Most Beautiful Historic Residential Neighborhood in California (San Francisco, Santa Ana: townhomes, neighborhoods)

[tg9999]

We are fortunate enough to be retiring in our early 50's in 2011.

Question: What is the most beautiful historic residential neigborhood in the California?
We are only interested in 2 criteria:
1) a high concentration of beautiful, historic homes;
2) decent weather for most of the year.

(Assume emloyment , housing costs, and all other factors irrelevant.) Feel free to post any photos if you have them.
Thanks in advance.

[uptown_urbanist]

What's your favorite time period or architectural style? You'll find a wide range of options in California, and lots of beautiful historic residential neighborhoods to choose from. You'll need to add a few more parameters otherwise you'll be overwhelmed with possibilities. Not cost, necessarily, just things like city? Small town? Mountains? Beach? (and so on...)

Pasadena (and surrounding areas) is internationally famous for its Craftsmen homes, although has other beautiful historic home styles available, too. Check out Pasadena Heritage for more info. Historic preservation is a very big deal in Pasadena, and many Pasadena neighborhoods (and other areas nearby: San Marino, South Pasadena, etc.) easily meet both of your requirements.

[Clarks]

Ferndale tops the list.

[bryson662001]

Beverly Hills?

[investorscooter]

I read that Pacific Grove has more victorian homes per capita, than any other place in the US. Haven't confirmed, but it is quite charming!

[sonarrat]

Broadway Street in San Francisco. Hey, you said housing costs weren't a concern!

[Sassberto]

There's no single answer.

You want 30-40s era mansions?
You want depression-era craftsmans and spanish bungalows?
You want victorian townhomes?

Nearly every major CA city has swaths of historic housing. Greater LA probably has the largest number of contiguous, intact historic neighborhoods.

[humboldtrat]

San Francisco has many old Victorian, Queen Anne, Italianate homes as well as many craftsmen and Spanish/California Mission style homes.

[nmnita]

wow, I can think of about 5 or 6 depending on what one thinks of when they say historical, etc.

1-twin peaks or Nob Hill in San Francisco

2-Pasa, So Pasa and that entire area

3-Hanccock Park

4-Eureka

5-Ferndale, someone said that, but I am not sure I would put it quite toward the top.

6-Maybe Santa Barbara

ok Eureka doesn't have the best weather but they do have some awesome homes.

Nita

[Fontucky]

Angelino Heights in L.A.

Floral Park in Santa Ana