SoCal folks: family vacation rental house, need to choose: Anaheim Hills or Orange?

[glenn1]

Update: San Clemente is too far for the grandparents to visit due to health concerns. Limiting our search to areas closer in to them in Anaheim. After considering the options of availability, price, and features, the two main rental home contenders at this point would be either in Orange or Anaheim Hills. My previous experience and research is leaning me to believe that Anaheim Hills is a bit more upscale, but very residential to the point of almost ex-urban (and of course further away from EVERYTHING). Orange appears to be a bit more economically mixed population, but is closer to the action (for better and worse).


Will be going out to Southern California for a wedding in August. After the wedding, we're looking to spend a week or so in a vacation rental house enjoying some family time with children aged 2-9. While trying to decide on a good landing spot for us, San Clemente has popped up as a possibility. However all my experience is with northern CA (lived in Monterey for 3 years) I don't have the direct knowledge necessary to know if this is a realistic option.

We're looking for the following in an upscale (but not super luxury) family friendly environment, with roughly the same priority given to each:

1. Proximity to beach for the kids, which may conflict with #2,
2. Proximity to grandmother in Anaheim. We don't mind some drive but don't want to drive across LA county to get either beach or her.
3. Less crowding and traffic while still having basic services/shopping available.


Does San Clemente meet these basic requirements, or is there somewhere else we should consider? We considered Laguna Beach also, but the cost delta is significant (2-3x the price, if not more).

 

[uclaLabrat]

Hmmm...San clemente is a good 45 min- hour drive to anaheim, might want to look in the huntington/seal beach area. Newport has plenty of options but they probably go for like $3-4K/week for a decent beach house. Not sure what the rates are at other places. San Clemente is a good place to bring the kids though. Usually a tad bit less crowded than places like newport, although that's relative.

 

[Brovane]

Will be going out to Southern California for a wedding in August. After the wedding, we're looking to spend a week or so in a vacation rental house enjoying some family time with children aged 2-9. While trying to decide on a good landing spot for us, San Clemente has popped up as a possibility. However all my experience is with northern CA (lived in Monterey for 3 years) I don't have the direct knowledge necessary to know if this is a realistic option.

We're looking for the following in an upscale (but not super luxury) family friendly environment, with roughly the same priority given to each:

1. Proximity to beach for the kids, which may conflict with #2,
2. Proximity to grandmother in Anaheim. We don't mind some drive but don't want to drive across LA county to get either beach or her.
3. Less crowding and traffic while still having basic services/shopping available.


Does San Clemente meet these basic requirements, or is there somewhere else we should consider? We considered Laguna Beach also, but the cost delta is significant (2-3x the price, if not more).

I live about 20mins from San Clemente.

If you want to be close to the beach then San Clemente is great. You are about 30-40mins from Anaheim with no traffic. The I-5 will give you easy access. You also might want to consider Dana Point also. However anything in that area will be crowded during the summer.

You also might want to consider Huntington Beach. Some great beaches down there and easy access to Anaheim. Huntington Beach is closer Anaheim than San Clemente.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I have lived in this area for over 30+ years.

 

[randomrogue]

It's pretty far. That's like a 40 mile gap and traffic can be gnarly on a bad day. It's definitely cheaper though. Look at Seal Beach or South Long Beach since you can shoot over on the 22.

 

[glenn1]

Hmmm...San clemente is a good 45 min- hour drive to anaheim, might want to look in the huntington/seal beach area. Newport has plenty of options but they probably go for like $3-4K/week for a decent beach house. Not sure what the rates are at other places. San Clemente is a good place to bring the kids though. Usually a tad bit less crowded than places like newport, although that's relative.

Considering both those and Laguna Beach. Although they're closer as the crow flies I was unsure how much "closer" we would be in reality due to all the OC traffic. Last time I made that drive, I remember Anaheim to Huntington still being over 30 minutes, maybe a bit longer for Laguna. If it actually is significantly closer I'll look closer at them, but if I was correct about traffic I don't know if the extra cost and crowding justifies perhaps a few minutes less drive.

 

[glenn1]

It's pretty far. That's like a 40 mile gap and traffic can be gnarly on a bad day. It's definitely cheaper though. Look at Seal Beach or South Long Beach since you can shoot over on the 22.

