Fallbrook, CA - a nice place to visit (or live)?

August 12, 2023 2:37 PM

I'm looking for a place to retire with my husband, and somewhere between LA and Tucson, AZ would be ideal to visit family in both places. Cali is pricey, I know, but I'm still hoping I can find something somewhat affordable, as I really can't handle (more affordable but too hot) AZ.

Fallbrook, CA has come to my attention, and I'm thinking of renting an airbnb there for a month to get to know it better. I've never been there tho; I'm going off recos from friends of family. Someone described it as the Ojai of San Diego County, which would be great: I'd like something not urban but having some culture, good food, arts, shopping, outdoor recreation, and not too hot in the summer. Do you know Fallbrook, CA? Can you provide feedback on its livability, or any other similar towns nearby that are not super pricey(Ie, La Jolla)? Thanks!

posted by j810c to Travel & Transportation around Fallbrook, CA (7 answers total)

It’s been more than a decade since I lived in North County, and went to Fallbrook a few times while I was there. The comparison to Ojai gets a slight eyebrow raise from me. I never got a vibrant/thriving vibe from it, more of a dusty agricultural town struggling to transition to tourism.

Idyllwild-Pine Cove isn’t nearby (north-east, in the mountains above Palm Springs), but has a better cultural reputation to me, and a better food scene, based on a quick trip through Yelp.
posted by itesser at 4:37 PM on August 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've noticed Fallbrook before, but have no idea what it's like there. I do know that I don't want to live in Lake Elsinore/Murietta, so hopefully not like that....

I also thought of Idyllwild. Or maybe Riverside. There are some cute neighborhoods. Getting closer in, Upland/Claremont, or Glendora. Or, if you can afford it, Sierra Madre is desirable (in my estimation) and still somewhat attainable in comparison to Pasadena/Alhambra/La Crescenta etc.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:29 PM on August 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

Definitely not urban, no culture outside of ag-farm culture, no good food, no shopping, very hot in the summer except windy valley areas, not known for outdoor recreation: it is farms, orchards and houses. Not especially a friendly place either. But it is affordable compared to much of San Diego county?
posted by gryphonlover at 8:57 PM on August 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

A lot of spots in that general vicinity but away from the ocean are going to be equally hot, I think. I'm sure you're doing your research but budget for great air conditioning no matter what.
posted by Threeve at 10:47 AM on August 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

My parents lived in Fallbrook for a few years about a decade ago. Culture, arts, shopping - nope. Good food - a little bit, especially Mexican. Outdoor recreation - nope. Pretty hot in the summer.

Seconding Claremont if that's in your price range, it's a nice college town, and close enough to the rest of SoCal that there's plenty of options for culture, recreation, good food. It will be hot in the summer though.

Honestly, given your geographical parameters, I don't think you're going to be able to avoid heat, though. Unless you go up in the mountains, but then you'll have to seriously worry about wildfires.
posted by equalpants at 7:07 PM on August 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

For some years, I've been reading the Fallbrook "Village News" through their RSS feed (right on their masthead, BTW). It's a churchy place, Trump-y, and specifically that variety of Trump-y composed of old people who have taken sanctuary in contempt and resentment.
posted by Performing Without Annette at 8:51 PM on August 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

Former SD native: I havent lived in SD for 5 years, but I cannot imagine that Fallbrook has become the Ojai of San Diego, by any means -- Trumpy, "get off my land," no good food/culture options, etc. In addition to being extremely hot, make sure to do research about the fires/fire potential in that area. I've had a few friends in my age group move out to Valley Center to basically start their own little farms/gardens/etc, but there's nothing "cultural" in the way you mean. I also expect Fallbrook to blow up like Vista did, so it would become dense suburban quite quickly. I'm honestly not sure where you could go at this point that isnt going to be hot and have massive fire potential, unless you go to the desert and then it is just hot. Julian and Ramona are two bigger "small towns" in the mountains, and the higher you go, there's some snow in the winter, but the fire potential there is rough.

Feel free to me-mail me for more info but snuffleupagus seems to be a good person to speak with as well. Remember that Claremont CA does not equal Clairemont in San Diego or you will be confused ;)
posted by fillsthepews at 12:16 PM on August 14, 2023