Commute time to Cerritos from Fullerton, Orange or Brea (Long Beach: theater, preschools)

[Megatron10]

Hi,

We are returning to so cal after a 10 year absence. My husband will work in Cerritos and I will work from home. We have 2 little kids so we care about schools but also like farmers markets, coffee shops, movies, etc. We are sorta crunchy. Interested in input on how we might like Fullerton, Orange or Brea, and info on the reality of commuting. Also interested in Monrovia if anybody has info.

Thank you

[veg8]

Why don't you live in Cerritos, it's got a farmers market on Sat, Los Cerritos Mall for shopping, UA and Edwards for theaters. It also has better schools than Monrovia, Brea or Fullerton.

[ragnarkar]

Orange might be a shorter commute even though Fullerton and Brea are closer. 91 West in the mornings tend to be a lot more congested than I-5 North.

[celinehermain]

I returned to Orange County after a twenty year absence and almost could not recognize it at all, so be ready for allot more large scale development and little to no open space. Consider La Habra and Whittier for a more old-timey feel, I don't know how Cerritos has fared, I live in Brea and it is VERY quiet with allot of family programs and events thought the year. Fullerton might be a little rough for young children as it is very much a clubing/bar center, but of course up in the Fullerton hills is as elite (for North Orange county) as ever.

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by Megatron10

Hi,

We are returning to so cal after a 10 year absence. My husband will work in Cerritos and I will work from home. We have 2 little kids so we care about schools but also like farmers markets, coffee shops, movies, etc. We are sorta crunchy. Interested in input on how we might like Fullerton, Orange or Brea, and info on the reality of commuting. Also interested in Monrovia if anybody has info.

Thank you

La Mirada would work as well, since it is right next door.

Monrovia is nice enough but why if you don't have to do the commute?

Also, Long Beach and Lakewood are, on the south side, equidistant. Schools may be an issue, I don't know, but look at the different districts around there.

And, pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean when you write, "We are sorta crunchy"? Does it mean that you are "granola types"?

[Megatron10]

Originally Posted by celinehermain

I returned to Orange County after a twenty year absence and almost could not recognize it at all, so be ready for allot more large scale development and little to no open space. Consider La Habra and Whittier for a more old-timey feel, I don't know how Cerritos has fared, I live in Brea and it is VERY quiet with allot of family programs and events thought the year. Fullerton might be a little rough for young children as it is very much a clubing/bar center, but of course up in the Fullerton hills is as elite (for North Orange county) as ever.

We come back to visit once or twice a year, so I have narrowed it down between Orange, Brea and Fullerton based on my experiences in those communities in the recent past. I've always loved Orange for the downtown area, Irvine Regional Park is nice with the zoo and the paddleboats. There are a lot of good preschools to choose from. Also, we could maybe live in the hills. I miss mountains and hills. With Fullerton, it has top high schools (thinking ahead), an historic downtown with a lively farmers market, an arboretum and my husband could take surface streets to work. Wondering if the downtown is too much of a party demographic for us at night though. Also, is it mostly flat? Finally, Brea is closest to my parents. I haven't visited the downtown yet. From what I have heard it is small but well-maintained. Which is basically what I like about Brea. The city seems to keep things nice, there is lots of public art, and access to Carbon Canyon park for hiking and fishing. But maybe it is too quiet? Also, maybe I am not put-together enough for Brea. Like maybe the people/place are possibly too manicured for me. Not sure.

Can I ask what attracted you to Brea? What you like and dislike about it?

[Megatron10]

Originally Posted by mrsltd

La Mirada would work as well, since it is right next door.

Monrovia is nice enough but why if you don't have to do the commute?

Also, Long Beach and Lakewood are, on the south side, equidistant. Schools may be an issue, I don't know, but look at the different districts around there.

And, pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean when you write, "We are sorta crunchy"? Does it mean that you are "granola types"?

I was thinking of Monrovia because I have family and friends there and they love it. And it would be nice to be so close to the mountains, but I think the commute is just too far. My dream place to live would be Claremont, but again, too far of a commute for us.

And yes, by sorta crunchy I mean granola types. And by granola types I really mean just me.