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Buena Park is located in northern Orange County and has a population of about 84,000. The city is solidly middle class with neighborhoods of small midcentury homes. Buena Park is located near the 5 and 91 freeways, making it a good hometown for commuters. Because it’s farther from the coast than most other cities in Orange County, high temperatures can make Buena Park an uncomfortable place to be in summer and fall. Luckily the beach is easily accessible with about a 15 mile drive down Beach Blvd.

Buena Park is best known for its “E-Zone” district where several entertainment venues are available along a short stretch of Beach Blvd. The most notable of these venues is Knott’s Berry Farm. This theme park is often compared to Disneyland, which is only about 10 miles away. Although the two parks were created around the same time in the 1950s, they have distinct characters.

Many people favor Knott’s Berry Farm because it has true roller coaster and thrill rides and has less of a corporate feel than Disneyland. Its origins as a fruit stand in rural Buena Park are still in evidence, including a very popular restaurant that has served chicken dinners and boysenberry pie since the park opened. Knott’s also runs an adjacent water park called Soak City. Two other nearby venues that are independent from Knott’s are Medieval Times and Pirate’s Adventure. These are both dinner theaters that provide an immersive entertainment experience.

For residents of Southern California, Buena Park has always been known as one of the best places for fun and entertainment in the area.

Stanton is a small city of 39,000 located south of Buena Park in the northwestern region of Orange County. It’s small (about 3 square miles) and surrounded on all sides by other cities, including Cypress, Anaheim and Garden Grove. Knott’s Berry Farm and other entertainment venues on Beach Blvd in Buena Park are only a couple of miles away, but Stanton in itself has no real landmarks that set it apart from its neighbors. There is a small amusement park on Beach Blvd in Stanton called Adventure City, but it’s overshadowed by the proximity of Knott’s.

Many of the streets in Stanton have a weathered and rundown appearance. There has been a recent effort by the city of Stanton to upgrade some of the small parks within its borders, but empty businesses and older strip malls detract from efforts to beautify the city.

According to U.S. Census figures, 20% of the population of Stanton has an income below the poverty line. Graffiti and illegal dumping is an issue in Stanton and some residents have created unofficial city websites documenting the issues. These websites also promote the feeling that city officials are overpaid when compared to the service they are delivering to the city.

Sharon Lane is part of a small community of about 50 homes located near Beach Blvd and Ellis Avenue in Huntington Beach. Sharon Lane forms one side of a square of streets that also includes Lori Drive, Alice Lane and Connie Drive. In the center of the rectangle are two tennis courts, a community pool and a clubhouse. The homes in this community are over 2,000 square feet in size and detached. Instead of having individual yards they share common landscaped areas.

To the west of the community is a small park called Terry Park. The businesses of Beach Blvd are to the west, with a car dealership backing onto the community. The dealership is large enough that it doesn’t really cause noise problems but instead serves as a buffer for the traffic noises from busy Beach Blvd. The 5 Points shopping center is located near Sharon Lane. Central Park and Central Library are also nearby. Huntington City Beach is two miles away via Beach Blvd.

Although I’ve lived in Huntington Beach for over 20 years but I wasn’t aware of this little community until I visited some friends who live there. I was surprised by its peaceful atmosphere since it’s so close to Beach Blvd. My friends have lived there for several years and enjoy the closeness of their neighbors and the amenities they share. They like having the benefits of tennis courts, yard and pool without all the upkeep.

Park Avenue is a most unique street in the most unique town of Laguna Beach. Park begins in the central shopping area of Laguna, a few blocks from the coast, and climbs to an elevation of about 1,000 feet in less than 2 miles.

Park initially climbs up through streets of small beach cottages and passes by Laguna Beach High School (the school that was featured in MTV’s Laguna Beach reality show). Past the high school, Park Avenue takes a turn just past the high school and then really starts to climb as it makes its way to the area of town known as Top of the World. Side streets give way to steep canyon walls. Park takes a sharp climbing turn and again passes by houses, only this time they are large custom-built homes perched on the steep hillside leading down from the canyon. Stunning views of the ocean and town spread out below. Park Avenue ends at Alta Laguna Blvd at the Top of the World.

Park Avenue has become popular for skateboarders who travel down the street at breakneck speed. Motorists on Park are advised to look out for both skateboarders and the deer that sometimes wander onto the road from the wilderness area adjacent to the canyon.

Labrador Drive is a residential street in the northern portion of Costa Mesa. It’s conveniently located near the busy commercial district on Harbor Blvd, but far enough away to be safe and quiet. South Coast Plaza, one of the premier shopping centers in the country, is just a few miles north of Labrador Drive. A short distance to the south is the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Labrador Drive is part of a large neighborhood of houses bounded by Adams Avenue, Harbor Blvd, the Santa Ana River and the 405 freeway. As the crow flies, Labrador is less than 4 miles from the ocean and enjoys cool ocean breezes. Both Huntington Beach State Beach and Newport Beach are easily accessible.

There are several small neighborhood parks near Labrador, including Smallwood Park, Estancia Park and Mesa Verde Park. The Mesa Verde golf course and Country Club are located less than a quarter mile away. A slight distance away are Costa Mesa Golf Course and Fairview Park, a large semi-developed park that’s great for picnics, hiking, horseback riding, biking, kite flying and model plane flying.

The homes on Labrador are small single-story houses built in the 1960s. Most are well-kept up and have attractive yards. The proximity of shopping, parks and the beach, combine to make Labrador a great place to live.

If you’re interested in shopping in Huntington Beach, then you should visit Edinger Avenue. The Bella Terra shopping center is located on Edinger near the intersection of Beach Blvd and the 405 freeway. Ever since this new outdoor shopping and entertainment center replaced the outdated indoor Huntington Mall, it has become a magnet for residents of Huntington Beach and surrounding cities. Bella Terra features a theater complex, large stores, small boutiques, and a variety of dining choices. Weekly free concerts are held in the center’s small amphitheatre.

Located directly to the west of Bella Terra on Edinger Avenue is Golden West Community College. Due to the college’s low tuition, many local students complete their first two years of college at Golden West. It’s also a great place to complete a certification program in a skilled trade. About 14,000 students attend Golden West college. The campus is medium-sized and is easily accessible from either Edinger Avenue or Goldenwest Street.

Continuing west, Edinger Avenue passes through a neighborhood of well kept homes built in the 1960s and then a neighborhood of small business and light industrial companies. The large Boeing facility is located just to the north. Edinger ends two miles from Golden West College at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station.

The most well-known area of Seal Beach is Main Street, which begins at the city’s wooden pier. The city of Seal Beach has maintained this area over the years so that a total renovation of the type done in Huntington Beach hasn’t been required. Along the tree-lined street are restaurants and souvenir stores that have an old-time feel.

At the coast, Main Street is crossed by Ocean Avenue. Eisenhower Park provides a strip of landscaped grass above the beach parking lot, a unique touch among all the beaches in Orange County. Cozy beach cottages on Ocean Avenue enjoy views of the beach and ocean. On either side of the beach parking lot, the houses line both sides of Ocean Avenue. South of the pier, a large sand bunker has been built up to protect the homes along the narrow beach from high surf.

