Looking for a "small town" feel with culture, parks and cozy cafes (Sacramento: rent)

[Iniki92]

I have recently returned to California after living in the Twin Cities for the past four years. Although I am from So. California, I want to settle in No. California. My son lives in SF and I want to be close, but do not want to live in the Bay Area due to the high cost of living, so I'm considering the Sacramento Area. Close enough to drive to SF when I want, but more affordable. The weather wasn't great, but the Twin Cities had much to offer in cultural opportunities, concerts, theatres, fabulous restaurants, bike paths. I'm looking for an area that has all those things in addition to a "small town" feel (independent bookstores with a musty smell, cozy cafes, people who smile and say hello to strangers, tree-lined streets). Can I find this in Sacramento ? Am I being unrealistic ?

[RCLewis]

Okay!!! Come to Paradise CA 95969 and you will love it. We have around 27,000 pop. here and everything nice. And 23 miles to the closes Casino. We have extra nice Parks and the Cozy Cafes. I will stay here till the end of my days!!!

[RCLewis]

[quote=RCLewis;171549]Okay!!! Come to Paradise CA 95969 and you will love it. We have around 27,000 pop. here and everything nice. And 23 miles to the closes Casino. We have extra nice Parks and the Cozy Cafes. I will stay here till the end of my days!!![/QUO TE]

[Guingirl]

I would suggest - Davis (it has the College town feel as UC Davis is one of the best Aggie schools in the country); midtown Sacramento or East Sacramento by McKinley Park has that close knit feel with big trees and parks all around.

As far as culture, at Davis, they have the Mondavi Center that has quite a few performing arts events. There are a few museums in the area, but only an hour and a half drive to the City (SF). Timothy Busfield is from Sacramento and runs an acting company here as well. We have a lot of little theaters here as well as some of the off broadway productions coming through the Sacramento Convention Center. We have our own ballet, symphony and opera.

[KidBlue]

I would second what Guingirl said, Davis would be perfect, and it's on the way to SF, so you could shorten your trip by about 30 minutes. Downtown Sacramento could work also, but crime is more of a problem than in Davis. Davis is expensive though. McKinley Park is really expensive, but very nice and has a small town feel. Sacramento is sometimes called the City of Trees, sometimes River City (in the summer we have different names!!!). You will love the weather here. I know the winters in the Twin Cities really bite.....

[apensity]

Chico, right next to Paradise. Chico has a downtown going through renovation right now to "update" it to it's original condition. Historical emphasis takes precedence in local decisions. Beautiful town with gorgeous tree lined streets (especially in Fall!) and a friendly community (I see the same 1,000 people wherever I go, even with 100,000 people for a population!)