Vista, California

Vista is suburban/rural but don't let that fool you, the Downtown area has some pretty hip spots on the rise (cool record shop next to a cool bakery, next to vintage stores), and they even have a vegan popup at a hard kombucha brewpub! Not sure even Brooklyn has that. If you're looking for a suburban spot for raising the kiddos but craving some arts culture, a brewpub scene, and a cool, diverse population then check out out Vista.

Maybe this is silly, given the weather in the San Diego area is often considered the best on the planet, but many people move to the area and find Vista is different. It's north of San Diego and 7 miles or so inland from the beach. Those 7 miles make a difference in climate. It's ~10 degrees hotter in summers than the beach towns and definitely colder in the winters, with no cloud coverage to be had. Depending on your pov those temps can be a plus or a minus but just know it going in.

As we noted, Vista is a suburb of San Diego but it has its own rising downtown social and arts scene. An overwhelming sentiment expressed by locals is that the social scene of Vista is getting better all the time. This is largely driven by the fact Downton Vista is an Opportunity Zone receiving plenty of investment from individuals and corporations. Growth in Downtown is coming through establishing an Arts & Culture District, the buildout of mixed used environments for housing, retail and recreation, growth in downtown parks and developing plenty of pedestrian and bike trails networks throughout town. Downtown is where the action is in Vista and it is the center of community activity. This includes plenty of new restaurants, bars and cafes in the Vista Village mixed use center, and throughout the Downtown area. It also means the Belching Beaver Brewery, one of the most beloved microbreweries we’ve seen in all our travels.

Outside of the social and community scene Downtown, Vista is a solid suburban city, with plenty of parks for the kiddos and doggos to play as well as some excellent outdoor experiences for the nature-inclined including: the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, The Rancho Guajome Adobe and the Brengle Terrace Park which has an Amphitheater, Auditorium, Gym, Senior Center, and pretty much every possible recreation space(yes, even pickleball) available. You’re also just 7 miles to the beach if you make Vista your home.