All Countries
Mackenzie Hall
qa
How is Costa Mesa for outdoor activities?
Longtime lurker here, Anyone in a similar situation? The weather takes some getting used to.
41 upvotes
12 Replies
Piper King
seconding this
40 upvotes
Aaliyah Hall
I work in marketing here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is excellent. No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Sadie R.
hard disagree but ok
37 upvotes
Axel Martinez
not my experience at all
34 upvotes
Elijah H.
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
32 upvotes
chill_violet26
I've lived in Highland for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The outdoor recreation scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Happy to answer more specific questions..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The outdoor recreation scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Happy to answer more specific questions..
28 upvotes
Oliver Martin
same here
26 upvotes
Caleb H.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
24 upvotes
Maya R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
19 upvotes
Luke Turner
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 10 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Active local events and festivals
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 10 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Active local events and festivals
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Greyson Chavez
Used to live on the South side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
13 upvotes
Wesley Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
4 upvotes