The Red Car Museum is located in an old Pacific Electric train car located in Electric Avenue Median Park on Main Street. It pays tribute to the 40-mile long electric railroad that once ran between Los Angeles and the coast. The Mary Wilson Library is also located in the park.

The beach experience at Seal Beach is different from other beaches in Orange County. The beach is narrow and only a mile long, limited by channels on each end. It’s a popular location for surfing, windsurfing, kite flying and hosts fun events like an annual sand castle festival.

Seal Beach is a beach town located in the northwest corner of Orange County. The population of Seal Beach is about 24,000. Sandwiched between the larger cities of Huntington Beach and Long Beach, Seal Beach has managed to maintain its own unique small-town identity.

Seal Beach is home to Leisure World, a gated community for senior citizens. With 9,000 residents, Leisure World represents a major portion of the population of Seal Beach. Seal Beach also contains the Naval Weapons Station, a series of large seemingly vacant fields that contain bunkers of hidden weapons and munitions. The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is located within the Naval Weapons Station but is only open for guided tours.

The main coastal neighborhood in Seal Beach is known as Old Town. This area has retained its traditional beach charm. It’s home to the longest wooden pier in Orange County and to restaurants and shops located along Main Street. Ruby’s Diner at the end of the pier is a great place to eat with a nostalgic theme. Seal Beach is very popular for surfing, swimming, fishing, kite flying, bike riding and other beach activities.

Seal Beach has one of the most accessible downtown beach areas. There are a variety of community events held throughout the year in Seal Beach. Neighborhoods in the Old Town area have a lot of beach charm that comes with a high price tag.

Lincoln Avenue is a long street that extends in an east/west direction through several cities in Orange County. At its western end, it begins at the 605 freeway in the Los Angeles County city of Hawaiian Gardens. It ends about 15 miles to the west in Anaheim Hills, where its name changes to East Nohl Ranch Rd after crossing the 55 freeway.

The section of the street between the San Gabriel River and Valley View Avenue in Cypress is the most unique part of the street. After passing over the concrete river bed, Lincoln passes the entrance to a large mobile home park on the left. On the right is Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a large cemetery that’s part of a Southern California chain. From Lincoln Avenue you can see a large fountain and imposing Southern-style mansion that is actually the mortuary. Forest Lawn encourages visitor to come and see the pieces of original art and art replicas that are located throughout the grounds. I’ve never done that, but I did attend one funeral there that was very beautifully done.

Continuing east, Lincoln Avenue gives way to a commercial district that has a small-town feel. One day as I was driving on Lincoln and needed some air in my tire I noticed that there are a large number of car repair businesses on Lincoln (like 3 or 4 in every block). I don’t know why this is, but if you need car work done in the Cypress area you should check out Lincoln Avenue.

The retail area at the intersection of Lincoln and Valley View has recently been renovated and now includes large updated shopping centers on each corner. The residential neighborhoods in the area of Lincoln Avenue are middle-class and well-maintained.

Sherwood Drive is one of the streets in a Huntington Beach development called Seagate. The development is relatively new and was built on previously empty land off Gothard Street. The streets of Seagate extend westward to Goldenwest Street. This area once consisted of oil fields, oil wells and industrial yards but within the past 20 years has been converted into a series of upscale housing tracts with many homes priced in excess of $1 million.

The best thing about Seagate is John Boca Park, a hilly expanse of grass that occupies the middle of the tract. The park includes a playground and basketball courts. Seagate is located in close proximity to Central Park, Central Library and the new sports complex. It’s also near the Huntington Beach Equestrian Center. There are stables to board horses at the Equestrian Center and horse trails have been added alongside a few of the streets near Seagate. Shopping and restaurants are available at nearby Seacliff Village. Best of all, the beach is only a couple of miles away.

The worst thing about Seagate is the cookie-cutter appearance of the houses and the fact that they are packed in very close together. There is very little that distinguishes one house from another and the yards are very small.

Irvine is a master-planned city in the middle of Orange County. It was established by the Irvine Company in the 1960s and rates high on lists of the best cities in America. This is due to a low crime rate and good schools, including a campus of the University of California.

The residential areas in the city consist of a series of villages divided by 6-lane roads. The homes within each village share similar designs and homeowners are not allowed to make changes that would detract from this uniformity. This is enforced by a Homeowner’s Association within each village.

Personally, I like homes that reflect the individual style of the homeowner and I enjoy cities that have evolved on their own instead of being planned, but many people value the perfection of a planned community.

The population of Irvine is about 220,000 and according to census figures only a slight majority are white (61%). Most of the people I know who live in Irvine are highly-educated people from other countries who are realizing their version of the American dream in Irvine. They value the safety, good schools and rules that protect the uniform appearance of the city. Irvine is the perfect city for people seeking planned perfection,

Garfield Avenue in Huntington Beach is an east/west street that provides quick access from one side of the city to the other. Garfield Avenue is about 4.5 miles long in total and serves as the border between Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. On the east side of the city it begins near the Santa Ana river channel. At one time there was a plan to extend Garfield over the channel to Costa Mesa, but that has never been done. This explains why Garfield has 2 lanes in each direction and therefore is never crowded.

The neighborhoods that Garfield passes through have a characteristic seen throughout Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley – they are surrounded by brick walls. This decreases visibility as you drive into intersections, so you want to be careful and approach even signaled intersections with caution.

Garfield crosses Brookhurst and Magnolia, each of which has a wide variety of shopping centers and restaurants. It also crosses Beach Blvd, the major commercial street in Huntington Beach. West of Beach Blvd, Garfield is within two miles of the downtown beach area. A left turn on Main Street will lead right to the pier.

The area west of Beach is unusual because in the past it was filled with oil fields and oil wells. Within the past 20 years the area has been transformed and now is home to several new tracts, including some of the most expensive homes in Huntington Beach. Garfield passes by a newer school called Huntington Seacliff Elementary and ends at Seapoint Avenue with an amazing view of Long Beach, the beach and the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

Westminster is located in the northeast portion of Orange County and has a population of about 90,000. It’s one of the oldest communities in Orange County, founded in 1870 as a Presbyterian settlement. In 1957, it officially became a city. Unlike the neighboring cities of Seal Beach and Huntington Beach, Westminster is not located along the coast. Being inland, it gets warmer in the summer than the coastal cities.

In the 1970s, Westminster was given a much-needed shot in the arm when it was settled by many Vietnamese immigrants. The city had been in decline but since then has experienced a surge in new businesses and development. Westminster now has the largest settlement of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam and the commercial area along Bolsa Avenue has been officially designated “Little Saigon.” Westminster is home to several Vietnamese-language media outlets, including radio and television stations, music recording studios and newspapers. The city is host to an annual Lunar New Year festival.

