Where in LA greater area for 40 year olds with toddler? Please help! (Long Beach: to rent)

[iwanttolivein]

Hello everyone, I would really appreciate your help. We are trying to decide where to live... and we know very little about LA and the surrounding areas, except that what we have seen we like!

We are a married Swedish couple that just turned 40 and we have a 2 year old. We have our own business and work at home. We are looking to rent somewhere that has the following:

Relatively walkable, ie we want to walk to restaurants and some grocery shopping. We want to eat out/take away most everyday so restaurants are very important! We will have a car but we don't want to have to drive everywhere/every day. We also like walking fro exercise, on the beach or woods or hills.

Parks/playgrounds for our son to play in and meet other kids/parents.

Good day care/elementary schools. Pref. public.

Safe and relaxed.

Nice people whom we can meet and make friends with. We are well educated, we like discussions, international, friendly and not snobby, we like to meet interesting people from all walks of live. We are down to earth, non religious, non 'granola', non 'alternative' people, even though we don't have 'normal' jobs and live life as we choose and travel as much as we can afford.

We have looked at Long Beach but get mixed signals. We are open to any area. We like warm weather, but not too hot.

Thats it I think. i hope you have some advice for us! Thank you!

[nick2006]

Originally Posted by iwanttolivein

Hello everyone, I would really appreciate your help. We are trying to decide where to live... and we know very little about LA and the surrounding areas, except that what we have seen we like!

We are a married Swedish couple that just turned 40 and we have a 2 year old. We have our own business and work at home. We are looking to rent somewhere that has the following:

Relatively walkable, ie we want to walk to restaurants and some grocery shopping. We want to eat out/take away most everyday so restaurants are very important! We will have a car but we don't want to have to drive everywhere/every day. We also like walking fro exercise, on the beach or woods or hills.

Parks/playgrounds for our son to play in and meet other kids/parents.

Good day care/elementary schools. Pref. public.

Safe and relaxed.

Nice people whom we can meet and make friends with. We are well educated, we like discussions, international, friendly and not snobby, we like to meet interesting people from all walks of live. We are down to earth, non religious, non 'granola', non 'alternative' people, even though we don't have 'normal' jobs and live life as we choose and travel as much as we can afford.

We have looked at Long Beach but get mixed signals. We are open to any area. We like warm weather, but not too hot.

Thats it I think. i hope you have some advice for us! Thank you!

sounds like santa monica that fits all your inputs. maybe mar vista..what mixed signal did you get in LB? i don't see any of your inputs being met by LB?

[iwanttolivein]

Originally Posted by nick2006

sounds like santa monica that fits all your inputs. maybe mar vista..what mixed signal did you get in LB? i don't see any of your inputs being met by LB?

We have read the posts about Long Beach and most say it is walkable, has good elementary schools, restaurants etc and that it is laid bcck and less stressful than LA proper so to speak. Some say it is not a so very good area though. But that is alla I know. Why doesn't it fit our inputs do you think? Please tell!

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by iwanttolivein

We have read the posts about Long Beach and most say it is walkable, has good elementary schools, restaurants etc and that it is laid bcck and less stressful than LA proper so to speak. Some say it is not a so very good area though. But that is alla I know. Why doesn't it fit our inputs do you think? Please tell!

Long Beach is a large city. You get different opinions based on which part of the city in question. I think the Belmont Heights/Belmont Shore area would really appeal to you. Excellent schools, very walkable, and plenty of restaurants and other stuff for you to do.

[saybanana]

I think great,safe and walkable community is South Pasadena. The public school district is one of the best in county. It is a short drive to Old Town Pasadena and to Downtown LA (or by the Gold Line). It is not near the beach, woods or hills unless you drive to Angeles Crest highway.

[iwanttolivein]

Thank you, I will check out all the areas mentioned!

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

Long Beach is a large city. You get different opinions based on which part of the city in question. I think the Belmont Heights/Belmont Shore area would really appeal to you. Excellent schools, very walkable, and plenty of restaurants and other stuff for you to do.

I second Belmont Shore. Anything walking distance to 2nd Street will be perfect