Not for everyone
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6/27/2014
Hidden Meadows is great, for a certain type of person. I have some mixed feelings about it, so I will try to offer some perspective.
This area is not really a town, but an unincorporated community just north of Escondido. You have to drive about 2 miles up a fairly steep incline (Mountain Meadow Rd) after the freeway exit to get to the entry to the community. This means its pretty insular, and indeed, few people in the greater San Diego area even know it exists. This provides a general feeling of safety and security. My wife says she feels more comfortable being home alone than she has in the past. There are no sketchy people here. The vagrants would starve here -- there is nowhere to beg.
There is one convenient store in the community, which also has a deli and pizza oven. The pizza and sandwiches are damn good. I love this place, and not just because it is close. The food is really good. The other stuff (snacks, beer, necessities) are pricey and often times near expiration. But hey, it might be better than driving down the hill into town. Beside the convenience store, there is also the golf course and country club which apparently has a bar and grill (but I have never been there). Most trips to town require about 20+ mile round trips, plan accordingly or you will be filling your tank frequently. The hills really help burn up fuel. This is a con for me.
The homes in the area are well-kept, tend to be on the large side and though the community is older (older houses, older residents, etc.) everything still feels as sterile as the newest HOA developments (with the exception that not every house looks the same.) If this is your thing, you might like it, if not then you will be like me. There is an HOA for most residents, which includes access to a community center, pool (Late May through October) and tennis courts. Aside from a few houses, most homes are built on the side of or top of a hill. I mention this, because it has its challenges for those that are not that fit, or have other health problems. The schools that serve this are the best in Escondido, but be prepared to drive between 6-10 miles to drop your kids off every morning and pick them up every afternoon. Also, there is no public transportation, other than the dial-a-ride service offered by North County Transit. Bicycling into town should be done only by the bravest of lions, as the hill in and out is daunting. I would prefer to be able to ride my bike into town and have the option of public transit, but alas, I am not a very seasoned bicyclist and the population here just isn't enough to justify a bus stop.
The climate is similar to Escondido; typically in the 75-90F range. We get an occasional ocean breeze through the canyon. It does get into the low 100's at times, so be prepared to fire up the air conditioner. In the winter, due to the higher altitude, we had some sub-freezing nights for a couple of weeks in December. I would like a more coastal climate, so this is a big downside for me.
What I love about this place, is that it is quiet and feels like the country. You cannot hear the freeway or the road at night. When the weather is clear and you can admire the stars at night (low light pollution here). There is wildlife: deer, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, snakes, scorpions (found one in my house!), bats, spiders, flying insects of most kinds (but no mosquitoes!) and lizards. This is fun for the kids, and I like like it. Some don't, and that's okay; Hidden Meadows probably isn't for you.
Brett | Oceanside, CA