St Laurent, San Joaquin Hills

Before I bought a house in Coto de Caza, I flirted with the small, Newport Coast community of St. Laurent located on the ridge near Newport Coast Dr. and San Joaquin Hills Rd. These are beautiful homes and the community is very quaint with its French country architecture and small cozy streets. I was attracted to the size of the home (2400 sq ft) and its proximity to all points north, south, east and west. With the addition of the toll road nearby it became almost too accessible.

But, when I walked through the house out to the backyard I was held spellbound as my gaze followed the beautiful Newport Coast cliffs and hills all the way down to the Pacific Ocean. With the Pacific Coast Highway just down the hill, the possibilities for beach, biking and other activities were endless.

Just across the the way a very nice shopping center was being built, anchored by Pavillions with all of the essential shops and services, such as Starbucks and CVS included. A couple of blocks away is a nice-sized park that includes playgrounds, softball diamonds and plenty of kite flying space. Fashion Island and the shops of Corona del Mar are a short drive down San Joaquin Hills Rd.

I decided against St Laurent mainly out of consideration of my yet-to-be-born kids. The community, while quaint,, and obviously very secure was a little too small, so I wound up in the wide open hills of Coto. But, I would return to the ridge on Newport Coast many times to soak in the magnificent views.