Long Beach or OC? (Anaheim, Irvine: house, rent, job)

[Hobokenite]

I am moving to the southern california with my girlfriend at the end of July for a job. It is a year long position and I might only be there for a year. Was hoping to live on the beach and get the full CA experience. I will be working at a hospital in Anaheim (La Palma Ave) and Irvine (Alton Parkway). Was originally thinking we were going to live in the OC but we were out there few weeks ago and really liked the Belmont shores area of Long Beach. Seems pretty close to the OC. It reminded us of the area where we live in now but on the beach.

Couple of questions- What is the commute like to anaheim/irvine from belmont shores? What is the beach like there- noticed a bunch of oil rigs right off shore, are people swimming there?

Also thought about newport beach and huntington beach areas. Would the commute be better to Anaheim/Irvine. Wanted to be somewhere walkable to beach and bars/restaurants/shopping. Seems like the only areas would be main street HB and Newport peninsula. Any thoughts?

[NaplesRes]

I'm sure you'll get a bunch of responses to this but basically Belmont Shore is great. It's an upscale, walkable, fun place for both families and young people. The commute to Irvine is 40 minutes in traffic and probably about the same to Anaheim.

There are no waves in LB due to the breakwater. The water quality is typically bad close to the Port / LA River. The water is typically fine east of Belmont Pier but in reality people swim in Alamitos Bay (bay side of Peninsula / Shore). Nobody outside of locals know that spot though. It's a great spot to kick back and enjoy the view of the Peninsula and Naples.

On the beach side in Belmont Shore you'll find a nice bike path, volleyball, sailing, and wind surfing for the most part.

Long Beach is much more of a sailing / yachting location than it is a surfing spot for obvious reasons.

[Lionhearted]

I don't know about the commute; I gave up driving a couple years back.
After being a gypsy - AF gypsy, since my birth and young adulthood, I moved to Long Beach 15 years ago and fell in love with the city. If you like diversity and originality, LB is definitely the place to be in. Some people, not I, refer to living in OC as behind the Orange Curtain. So it's up to you.

Glad your making it to SC

[bhcompy]

for swimming from long beach typically you would head over to seal beach next door

[Cattknap]

The commute from Long Beach to Anaheim/Irvine is a killer during normal commute times....I'd move as close to Anaheim/Irvine as I could if I were you.

[yyz1]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

for swimming from long beach typically you would head over to seal beach next door

Or Sunset Beach just a few minutes south of that

[Hobokenite]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

The commute from Long Beach to Anaheim/Irvine is a killer during normal commute times....I'd move as close to Anaheim/Irvine as I could if I were you.

What is killer?
Currently I live in NJ. It takes me 25 minutes to get to work in the am because I leave early and 45 minutes to get home (up to 1 hour if I leave between 5 and 6). Is that killer or will the drive to/from belmont shores to
Anaheim (La Palma Ave) and Irvine (Alton Parkway) be worse?
Thanks for your help

[Chowhound]

Originally Posted by Hobokenite

What is killer?
Currently I live in NJ. It takes me 25 minutes to get to work in the am because I leave early and 45 minutes to get home (up to 1 hour if I leave between 5 and 6). Is that killer or will the drive to/from belmont shores to
Anaheim (La Palma Ave) and Irvine (Alton Parkway) be worse?
Thanks for your help

The commute from LB to Anahiem or Irvine isnt that bad. Depending what time you leave. I can make it to Irvine from Long Beach leaving my house at 6:35 and getting to near John Wayne airport in 20 to 25 min. That isn't jack diddly sh*t

[jayolm]

Before committing to Belmont Shores as the place to live, you should also check out Seal Beach, particularly close to Main St. Quaint, small town vibe right on the beach. Lots of bars, restaurants and mom & pop shops. You can walk out on the pier. More quaint and less crowded than Belmont Shores, and slightly smaller. Apartment prices probably very similar. But don't get me wrong, Belmont Shores is great, too.