California

explore like never before

Get Custom Travel guides packed with local tips
State Pride

Here Are The 12 Best Cities In Southern California To Raise A Family

Lists 12 cities in Southern California that are ideal for raising a family due to accessible housing, quality schools, job opportunities, safety, and community.

Published May 18, 2016

Written by 

Angela

If you were raised in Southern California, or are currently raising a family here, you are one of the lucky ones. Although there are many places here that are wonderful spots to call home, there are a few cities that really stand out as exceptional places to raise a family. Here's a list of 12 cities in SoCal that might just be the perfect place for you if you're looking for accessible housing prices, quality schools, job opportunities, safety, and a true sense of community. Did your city make the list?

1. Rancho Santa Margarita

alt
Yelp/Tom S.

Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community located in Orange County. It's a smaller city that prides itself on being a safe and beautiful place to live while also being community oriented.

advertisement

2. Poway

alt
City of Poway/Facebook

A city in San Diego County with highly ranked schools and affordable housing. With tons of recreational areas and parks for biking and playing, this city is perfect for a family who values the outdoors.

3. Moorpark

alt
Moorpark Official Website

Located in Ventura County, Moorpark is considered one of the safest places to live in this area due to its low crime rates. Moorpark is a family-centric city with charming small town events such as the annual Apricot Festival. Add to that its highly ranked schools and you have a perfect spot to raise a family.

4. Murrieta

alt
Wikimedia Commons

If you're looking for a community that still has reasonably priced housing in comparison to the rest of SoCal, then Murrieta should be tops on your list. Located in Riverside County, Murrieta is one of the fastest growing cities in the area.

advertisement

5. Yorba Linda

alt
City of Yorba Linda/Facebook

Centrally located in Orange County, Yorba Linda is known for having an ample trail system that includes miles and miles of outdoor areas for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Yorba Linda also takes pride in its schools and has made an effort to invest a substantial amount of funds into upgrading existing schools and building new ones.

6. Beaumont

alt
City of Beaumont/Facebook

This charming rural city in Riverside County fully embraces small town living which creates a safe and peaceful community where you can raise a family. Pictured here is the Cherry Festival Parade - an annual event that reflects the small-town charm you can expect to find in Beaumont.

7. Loma Linda

alt
flickr/Greg Mathews

With a population of only 21,000, Loma Linda is small enough to feel quaint but large enough to have all the amenities you'd expect in a larger city. Home to Loma Linda University, this city values a solid education.

8. South Pasadena

alt
flickr/Ken Lund

Although it's only six miles away from Los Angeles, you'd never know it. Tucked away in a historic district surrounded by thousands of green leafy trees in friendly neighborhoods that are perfect for strolling or riding bikes, this might be the most picturesque spot to raise a family. Add to the list a thriving and involved community with highly ranked schools and you have the perfect place to live.

advertisement

9. Irvine

alt
Yelp/Jess M.

Tons of beautiful parks, a thriving community and endless job opportunities make Irvine a top place to raise your family.

10. Agoura Hills

alt
City of Agoura Hills/Facebook

Agoura Hills is a family-oriented city that invests in its schools and values education. With the nearby Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, it's also a perfect spot for the outdoorsy family who wants access to lots of parks and outdoor recreation.

11. Manhattan Beach

alt
Yelp/Steve X.

There's no question that Manhattan Beach has some of the top schools in Southern California. Needless to say, housing in Manhattan Beach comes with a hefty price tag so it falls short in the "economical housing" category. In addition to the schools and overall stunning surroundings, Manhattan Beach also offers a charming community experience where family is valued.

12. Lake Forest

alt
City of Lake Forest/Facebook

Located in Orange County, Lake Forest is known for its stunning surroundings in the Saddleback Valley. With access to tons of outdoor recreation and lots of community events, this is a great spot where the whole family can play outside. Also known for its great schools, Lake Forest is a place where you can feel confident your kids will receive a solid education.

advertisement

There are so many great places to live in SoCal. Which city is your top pick for the best spot to raise a family? No matter where you live in Southern California, you really can't go wrong.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

State Pride

The Up-and-Coming City in Northern California That’s Perfectly Sized

Enjoy a suburban feel and city amenities in Dublin, one of our fastest-growing cities.

Published Oct 29, 2024

Written by 

Natasha Kayes

Goldilocks may be a fictional character but I believe she had it figured out. There truly is such a thing as “just right” — not too hot or too cold, too hard or too soft, or in the case of towns and cities, too big or too small. Small towns are calmer and more peaceful, while big cities have convenience and flashy amenities. And then there are small cities and suburbs, somewhere in the middle, that offer a balance of both. Dublin, California, falls right in that sweet spot.

advertisement
alt
Springtime view of the downtown skyline of Dublin, California, USA.

Since long before Spanish exploration, what is now called Dublin has been known as a crossroads of the Bay Area, with important road connections running east, west, north, and south. Native American traders and hunters, migrating families, prospectors looking for gold, ranchers and farmers, commuters, and military convoys have passed through Dublin over the years, but suburban development didn’t really start until the early 1960s.