Westminster has one of the largest cemeteries in the area. It also has the Westminster Mall, a large indoor mall that serves Westminster, Huntington Beach and other surrounding cities. The mall is located off the 405 freeway and features Macy’s, Sears, Target and JC Penney as anchors. Until the Bella Terra center was built a couple miles away in Huntington Beach, the Westminster Mall was the only major retail outlet in the area. Perhaps in reaction to the popularity of Bella Terra, Westminster Mall was recently renovated to update public areas and its food court.

Next to Santa Ana, Anaheim is the largest city in Orange County. Thanks to its role as a center of entertainment, it’s probably the most famous. Anaheim is of course home to the Disneyland Resort. The Anaheim Convention Center, Angel Stadium and the Honda Center (a large indoor stadium) are also located in Anaheim.

With a population of about 350,000, Anaheim is one of the largest cities in California. Its boundaries extend almost across the entire width of Orange County, including urban neighborhoods, middle-class suburban developments and an upscale planned community in the Anaheim hills. The population of Anaheim is almost 50% Latino, including many recent immigrants who work in the tourism industry. The city is one of the safest in the U.S. for its size.

In recent years, Disneyland has expanded from a single theme park to a resort destination that includes two theme parks, the Downtown Disney shopping area and several hotels. The Anaheim Convention Center, across the street from Disneyland, is the location for major business and retail conventions throughout the year.

To keep up with Disneyland, Harbor Blvd near Disneyland has recently been renamed the Anaheim Resort district. The city has spent quite a bit of money improving the streets and adding landscaped islands and palm trees. The Anaheim Resort Transportation Network provides a shuttle service between hotels in the area and the various tourist attractions. The street has come a long way from just a few years ago when rundown motels and streetwalkers could be seen just a few blocks from Disneyland.

Laguna Woods is the newest city in Orange County (established in 1999), but it can also be referred to as the oldest. According to the official city website, the median age in this city of 16,000 is 78. This is because most of Laguna Woods encompasses a master planned retirement community formerly known as Leisure World. This community was developed in the 1960s and was a groundbreaking community geared towards people aged 55 and older.

Living in Leisure World has never been cheap. Several of the neighborhoods are gated and have guards to control access. Laguna Woods is filled with well-kept neighborhoods consisting of apartments, condominiums, small houses and larger residences. The design of all the residences is similar, in keeping with the master planned concept. One of the main concepts behind Leisure World was the creation of an active lifestyle for seniors, so there are pools, golf courses, tennis courts, fitness centers and community buildings. Dozens of clubs, classes and social events are available for the residents of the gated Laguna Woods communities.

There are a variety of shopping centers located in Laguna Woods and of course there are an above average number of medical facilities. The Irvine Spectrum is a short drive from Laguna Woods and is a popular destination for dining, shopping and entertainment. Hey, seniors like to have fun, too!

Laguna Canyon Road is one the main routes from the northern part of Laguna Beach to the inland cities of Orange County. As the road leaves Laguna Beach, it passes through a canyon in the San Joaquin Hills. Small businesses and funky houses line the canyon road. Laguna Canyon Road was first built in the early 1900s and hasn’t changed a lot in decades.

As Laguna Canyon Road enters Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, the landscape changes from steep canyon walls to woodlands with sage plants and oak and sycamore trees. This environment is known as chaparral and is unique to Southern California. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park has miles of trails and is a popular place for hiking and mountain biking. The small picturesque campus of the Laguna Canyon College of Art and Design is located in the canyon near the boundary of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Part of the Laguna Canyon Road is narrow and winding, with one lane in each direction. Laguna Beach residents have fought plans to extend a freeway through the canyon. However, the road gets congested during morning and evening commute hours and on sunny weekends. There are a higher than average number of traffic accidents on the road. Luckily there are now a couple of alternate routes for getting in and out of Laguna Beach during peak traffic hours, including Crown Valley Parkway to the south and Newport Coast Drive to the north.

Villa Park has the distinction of being the least populated city in Orange County. Surrounded on all sides by the city of Orange, the city has a population of about 6,000 people. Villa Park has only one retail area (the Villa Park Town Center), giving it a small town feeling. The streets in Villa Park are lined with trees, creating a rural feeling despite that fact that there are no parks within its borders. Also, many homes are located on large lots that give the streets a feeling of spaciousness.

Villa Park is a quiet and safe place to live (it has the lowest crime rate in Orange County). There are four schools in Villa Park, all operated by the Orange Unified School District. Villa Park has its own government and City Hall and is lucky enough to have a branch of the Orange County Public Library within city limits. There are several youth sports leagues in Villa Park, with games and practices taking place at the local schools.

The main drawback to Villa Park its that it's located far from the beach compared to other upscale cities in Orange County. Summers can get very hot and residents who have pools put them to good use. I have friends from Villa Park and have spent some time there. Residents take pride in the sense of community and friendliness of their town. They endorse the city motto: “Villa Park, the Hidden Jewel.”

Main Street has been designated as the Historic Downtown area of Garden Grove, a city of about 175,000 located in northeast Orange County. It consists of a block of older buildings containing both old and new businesses and shops that were build following the Long Beach earthquake in 1933.

Garden Grove has very irregular city boundaries and its neighborhoods are hard to distinguish from neighboring cities, which include Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Westminster and Santa Ana. Main Street helps give Garden Grove a separate identity and is the location for community events and activities throughout the year. The most notable of these events is the annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, which the city claims to be the one of the largest festivals west of the Mississippi. The festival is held on Memorial Day weekend and is dedicated to the agricultural heritage of Garden Grove (even though only one strawberry field still exists within the city limits). Other special events held on Main Street are a weekly classic car show and a farmers’ market.

Adjacent to Main Street is Euclid Park and nearby are Community Center Park and the Garden Grove Regional Library. The Main Street area is the heart of Garden Grove and really does give the city a sense of identity.

Winton Street is located in an area sometimes referred to as West Garden Grove. This half mile long street is located behind the Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center in a small tract of attractive midcentury homes. A few houses have been remodeled and have added a second story, but the majority are single story older houses that are well maintained.

Winton Street is located in a family-oriented neighborhood that borders Eastgate Park. The park contains a public swimming pool, basketball courts, picnic tables, a playground and a small community building. A summer concert series is held in the park and youth sports teams practice there. A branch of the Orange County Public Library is located a couple of blocks from Winton Street. The closest major street is Valley View, which has plenty of shopping and restaurants. Valley View provides access to the 405 and 22 freeways, which are located about a mile from Winton Street.

Less than a mile to the west of Winton Street is the Navy Golf Course and an airstrip that belongs to the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. Luckily air traffic to and from the base is light enough that it’s thrilling rather than annoying to see fighter jets and large transport carriers passing right overhead.

Cliff Drive is a residential street that runs along the bluffs above Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. On its eastern end it skirts Cliff Drive Park, a sloping expanse of green grass surrounded by large stately homes. Cliff Drive Park is beautifully landscaped and has several different vantage points for enjoying the spectacular view of Newport Bay and the ocean. Homes on the south side of the street are perched above the businesses on PCH and can enjoy the same view from their own backyards. Despite being located above Pacific Coast Highway, Cliff Drive is far enough away to escape the sounds of traffic. This part of Cliff Drive is one of the most beautiful areas in Newport Beach.

