Northern California - Moving to Cali! Need some help!

I'm moving to the Monterey/Marina area next week and will be looking for a place to live. My wife got a job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and were looking for places to live that will be an easy commute for her (5 to 12 miles) Any suggestions on where I could get a place for about $1200 a month, with space to set up a small bike work area that isn't crap, and will be easy to commute to Monterey?

I'm thinking Marina might be a good spot to look....any comments?

Thanks,
Tim

No ideas. Monterey's expensive. But wow, what a great job. Welcome.

+1 for the job. Great location to live.
I would get an Craigslist and see what is available, they have a Monterey section. Anything along the coast might be more expensive. You can find bigger and cheaper places inland such as in Salinas.

I would avoid Salinas...

Just scour the net and craigslist. Also, cruise around a lot, and get a feel for each area.

Maybe Seaside? A quick search looks like it might be doable.

is there a good bike path along the coast from marina/seaside into Monterey?

Both Marina and Seaside should have places in that price range and commute distance. You can occasionally find very small places in Pacific Grove or some parts of Monterey that would fit the bill, but they are rare and you are not likely to find them until you are already there and can just keep and eye out for them.

I agree with uspspro regarding Salinas, there are some nice neighborhoods there, but they have some gang-related crime problems and it's also outside of the commute range you want.

Welcome to California - land of the 12 month riding season!

is there a good bike path along the coast from marina/seaside into Monterey?

There is a dedicated multi-use path from Marina to Monterey although in both Seaside and Marina, parts of it put you onto streets for some sections. It takes you right to the Aquarium though. The only problem is that the Monterey section near the shoreline is often packed with tourists, strollers, dogs, rollerbladers, small kids and all sorts of hazards to cycling health. But it's a wide enough path that if you are paying attention and not trying to time-trial you can avoid trouble.

Alright! Thanks for the info everyone! I got my eyes on a couple places in Marina and Seaside.

I'd check on-line for the local bike shop(s) and contact them. I'm sure they probably know of some real estate agents that deal with rentals. Also do a search for real estate offices and contact them. Don't know the area, but I always contact the police agency and find out if there's areas I should stay away from due to........not so nice people!

Wow, from Minnesota to Monterey. As a native from Chicagoland, I can tell you right now, you're going to love the weather. Kudos to your wife for getting a job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Sea Otter Classic will also be a nice local event every year.

Wow, from Minnesota to Monterey. As a native from Chicagoland, I can tell you right now, you're going to love the weather. Kudos to your wife for getting a job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Sea Otter Classic will also be a nice local event every year.

I lived in MN for 16 years, then Chicago for 5, and I can confirm this. The weather here is amazing, even if it does rain whenever I look at my bike.

Look at your bike more often then, it doesn't rain that often at all! After a hundred or two's worth of rain/cold weather gear, I successfully made it through my first rainy season bike commuting-only with zero [real] problems after moving here late last summer. Welcome!

I'm moving to the Monterey/Marina area next week and will be looking for a place to live. My wife got a job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and were looking for places to live that will be an easy commute for her (5 to 12 miles) Any suggestions on where I could get a place for about $1200 a month, with space to set up a small bike work area that isn't crap, and will be easy to commute to Monterey?

I'm thinking Marina might be a good spot to look....any comments?

Thanks,
Tim

Welcome.
My daughter is just finishing up her first year at UC santa cruz and has been looking for off campus housing for next year. It's crazy in SC, maybe the south end of the bay is better.
It's a beautiful area. SC is pretty bike friendly not sure about Monterey.

Good luck

BTW, we don't call our state Cali out here. (Also, we don't say Frisco either:p)

... SC is pretty bike friendly not sure about Monterey.

SC is VERY bike friendly! Monterey is too, just not as much.


...(Also, we don't say Frisco either:p)
:lol:

Unless you lived here in the '60's. :p

The one that'll get you is the word Peninsula. North of Santa Cruz, it refers to San Francisco.
South of S.C., it usually refers to the Monterey Peninsula.

If you're interested, Mast Realty in Marina has 2-3 rentals on my street. (Sirena Del Mar Rd.)
Like Seaside, some parts are much better than others.

There is a new trail connecting Marina to Seaside/Monterey that keeps you much farther from the freeway. The old trail is just past the white line of the freeway at points.

Need help when you get here, I've lived here 40 of my 48 years. :D

831 521 3801

Welcome to town!