Ah, Los Angeles: City of Dreams (and Traffic Jams)
So, you've been bitten by the LA bug. Maybe it's the weather (hello sunshine!), the stargazing (can you spot Jennifer Aniston at the farmer's market?), or the sheer variety of places to, well, get stuck in traffic. But hold on there, Hollywood hopeful, before you dive headfirst into a shoebox apartment downtown, there's a whole other world out there: the suburbs!
Suburbia: Not Your Mama's Station Wagon
Gone are the days of cookie-cutter houses and homogenous lawns. LA's suburbs are as diverse as your favorite food truck rally. You've got:
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Beach Bum Bliss: Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica - Sun-kissed piers, world-class surfing, and the constant soundtrack of crashing waves. Just don't forget your SPF and your patience (those beach parking spots are a competitive sport).
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Family Fun Central: La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena - Picture tree-lined streets, excellent schools, and enough soccer games to make you wish you'd packed some ibuprofen. Bonus points if your minivan has a built-in cooler for post-practice juice boxes.
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Young & Restless: Burbank, Glendale - Got that Hollywood hustle? These suburbs are brimming with young professionals, with easy access to studios (and all the free pizza that comes with working in entertainment...maybe). Just be prepared for the post-work bar crawls and the occasional celebrity sighting (unless you work in accounting, then it's just post-work commutes).
Finding Your Perfect Patch of Paradise (or at least decent tacos)
Of course, with great suburbs comes great decision-making. Here's a handy dandy flowchart to navigate your suburban safari:
- Beach bum or bookworm? Beach - head west! Bookworm - eastern suburbs offer a quieter vibe.
- Single and fabulous or minivan maestro? Single - consider trendy areas like Burbank. Minivan maestro - hello, family-friendly South Pasadena!
- Wallet weeping or overflowing? Weeping? Maybe look outside LA altogether. Overflowing? Manhattan Beach beckons (with its million-dollar price tag).
Remember, this is just a starting point. LA's suburbs are a treasure trove, waiting to be explored. So, grab your car keys (and maybe a stress ball for the traffic), and get ready to find your own slice of the LA dream!
