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Cooachella Valley, which includes Palm Springs. Now, Palm Springs has no agriculture, but the farther up 111 you go (Indio, for example) you enter farmland. And lots of terrific crops are grown there. It's 2-3 hours drive from the coast, depending on the area you're driving from. But trees? Plenty of palms but that's about it.
Plenty of flash thunderstorms there in summer, and it gets HOT! I don't know about rivers, but you have the nearby coast to cool off. There are lots of interesting things in the Coachella Valley, and personally I think it's very beautiful. But it isn't for everybody.
As an alternative, I'm going to suggest Merced in the San Joaquin Valley. It's smack dab in the central part of the state, not southern. But it has pretty much what you want, too, except for summer thunderstorms (it does get hot, though). Now I don't know how much "urban density" you want at your fingertips, but the closest larger cities are Modesto and Fresno. And either city should provide pretty much anything you'd find in L.A. If you like to hike, there's Yosemite. San Joaquin Valley produce. . . yum!
Most of what she's looking for does exist in small towns like Ramona, Fallbrook, Julian, and Idyllwild - and that's just in the southernmost part of the state. If you go north, I'm sure there are even better options. It's not impossible, to find, but she will have to do a lot of research!
If you love the Gulf Coast culture and were moving to California or the Southwest, which town would you pick?
Hello,
I am new to city-data and I need some advise.
For family reasons, I need to move to within a day's drive of relatives near the CA Central Coast and in Northern AZ.
Also, according to the doctor, a dry climate is good for my health.
(I live in the Pacific Northwest now, big mistake.)
So, I figure Southern California, Southern Nevada, or Western Arizona would be about right in where I need to be geographically, but I don't know what part would fit best.
Here's where I need help:
I was born in the desert and grew up mostly in East Texas. Even though it was kind of suburban, we went camping or out to the shore every chance we got. We knew all our neighbors - they were actually out every evening taking a stroll in shirtsleeves - and we rode our bikes almost all year.
The best times of my life were in Texas Texarkana, Louisiana, and Florida... gulf coast in general. I love gardening, and my favorite sport is swimming at rivers and warm beaches. I miss the real summer rainstorms!
Farms around are great, farms within city limits are even better, and really intense urban density or lack of trees makes me feel down.
I just do better with a friendly, slower pace of life.
Most of all, I want my kid to grow up outdoors, climbing trees, fed on BBQ.
Anyone lived in both regions? What worked and what didn't?
I know I cannot expect one place to be just like another, I just want to take my best shot at it.
It has taken me a lot of years to realize that happiness is not too much to ask for. It is better for everyone around you too!
bouncethelight, thank you for much area info. Wondering about Poway and Ramona (you can take the "Sprinter" to the beach, right?) Also I think that Fallbrook(?) has the slogan something like, California's last Hometown? Idyllwild is an artist's colony, and apples (yum) grow in Julian, yes?? Are there major water issues up in the hills, too, or just for the big cities?
The San Diego area sounds much better than the L.A. area, that's for sure!
I know this is something I may not find, but I have to try!
Also, what I am looking for may, in part, be from a time that has dissapeared, and I have been thinking its where I have been living!
But, at any rate, I still have to move closer to the folks.
Bulldogdad, I will look into Bakersfield. Thanks. Can you recommend a nice town up the Kern River?
winkosmosis has a point, maybe just something outside of town.
I have heard of a place called Buttonwillow, near Bakersfield but going the other way, out towards the valley?
I have heard very mixed things about the Central Valley, so I am glad to have specific pointers, like as in Fresno vs. Bakersfield or Merced vs. Stockton.
Bluesmama, thank you for your recommendations. Didn't they just put a new UC school in Merced? (and farmer's markets, I agree - yum!) I'll check it out.
And I see what you mean about the agriculture in the desert closer to the Salton Sea. Lots of palm groves, etc. I thought Indio was all golf and cookie-cutters! Interesting.
What town in California or the Southwest is most like The South?
Hello,
I am new to city-data and I need some advise.
For family reasons, I need to move to within a day's drive of relatives near the CA Central Coast and in Northern AZ.
Also, according to the doctor, a dry climate is good for my health.
(I live in the Pacific Northwest now, big mistake.)
So, I figure Southern California, Southern Nevada, or Western Arizona would be about right in where I need to be geographically, but I don't know what part would fit best.
Here's where I need help:
I was born in the desert and grew up mostly in East Texas. Even though it was kind of suburban, we went camping or out to the shore every chance we got. We knew all our neighbors - they were actually out every evening taking a stroll in shirtsleeves - and we rode our bikes almost all year.
The best times of my life were in Texas Texarkana, Louisiana, and Florida... gulf coast in general. I love gardening, and my favorite sport is swimming at rivers and warm beaches. I miss the real summer rainstorms!
Farms around are great, farms within city limits are even better, and really intense urban density or lack of trees makes me feel down.
I just do better with a friendly, slower pace of life.
Most of all, I want my kid to grow up outdoors, climbing trees, fed on BBQ.
Anyone lived in both regions? What worked and what didn't?
Which of the towns by the Colorado River nice? What is the life / community there like? (I did always wonder why the main cities in Arizona seem to be away from the water?) Would a town like Strawberry fit the bill?
I know I cannot expect one place to be just like another, I just want to take my best shot at it.
It has taken me a lot of years to realize that happiness is not too much to ask for. It is better for everyone around you too!
Thank you all for any help!
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If you love the Gulf Coast culture and were moving to California or the Southwest, which town would you pick?