When the city was incorporated in 1982, the population was some 14,000, growing to over 70,000 by 2020, with the biggest boom taking place in the last decade. With populations of close to eight million in San Francisco and nearly a million in San Jose, Dublin is still a small city with a suburban feel and city perks. 

alt
Sharon Hahn Darlin/Flickr

One of California’s fastest-growing cities, Dublin is considered one of the best in the state to live in. In addition to fairly new housing developments and great schools, Dublin has a lot to offer families in the form of a highly-rated school district, easy access to public transportation, a wonderful public library, and more. It also happens to be at the crossroads of two major highways, making it easy for commuters and travelers to reach surrounding cities.

The city is a melting pot of cultures, which is reflected in the wide variety of restaurants in town. Whether you prefer familiar favorites or new culinary adventures, you’ll find a host of options with cuisines, including American, Mediterranean, Japanese, Mexican, Asian Fusion, and Burmese.

alt
Close-up, mid-section of young Asian woman sitting at dining table holding cutleries, twirling freshly served spaghetti bolognese and enjoying her meal in restaurant. Italian food. Dining out. People, food and lifestyle

Let’s not forget about recreation. Dublin has sports facilities and public parks, golf courses, a state-of-the-art movie theater, and plenty of shopping. Dublin Wave is a huge waterpark and aquatic center with an indoor pool for year-round fun. And, unlike the bigger cities, Dublin provides a wild escape for nature lovers — about 650 acres of undeveloped land and trails at the Dublin Hills Regional Park.

The not-too-big, not-too-small (but growing!) city of Dublin, California, may actually be just right. Have you ever been to this little city in the Bay Area? Do you know someone looking for a perfectly-sized up-and-coming city to visit or call home? Share this article with them! And check out more of our favorite ideally-sized cities in Northern California.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

State Pride|History

The Most Iconic View in Northern California Is Also a Stunning Slice of History

It's hard to argue that there's a more iconic Northern Californian view than that of the Golden Gate Bridge. But do you know the history of this landmark?

Published Oct 15, 2024

Written by 

Andrea Verschuyl

Spanning the one-mile strait between the Pacific Ocean and busy San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge is easily one of California’s most iconic landmarks, symbolizing the state’s innovative spirit and enduring beauty. Still, despite its ubiquity, many Californians aren’t familiar with the history of this famous structure.

advertisement

What can the Golden Gate Bridge tell us about our past?

alt
Tom Penpark/DigitalVision via Getty Images

For many years, the thought of bridging the stormy Golden Gate Strait seemed laughable. Up until the 20th century, San Francisco and present-day Marin County were connected through schools of private water taxis and, later, an official ferry service. Still, as the city grew, boat travel became an obstacle to break-neck regional development. Despite the prevailing belief that the waterway’s treacherous currents and blinding fog would make construction impossible, ambitious engineers were unable to resist the challenge. In 1916, a student named James Wilkins published his proposal in the San Francisco Bulletin.

Though many industry professionals dismissed his idea out of hand, San Francisco officials disseminated a public request for bids. One of the many responders was young Joseph Strauss, who'd made a name for himself by designing a hypothetical railroad bridge across the Bering Strait in his graduate thesis. Over the following decade, Strauss devoted himself to drumming up support for the project. He faced significant pushback, including from the U.S. Navy — who raised potential security concerns — and the Southern Pacific Railroad who owned the ferry fleets that a bridge would make redundant. It wasn't until 1924 that his efforts paid off and construction was approved.

alt
Partial view of the red painted steel under construction of the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge at the northern end

The proposal was finalized through Strauss' collaborative efforts with other top engineers and architects, including luminaries like Leon Moisseiff, Irving Morrow, and Charles Alton Ellis. Despite this network of talent, Strauss positioned himself as the project's undisputed leader. While cynical, his media strategy was effective. Strauss was upheld as the man who gave San Francisco its iconic bridge. Though his team is now credited as responsible for the final design, they were largely erased from history.

Construction began in 1933, in the thick of the Great Depression. Despite the dire economic times, the project was not part of any federal work programs. Strauss may have stolen the spotlight from his collaborators but he headed the project, championing innovations like the movable safety netting that would save countless lives. Despite precautions, eleven men lost their lives building the Golden Gate Bridge. Tragically, ten of these workers were killed just three months before the bridge opened in 1937 when a scaffold plunged through the net into the water below.

alt
Noah Clayton/Tetra images via Getty Images

Whether you're a local or just visiting San Francisco, we all recognize the Golden Gate Bridge as one of the state's most iconic landmarks and views. While it's beautiful regardless, I believe we can appreciate this breathtaking structure even more when we're made aware of its complicated history: the ingenuity, determination, steely ambition, and human cost that were required to build the world's most photographed bridge.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Nature
Hiking

Hike This Trail in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park for an Unforgettable Adventure

by Courtnie Erickson
on Nov 7
alt
Stays
Camping

The Amazing Campground in Idaho We Want to Visit All-Year Round

by Andrea Verschuyl
on Nov 7
alt
Nature
Hiking

Hike More Than 1,800 Feet in Elevation in Alaska for an Unforgettable Adventure

by Courtnie Erickson
on Nov 7
alt
Food

The Riverfront Steakhouse in Missouri That’s Perfect for a Quiet Evening out

by Alana Fravell
on Nov 7
alt
Travel Goods
Shopping Guides

14 Thoughtful Travel Gifts for Any Woman on Your Holiday Shopping List

by Courtnie Erickson
on Nov 7
alt