Going eastward, Cliff Drive passes by Ensign Intermediate School and the neighborhood transitions into midcentury ranch houses intermixed with newer custom rebuilds. The yards are large and well maintained and there are bike lanes on each side of the street.

Cliff Drive is about a mile and a half long. It ends at Dover Drive, adjacent to the Back Bay and its large nature preserve. Newport Harbor High School is located just a few blocks from Cliff Drive. Other attractions in the neighborhood include the restaurants and shops on Pacific Coast Highway. For medical care, Hoag Hospital is a short distance away. Fashion Island, a beautiful upscale shopping center, is also nearby.

Brightwater is a new “master planned” community of about 350 homes in Huntington Beach. The houses in the development are large McMansions, built close together with a cookie-cutter appearance. There are no trees or other mature landscaping, which gives the neighborhood a stark appearance. Some of the Brightwater homes features expansive views of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and the Pacific Ocean but that is limited to homes build along the edge of the development.

This development has been controversial for decades. Originally, it was planned to include 5700 homes and would have wiped out a large portion of the Bolsa Chica wetlands nature preserve. That plan was scaled back following protests by conservationists and some land was returned to the nature preserve. Then a Native American burial site was unearthed during construction, leading to more protests.

Many of the homes in Brightwater are larger than 3000 square feet and sell in the $1 million to $2 million range. Maybe the community will develop some ambiance as time passes, but at this point it’s lacking in the beachy charm that it’s trying so hard to emulate. The developer was near bankruptcy in 2009 but has managed to borrow money to stay afloat. A large number of homes are still empty and it remains to be seen how long they’ll stay that way.

Los Alamitos is a small community on the eastern border of Orange County. It’s conveniently located near 605, 405 and 22 freeways, making it a great town for commuters. Los Alamitos is sandwiched between Cypress and Long Beach and may be overlooked by people who aren’t familiar with the area.

Locals identify Los Alamitos with a couple of well-known landmarks. One is the US Military Joint Forces Training Base. The Joint Forces Training Base includes an Army Airfield that is sometimes used for fighter jets. Luckily, takeoffs and landings do not occur on a daily basis unless there is some type of military operation underway.

The other landmark associated with Los Alamitos is Los Alamitos Race Course, though technically this is actually in Cypress. Perhaps because if features quarter horse races, Los Alamitos Race Course is not as popular or as glamorous as either Hollywood Park of Santa Anita. It has seemed to be in decline for several years, with only a fraction of its extensive parking lot being filled with cars on any given race day.

The population of Los Alamitos is about 15,000. The slightly smaller unincorporated community of Rossmoor is located next to Los Alamitos. Residents of Rossmoor share in community events in Los Alamitos, while Los Alamitos residents take advantage of shopping opportunities in Rossmoor.

A final notable thing about Los Alamitos is Los Alamitos high school. This prestigious public school has a reputation for excellence in both sports and academics.

Valley View Street is a major north/south thoroughfare in Garden Grove and Cypress. To the north, it continues to Telegraph Road in South Whittier and to the south it ends at Warner Ave about a mile from Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington State Beach. In all it’s about 15 miles long and has always been a good way to get to the beach from the inland communities of Whittier, La Mirada and La Habra.

I used to take this route to the beach in high school, but was always frustrated by the stretch of Valley View that passes through Garden Grove just north of intersection of the 405 and 22 freeways. Poorly-timed stop lights and heavy traffic headed to and from the freeway always slowed down progress. Once past the 405 traffic would clear and it would be smooth sailing to the beach.

Fast forward a few decades and I find myself working off Valley View in Cypress. The street still has the same traffic problems. An added twist is that a couple of red-light cameras have been installed to catch drivers who let their frustration take over and try to slide through on the tail end of a yellow light.

The street itself is nice enough with a couple of shopping centers, a bowling alley, cinema, a huge LA Fitness and a good variety of places to grab a quick bite. But I usually seek out the side streets to avoid the stop and go on Valley View. One more warning – drainage on Valley View is poor and after about an hour of heavy rain it floods. People pack up and leave work when a downpour starts to avoid being stuck in a flooded intersection.

Santiago Driver runs along the perimeter of the body of water known as the Back Bay in Newport Beach. The street is situated on a bluff, providing many homes with panoramic views of the bay, the ocean, the city of Newport Beach and the distant San Bernardino Mountains.

Most of the homes on Santiago are built on large lots and feature mature landscaping and custom designs. Many have multi-million dollar price tags, though a few smaller original homes from the 1960s can still be found for less than a million. At the northern end of Santiago Avenue are several large gated estates that are completely hidden by landscaping

The homes on Santiago Driver are part of the Dover Shores Community Association. Members of the association have access to 3 private beaches and can participate in a variety of planned events and activities, including beach movie nights and barbecues.

The public schools near Santiago Avenue in Newport Beach are excellent. Many residents move to this area because of the schools, which include Mariners Elementary School, Ensign Junior High and Newport Harbor High School. Santiago Drive is also located near the Back Bay nature preserve and the upscale Fashion Island shopping center, as well as a wide variety of restaurants located along the water front on Coast Highway.

Villa Pacific Drive is the main street in the small Villa Pacific townhouse community located off Brookhurst Street, one mile from Huntington State Beach. The community is not gated but is located in a very safe area. Facilities include pools, a Jacuzzi and sauna, tennis courts, club houses and play grounds. To the north of the community is Gisler Park, one of the long greenbelts that can be found throughout Huntington Beach.

The two-story townhouses have small yards and share common walls. The community was built in the mid-1960s and has a slightly dated look but that just adds to its beachside charm. There has been so much new construction in Huntington Beach in the past two decades that it’s refreshing to see buildings with a little history.

Shopping, schools and churches are located near Villa Pacific. For beach lovers, the location of Villa Pacific Drive is ideal (the surf is just a short bike ride away). The downside is that the large Orange County Sanitation District facility is located across Brookhurst. Depending on the direction of the wind, Villa Pacific residents get aromatic reminders of their neighbor. The smell isn’t really bad, just “not fresh.”

In addition to the beach, the Santa Ana River is located a short distance from Villa Pacific Drive. A short driver on nearby Victoria Street leads to Talbert Regional Park, Fairview Park and Costa Mesa Golf Course. Both Newport Beach and downtown Huntington Beach are easily accessible via Pacific Coast Highway.

Fountain Valley is a smallish city of about 60,000 people in northern Orange County. It’s located adjacent to Huntington Beach but has its own unique character. Despite being located only a few miles from the beach, Fountain Valley does not share the beach culture that infuses Huntington Beach. The city is family-oriented and conservative. Many Fountain Valley residents grew up in the area and have chosen the city as a good place to raise a family. A large percentage of parents are involved as volunteers in PTA, school bands, youth sports and Scouts.

The 405 freeway cuts through Fountain Valley, creating two distinct areas. South of the freeway the city is mostly middle-class residential. There are many small neighborhoods surrounded by brick walls with a park or school in the center. The main commercial corridor is Brookhurst Street, where every type of fast food can be found as well as grocery stores, restaurants and clothing stores. In keeping with its family-oriented image, there are tutoring businesses, dance studios and martial arts studios throughout the city.

