Bluereef Dr, Huntington Beach

My girlfriend lives with her two kids in a small, tidy neighborhood of 1960’s era, two and three bedroom townhomes. The neighborhood is a very eclectic composition of young families, young couples, empty nesters and retirees. A park, right across the street from her home is a magnet for the neighborhood kids, dog walkers and runners. The three large pools, spaced evenly throughout this relatively small community, are never too crowded and there always seems to be a tennis court open.

Located just 2 miles from the beach, right down Brookhurst Ave, hardly a weekend goes by when we don’t pack a light picnic and head out for a ride into the middle of Surf City. We’ve made a ritual of making the new Wahoo’s shack on the beach trail and regular stop before we continue up past the pier and onto Bolsa Chica Regional Park or, as far as Seal Beach.

Trader Joes, about a quarter mile away, get’s most of her business, however, she may trek out to any number of major grocery stores located within a couple of miles of her home. The nearby 5 Points Plaza meets most of her everyday shopping needs.

One reason why she will probably never move is the quality of the schools that are within walking distance. The elementary and middle schools her kids attend are consistently among the highest ranked in the city and Edison High School an easy bike ride away, is also a great institution.