out of state) Then we'd need plan B for college. The other one will probably start CC in January. With the flexibility of being retired, we'll go wherever it is most convenient to stay together and keep the bills down. But I'd sure like to be in/near SLO.

[caliving0071]

From someone who was born and raised in Santa Barbara, lives in Santa Maria and frequents SLO for physician visits (my baby was just born in SLO), let me offer you my simple outlook on all three cities. Many posters went on a tangent while forgetting you are single, enjoy an active lifestyle and do not want to live in a small town. On that note, here is my take.

Santa Barbara- Yes beautiful, rich and a great social scene for a single person however if you are thinking long term and plan on staying and purchasing a home, expect to find something no less than approx $800k and that could be just your average starter home. P.S. SB DOES have it's share of gang problems (I have family within the Police Dept, they do have a gang unit) however unless you live in those areas, I can see how it would be hard to believe it to be so.

Santa Maria- Probably your least favorable place based on your desires. Not a place for singles, mostly families with children and retirees. In the past 5yrs or more has become the place to purchase a home while commuting to SLO or SB. Prices skyrocketed several years ago and currently has also seen a decline in todays market. Home prices can now be found in the $300k (starter homes) and up. Not such a cheap area as some tend to post however it is the most affordable of the three. Gangs, yes although just as in SB, I dont see it firsthand as I dont live in those parts of town but it is there. Small town atmosphere, not much to do for a single person.

San Luis Obispo- In my opinion, your best bet. Like a mini SB but without the beach. College town, great place for a single person. Beaches nearby and lots of outdoor activities. Housing still expensive, a home can be found probably in the $600k's and up. Low crime rate, several healthcare facilities, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

[eekwine]

they grow apples here in santa ynez, along with many other things such as boysenberries & rasberries & peaches, not sure about cherries though

santa ynez can get about 100 during the summer but it rarely stays up there for more than 2 or 3 days

sb gets the fog, some summers can be socked in most of the day for the entire season

[Jose Montara]

SLO and Arroyo Grande seem to have it all. But the Solvang/Santa Ynez area has better terrain, imo.

Better Terrain? What does that mean? The landscape from Cuesta to Gaviota is a series of east west valleys separated by small mountain ranges. The valley bottoms are deep alluvial basins. There is not much difference.

Fruit orchards. Everything grows on the Central Coast. Just plant and stand back.

[wulfruna]

Wouldn't choose Santa Maria unless you don't mind crime. Black spot of the central coast.

[Surferjd]

Diamond girl,

I think that you hit the nail on the head about tastes. You just don't fit into the central coast. Actually, not only SLO, but SB either I would say. There are other cities that support your ideology. I think you would fit in really well in South Orange Co. The problem is that people in the central coast like the lack of rules regarding what to do with your property. I personally hate manicured lawns. It makes me think about all of the chemicals people put on them to make them that way. I can imagine it all pouring down the gutter on the way to the ocean. I much prefer to see some creative landscaping using native plants or other plants that don't need much maintenance. Not that I like my neighbors to have a junkyard in the front lawn or anything, but I'd rather have that, than have a bunch of laws about what I can or can't do with my lawn. As far as progress is concerned, I think that you and central coast culture have opposite opinions on that as well. My idea of progress is people getting together and buying undeveloped land for a land trust or conservancy so that developers can't make a new strip mall. Maybe you would call it a "lifestyle mall" and be happy about all of the new stores and creative look that the developer picked. The central coast is a place where the people who are wealthy enough to afford it have chosen to live the California lifestyle minus all the progress that makes metropolitan areas crowded, polluted, and gridlocked with traffic. You sound like a big city girl, why did you think you wanted to move to a small town?

[Surferjd]

Stay in W. LA, SB doesn't need any people that are that worried about living with mexicans.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by Surferjd

Stay in W. LA, SB doesn't need any people that are that worried about living with mexicans.

Right on, Surferjd!!!

[Surferjd]

Originally Posted by CalBerkeley2002

greatbasinguide: what's with the obvious bias against the hispanic population? You are in California for crying out loud!

The native americans were here first, then the spanish, the mexicans and last came the white americans. If you love California, like I do, you have come to accept that you will be living with these other cultures. Yes, at times the interactions aren't perfect, yes racism, gangs and bad things come out of the mixing. I grew up in CA, and currently live in the midwest, and I can tell you that the different ethnicities do a pretty good job of living alongside one another in CA compared to other places, and if you want to isolate yourself to a neighborhood of all white people, you can get a lot more for your money in the midwest or south and find what you are looking for, personally, I'd miss the Mole.