Southern California (SoCal) is one of the most beautiful places to live in the world. The heat is manageable and the seasons rarely dipping below sixty-five degrees. SoCal and sunshine are practically interchangeable words.
In SoCal, the beach, the mountains, and the desert are all accessible with a short drive. SoCal living means escaping the heat on a whim to cool off in the mountains. Or embracing the heat to relax in the desert after a game of golf.
HOMEiA is here to help you explore ten of the best places to live in Southern California. Each place has its own charm and unique qualities. Let’s take a quick dive into what Southern California has to offer!
1. Los Angeles
Los Angeles (L.A.) is the unofficial capital of South California. The city itself and the surrounding areas offer every kind of living space. The median home cost for L.A. is about $700K. The average two-bedroom apartment costs about $2,100 per month.
Sports fans love Los Angeles! Dodger Stadium is conveniently accessible from the 110 freeway to catch a game and have a Dodger Dog. For basketball lovers, The Staples Center has exciting Laker and Clippers games.
There is no shortage of culture and history to experience in the city. The historic Olvera Street is known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles.” The craft shops and kiosks offer a fun shopping experience and there are over a dozen restaurants to try.
Angelenos can use the rail line to Union Station to spend the day at Olvera Street. Chinatown is only a short walk away for dinner. Then you can catch an Uber to The Hollywood Bowl for a show.
2. Anaheim
Walt Disney chose Anaheim to build Disneyland in the 1950s. Back then it was just orchards. Today, locals enjoy one of the nicest suburban experiences in California.
Access to L.A. is a perk of living in Anaheim. The Metro Line allows the residents of Anaheim to work in L.A. The 5 freeway connects the two cities with a thirty-minute drive.
The Honda Center is located across the street from ARTIC Station. The station allows for easy access to The Honda Center to catch a Ducks game. Angel Stadium is also accessible from the station with a short walk.
Many locals have annual passes to Disneyland. It is a great way to walk around, get exercise, and be a kid for a while. Downtown Disney also offers shopping and dining experiences.
Homes are larger and cheaper in Anaheim compared to L.A. Unlike L.A., restaurants, and nightlife are geared towards families because the majority of the tourism is Disney centric.
Anaheim’s placement in SoCal is nice for students. USC, UCLA, USC, URC, and CSUF are accessible from Anaheim. This allows students to attend college while saving money by living at home.
3. San Diego
San Diego has over 70 miles of coastline. The coastal breeze is relaxing. The bright sun is always shining. All you need is a paddleboard and some free time to embrace San Diego.
The median home price in San Diego is $650,000. Renting in San Diego is going to run $2,700. The Mission Hills area of San Diego has older Victorian-style homes but Craftsman, Bungalow, Spanish, and Tudor styles.
The urban core of San Diego is thriving with high rise apartments. Both urban and suburban life is possible in the city. Apartment living is common downtown, surrounded by suburban homes.
Locals take to the historic Gaslamp quarter of San Diego for some of the best Mexican food, sandwich shops, and pizza places in California.
San Diego offers a lot for animal lovers. The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoos to visit in the world. The Safari Park tour lets visitors see animals in the “wild” uncaged.
Every summer San Diego is home to the San Diego Comic-Con. The event brings in droves of costumed fans to celebrate in the city. The con brings San Diego’s busiest tourist season each year.
4. Irvine
Irvine is one of the best places to raise a family in Southern California. Irvine is known for having low crime. The city has no shortages of parks and places for children to play.
Offering an urban-suburban living experience, the median home price is about $950,000. Rent in Irvine averages at $3,500 per month.
The Irvine Business Complex offers a wide array of white-collar business and tech work. Many of the best white-collar jobs in Orange County can be found in Irvine.
The Irvine Spectrum is one of the best malls in SoCal. In true Californian style, the mall is outdoor with a Ferris wheel. The Spectrum has over 150 shops. SoCal Cinephiles travel from all over to see films at the luxury theater.
5. Riverside
Riverside can be found by the Santa Ana River, nestled in the Inland Empire. SoCal residents love Riverside for its affordable suburban living experience. A home in Riverside is $427,000 whereas renters are looking at about $2,150 per month.
Riverside is a drier climate than a lot of SoCal. It is essentially on the cusp of the desert. This makes it hot in the Summer but cooler in the winter.
Downtown Riverside has the Historic Mission Inn which offers fine dining and luxury suites. Most of Downtown Riverside has beautiful Spanish style architecture.
In October, there are tours of the underground catacombs which run one mile underground from the Mission Inn to the base of Mount Rubidoux. It makes for a spooky and educational annual tradition.
Mount Rubidoux itself makes for a great hiking experience. The trail up the mountain is a workout unto itself. However, inexperienced hikers will do fine here.
Just below Mount Rubidoux, Carlson Dog Park allows for leashless play with your dog. The park has a full obstacle course. There is also a water fountain for dogs when they get thirsty after playing.
“Thanks for reading! This article has been originally published at HOMEiA on Aug 8, 2020”
