New Yorker Moving to San Diego (Carlsbad, Encinitas: home, neighborhoods, university)

[guacamole_lover]

I'm moving to San Diego in a few months and just got a job in the Rancho Bernardo area. As I've read on these postings, this area seems like the epitome of suburbia- not where I'd want to live unless I had a family to raise.

As a New Yorker, I've been spoiled public transportationwise- more people use the subways/ busses than drive here. So...when I arrive in SD, I won't have a car.

Could you all suggest a neighborhood in SD that 1) has good public transportation to RB, and 2) is also urban/hip and more on the open-minded side?

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by guacamole_lover

I'm moving to San Diego in a few months and just got a job in the Rancho Bernardo area. As I've read on these postings, this area seems like the epitome of suburbia- not where I'd want to live unless I had a family to raise.

As a New Yorker, I've been spoiled public transportationwise- more people use the subways/ busses than drive here. So...when I arrive in SD, I won't have a car.

Could you all suggest a neighborhood in SD that 1) has good public transportation to RB, and 2) is also urban/hip and more on the open-minded side?

Unfortunately the public transit to RB is going to basically mean a long bus ride. Public transit in San Diego is not a desirable option. You should plan on owning a car if you live here. The fun areas you will want to live are around Balboa Park in the city, and a bus commute to RB could realistically take 60-90 minutes.

[kettlepot]

Yes to everything that Sassberto said. Public transportation when your destination is Rancho Bernardo isn't realistic.

The urban/hip neighborhoods around Balboa Park are:

Little Italy
Park West/Bankers Hill
Mission Hills
Hillcrest
University Heights
North Park
South Park
Normal Heights
Kensington

Which one would suit you best would depend on how intense you want your urban experience to be, your age, and your income.

Sassberto, SDUrbanite, Sav858, myself, and several others have all expounded on these areas in detail.

Here's one of those posts of mine: //www.city-data.com/forum/san-d...ml#post1157829 from July 27, 2007

[guacamole_lover]

Thanks Sassberto and Kettlepot. You've been a great help. My first month or so, I'll be carless, so if I decide on Hillcrest I'll just hafta stomach the commute and bear it

I have more questions for you:

1) How long would the commute take from Hillcrest or North Park to Rancho Bernardo if I drive on the I-15? I've read that it's easier to commute north in the mornings. How long would it take to return home around 4pm?

2) What about the commute from Del Mar/Encinitas/Carmel Valley?

3) Which highway has the least congestion in the morning? Which is the most congested?

From what I've read on other posts, I can see myself fitting into the environment in Hillcrest.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by guacamole_lover

1) How long would the commute take from Hillcrest or North Park to Rancho Bernardo if I drive on the I-15? I've read that it's easier to commute north in the mornings. How long would it take to return home around 4pm?

2) What about the commute from Del Mar/Encinitas/Carmel Valley?

3) Which highway has the least congestion in the morning? Which is the most congested?

Both commutes (Hillcrest/North Park to RB/Del Mar) are 30-45 depending on traffic. All of the major freeways get at least some congestion but the worst will be the southbound AM commutes on 15 / 5 from north county into the Mira Mesa / Golden Triangle areas. Plan on dealing with traffic if you are commuting into North county, it is just part of living here.

[Encinitan]

I'd say from Encinitas to RB (south down the 5, then east out the 56) would be 40 minutes are so, maybe longer/shorter depending on the time of day you drive. The earlier in the am, the better. The 5 southbound stacks up in the morning from about La Costa to Manchester Ave. then speeds up through Solana Beach and Del Mar.

[OrangeSunset]

I would recomend looking at San Marcos, near restaurant row area, which is not too far from RB but you'll get traffic no matter what. Going into RB during rush hour is going to be bad.

Also, check out downtown Encinitas or Carlsbad has some restaurants & bars too. You can find them all along 101 (from Del Mar to Carlsbad). North County is going to lack the night scene you get in San Diego. It is really up to you to decide what's more important.

There's really nothing in SoCa like NYC. You pretty much have to drive everywhere, specially to/from RB. The bus system sucks in the North County!

[oddstray]

You can see what public transportation San Diego has at:

Transit.511sd.com

There are some 'commuter' (express) buses between RB and Downtown, but they go opposite the direction you'd want to be going. You'll probably be stuck using the Route 20 buses for RB.