Best Warm Winter Small Towns in Southern Cal Between Orange County and North San Diego County (Bakersfield: real estate, casino)

[ariadelphi]

I am looking for that lovely warm winter small town between North San Diego County and Orange County INLAND. If there was a way to put a small Santa Barbara or Ojai in that area, that would be the spot for me. There's just so much in that area and I'm not familiar with any of it. I'm looking for a place that is pleasing to the eye-that's very important to me. A nice city park is a plus and some nice restaurants and cafes. I would also love it if this town had a large preserve nearby for hiking during the winter months. Preferably, this town would not be near a military base. So I'm looking for warm, pretty, small town with a little culture and hiking nearby. Can anyone help? Thank you!

[mrsltd]

There's not really much "between" north San Diego County and inland Orange County;
they abut each other. That area is by and large National Forest land; nothing like Ojai here. There are some towns in far north SD County such as Ramona and Fallbrook. There are also small outposts of civilization in the canyons on the east side of Orange County, such as Modjeska and Silverado, but these are NOT full-blown communities and not so artsy-fartsy as Ojai; these areas would actually be considered "country".

[esmith143]

Temecula should do the trick. Most northern SD county communities (Ramona and Fallbrook) are somewhat backward, more like Bakersfield than Santa Barbara.

BTW, I guess it depends on what you mean by "warm", but I wouldn't really describe Temecula, Ojai, or Fallbrook as warm-winter. Winter-time lows are usually in mid-30's.

[Fontucky]

Wildomar.

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by mrsltd

There's not really much "between" north San Diego County and inland Orange County;
they abut each other. That area is by and large National Forest land; nothing like Ojai here.

Camp Pendleton also takes up a good chunk of coastal real estate there. That will make your desire to not be too near a base more difficult. Otherwise I would have recommended Fallbrook.

When the San Diego Zoo wanted to create a wild animal park they researched what area of the county had the highest number of days with daily highs over 70F in winter. They found it just outside of Escondido.

[moved]

What do you have against the military?

[stillkit]

Check out Ramona or the area around the Rincon Indian reservation and casino.

[ariadelphi]

Thanks for feedback so far. Temecula is interesting. Seemed a little big for me but surprised that esmith143 said that this area is not warm. Today I checked Fallbrook during the day and it was 81 degrees! That works for me as today in Shasta it's 42!! But you also said Fallbrook was a little backward and of course, I'd love to be in a more progressive community (I've lived in Mt Shasta, Sedona, Kihei (Maui), Princeville (Kauai) and San Juan Island). Actually, nothing against military per se, just didn't feel like having fighter jets passing over all day. Is there heavy air traffic out of Pendelton? If not, Fallbrook or outside of Escondido sounds good. Also thanks to the person who mentioned the San Diego zoo once being considered for outside of Escondido.
Thanks for the Wildomar suggestion, I'll look it up.

[NYSD1995]

There is nothing progressive or what would be described as a "small town" between San Diego and OC. It is either tract-sprawl exurb or rural backwater type places.

Temecula is plenty warm in winter. It was 80+ today.

[ariadelphi]

Does anyone have any info on Alpine, just east of San Diego? Sounds like a nice warm place in the winter. A friend just recommended it and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!