What's the real world/in-traffic driving time to Anaheim? And how are these for family vacation? The only thing I know about Long Beach is the port.

 

[SamQuint]

There are no really good beaches in Long Beach. Most of it looks horrible and poluted. Belmont shore is about as nice as it gets.

Huntington Beach and south of that is better. Laguna is very nice. San Clemente is too far.

You can really just stay anywhere and just drive to the beach.

 

[JulesMaximus]

San Clemente is nice. There are some sketchy areas of Huntington Beach and Long Beach so unless you know the area I'd probably stick to San Clemente or Dana Point.

 

[SamQuint]

San Clemente is nice. There are some sketchy areas of Huntington Beach and Long Beach so unless you know the area I'd probably stick to San Clemente or Dana Point.

Dana Point is a good choice, you have Doheny beach and also there is a harbor there where you can get some great whale watching boats.

I like Captain Dave's

http://www.dolphinsafari.com/?gclid=CIr58OrN-rQCFWaoPAod2FoA8g

 

[JPerk]

Getting to Anaheim from any of the beach areas will have traffic if you go at the wrong time.

I would recommend Newport because of the proximity of activities other than the beach. Newport has a "fun zone" with some things the kids might enjoy and is a walkable/bikeable area. Fashion island is close and South Coast Plaza isn't far for shopping. How much higher is the cost in Newport compared to San Clemente?

I wouldn't base the decision on driving time and just plan to drive during non commute times.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Getting to Anaheim from any of the beach areas will have traffic if you go at the wrong time.

I would recommend Newport because of the proximity of activities other than the beach. Newport has a "fun zone" with some things the kids might enjoy and is a walkable/bikeable area. Fashion island is close and South Coast Plaza isn't far for shopping. How much higher is the cost in Newport compared to San Clemente?

I wouldn't base the decision on driving time and just plan to drive during non commute times.

Newport and Laguna are really nice areas and will be $$$. My wife drove up to Newport back in August to meet up with a friend for lunch and we ended up sitting right next to Anne Hathaway and her fiance. Lunch cost us $70.

 

[AkumaX]

You are in the exact situation I was a year ago (grandma in Anaheim, looking to vacay in San Clemente). It was for around 15-20 people. Did consider HB, Laguna, and Newport as well.

In the end, we ended up renting a house in Anaheim, and just driving to the beach

 

[glenn1]

Update: San Clemente is too far for the grandparents to visit due to health concerns. Limiting our search to areas closer in to them in Anaheim. After considering the options of availability, price, and features, the two main rental home contenders at this point would be either in Orange or Anaheim Hills. My previous experience and research is leaning me to believe that Anaheim Hills is a bit more upscale, but very residential to the point of almost ex-urban (and of course further away from EVERYTHING). Orange appears to be a bit more economically mixed population, but is closer to the action (for better and worse).

Looking for feedback that might help us choose one over the other.

 

[FleshLight]

Update: San Clemente is too far for the grandparents to visit due to health concerns. Limiting our search to areas closer in to them in Anaheim. After considering the options of availability, price, and features, the two main rental home contenders at this point would be either in Orange or Anaheim Hills. My previous experience and research is leaning me to believe that Anaheim Hills is a bit more upscale, but very residential to the point of almost ex-urban (and of course further away from EVERYTHING). Orange appears to be a bit more economically mixed population, but is closer to the action (for better and worse).

Looking for feedback that might help us choose one over the other.

I would not consider either of those "vacation" areas. There are plenty of rentals in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach that are a pretty easy drive to Anacrime.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Just go for Orange, its not like its going to be permanent.

 

[hans007]

Just go for Orange, its not like its going to be permanent.

Use to work in orange. Pretty far from the beach but if you go at the right time its like 45 min drive. "The block"is right there so you can get your shopping on.

 

[zerocool84]

Use to work in orange. Pretty far from the beach but if you go at the right time its like 45 min drive. "The block"is right there so you can get your shopping on.

Orange is still close enough to the beach where the OP can go any time he wants.

 

[hans007]

Orange is still close enough to the beach where the OP can go any time he wants.

Yah I mean if he's on vacation and people are working he can easily drive there during the non horrible traffic parts of the day.

I recommend Huntington since you can get a fire pit and roast marshmellows there if that is your thing