Relocating to Palmdale/Lancaster area, anyone from around there? i'm from the east coast and have never been there

[ajtyeh]

Yes, i know the area is in the desert. I got a job at Edwards Air Force Base and will be relocating there next tuesday. Anyone from around there, and if you are any hints on good places to go/eat/see, any good apartment dwellings or some tips about the area that only a local would know?

I'm from the east coast and have never lived in the west coast. i've visited LA 6-7 times in the last year or so but i havnt been to palmdale/lancaster area. Thanks for any advice. Thanks!

 

[JeepinEd]

I live in Quartz Hill, which is technically part of Lancaster.

When you move here, make sure you find a place on the West side. The further west you go, the better. The area I live in is one of the better areas in Lancaster and we love it. Although it has grown quite a bit in the last few years, it still has a bit of a small town feel to it. No traffic jams, people are nice, etc. Property is cheap here, especially now. Don't rent an apartment. You should either buy a house or rent one. During the real estate bubble, people were buying 2-3 houses at a time and now they are dying to rent them or sell them. Besides, most apartment buildings are in...not so good areas.

Weather wise, we have two short periods of nice weather, Spring and Fall. Most of the time, it's either Africa hot, or Siberia cold (not much snow, though). Oh, and it's always windy. You get used to it, though, and after a while it's not bad at all.

The neighboring city of Palmdale has most of the decent restaurants. Not much as far as high end restaurants, but the typical Chilli's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc. The theaters are good. I'm married, so don't know much about the night/club/party scene. If you're into four wheeling, Dirt bikes or ATV's, this place is great. If you like to ski, Mountain High is about 1 hour away and Big Bear is about 2 hours away. Los Angeles and the beach are less than 1.5 hours away, although with L.A.'s absolutely shitty traffic, it's taken me over 3 hours to get there.

I'll be at Edwards this Saturday checking out the air show. Good luck on your move. P.M. me if you have any questions.

Ed

 

[OCGuy]

Do you plan on cooking meth?

 

[her209]

Yeah, its the meth capital.

 

[shortylickens]

I lived in Ridgecrest for a few years, went to Palmdale and Lancaster many times. In my opinion theres more meth out in the middle of the desert.

Anyway, its otherwise a nice area and the only way I could tolerate southern California. Easy access to Vegas if thats your thing.

 

[ajtyeh]

Originally posted by: JeepinEd
I live in Quartz Hill, which is technically part of Lancaster.

When you move here, make sure you find a place on the West side. The further west you go, the better. The area I live in is one of the better areas in Lancaster and we love it. Although it has grown quite a bit in the last few years, it still has a bit of a small town feel to it. No traffic jams, people are nice, etc. Property is cheap here, especially now. Don't rent an apartment. You should either buy a house or rent one. During the real estate bubble, people were buying 2-3 houses at a time and now they are dying to rent them or sell them. Besides, most apartment buildings are in...not so good areas.

Weather wise, we have two short periods of nice weather, Spring and Fall. Most of the time, it's either Africa hot, or Siberia cold (not much snow, though). Oh, and it's always windy. You get used to it, though, and after a while it's not bad at all.

The neighboring city of Palmdale has most of the decent restaurants. Not much as far as high end restaurants, but the typical Chilli's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc. The theaters are good. I'm married, so don't know much about the night/club/party scene. If you're into four wheeling, Dirt bikes or ATV's, this place is great. If you like to ski, Mountain High is about 1 hour away and Big Bear is about 2 hours away. Los Angeles and the beach are less than 1.5 hours away, although with L.A.'s absolutely shitty traffic, it's taken me over 3 hours to get there.

I'll be at Edwards this Saturday checking out the air show. Good luck on your move. P.M. me if you have any questions.

Ed

Ed,
Thanks for being so informational and helpful. It is interesting you noted to live in the west side because for some reason, when i was looking for places to rent, i noticed that the west side was more pricey, and that usually means its a "nicer" area. so go figure.


and the comments about meth, i havnt even ever smoked a cig or a blunt in my life. i just dont care for it.

 

[Ns1]

Just end yourself now as there is nothing but sticks in the area

 

[OCGuy]

Make sure you only smoke it, not slam it. Only losers slam.


But if you have to, remember this: "Between the toes, nobody knows!"

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: OCguy
Do you plan on cooking meth?

Oh man I was SOOOOO coming in here to post something to this effect....

 

[JeepinEd]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Just end yourself now as there is nothing but sticks in the area

You are sooooooo wrong. We also have sand and Joshua trees :disgust:

 

[JeepinEd]

Originally posted by: ajtyeh

Originally posted by: JeepinEd
I live in Quartz Hill, which is technically part of Lancaster.

When you move here, make sure you find a place on the West side. The further west you go, the better. The area I live in is one of the better areas in Lancaster and we love it. Although it has grown quite a bit in the last few years, it still has a bit of a small town feel to it. No traffic jams, people are nice, etc. Property is cheap here, especially now. Don't rent an apartment. You should either buy a house or rent one. During the real estate bubble, people were buying 2-3 houses at a time and now they are dying to rent them or sell them. Besides, most apartment buildings are in...not so good areas.

Weather wise, we have two short periods of nice weather, Spring and Fall. Most of the time, it's either Africa hot, or Siberia cold (not much snow, though). Oh, and it's always windy. You get used to it, though, and after a while it's not bad at all.

The neighboring city of Palmdale has most of the decent restaurants. Not much as far as high end restaurants, but the typical Chilli's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc. The theaters are good. I'm married, so don't know much about the night/club/party scene. If you're into four wheeling, Dirt bikes or ATV's, this place is great. If you like to ski, Mountain High is about 1 hour away and Big Bear is about 2 hours away. Los Angeles and the beach are less than 1.5 hours away, although with L.A.'s absolutely shitty traffic, it's taken me over 3 hours to get there.

I'll be at Edwards this Saturday checking out the air show. Good luck on your move. P.M. me if you have any questions.

Ed

Ed,
Thanks for being so informational and helpful. It is interesting you noted to live in the west side because for some reason, when i was looking for places to rent, i noticed that the west side was more pricey, and that usually means its a "nicer" area. so go figure.


and the comments about meth, i havnt even ever smoked a cig or a blunt in my life. i just dont care for it.

The east side is where the crime is. This is why property is cheaper there.
My wife and I moved to Quartz Hill because of the neighborhood and property prices. It took a little getting used to, but we now hate going into L.A. It's a whole different world.

The Meth thing was really bad in the 80's and early 90's. When property prices got out of hand in L.A. there was a large influx of middle and upper middle class families. The police department has now become one of the top agencies in CA when it comes to cracking down on gangs and drugs.

 

[ajtyeh]

anyone else from around there? are there malls with stores like banana republic and standard best buys/fry's? and im guessing theres no local airport right? i couldnt find it on google.

 

[BEL6772]

I grew up there and still have friends in the area, though I haven't visited for several years now.

There is a mall there, and there is a Best Buy ... not sure about Fry's.

There are several local airports. Fox Field, Rosamond Skypark, and the Mojave Airport are all in the area. I don't think any of them currently provide commercial passenger services, though.

Finding a place in Mojave will seriously cut your daily commute to Edwards and it would be cheaper, but it will move you away from the malls, chain stores, and nice hospitals. Plus the wind in Lancaster/Palmdale is tame compared to what you'd get in Mojave.

Good luck with your move and new job!!