Santa Cruz area - where to live for good access to mountain biking and nice business district

[Suttersmill]

Originally Posted by slowlanes

I've spent a lot of time in SC (old surfer) since the early 60s, know it well.
West SC housing is quite expensive, south SC less so.
Downtown SC is where all the homeless congegrate to pan handle the day time, it is no longer the place it once was.
With that said, the good news is SC has good micro districts, such as 41st ave on the SE side, featuring lots of small shops, restaraunts, very few if any homeless. That's where I would look if I was you. Lots of folks biking around the city on that side of town.
As to Mtn biking, there are some great trails starting just east of the University on the NE side of town, some technical terrain with plenty of hills, used to ride it with my son. And just a few miles north of town on Hwy 1 is a great trailhead that take you into the coastal hills with great ocean views.
Smoke from fires to the east happens almost every fall, no different anywhere from southern california to Oregon..forest going to burn during heat and drought, east winds. SC itself is not in danger of burning, whole lot of concrete and roads between the forest and SC proper.
Great town, one of the best surf areas in the world, bike trails abound, good food, plenty of sun, and if a single fella, likely won't mind that SC is filled with gals out and about.

THIS is what I'm talking about! Great insight. So to find a rental place in the 41st ave on the SE side, any recommendations?