Paradise 7 months per year
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7/7/2016
My wife and I have lived in La Quinta, CA for 16 years. Over these years we've seen a tremendous amount of development, which on the one hand has improved shopping and amenities, and on the other hand worsened the traffic.
The best thing about La Quinta is the October through April weather, which is like paradise. Warm and dry. In fact, we probably average a humidity of around 20 to 25. It can be 85 degrees with a humidity of 20, and that's a great day. To live here, however, you must be able to tolerate very hot summers. From May though September, it's rough. We get a lot of days over 100 degrees, and quite a few over 110. Every summer we get a few days that are 115 to 120, and that's when the overnight lows drop only to 88. I'ts brutal. You are basically stuck indoors, although you can always go out to restaurants, movies, and shopping, as there is never any danger on the road, such as in snow and rain climates. We barely get any rain here -- about 6 or 7 inches per year.
Overall, the city of La Quinta could be described as resort living. The best seven months really spoil you. Many beautiful golf courses and country club homes. And being a relatively new city, all utilities are underground. Very pretty landscape surrounded by tall mountains. Many people have winter homes here, as the winters are almost non-existent. A cold winter day is 60 degrees and sunny.
Many who live here find a way to get away during the hot months. If you can do that, it's paradise. Home prices range from about $350k to well over $1 million. Two hour 20 minute drive to L.A or San Diego. La Quinta has a population of about 42,000, and it's one of several cities in a valley of 130,000. The architecture is mainly early California Spanish. All the newer homes have very nice open floor plans. Many home communities are walled and private. Gardening and maid services are abundantly available. The city is quiet, no late night life.
Palm Springs is 25 minutes away, and nearby Palm Desert, with it's fancy El Paseo street, features upscale shopping and fine restaurants. All in all, a very nice place to live, especially if you can escape during the summer.
Richard | La Quinta, CA