Moving to Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa area

[inkie]

Anyone know of any places that I should not miss out on in this area? Nice areas that are peaceful would be nice. I've never been there and I'm moving because my bf was offered an amazing job. I'm nervous about a new city and being away from my family. I'm having major anxiety about not knowing anyone, any advice?

Thanks :dontknow:

 

[Marlene]

I grew up inland from Huntington Beach, but I spent the best moments of my childhood at Huntington Beach itself. Boogie boarding, body surfing (which I still miss tremendously) or just a walk along the beach. It's the beach from Jan and Dean's Surf City song fame. Yeah...I just dated myself big time...but what the hell.

Just a drive south down the coast from Huntington Beach/Coasta Mesa is Dana Point. Beautiful tide pools that shouldn't be missed. All up and down Pacific Coast Highway there are beautiful things to see and things to do. The ocean and the mountains in California I do miss. I used to go to Big Bear Mountain and play in the snow and then drive to the beach to watch the sunset.

Lisa

 

[trapped]

HB is great. Like Lisa said, the tide pools just south of HB in Dana Point are something to definitely check out. Just north of HB is Seal Beach- I would sometimes go to HB for bonfires or to surf at the point, but most the time I spent my time in Seal Beach- it's a bit quieter, still draws a good crowd but not as many, it has a nice shop area to walk around that tends to not be as busy.

If you have a car and drive a tiny bit further, not too far away in Los Alamitos there's this really amazing Hawaiian food place that's called Island Grill. It's on the South side of Katella Ave, just West of the racetrack, in this little shopping center. If you have time to go there, go get a Hawaiian shaved ice- those things are amazing.

What types of things do you like to do/are you looking for? I've spent a lot of time in the area surfing and know it and a lot of people around there really well, so should be able to suggest some more things.

 

[Marlene]

South side of Katella Ave

Wow, trapped...talk about a blast from the past!! I grew up in Garden Grove and Katella was one of the main drags.

 

[Dylan]

I lived in Long Beach, with many days spent in Redondo Beach (most of my friends lived there).

It's wonderful as far as the beach goes, seaside community and shops, as well as more contemporary health services/groups.

I don't know where you're living now, but if it's in a quieter and slower paced city, it will take serious adjustment. We lived on the corner of 7th and Ximeno in Long Beach...very, very busy/noisy. I felt like I was living in a beehive - the energy just never quieted down enough for me.

If you're not used to that, I believe it can exacerbate PTSD symptoms - at least it did for me - due to the continual stimulus, fast-paced life and the noise, noise, noise. The upside, though, is it's fun, there's always something to do, the arts, tolerant and open communities and anonymity. I love the anonymity of a big city....

HTH...let us know how it goes!
-Dylan

 

[trapped]

Wow, trapped...talk about a blast from the past!! I grew up in Garden Grove and Katella was one of the main drags.

lol awesome! It's changed so much over the past few years, but there's even more cool stuff to do around there now. My grandparents used to live in Garden Grove, that area can be okay, Disney has bought out so much land though, it's ridiculous in that area... I started avoiding that area years ago, too much traffic and tourists.

Inkie- what Dylan said about the fast pace of Long Beach is true, but if you're in Huntington Beach it shouldn't be *as* bad. Or perhaps that's just me... Long Beach always did seem to stress me out if I spent too much time around there or Redondo (or just about any beach in LA county now that I think about it). The Orange County beaches tend to be a bit slower paced and more peaceful. Seal Beach is definitely a VERY peaceful atmosphere. Huntington Beach can be a bit fast-paced and can get stressful, but that's primarily during peak rush-hour times, during the busy parts of summer, etc... a lot of the year it can be more laid back as well.