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Old 08-11-2015, 04:27 AM
 
53 posts, read 196,151 times
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Southern California is an incredibly diverse place, and it really isn't fair to pin one single image on an entire region, I am aware of that. However, with that said, please tell me which of the Southern California beach towns, stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego, really lives up to that stereotypical media image of the comfortable but middle-class (not opulent or rich like Beverley Hills or Bel Air in that sense of the word) California beach town so popularized through media projections such as the Beach Boys, and numerous television programs and movie locations, which portray the good life?

Which of these many California beach towns really live up to the image? You know, the "tanned bushy haired blonde in the classic convertible", the "surfer dude", the relaxed and comfortable shangri-la lifestyle so synonymous with middle-class and upper-middle-class, suburban, Southern California beach communities.
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Old 08-11-2015, 09:26 AM
 
18,172 posts, read 16,238,914 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slant-6-Dodge View Post
Southern California is an incredibly diverse place, and it really isn't fair to pin one single image on an entire region, I am aware of that. However, with that said, please tell me which of the Southern California beach towns, stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego, really lives up to that stereotypical media image of the comfortable but middle-class (not opulent or rich like Beverley Hills or Bel Air in that sense of the word) California beach town so popularized through media projections such as the Beach Boys, and numerous television programs and movie locations, which portray the good life?

Which of these many California beach towns really live up to the image? You know, the "tanned bushy haired blonde in the classic convertible", the "surfer dude", the relaxed and comfortable shangri-la lifestyle so synonymous with middle-class and upper-middle-class, suburban, Southern California beach communities.
None do anymore.

Closest might be Huntington Beach, San Clemente and maybe Encinitas.
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:20 AM
 
Location: Carpinteria
1,199 posts, read 1,635,747 times
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La Conchita
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:22 AM
 
Location: Vancouver, WA
8,175 posts, read 16,567,706 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by expatCA View Post
None do anymore.

Closest might be Huntington Beach, San Clemente and maybe Encinitas.

I grew up along the SoCal coast and remember when things were that way - more laid back. My father actually knew the members of the Beach Boys way back in the day and built them surfboards. Where I grew in Hermosa Beach, it was like that 'to an extent' 40+ years ago. But things changed so much it drove most of those original residents out, unless wealthy. What started in places like Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Newport, Laguna, Dana Point, La Jolla, etc... spread throughout most of that entire stretch of coastline. Skyrocketing prices and gentrification turned sleepy beach towns into yuppieville and lifestyles of the rich and famous. Many wealthy outsiders came in and bought up the land and properties. Over development went crazy because of the demand and opportunity to make $$$.

What remnant remains of those more laidback, simpler times can be sometimes seen in places like Huntington Beach, Carlsbad and Encinitas. But they have changed so much themselves that those folks trying to live that lifestyle are definitely struggling to hang on to it. Some will still find basic jobs and scrape by to eek out a living. I know a few. But its not easy.

The alternative for most who wanted to remain and still enjoy the areas they love is to move inland and 'drive' to their beaches of choice. Housing prices drop as you head east. That distance varies. In San Diego, for example, you can move to places like Poway and still find some decent prices relative to living 'right on the coast.' But there is still nothing like going to sleep with the sound of crashing waves out your window or walking down to the beach after work and watching the sunset over the water.

Derek
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:23 AM
 
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Cardiff by the Sea is still like that IMO. Go check out Swami's and you'll see what I mean
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:46 AM
 
53 posts, read 196,151 times
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Judging between Encinitas and Carlsbad, which of the two do you think is more pleasant and has an overall better quality of life? Is one more of a "beach town" than the other? What sort of demographic dominates their population?
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:00 AM
 
2,986 posts, read 4,553,538 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slant-6-Dodge View Post
Judging between Encinitas and Carlsbad, which of the two do you think is more pleasant and has an overall better quality of life? Is one more of a "beach town" than the other? What sort of demographic dominates their population?
I prefer Encinitas even though it seems to be more expensive overall. It gives you more of the funky, laid back, surf town feel whereas Carlsbad comes across as a little more uptight and hoity toity but both are great areas overall. You can read into the demographics based on the descriptions however you wish

Last edited by Cardiff Kook; 08-11-2015 at 11:36 AM..
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:04 AM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,279,764 times
Reputation: 11039
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slant-6-Dodge View Post
Southern California is an incredibly diverse place, and it really isn't fair to pin one single image on an entire region, I am aware of that. However, with that said, please tell me which of the Southern California beach towns, stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego, really lives up to that stereotypical media image of the comfortable but middle-class (not opulent or rich like Beverley Hills or Bel Air in that sense of the word) California beach town so popularized through media projections such as the Beach Boys, and numerous television programs and movie locations, which portray the good life?

Which of these many California beach towns really live up to the image? You know, the "tanned bushy haired blonde in the classic convertible", the "surfer dude", the relaxed and comfortable shangri-la lifestyle so synonymous with middle-class and upper-middle-class, suburban, Southern California beach communities.
Cannon Beach, OR.
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:11 AM
 
2,986 posts, read 4,553,538 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly View Post
Cannon Beach, OR.
I just went there...really cool place. Water made my feet go numb instantly but it had amazing scenery!
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:13 AM
 
10,275 posts, read 10,238,910 times
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Huntington Beach lives up to the surfer dude stereotype.

Newport Beach lives up to the rich or wanna be rich coastal (often d bag) stereotype.

Corona del Mar lives up to the rich WASP old-school OC stereotype.
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