North of the 405 freeway is Mile Square Regional Park, a major recreational destination. The park includes two golf courses and facilities for basketball, tennis, soccer, baseball, archery, fishing and paddle boats. There is also a community center and Boys & Girls Club in Mile Square Park.

There are several large apartment complexes to the south of the park and neighborhoods with large newer houses on all the other sides. Nearby are both Costco and Sam’s Club warehouse stores. Sever major retail destinations are minutes away, including Westminster Mall, Bella Terra and South Coast Plaza. Fountain Valley’s official motto is “A nice place to live” and most of its residents heartily agree.

The town of Laguna Beach has become famous due to the eponymous MTV reality show, but the show did not do this enchanting little beach town justice. Laguna Beach is built along the coast, with residential streets climbing up the coastal hills. It’s often compared to a Mediterranean resort. I’ve been going to Laguna Beach for several decades and have seen some expansion and renovation over the years, but the town has managed to retain much of its original character and charm.

Laguna Beach is 9 square miles in size and has a permanent population of about 25,000. The population grows by a few hundred thousand during the summer when tourists descend, bringing heavy traffic and creating parking problems. There are 7 miles of coastline within the city limits. Unlike the wide sandy beaches of Huntington Beach, Laguna’s beaches are located on the bottom of cliffs and within sheltered coves. There are tide pools, rock formations and inlets that are popular for scuba diving.

The hills above the downtown village of Laguna Beach are filled with winding streets where you’ll find both tiny beach cottages and mansions anchored to the sides of cliffs. The highest part of the city is called Top of the World. There are wilderness parks with challenging hiking trails at Top of the World and in South Laguna.

Laguna began as an artist colony in the early 20th century and is still home to many artists and galleries. In the summer it hosts a couple of art festivals and the Pageant of the Masters, a unique theatrical performance that presents living recreations of famous works of art.

The residents of Laguna Beach cherish the unique character of their town and are willing to put up with the inconveniences of summer tourism in exchange for spectacular ocean views, first class restaurants and artistic atmosphere,

With a population of almost 200,000, Huntington Beach is the largest beach city in Orange County. Residents of the city are lucky enough to enjoy a mild climate with plenty of ocean breezes and an abundance of recreational opportunities. Besides hanging out at the beach and surfing, there are miles of bike trails along the beach and next to the Santa Ana River. Boats can launched from a public boat ramp in Huntington Harbour and many boating residents of the Harbour are lucky enough to have a private dock.

Huntington Beach is a legendary city due to its role in the history of professional surfing. It even has a Surf Museum where you can lean all about the growth of the sport in the 20th century. There are 8.5 miles of wide sandy beaches within the city limits. The surf conditions are enhanced by the presence of sandbars and by the fact that the beach faces to the southwest.

The majority of the neighborhoods in Huntington Beach are built around small parks and enclosed by brick walls. This detracts from the scenic nature of many of the major streets, but provides residents with increased safety and quiet. In the center of the city is Central Park, one of the hidden treasures of the city. The 350-acre park, located on two sides of Golden West Street, includes a sports complex, Central Library, the Huntington Beach Playhouse, Shipley’s Nature Center, a Frisbee golf course, a stocked lake, an amphitheater, two casual restaurants and several miles of trails for walking and bike riding. Community events and concerts are held in Central Park throughout the year.

No description of Huntington Beach would be complete without mentioning the Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street area. Known by locals as “downtown,” Main Street is a magnet for tourists during the summer. It has been transformed in the past two decades from a rundown street with funky surf shops to a more family-friendly destination with trendy bars, shops and restaurants. The pier, originally built in 1909 and then rebuilt in 1992 after its destruction by high surf, is an iconic symbol of the spirit of Huntington Beach.

Mix in a great school system, plenty of local shopping, a low unemployment rate and easy access to the 405 freeway and it’s no wonder that many people consider Huntington Beach to be one of the best places to live in Orange County. I grew up 30 miles inland and came to Huntington Beach as a teenager. Now I’m lucky enough to call it home.

Costa Mesa is a diverse city of about 120,000 that serves as the hub for shopping and entertainment in Orange County. South Coast Plaza, one of the premier shopping centers in the nation, is located on Bristol Street near the 405 Freeway in Costa Mesa. This indoor mall has over 300 stores and restaurants, ranging from Sears and Del Taco to Bloomingdale’s, Gucci, Chanel and Morton’s Steakhouse. There’s something for every taste at the Plaza.

Adjacent to South Coast Plaza is the Orange County Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory Theater. First class original and touring productions are featured at both venues throughout the year. On the other side of the 405 Freeway is the Orange County Fairgrounds, host to weekend swap meets and special events as well as the annual Orange County Fair. Pacific Amphitheater at the fairgrounds features some great nostalgic musical acts during the run of the Fair. Orange Coast College, one of the most popular community colleges in Orange County, is located right next to the Orange County Fairgrounds.

The population of Costa Mesa is for the most part middle class and working class. There may be more apartments than houses in the city. The ethnic mix is more diverse than in neighboring Newport Beach, with about a third of the population being Latino. Costa Mesa is north of Newport Beach and tends to get warmer than nearby cities located on the coast. Luckily the beach is just a couple of miles away when residents want to beat the heat.

This beach-front street is the answer to any beach lover’s prayer. Only a sidewalk separates the million-dollar homes on this street from the sand and surf of Newport Beach. The ocean view extends all the way to Catalina, 25 miles off the coast.

W Ocean Front is actually just an alley, very narrow and with very few parking spaces. The houses are all two or three story (for a better view of the ocean) with a garage below. The houses are very close together with only small yards or patios on the ocean side, but most have balconies or rooftop decks.

Several of the houses on W Ocean Front have been remodeled or rebuilt by top architects. All the beauty of W Ocean Front comes at a price. These homes sell for millions of dollars. Some are rented as vacation homes at a steep weekly rate.

W Ocean Front extends from the mouth of the Santa Ana River and down the Balboa Peninsula past the Newport Beach Pier. It ends at Newport Beach Elementary (which wins my vote as having the coolest location of any school on earth) then continues on the other side of the school. At the Balboa Pier the street name changes to E Ocean Front. The street continues for a short distance to the end of the peninsula, where it ends at Jetty View Park and the famous Newport Beach surfing spot known as “The Wedge.”

Queens Park Lane is a quiet upscale residential street in southeastern Huntington Beach. It’s located south of Indianapolis between Bushard and Brookhurst. The houses on Queens Park Lane were built in the early 1970s and are a mix of one and two story. Each house is well-maintained with attractive landscaping.

The neighborhood where Queens Park Lane is located is ideal for families. Traffic is light and there is a neighborhood park named Burke Park that is popular with children. The public schools in the area are excellent and located nearby. Huntington Christian School, a private school for grades pre-K through 8, is located at one end of Queens Park Lane. The school has about 500 students, so the neighborhood is affected by drop off and pick up traffic.

Grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses are located a few blocks away on Brookhurst Avenue. Queens Park Lane is less than two miles from Huntington State Beach. The Santa Ana River is a half mile to the east. The river trail is popular for bike riders and joggers and leads directly to the beach. Because of the proximity of the beach, homes in the Queens Park Lane neighborhood sell for at least $600,000 (even in a slow economy).

Thistle Avenue is located off Brookhurst Avenue in Fountain Valley, across the street from Mile Square Park. It’s an entry street into a tract of large family homes built in the late 1970s. The homes are all well-kept and landscaped. Residents of Thistle Avenue have easy access to all the recreational activities available at the park, including golf, basketball, soccer, tennis and softball. There are also two fishing lakes and an archery range in the park, as well as a Boys & Girls Club and a Community Center located in the park. The 4-mile perimeter of the park is popular for runners, bikers and joggers.

There are several stores located near Thistle Avenue, including a Sam’s Club warehouse store. Many of the residents of the area are Asian and there are several Asian restaurants nearby. The schools in the area are good and the area is safe. However, because of its large unlighted interior Mile Square Park is not safe at night.

Each year the tract where Thistle Avenue is located puts on a lavish display of holiday lights that attracts visitors from far and wide. This is evident of the type of community spirit that is found in this neighborhood. The traffic is so heavy that barricades are erected and visitors must enter the tract on foot.

Heliotrope Avenue is a quiet, tree-lined lane in northern Santa Ana. The custom-built homes on the street date from a variety of periods, but most were built prior to 1980. Much of Heliotrope Avenue enjoys a canopy of large sheltering trees. One part of the street is lined with tall palm trees, creating an iconic Southern California ambiance.

Heliotrope is part of the Floral Park Neighborhood Association, a voluntary non-profit group that organizes community projects and events. The association fosters a strong sense of community. Heliotrope is set amidst a neighborhood of historic older homes, many of which could be classified as mansions. The northern part of Heliotrope Avenue is near Jack Fisher Park. This small neighborhood park is one of the oldest in Santa Ana. It features a playground, picnic area and a log cabin that can be rented for events. The southern part of Heliotrop ends at 17th Street, a busy commercial thoroughfare.

One of the negative aspects of Heliotrope Avenue is that it is located within half a mile of the busy 5 freeway, though this may be seen as a plus by some commuters. On the positive side, the Bowers Museum, Discovery Science Center and Westfield MainPlace shopping center are also nearby.

North Victoria Drive is a tree-lined street in the Floral Park neighborhood of north Santa Ana. It has the largest houses and lots in Floral Park. The homes on this street can truly be described as mansions, rivaling homes seen in Beverly Hills and other upscale areas in Los Angeles.

Floral Park is a historic area of Santa Ana. It consists of about 600 houses that were built in the 1920s through 1950s. Many of the houses are listed as historic properties by the city of Santa Ana. There is a Floral Park Neighborhood Association that focuses on neighborhood involvement, beautification and safety. The association sponsors several neighborhood events and activities.

The homes on North Victoria Drive are all custom-built and have a variety of architectural styles, ranging from Spanish to Colonial to Tudor. The homes are on large lots and many have pools, guest houses and tennis courts. Most are valued over $1 million.

The most surprising thing about North Victoria Drive is that it backs onto North Broadway, a busy commercial street. It’s also located less than a quarter mile from the 5 freeway. However, the neighborhood was in the area before the freeway and residents value the history and the neighborhood feeling above the surrounding area.

Corona del Mar is the name of a neighborhood in the southern part of Newport Beach. This area has such a distinct character that most people assume it’s a separate town. East Coast Highway is the main business street in Corona del Mar. It’s actually a continuation of Pacific Coast Highway, but for some unknown reason it’s renamed in this part of Newport Beach.

Corona del Mar (Spanish for “Crown of the Sea”) begins at MacArthur Blvd. East Coast Highway narrows from three lanes in each direction to two. Small shops and restaurants line each side of the street, creating a small village atmosphere. Unlike Pacific Coast Highway in other parts of Newport, this area is heavily traveled by pedestrians. One of the highlights of East Coast Highway is Sherman Library and Gardens, a privately-maintained botanical garden that is open to the public.

Streets filled with charming houses and condos branch off of East Coast Highway. Most people who visit Corona del Mar are attracted by the quiet, well-tended neighborhoods and see it as a perfect place to live. It has much of the same charm as Laguna Beach, which is located just a few miles south, but is on a smaller scale. Corona del Mar also benefits from the proximity of high-end shopping at Fashion Island and easy freeway access via MacArthur Blvd. All of this perfection comes with a steep price tag, with a median home price of over $1 million.

Corona del Mar State Beach is within walking distance of East Coast Highway. Tall cliffs with magnificent views lead down to the beach, which includes tide pools and a rock jetty. Both the beach and neighborhood of Corona del Mar are deserving of the name “Crown of the Sea.”

West Martha Lane is a leafy tree-lined street that extends for a few blocks from the Santa Ana Community College campus and ends in a cul-de-sac. The entire street is quiet and attractive, but the cul-de-sac is especially appealing. The small, single-story homes from the 1950s are obviously well cared for and have well-maintained yards. This looks like a great neighborhood to raise a family or live out one’s retirement years.

There are several recreational areas near Martha Lane, including the Santa Ana River Trail, Riverview Golf Course and the sports fields at Santa Ana College. The Santa Ana Civic Center and historic downtown area are a little more than a mile away. For major retail, it’s a short drive to Westfield Main Place, a major indoor mall. The Bowers Museum, Discover Science Center and the Santa Ana Zoo are nearby cultural attractions.

This is a solidly middle class neighborhood, but Santa Ana also has many poor immigrant neighborhoods. As a result, some public schools in the area suffer from lower test scores. Many parents chose to send their children to private or parochial schools, while other parents are loyal to the public schools and do what they can to improve them.

Bolsa Avenue is a major east/west artery in northern Orange County, extending from Huntington Beach to Santa Ana. It represents the variety of cultures that co-exist in this part of the county. It’s a wide street with 2 lanes in each direction and a turning lane in the middle, so traffic always moves smoothly.

In Huntington Beach, Bolsa Avenue begins at the Naval Weapons Station and forms one of the borders of the Boeing Huntington Beach Campus. It then passes through some suburban neighborhoods into Westminster. The Westminster Mall, the largest indoor mall in the area, is on Bolsa Avenue.

Once Bolsa Avenue passes over the 405 Freeway, it enters the area of Westminster known as Little Saigon. This area is the largest and oldest settlement of Vietnamese immigrants in the U.S. Bolsa Avenue in Little Saigon is lined with prosperous-looking Vietnamese shopping centers and businesses, large apartment complexes and well-kept mobile home parks. Many commercial signs in the area are written in Vietnamese, which tends to put off some longtime Orange County residents. However, the area has actually been revitalized by the establishment of Little Saigon.

After Bolsa passes over the Santa Ana River and enters Santa Ana, Vietnamese signs give way to signs in Spanish and the cultural flavor changes to Latino, which is the predominant culture in Santa Ana. Ist Street passes through old downtown Santa Ana and then continues into Tustin.

