San Clemente vs Aliso Viejo (Huntington Beach, Irvine: apartments, condos, houses)

[DevilDoll]

which of these 2 areas would you say is better? which is more walkable? more community oriented? thanks for any info

[NaplesRes]

san clemente is more walkable (down by the pier areas)
aliso is not walkable at all
aliso has a lot of young families but san clemente has families neighborhoods too
san clemente is a great beach town
aliso is a boring inland suburb (gets hot) with nothing but cookie cutter houses and a couple cookie cutter, chain dominated shopping centers
aliso is a better commute to job centers although it is fairly removed too
if you can find a job near san clemente it's a no brainer

[missionhome]

I love San Clemente!!! Go with that if you can in my opinion. It has a lot of charm west of the 5 freeway and if you want suburban, just live east of the 5 but be close enough to be at the pier and Del Mar in 10 minutes or less. Neither are totally walkable as you will need a car in both to get around. San Clemente has people out walking around along Del Mar, which is the main shopping street and down towards the pier. To get anywhere else in San Clemente though, you still need the car.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

aliso is a boring inland suburb* (gets hot)

Aliso is actually not that far from the beach temperature wise. It is only 2-3 miles inland from the ocean. The spread between the "Top of The World" neighborhood in Laguna Beach and the southern most neighborhoods of Aliso Viejo is roughly .4 miles and the temperature doesn't change THAT much in that much space (so Top of the World must be boiling also). A breeze comes up Aliso Creek and the canyon as well into Aliso Viejo. Just look at the temperatures for example for the next ten days. Aliso Viejo is within 2 degrees of Laguna Beach everyday for the high.Aliso is closer to the beach than the eastern portion of Newport Beach, the eastern portions of Huntington Beach, etc.... just cause a city doesn't "touch" the water with its limits, doesn't mean parts are ocean close. Parts of Costa Mesa exemplify that, being closer to the ocean than many Newport Beach neighborhoods.

So it will be 85 in Aliso Viejo tomorrow and 83 in Laguna Beach tomorrow. WOW, what a difference!

[NaplesRes]

I am in Aliso quite a bit. In the summer it is hot. I always figured this was because there are huge hills/canyons between aliso and the ocean. maybe laguna gets hot too in the hills? I don't know. But aliso doesn't seem any cooler than irvine usually when i'm there. I don't live there so maybe I have just been there on hot days.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

I am in Aliso quite a bit.* In the summer it is hot. I always figured this was because there are huge hills/canyons between aliso and the ocean.** maybe laguna gets hot too in the hills?** I don't know.* But aliso doesn't seem any cooler than irvine usually when i'm there.* I don't live there so maybe I have just been there on hot days.

Ever thought that maybe Laguna Beach is hot that day too??? You need to head farther east to get a temp difference that is larger. Maybe just the "idea" of being in Laguna makes someone think, WOW this 85 degree heat is actually nice even though Aliso is usually the same. I don't know, just saying. I've never noticed that big a difference between the two. Now Mission Viejo, RSM, Ladera Ranch, Coto, etc.... vs. beach there is a difference.

[missionhome]

Aliso Viejo Average Temps

//www.city-data.com/city/Aliso-...alifornia.html

//pics2.city-data.com/w1/lha1618.png (broken link)

Laguna Beach Average Temps

//www.city-data.com/city/Laguna...alifornia.html

//pics2.city-data.com/w1/lha2085.png (broken link)

[pacific2]

“aliso is not walkable at all."
Funny, I manage to walk my dogs around Aliso Viejo all the time. There are also 23 parks in this small (10.2 square mile) city. You mention “huge hills/ canyons.” Some people love to bike or hike through those areas. AV is a hilly city and I like that.

“aliso is a boring inland suburb (gets hot) with nothing but cookie cutter houses and a couple cookie cutter, chain dominated shopping centers”
You mean like flat, hot and inland Irvine? We are ocean close and benefit from the breezes. I can jump into my car and be at Laguna Beach in a matter of minutes.

[punkrocker27ka]

Originally Posted by pacific2

“aliso is not walkable at all."
Funny, I manage to walk my dogs around Aliso Viejo all the time.

"walkable" generally refers to the proximity of markets, retail outlets and job centers from housing communities. While neither Aliso Viejo or San Clemente are walkable to major job centers, San Clemente however has many many communities which are walkable to markets, retail outlets, restaurants and the beach.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by punkrocker27ka

"walkable" generally refers to the proximity of markets, retail outlets and job centers from housing communities. While neither Aliso Viejo or San Clemente are walkable to major job centers, San Clemente however has many many communities which are walkable to markets, retail outlets, restaurants and the beach.

Have you visited Aliso Viejo? The city is very small and also has many developments which are within walking distance, not only to restaurants, a large movie complex, and stores in Town Center, but also to major corporate offices. City Lights Apartments and the new condos and live/work places on or near Vantis come to mind. Other communities within the city are within easy walking distance to shops, a deli and a restaurant located on Aliso Creek Road.

Parks are an added bonus and there are 23 of them within the city. None of this is to take away anything from San Clemente; a very nice town.