looking for the perfect California town to raise our 5 children
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You should look into Pacifica.I was raised there with my five siblings.I've moved around the bay and finally came back to raise my kids.We are on the coast with small communities nestled between small green hills.We are right on highway 1.Which is one of the most beautiful drives in california.It is safe and we have very little crime.We are the only place that still allows fireworks in the bay area.We are down the street from the beach and have surfing and skate parks for the kids.Pacifica really does have the small town attitude.We are very green and have fought for years to keep our hills green and free of track homes.Of course it also helps that all the mountain tops behind us are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and protected.Pacifica has many different kinds of homes and our families all know eachother and watch eachothers kids.Good Luck!
Ok. I apologize in advance. I've never done this, but I too seek the perfect California town to raise my children. Must be safe, warm enough to spend most of the year outdoors, great schools, and tons of space to grow (acreage) at an affordate rate. Currently living in Washington State-2 1/2 acres of lush forest. Kids are in a fantastic school district and have access to a fabulous fine arts program-2 play the violin and 1 the cello (very important). We LOVE the snow, but DO NOT like the long, cold, rainy winters. Spring never seems to come then before we know it summer has ended and we start the sickening cycle all over again. Extremely depressing. The information I read on Redding caught my eye- Property runs approx 350K (perfect) for small acreage, though this was wriiten in 2007. We frequently drive to visit family in Sacramento, but would really like to see more "greenery". Tiredmomof3, loved your input and all the places you referenced. I've read about the 12 year olds engaging in drugs and that concerns me. I have teenage daughters, and really have to protect them. I am also an educator so really appreciate small town feel. ideas?
Location: NW Oregon native currently residing in the Mojave Desert
204 posts, read 145,187 times
Reputation: 155
I'm a PNW transplant in Cali. I suggest if you like Washington, but want less rain/gloom, try looking a little closer to you first, try the eastern side of the Cascades, or SE Oregon.
My husband and I were educators (husband full time, I was a sub) for quite a while and many places we investigated were out of our reach on an educator's salary, starting with a family in those areas was not feasible. I've lived here for....good lord, almost two decades now, and pretty much all the places I love are too expensive in cost of living. Plus get ready for a bit of a culture shock, the population density is very high, especially the places I love, seems everyone loves it too and is willing to work their butts off and pay a premium for it.
We tried making a go at it in San Diego, but just couldn't swing it, and San Diego is lower cost of living than the areas I would really like to live. Over the nearly twenty years I've been here, we have lived mostly in the more affordable, "less desirable" areas (thought there are people out here that wouldn't live anywhere else).
If you still think Cali is for you, do your research and I suggest visiting before you move permanently.
Last edited by YellowHorse; 06-27-2012 at 01:34 PM..
Reason: clarity
Ojai is dreamy. Small town, safe schools, walkable. It is an hour and a half from LAX though. We don't really have traffic. We are surrounded by mountains, 20 minutes to the beach. I do not think it is a materialistic place compared to other CA locations. Some of the East End moms are really in to their Land Rovers and Coach purses, but most of Ojai is a semi-rural place where people are friendly.
May I suggest Mariposa California. It's a gateway community to Yosemite National Park. It has a walkable gold rush era town, real estate is very reasonable, and is approximately an hour from Fresno and its air terminal. Mariposa is close to the snow if you want it, but you don't have to live in it. The schools are very highly rated. The town has retained its historical integrity and devoted itself to the arts. It's worth looking at.
Does that exist? We would like to move to Cal. for many reasons but are nervous about the schools, materialism culture, and stressful lifestyle of driving. We can pretty much live anywhere and money isn't an issue, although I prefer to live in an economically diverse (but safe) area. I prefer the simple life and like my children to walk to school and most activities. Any ideas for us? I looked up the best schools in California and as usual they are in the priciest areas. Are there some in between areas that have great properties, great people, and walkable?
RE traffic and such, every time I see multitudinous stick family decals on a minivan, I think about root causes.
Does that exist? We would like to move to Cal. for many reasons but are nervous about the schools, materialism culture, and stressful lifestyle of driving. We can pretty much live anywhere and money isn't an issue, although I prefer to live in an economically diverse (but safe) area. I prefer the simple life and like my children to walk to school and most activities. Any ideas for us? I looked up the best schools in California and as usual they are in the priciest areas. Are there some in between areas that have great properties, great people, and walkable?
of course those areas exist but you might be living in a little bit of a dream world when you talk about safe and economically diverse. Of course it depends on what you call economically diverse. Why do you want to live in Ca would be my first question? This is not meant as a put down to Ca but a question that you need to examine as well. Ca is a huge state as I am sure you know and very different in tapography, climate, culture, etc, depending on where you live. Are you talking small town enviornment or true city life. do you want culturally diverse as well as economically diverse?
The areas that come to mind for me would be: parts of Sacramento area, grass valley, San Louis Obispo and maybe even smaller towns like Paradise. As for good schools, I don't care what the studies show, every arrea has some good and some bad schools: kids learn if they are motivated to learn: this is as much up to the family as it is the schools. Family instill the desire, the schools do the actual teaching and a lot of education falls between the two.
Traffic: don't worry, most people do just fine driving in CA...
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,404 posts, read 2,809,774 times
Reputation: 2622
Quote:
San Louis Obispo
There are those who call the town San Louie Obispo, which is the French pronounciation of Louis, I find that humorous. But, it ain't French, it is Luis,, Loo ese. San Luis Obispo De Tolosa
Named for a Frenchman though, Saint Lewis, Bishop of Toulouse
There are those who call the town San Louie Obispo, which is the French pronounciation of Louis, I find that humorous. But, it ain't French, it is Luis,, Loo ese. San Luis Obispo De Tolosa
Named for a Frenchman though, Saint Lewis, Bishop of Toulouse
Ok. I apologize in advance. I've never done this, but I too seek the perfect California town to raise my children. Must be safe, warm enough to spend most of the year outdoors, great schools, and tons of space to grow (acreage) at an affordate rate. Currently living in Washington State-2 1/2 acres of lush forest. Kids are in a fantastic school district and have access to a fabulous fine arts program-2 play the violin and 1 the cello (very important). We LOVE the snow, but DO NOT like the long, cold, rainy winters. Spring never seems to come then before we know it summer has ended and we start the sickening cycle all over again. Extremely depressing. The information I read on Redding caught my eye- Property runs approx 350K (perfect) for small acreage, though this was wriiten in 2007. We frequently drive to visit family in Sacramento, but would really like to see more "greenery". Tiredmomof3, loved your input and all the places you referenced. I've read about the 12 year olds engaging in drugs and that concerns me. I have teenage daughters, and really have to protect them. I am also an educator so really appreciate small town feel. ideas?
Most people are going to miss your post and respond to the one who started the thread several years ago. Go here: http://www.city-data.com/forum/california/ and click on the "New Thread" tab. (It's just below the list of the different areas of California.)
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