Temecula life (Orange, Murrieta, Loma Linda: transplants, home, neighborhood)

[maui08]

Can anyone shed some light on what life in Temecula is like? I know this is a broad question but we are hoping to hear things about the weather, people, city itself, etc. Does it stay hot all the time? Like 100 each day or is it mostly mild? How about the bugs? Wasps, spiders, etc all over the place being inland or not that bad? Thank you

[dweej]

Gosh, I'm sure there are many of us who could go on a tangent about this, but I think first you'll probably do well to use the search feature of the forum and find all the other threads on Temecula to get a feel for what's been said in the past. It is certainly *not* hot all the time. The last couple of weeks have been downright chilly in the morning (50's and 60's) with highs in the high 70's during the day. One gal from this forum who just moved here (I don't think she reads the forum anymore...but if she does, she knows who I'm talking to!) has probably actually been a little bummed that it hasn't been sunnier and hotter. Coming from Oregon, she was ready for a big change and it's just not summer yet here. In August/September is when it's super hot. I remember 105 and 107 days in September the last two years, but those are few and far between. There are not bugs the way you have bugs in, say, Houston, but this area was pretty rural not too long ago, so we get our share of "critters". Mostly lizards. And it's definitely spider and ant country.

Hah! I guess I did go off on a tangent! Sorry I didn't address all your points, but I'm sure if you use the search feature you'll learn a lot more. If you decide to make the move, welcome!

[leonard]

Originally Posted by maui08

Can anyone shed some light on what life in Temecula is like? I know this is a broad question but we are hoping to hear things about the weather, people, city itself, etc. Does it stay hot all the time? Like 100 each day or is it mostly mild? How about the bugs? Wasps, spiders, etc all over the place being inland or not that bad? Thank you

Depending on where you are at in either Temecula or Murrieta, you get a nice afternoon or evening breeze off the ocean, through the passes in the Mountains to the West. We normally turn any A/C off that we may have on during the hotter days and open our windows when the breeze starts. It cools down real nice in the evening and through the night. I live in West Murrieta, but Many areas of Temecula have the same breeze.

[firsttimeowner]

I think it has good schools........good normal family life.........good shopping.........far from beach ..large cities..mountains..in my opinion............but some condise an hr or two drive to be close....I dont. Very little night life..........nice parks and lakes...........tons of traffic.............expensive for what you get.........imo..........nice if you spend over 250k.

[Lienyie]

Temecula is very family driven and not a singles hangout. There is a mix of military, firefighters, police, teachers, middle class that want a safe place, and OC that could not afford to live in OC. The city goverment was voted in with smart and strict people that created a surplus budget under dire economy. I have been all over the world and it is hard to find a place to raise your children in a safe place with 10 out of 10 rated schools, and many activities. Temecula is a desert region with to much watering going on. After the first year you get use to the hot non humid weather, I lived in Florida and it was much worse, Temecula is dry heat. It is mostly June to end of October. By 4pm a cool ocean breeze yes, ocean breeze hits the valley and no one runs air it cools down fast unlike AZ.
Temecula is divided into North, Central, and South, South is very calm with little businesses or renters, Central, gets busy, and North is HUB.
Temecula has history, but is highly condsidered a "bedroom community" or "graduate my kids - and get the H--l out".

[dweej]

Originally Posted by Lienyie

Temecula is very family driven and not a singles hangout. There is a mix of military, firefighters, police, teachers, middle class that want a safe place, and OC that could not afford to live in OC. The city goverment was voted in with smart and strict people that created a surplus budget under dire economy. I have been all over the world and it is hard to find a place to raise your children in a safe place with 10 out of 10 rated schools, and many activities. Temecula is a desert region with to much watering going on. After the first year you get use to the hot non humid weather, I lived in Florida and it was much worse, Temecula is dry heat. It is mostly June to end of October. By 4pm a cool ocean breeze yes, ocean breeze hits the valley and no one runs air it cools down fast unlike AZ.
Temecula is divided into North, Central, and South, South is very calm with little businesses or renters, Central, gets busy, and North is HUB.
Temecula has history, but is highly condsidered a "bedroom community" or "graduate my kids - and get the H--l out".

I would agree with most of this, except for the descriptions of North, Central, and South. South, along the 79S is actually very busy. If a person hasn't lived here in a while, they would be very, very surprised at the quantity of businesses and restaurants that have gone in along that corridor, thus increasing traffic substantially. The central portion is now the least busy section of town, mostly residential and parks, with the North side (anchored by the Promenade Mall) and the South side (anchored by Wal-mart/Ralph's/numerous strip mall establishments) are both high traffic areas.

[dweej]

Oops, forgot to add that the new hospital/medical center will also be built on 79S, so that's another item that will add *a lot* of traffic to the south side of town.

[SoCalTwinkie]

Originally Posted by dweej

Oops, forgot to add that the new hospital/medical center will also be built on 79S, so that's another item that will add *a lot* of traffic to the south side of town.

I think they canned that hospital project on 79 (Temecula Parkway). But a new hospital is being built off Benton in Wildomar area. Its part of Loma Linda.

[SoCalTwinkie]

Originally Posted by maui08

Can anyone shed some light on what life in Temecula is like? I know this is a broad question but we are hoping to hear things about the weather, people, city itself, etc. Does it stay hot all the time? Like 100 each day or is it mostly mild? How about the bugs? Wasps, spiders, etc all over the place being inland or not that bad? Thank you

In general, Temecula has all the amenities you want without having to drive out of town. The people are mostly Orange County transplants. Young families that wanted to buy their first home, raise a family in a nice neighborhood, etc. Lots of activities for kids.

What can I say about the weather? Its HOT in the summer. I'm not from SO Cal originally, so I have a different perspective than someone from Orange County. The summer has LOTS of 100+ days, but yes, it does cool down at night.

BUGS? I rarely see a mosquito. But lots of lizards and ANTS, and the usual bees and wasps, spiders.

The city has a beautiful library, sports park, and is generally well designed. As for the traffic, if you are stay at home mom, get all your shopping done by noon as the traffic around town increases in the afternoon but not gridlock.

I've lived in Temecula 8 years and although it has grown considerably, it is still a nice small town.

[dweej]

Originally Posted by SoCalTwinkie

I think they canned that hospital project on 79 (Temecula Parkway). But a new hospital is being built off Benton in Wildomar area. Its part of Loma Linda.

Interesting. I hadn't realized the project had been totally scrapped. I know there had been a lot of challenges, and especially in the last couple of years the economy hasn't allowed for such a thing, but I was under the impression that it was still in the works. If the hospital is a bust, they'll sell the parcel(s) and something else will be built there. Either way, that area can't stay empty for long, which means Temecula Pkwy traffic can only get worse, not better. I guess that's why I still don't think it's possible to classify the southern portion of town as quieter than the center .