Southern California Living – Long Beach and Pasadena
This weekend, I had an opportunity to take a 3-day cruise with my family. The ship – Carnival’s Paradise – left from the Long Beach port and was anchored right next to Queen Mary. As I was driving to Long Beach, I was reminded of my friend Laurie Manny, who unfortunately is no longer with us, and the article that I wrote for her a couple of years ago. In her honor, I am reposting the article on my site to share with you and feature on 365 Things To Do Around Pasadena™. After all, Long Beach is less than an hour away from Pasadena and has so much to offer!
So here it is…
Many home buyers are looking to relocate and move to Southern California to enjoy our beautiful year-round sunny weather and be close to both snow and ocean.
The hardest question of all is whether to buy a home in a beach community like Long Beach or to find a home in a foothills city like Pasadena.
Both, Long Beach and Pasadena are excellent places to live. Long Beach, California has a beautiful selection of homes for sale in wonderful neighborhoods like Belmont Heights where you can buy a home for around $800,000 and be a few short blocks away from the beach.
For city living at its best, but still close to the beach, a Downtown Condo is waiting for you. Downtown Long Beach has gone through extensive revitalization and there are many high and low-rise condos and lofts with spectacular views which can be purchased for as little as $69,990, or for as much as $2,699,999; many of which are high rise luxury condos on the waterfront (prices based on 2 and 2+ bedroom units). Downtown neighborhoods vary greatly in price.
Of course, Long Beach wouldn’t be the same without the Queen Mary, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, East Village Arts District, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach Museum of Art, and you’re just a ferry away from Catalina Island and the Port of Long Beach where all the wonderful cruise ships are waiting to take you to romantic destinations.
Long Beach is also 35th largest city in the nation and the 5th largest city in California.
Pasadena California is about 35 miles away from the beach, but is nestled in the San Gabriel Foothills. If you decide to buy a home in Pasadena, you’ll be minutes from hiking trails and a short drive to the mountains where you can enjoy winter skiing.
Old Town Pasadena has also undergone an extensive revitalization over the last 10 years. Beautiful live-work lofts are being built, as well as a nice selection of condos and townhomes are available for sale ranging anywhere between $600,000 to over $1,000,000. Pasadena’s business center is located in the South Lake District where you can buy a 1 bedroom condo for as little as $300,000 and be steps away from great restaurants and boutiques.
Pasadena is full of historic neighborhoods and has many historically designated landmark districts like; Historic Highlands , Bungalow Heaven and Madison Heights. Homes for sale in Pasadena are available starting at $500,000, but average closer to $955,000.
Pasadena is known, amongst other things, for the Rose Bowl, The Tournament of Roses Parade, Norton Simon Museum, CalTech and is close to Descanso Gardens and Huntington Library.
Pasadena is the 160th largest city in the nation and is the 6th largest city in Los Angeles County, and the main cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley.
When you are ready to start your home search next to the beach, please visit Long Beach Real Estate Resource Center and if you want to live next to the foothills, please visit Pasadena Real Estate Resource Center for all your Southern California real estate needs.
Visit 365 Things To Do In Pasadena® for more fun activities in Pasadena California and surrounding neighborhoods.
