Your advise on areas to live

[kauaidooley]

We all make life what it is......know what is important to us, and then just flat do it, possibly with a compromise or two.

I lived in Orange County Beach Cities for several decades, and did leave to live on Kauai Island for 10 years , now back in Orange County, Dana Point, in South County beginning five years, and we absoluelty love it.

We do have an apartment, The Villas at Monarch Beach ( Dana Point ).

On property we have an excellent fitness center , large swimming pool and jacuzzi, plus another small jacuzzi in a different area, and a tennis court.

We can walk to Salt Creek Beach and Beach Park, and over to the Salt Creek paved trail that goes well inland and along the creek and golf course. Very pleasant.

We can also walk to the Monarch Bay Shopping Village or drive a couple of minutes...available there are Starbucks,
Stellas fine Italian Restaurant and lounge, Gelsons higher end Market, UPS STORE, Bank, Donut Shop, CVS pharmacy,
Boot Camp work out facility, ladies hair and beauty salon, etc. etc.

Also, just inland a bit, maybe 5 minute drive, is the Ocean Ranch Shopping villages, actually separated by Del Avion Road. Very nice. On the north side : Outdoor coffee shop, Brews and Boards cafe, Nutrition Store, Bank,
Trader Joes familly style friendly gorcery store, 24 hour fitness center, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc, etc.

On the south side of Del Avion, is the other half of Ocean Ranch Shopping Village, Ralphs Market, good discounts,
CVS Pharmacy, and several different types of take out or sit in fast food establishements.

A for or so minute drive down PCH or two mile walk brings you the DANA POINT HARBOR AND MARINA AREA.
Wonderful stroll along the boats and slips. Several different marina restaurants and bars.

Harpoon Heneys: ( excellent meals and super happy hours, and nite time entertainment. Great staff Fave

Bloody Mary's : On the water
Harbor Grille: Best Sea Food, casual class. FAVE
Turks : Old time beach hang, really fun, interesting patrons, and great staff . On the waster, very popular Fave
Plus : Watermans, inside and outdoor patio service on the water.....
Jimmy's Great All American Tavern....super meals, great service, fun staff, Fave
and several others.

Also, they have the Ocean Institute with guest speakers, and sailing on their tall ship
Also, Different day tour boats for Whales and Dolphin sightings
and the Catalina Island Ferry for a day or weekend get a way.

Add in fun times in our sister towns of San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente..short drives of 15 minutes.

We are also next to Laguna Beach,, but much to messed up with traffic, and inland visitor crowds, but we do
love to get a hotel and stay up there when attending the Art Pageant OF The Masters....that is a DO NOT MISS.
Walkable shops and great bars and restaurants.

Add in hiking trials, in Wilderness areas, and along the coast that are easy drives of a few minutes.

Dana Point, itself also has 20 plus parks , some with ocean and marina views and bbq pits and picnic tables.

Is the beach style for everyone, Nope, but it certainly is for us. Also, it is easy to meet people and we could care less if what they drive or where they live. We respect everyone and found it fun to start up conversations with total strangers, that runs from hikes, or walks, to bars and restaurants.

Also, right next door to us, is Sea Terrace Park, generally very few people except for the FREE SUMMER CONCERTS in PARK every sunday. Super fun, bring your sand chair, drinks and snacks, sing and dance and party down.

There you go. This is our actual fun and positive and rewarding life style in Dana Point.

And just FYI, Erica is a retired chief physician from the L.A. COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.
And am a retiree commercial pilot, flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate Pilot and Air Combat Instructor fighter pilot
and also retired Merchant Marine Capt and have sailed Australia , Tahiti, Tonga, Mexico, Calf, the Casribbean , Ireland and Greece.

We have made Dana Point and South Orange County our home port, and love the dickens out it.

Denny and Erica

[ElDiabloJoe]

Best walkable downtowns in OC? In no particular order:

1. Downtown Orange (traffic circle area);
2. Laguna Beach;
3. Dana Point (Lantern District);
4. HB (Main St./PCH);
5. Brea (Cottages at Main Place);
6. Irvine (Jambo/Alton);
7. Corona Del Mar (flower streets both above and below Coast Hwy).

YMMV, and keeping in mind you said "Let's just assume budget is not a constraint."

[kauaidooley]

Agree with Joe....and the other posters

A couple of other ideas......

BALBOA ISLAND.....Very pleasant, one fairly short main street, walk around the island and along the boats and cozy cottages. Small beach areas on the island. Neat mom and pop stores and shops on the short main street , and the VILLAGE INN. ( quality restaurant and lounge ). From the island Take the ferry boat, walk, bike or car for the one minute crossing , over to the Balboa Peninsula, the fun zone, many restaurants, and long, long beaches of Newport and Balboa . Bike . walk, roller blade the beach trail the length of those beaches.
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SEAL BEACH: Kind of the same small town , at the beach attitude as Balboa Island. One short main street, several restaurants, small shops, great beach and pier. Long sandy sandy beach. Erica lived there for 12 years and we now stop by for lunch when i get done with my appointments at the Long Beach VA. Easy hop up to the freeway and take the HOV lane home to Dana Point ( Passing by Irvine ) on the way.

Seal Beach has a great easy going small village ambiance . ( However the commute to Irvine area can be a beast during work traffic hours ),

All of the great ideas that you are receiving are super. Everyone of them.

Suggest, you fly out, or drive, and plan on exploring some of the many places that fit your personal life style. That means, spend time in motels or hotels, and really walk the entire area, go into the shops and restaurants, and bars, say hello and meet the people , walk the trails, check out distances, and get a good feel for where you wish to live.

Seal Beach is Very friendly and open, kick back with easy feelings . Three short blocks long for the main drag, but you can also walk across PCH Pacific Coast Hey ) to the large shopping center, and super market, and also over to the Restaurants at Alimitos Bay .

In fact when Erica was working up in L.A......she chose Seal Beach for its quaintness, and easy living attitude, and was
close to the freeway access . When she came home on fridays after all the communting, she parked her little Miata in her
assigned garage stall, and would walk to the market, or stroll along main street, or go to the beach .

On many weekends, we would ride our bikes from Seal, down the beach bike trails to Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street....or head the opposite direction, and use the bike trails up along Long Beach area to Shore Line Village.

Actually, you can have a grand time checking out the places listed for you on this forum. Make it fun.

We are excited for you, welcome to Orange County .

[losal]

Might also note that Los Alamitos and Rossmoor are directly inland of Seal Beach and share a school district with it. You can actually ride down the bike path along the river from anywhere in Los Al to the beach at Seal Beach. In fact Seal Beach Blvd becomes Los Alamitos Blvd as you head north..

Lovely place to live with nice restaurants and good shopping. An the occasional lift you get when you see a C5 take off from the air base over Los Al Blvd. Dozen of lovely suburban residential neighborhoods. And a good bit cheaper than the beach cities.