South Coast Drive is a 2-mile long street that begins near the intersection of the 405 freeway and the 73 toll road in Costa Mesa and ends at Bear Street, which runs between South Coast Plaza shopping center and its annex, Crystal Court. South Coast Plaza is an internationally known shopping center that contains top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel and Prada as well as more typical stores like Sears, Foot Locker and McDonald’s. It claims to have the highest sales of any shopping center in the U.S. ($1.5 billion). Metro Pointe shopping center, which contains a large cinema complex, is also located on South Coast Drive.

There is a Borders bookstore at Crystal Court and a Barnes & Noble across the stree at Metro Pointe. These are the main bookstores in the area.

A large housing tract and large apartment complex front onto South Coast Drive. The landscaping is very attractive, with plenty of flowering plants and shady trees. The downside to living on one of the streets that fork off of South Coast Drive is the proximity of the heavily-traveled 405 freeway. The advantages include the most obvious – access to shopping, dining and entertainment at South Coast Plaza, Crystal Court and Metro Pointe. There is also a large park named Wakeham located within the housing tract off South Coast Drive.

The city motto of Fountain Valley is “A Nice Place to Live,” and Grippo River Avenue epitomizes that motto. This quiet residential street is lined with a dozen roomy 2-story houses built in the early 1980s. All the houses on the street are well maintained. The street is in the interior part of the tract, so there are no traffic noises. There is very little traffic on the street because it ends in a cul-de-sac.

The houses on Grippo River Avenue back onto Cordata Park, a quiet expanse of grass which contains shady trees, a water reservoir, basketball courts and a playground. The park is mostly visited by people walking dogs, children playing on the equipment and youth soccer teams (for practice only).

The tract where Grippo River Avenue is located has underground utilities. Not having telephone poles and utility wires really enhances the appeal of the neighborhood. Another plus is the proximity of a very good elementary school. The location of Grippo River Avenue is very convenient for shopping. Several grocery stores are nearby. Brookhurst Avenue, a major shopping and dining center, is 1 mile from Grippo River Avenue. Huntington State Beach is about 3 miles away.

The residents of Grippo River Avenue know a good thing when they see it. Several have lived there for years and have found it a great place to raise a family.

Main Street is a 3 mile street that runs from Beach Blvd to the Pacific Coast Highway and the Huntington Beach Pier. Most Huntington Beach residents view it as the heart of the city and refer to it as “downtown.” Huntington Beach High School, City Hall and Police Department headquarters are located on Main. It also contains shops and restaurants located a few blocks from the beach. Throughout most of the year it’s a magnet for beachgoers from all over Southern California.

Many of the homes located a few blocks from the ocean are older and give the area a small town America feel. However, there has been quite a bit of development over the past two decades and many older homes have been replaced with new, larger houses. The area around the pier has also been redeveloped. Surfing is still hugely popular in this area, but the small town funky vibe has been replaced with a more upscale look.

I lived on Main Street for several years in a rental house (real estate prices are sky high in this area). There were many great things about Main Street, including being able to easily walk, skate or ride a bike to the beach and to the downtown restaurants and shops. The downside was the traffic and noise, especially in summer. The Huntington Beach police use helicopters to patrol the beach and surrounding neighborhoods at night. There was also a lot of partying in the area. It’s a great place for young people, but when it came time to raise a family we were happy to move a couple of miles inland.

Crystal Cove is a mostly-undeveloped area located along the coast between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. It consists of rolling woodlands leading to cliffs along the ocean. It gets its name from Crystal Cove State Park, which runs along both sides of Pacific Coast Highway for about 3 miles. On the inland side, there are trails for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking. On the coast side, a beautiful beach offers tidepools, scuba diving and swimming.

Crystal Cove State Park contains a historic district that consists of several dozen vintage beach cottages from the 1920s and 1930s. Until a few years ago, the cottages were privately owned.
They are now part of Crystal Cove State Park and are available for vacation rentals, though they are booked up several months in advance. The cottages have brought quite a bit of additional traffic to the area, especially since a shuttle is now provided to get people from the parking lot on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway. In the past, the only access to the beach from the parking lot was hiking through a tunnel that runs under the highway.

At the northern end of Crystal Cove, a large development of timeshares and resort condos and an upscale shopping have recently been built. Most long-time residents of Laguna Beach were not happy to see this development take over what were once pristine hills. Luckily, the rest of Crystal Cove is protected by the State Park system and will not be developed.

Old Towne is the historic district of the city of Orange. It consists of one square mile of homes, restaurants and shops, making it the largest historic district in California. The heart of Old Towne is at the intersection of Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street. The streets meet at a roundabout (a rare sight in Southern California). In the center of the roundabout is a small park called Old Town Plaza that contains a fountain, rose beds, benches and trees.

Several large antique and junk stores can be found on the streets that radiate out from Old Town Plaza. A large Army Navy Surplus Store is a popular destination, as is Watson’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain (established in 1899). There are a number of cafes, coffee shops and tea rooms that offer outdoor dining.

The homes on the streets in the Old Towne historic district reflect a variety of architectural styles, with the California bungalow being the most prevalent. Most homeowners maintain their homes and yards in pristine condition. Chapman University is located within the historic district and is an attractive addition to the community.

Old Towne Orange is a living reminder of a bygone slice of American life. It’s a fun place to explore and looks like it would also be a fun place to live.

MacArthur Blvd is one of the main north/south thoroughfares in Newport Beach. It’s a fast way to travel from the 73 toll road to Fashion Island Shopping Center and Pacific Coast Highway, offering a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. MacArthur Blvd. has 4 lanes in each direction, so traffic usually isn’t a problem.

As you exit the 73 and travel south, Upper Newport Bay is on the right. This nature preserve is surrounded by cliffs topped with multi-million homes. Continuing south, upscale neighborhoods (some gated) and luxury condos line each side of the road.

As MacArthur winds by Big Canyon Country Club, the ocean comes into view. At San Joaquin Hills Road, on the left is Roger’s Gardens, which claims (rightly so) to be “America’s Most Beautiful Home and Garden Center.” On the right is Fashion Island, one of the premier shopping centers in Orange County (the other is South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa). South Coast is an indoor mall, but Fashion Island is open-air with beautiful landscaping, fountains and an ocean view. It’s a great place to hang out and grab a snack even if you can’t afford to shop at Niemen Marcus or Bloomingdales.

Next on MacArthur is the Newport Beach Public Library, one of the best in Southern California. The city of Newport Beach allows anyone to apply for a library card. A block from the library, MacArthur ends at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The drive from the 73 to PCH is about 3 miles, a quick ride through one of the most beautiful areas of Orange County.

Balboa Island is a small community located on a man-made island in Newport Harbor. It’s connected to the mainland by a two lane bridge on its northern side. On the southern side, a fleet of 3 small ferry boats provide access to the Balboa Peninsula. Many people love the thought of living on this little island, and as a result it’s densely settled. The population of the island is about 3,000 people within a perimeter of about 2.5 miles.

