Slow paced California cities...Are there any left? (Bakersfield, Santa Rosa: homes, purchase)

[Rwarky]

Originally Posted by fritzjanine

Where,I live, although it's growing. The Banning/Beaumont area.

Itsn't Beaumont in Texas?

[Laura K]

For a slower place of life, live in Lone Pine, CA (Inyo County).

[Caliguy2007]

Originally Posted by Rwarky

Itsn't Beaumont in Texas?

Their is a Beaumont in California too.

[trishj279]

Originally Posted by Rwarky

For people who enjoy a slower or semi-slow pace of living, which California cities might possess this quality?

I find Tehachapi Ca to fit the bill when it comes to a slower or semi-slower pace of living. This is an old town and its really just now starting to grow. We have beautiful ranches and country homes along with brand new homes. Prices are moderate and we also get the four seasons. Yet if you want the "big" city of L.A., its only about 125 miles away. Help yourself!!

[gizmo980]

I'm not sure if you want Northern or Southern Calif., but I can suggest a few places up north.

Arcata is one of my favorite small towns, if you don't mind being a bit isolated... the nearest "city" is Redding, and even that's about 3 hours away (San Fran is 5-6 hours). You can also consider the Tahoe or Truckee areas, which are very slow-paced when it isn't tourist season. I lived in South Lake Tahoe for a while, and it was super quiet and peaceful in the off-times! Others would be Mendocino county (Ukiah, Ft. Bragg, etc.) or Amador County, which includes Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Ione. My friend's mother lives in Sutter Creek, and it's a really cute and old-fashioned kind of town... I don't know how old you are, but it is more of a retirement-aged community. Anyway, hope this helps a bit!

[fritzjanine]

Originally Posted by Rwarky

Itsn't Beaumont in Texas?

The Banning/Beaumont area is 20 minutes west of Palm Springs

[GregJ]

Here's a couple that I found :

Lone Pine and Independence (great history and gorgeous area);
Cuyucos and Los Osos (on the SLO coast);
Middletown and Lakeport (in Lake County affordable paradise);
Calistoga (Napa County and a little pricey);
Escalon and Oakdale (orchards and farming east of Manteca);
Exeter (antiques and still growing oranges east of Visalia!);
Bridgeport (Mono County);
Isleton (on the river south of Davis);

and my all time favorite: Colusa, the county seat of Colusa County (go figure!). It's about 3500 people, a totally unmolested and thriving downtown and an absolutely gorgeous collection of 1920-40's era houses on city streets that are lined with huge shade trees. A really nice downtown park and the city's on the banks of the Sacramento River. Best of all, with the exception of a little development east of town, there is no sprawl. Blink your eyes and you'll think you're in the 40's! Anybody been there?

Formerly on my list but off now because they've discovered how to development themselves into just another typical city:

On the Going, Going... list:

Ripon
Woodland
Paso Robles
Dixon

On the Gone list:

Temecula
Moorpark
Lodi
Santa Maria
Gilroy
Santa Rosa
Vacaville

[MegAsh]

North coast= Rohnert park/Mendecino/Sonoma

Central Valley=Folsom/Red Bluff/Chico/Redding/
little antique towns along highway 49 leading to the sierra foothills

Bay area=Half moon bay

Central Coast=Morro bay/Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel Valley

Inland=Hollister

[aguamarina4u]

Hollister, Gilroy and the Morgan Hill area are very slow paced with lakes and country roads in your backyard. We have all the ammenties one would desire too! There's no hurry up and wait here!!!!

[shoreline bound]

If you want really, really slow, try Modoc County. $100k homes with acres of land, liberal gun laws, towns with a population of 150. Very slow.