The author's posts are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of Movoto.
Despite the park being located just outside Santa Clarita city limits, Santa Claritans know that Six Flags Magic Mountain is their claim to fame. As one of the city's largest employers, and the best place in town to raise your pulse, you'd be hard pressed to find a Santa Claritan who isn't an employee, ex-employee or at the very least, a season pass holder.
Families flock to Santa Clarita for the comfort and safety of good old fashioned suburbia. With a median age of 35, and a running title as one of California's safest cities, there's hardly a better place to settle down and raise little Sally and Billy Jr. According to the 2010 US Census nearly 75 percent of the total households in Santa Clarita were family households, making it no surprise that a town mayor once declared the city a "baby factory."
Close proximity to both surf and snow means Santa Claritans never have to travel far for their favorite outdoor adventure. During the summer months, a brief one-hour ride on the Beach Bus will land residents on some of California's hottest beaches (literally and figuratively). Come wintertime, a quick two-hour drive stands between Santa Claritans and the nearest ski resort. Wedged between the Santa Susana and San Gabriel mountain ranges, there's always a hike to conquer or a bike trail to follow, and Santa Claritans know and love them all...
Locals claim the Santa Clarita Valley is the Southern California gateway to wine country. Whether this is true or not, Santa Claritans certainly do love their vino. Local wineries like Reyes Winery and Pulchella Winery have tasting rooms in the city and Wine 661 and Valencia Wine Company are great places to stop and have a glass (or three) with friends. Ranging from amateur vintners to retired soccer moms, Santa Claritans stand united as wine enthusiasts, so no one misses the annual Santa Clarita Wine Fest, a festival worth lifting your glass to!
With its choice location on the outer edge of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita was practically destined for business success. In the past, it's been named LA County's "Most Business-Friendly City," with local incentive programs and pro-business infrastructure leading the way. Toss in the area's wealth of families, film production and a trickle of tourism, and Santa Clarita is the business man's best friend.
The true origin of California's Gold Rush, Santa Clarita has never forgotten its claim to the Old West. Santa Claritans love to revisit their pioneer roots, with a wealth of shoot-em-up places like Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio where the majority of your favorite Western films were made. There's even an annual Cowboy Festival where the dusty streets come to life with plenty of cowboy hats, boots and tumbleweeds.
Although the high number of celebrities and camera crews that roll through Santa Clarita have earned it the title of "Hollywood North," and it's home to actors, TV shows and commercial shoots alike. Plus, the California Institute of the Arts and Hollywood overflow offer Santa Claritans a coveted taste of stardom.
The ever present Southern Californian traffic does a real number on the Santa Clarita nightlife. Most Santa Claritans make the daily commute to Los Angeles for work, and get caught in the daily gridlock on the way back. By the time they arrive home, options are pretty much limited to family time or lingering at the nearby Westfield Valencia Town Center Mall. But it's not really a problem for most Santa Claritans, after all, settling down is what they moved here for.
As of 2011, Santa Clarita's median household income was over $20,000 more than the median for all of California, as was the median home value. Relative to the rest of the U.S., Santa Claritans aren't just economically stable, they're rolling in it!
Santa Claritans enjoy their fair share of breakfast joints, but the most celebrated ones specialize in hearty old-fashioned, homestyle breakfasts. Places like Saugus Café, which has been a local secret since 1886, specializes in morning classics drenched in syrup or gravy, while the Half Way House, looks, feels and tastes like a 1930s saloon. Santa Claritans love their history, so why not start the morning with it?