The houses on Balboa are for the most part small and picturesque, belying the fact that this is some of the most expensive real estate in Orange County (and in the entire U.S.). Parking is at a premium, which is why one of the best ways to see the island is by walking over the bridge or riding the ferry. The island is a great place to visit or rent a vacation house, but the fee for a weekly rental is comparable to staying in a top tier hotel.

Agate Avenue and Marine Avenue are the main business streets on Balboa Island. They are lined by small restaurants and shops that cater to tourists. Many of the shops have living units upstairs. There is a small town feeling to the community, which supports several annual events like a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and a sand castle festival in the summer. Even though most of us can only dream of living on Balboa Island, it’s a fun place to visit!

Ocean Colony is a gated community (with a guard) of about 50 homes. It’s located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Bolsa Chica wetlands, with views of Catalina Island and Long Beach. It’s surrounded by undeveloped land that’s part of Harriet Weider Regional Pak, so it doesn’t seem that any new houses will be built nearby for some time to come.

The location of Ocean Colony is unlike any other in Huntington Beach and the homes could be classified as mini-mansions, ranging in area from 3000 – 5000 feet, with price tags of $1.5 to $2 million. The houses are somewhat close together, but who needs a yard or pool when the beach is literally in your backyard? Pacifica Coast Highway is one-quarter mile from the entrance of Ocean Colony, and a wide sandy beach is just on the other side of PCH.

The development is about 10 years old. It consists of three streets laid out in a triangle. I attended a party in Ocean Colony when the development was just a couple of years old and loved the design of the houses. Even though it backs onto Seapoint Avenue, there wasn’t a lot of traffic noise. On the other side of Seapoint Avenue is the older Seacliff development, which includes a golf course, tennis facility and Country Club. Residents of Ocean Colony can join Seacliff Country Club if they’re interesting in using the facilities. In terms of luxury living in Huntington Beach, I would have to put Ocean Colony near the top of my list.

Ferne Avenue is a short street (less than one-half mile) in a small neighborhood tucked between an office park and Cerritos Avenue, one of the busy east/west thoroughfares in Cypress. I work in a nearby office and enjoy walking through the neighborhood. The houses are older (built in the 1960s) but each house on the street is beautifully kept up and has a well-manicured yard. The majority of the houses are single story.

This is a very quiet and pleasant neighborhood. However, it is 1 mile from the Los Alamitos Army Airfield and right below the incoming flight path. In recent years incoming flight traffic has been light and noise hasn't been a problem, but it can be very noisy during a ramp-up of military activity (such as occurred after September 11, 2001).

The schools in the area are good, and Cerritos Elementary School is within walking distance. To the south of Ferne Avenue, what were once strawberry fields along nearby Katella Avenue are now office buildings. Some of the businesses in the area include Mitsbushi, Siemens and Yamaha. Because of all the offices, there are plenty of good places to go for lunch in the area. Major shopping areas and malls are located just a few miles away in neighboring Seal Beach and Cerritos. Also, Knotts Berry Farm Theme Park and Soak City Water Park are about 4 miles away in nearby Buena Park.

My only slight complaint about Ferne Avenue and the surrounding streets is that there are no curbside trees, and the sun can be relentless in Cypress. Locate about 8 miles from Seal Beach, the temperature in Cypress can be 20 degrees higher than along the coast. Most of the houses on Ferne Avenue have large front yards and relatively small backyards, so there isn’t much room for a pool. Chances are good that Ferne Avenue residents drive to nearby beaches to cool down during the warm months of summer.

Top of the World is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the unique town of Laguna Beach. It earned its name due its elevation of 1,000 feet, although it’s located only 2.5 miles from the ocean. Anns Lane is at the very top of Top of the World. It’s a narrow, hilly street with only about a dozen houses. Some of the original homes in the area were built on Anns Lane, but most of the small older homes have been remodeled or replaced by larger and more modern structures.

Some of the homes on Anns Lane have stupendous views of the Pacific Ocean, while others have a panoramic view of the wilds of Laguna Canyon and a large swath of Orange County. Alta Laguna Park is a few blocks away and there are several challenging hiking trails nearby. An elementary School is a couple of blocks from Anns Lane, a middle school is a mile down the hill, and Laguna Beach High School is a mile further.

Laguna Beach is a small town (population about 24,000) that attracts thousands of visitors each summer due to its scenic beaches and art festivals. The town recently gained fame on MTV’s Laguna Beach reality show. Before that show was filmed, Laguna Beach had a reputation as an artist’s colony.

The atmosphere on Anns Lane reflects the rustic, funky past of Laguna Beach. Coyotes and deer sitings aren't unusual. Some of the residents have lived there for decades and are very close. When the town below is crawling with tourist, the homeowners on Anns Lane are above it all, enjoying their little piece of heaven.

Lark Circle is a friendly cul-de-sac in Fountain Valley. It’s part of a tract that was built in the mid-1960s, but several of the houses on the street have been remodeled and enlarged, giving the street an updated look. There are a total of 16 houses on the cul-de-sac and the residents range from families with young children to retirees.

Fountain Valley is one of the smaller cities in northern Orange County (the population is about 60,000). Most of the citizens of Fountain Valley believe in old-fashioned values and enjoy the small town feeling of their community. Good schools are located in close proximity to Lark Circle. The larger city of Huntington Beach is about half a mile from Lark Circle adn Huntington State Beach is located about 4 miles from Lark Circle at the end of Brookhurst Street.

Most of the families on Lark Circle are friendly and sociable. The street is closed on July 4th for an annual block party that is attended by at least 100 people. I know a family that lives on the street and it sounds like one of the friendliest neighborhood around.

Lark Circle is one block from Ellis, a major east/west cross street. A quarter mile away is Brookhurst Street, which is one of the most important retail streets in Fountain Valley. Every type of fast food restaurant is available on Brookhurst, as well as several chain restaurants including Mimi’s, Corner Bakery, Islands and Applebee’s. Stone Fire Grill is one of the newer restaurants on Brookhurst and is very popular.

I've lived on Pauline Lane for 15 years. Located 3 miles from the beach, it’s far enough away from businesses and the downtown party scene to be very quiet, but close enough to enjoy all the amenities that Huntington Beach has to offer. A grocery store, several fast food and casual restaurants and a new Home Depot are located within a half mile to the east on Magnolia Avenue. A mile to the west is Brookhurst Avenue, where a wide variety of stores and restaurants can be found.

The homes on Pauline Lane were built in the early 1960s and are among the most compact in Huntington Beach. However, the front and back yards are larger than those found in many newer neighborhoods. Even though the homes are small on Pauline Lane, they typically sell for $400,000 - $600,000 due to the high demand for homes in Huntington Beach.

The residents of Pauline Lane and the surrounding streets range from young families to older retirees. It is a very friendly neighborhood and a great place to raise a family, with excellent local schools and several parks nearby. There are a wide variety of organized activities available for children, including baseball, soccer, dance, martial arts and Scouts. Parents are very involved with their children and active PTA volunteers. Pauline Lane is not ostentatious, but it offers a very good quality of life.