robin1234

My son (lives and works in England, he's a librarian in a research library, dual US/British citizen) had a Skype interview for a job in his field yesterday. They want him to go out to Irvine later this month for a few days for further interviews etc.

He recently had a weeks holiday in LA. He stayed in downtown LA, and used public transport to visit museums and various other sites, Getty Institute etc. That is his only experience of Southern CA, I myself have never been there.

I've looked at maps of Irvine and surroundings, consulted Citydata etc. Looks like rentals are pretty high. Apparently, this institution has faculty housing that new faculty can rent for their first year, somewhere in the $1,400-$1,600 range for a one bedroom.

Anyone have insights into Irvine or environs? Good cycling and other outdoor opportunities? I see there's a National Forest just to the east.

SanDiegogirl

Great place - just south of LA. Lots of new homes, expensive realty, good shopping, open spaces. Yes, rental is expensive (as are most place which are attractive around LA)

Definitely will need a car to get around.

Needs a good salary to enjoy the pleasures of Irvine and surrounding areas.

Marc_ely

The whole area in expensive to rent or buy. That figure looks about right. The cost of everything is more expensive because of the real estate. Services, gas, groceries, all of it.
A car is essential. Public transport is very poor.

Irvine is kinda flat and very suburban with lots of families.

I'm not sure how old your boy is or whether he has kids etc. If he's young free and single and wants outdoors he might want to look nearer the coast (Huntingdon Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach).

Wherever you go though there are parks and lots of trails up into the Saddleback mountains north-east of Irvine.

robin1234

Thanks guys, for the insights and information. It looks like there's good train service, though, Metrolink and Amtrak, and a bus system. http://www.octa.net/pdf/OCTASystemMap.pdf

Also, at least some dedicated cycle paths (in addition to the on-road cycle lanes, which I know can be good or bad depending on circumstances.)https://legacy.cityofirvine.org/civi...p?BlobID=18745

Sally Redux

Public transport will get you to the Getty Center, that's about it though.

robin1234

He did love the Getty Center on his recent visit. However, one or two visits a year max, if you live there, I assume!!

Sally Redux

A nice haven of tranquility. LACMA is good too.

robin1234

I've never been to Irvine, but from the public transport map, buses and trains don't look too bad. A dozen or more bus routes in Irvine. I looked at one of them at random, route 175, 15 daily journeys in each direction, Monday to Friday. Trains look fairly frequent to several destinations. Is there some hidden problem with them (they all go to the wrong places etc.?)

robin1234

My son was raving about the cathedral in LA too. He's a bit of an ecclesiologist...

robin1234

He liked the LACMA too. All in all, sounds like heaven on earth, I'll have to visit one day.

Sally Redux

Haven't been there, unfortunately.

Right 😄

Beaverstate

The Cleveland National 'Forest'. Don't expect trees on anything but possibly some north facing canyons. Chaparral and sage are far more common.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...est%20pictures
California's idea of a forest tends to differ from the rest of the world.

Steerpike

Correction - "SOUTHERN California's idea of a forest ..."


Plenty of decent, 'real' forests in northern CA (that is, with lots of big trees), and over on the east side of the state (Sierras).

SanDiegogirl

There probably is no problem with the services as long as you live nearby to get to a bus/metro stop or main station.

Where I live we have a great bus service to get you into San Diego downtown. The only issue is that you have to get to the main transit stations to access this service - for this you get in your car and park it at the transit station - unless you can walk to said transit station which I can't.

robin1234

Flights went well, LHR-ATL-SNA, now he's ensconced in his Newport Beach resort hotel. If it was me, I'd be dead beat tomorrow (interview day) with jet lag, but he's 34 years younger...