Sierra Madre, CA 5 Apartments for Rent

Known as "Wisteria City," the Sierra Madre seal is embossed with a drawing of a 500-foot "monster" vine. Another name commonly used for the city is "Village of the Foothills" due to its location in the beautifully scenic foothills of the San Gabriel Valley.

The city of Sierra Madre is located in the San Gabriel Valley foothills, to the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. To the west are Altadena and Pasadena, while to the southeast is Arcadia. The climate is said to be Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Approximately 11,000 people call Sierra Madre home, and they all love the great things Sierra Madre has to offer.

Moving to Sierra Madre

Unfortunately, not only is the cost of living high in Sierra Madre, but the cost of housing, including rental property prices, consistently ranks as being among the most expensive within the entire country. That said, don't be expecting to find many bargain prices when you search for apartments in Sierra Madre. But that doesn't mean bargains can't be found -- you'll just need to dig a little deeper.

If you choose to search for apartments in Sierra Madre, you will not find a huge range of pet friendly apartments or places with paid utilities. It's achievable, yes, but you may have to search for a bit. The apartments at West Sierra Madre Blvd allow cats, but that's about it. Try to sneak your pet hamster in and you'll face instant eviction by the authorities. Well, maybe not.

How long will it take to find a rental that you really like? Well, that's down to you really. If you're particularly pedantic, then it may take months. However, for most, it's not overly difficult to find the perfect pad, and it's wise to give it about four weeks of searching time prior to your planned date for relocation to the area.

Speaking of relocating, it's California so any time of the year you make your move should be safe. It may be hotter in the summers since it is Southern California, but nothing that a nice, cold lemonade won't fix at the end of the day.

Sierra Madre Neighborhoods

Sierra Madre is a super place to live if you enjoy plenty of local amenities close to hand. It's also well known for its' "high-falutin'" living standards, so do be prepared to pay substantially for an apartment rental.

Sierra Madre: This little neighborhood is close to Mary's Market and Sierra Vista Park. It's common to find white picket fences and cute front lawns in this neighborhood.

North Lima Street: Can you say amenities? This area has three banks (Bank of America, Chase, and Bank of the West, all of which are located on West Sierra Madre Blvd), two gas stations, two grocery stores and no less than 19 restaurants, North Lima St is ideal for those who like to have plenty of local amenities right on their doorstep.

West Laurel Avenue: With a walk score of 71 from 100, West Laurel Ave boasts six schools within close proximity. Furthermore, there are three banks, two gas stations, two grocery stores (E. Waldo Ward & Son, an old-time delicatessen and well worthy of a visit, and Albertson's Food & Drug]), together with some 19 restaurants within easy walking distance.

Suffolk Avenue: It seems like no matter where you live, you'll plenty of amenities nearby! Here you'll find one grocery store, two gas stations, three banks and 18 restaurants -- including Monsieur Crepe on Sierra Madre Boulevard, and Sierra Brigante, also on Sierra Madre Boulevard -- and you've found yourself an excellent location to reside!

Living in Sierra Madre

The city is served by the 268 and 487 Metro Local bus lines. However, Sierra Madre possesses an area of only three square miles, and as such, for those who wish to remain within the confines of the town, it's really easy and also pleasurable to take a gentle stroll around while enjoying the many unique sites and the culture of the place. Furthermore, there are quite a number of dedicated cycling routes around the city, which makes for a fast, healthy way to get around.

Downtown Sierra Madre consists mainly of shops, cafes, and small restaurants. It's certainly worth checking out E. Waldo Ward & Son on East Highland Avenue. This small establishment has been making specialty jams, jellies, syrups, gourmets, and olives, all from the produce gained in its own citrus and olive groves. Add that to the fact that the company was founded more than 120 years ago, and you've got a real little gem on your hands!

To the north and northeastern parts of the city, you'll find the Lower and Upper Sierra Madre Canyons, which are small communities noted for their beautiful narrowly winding roadways, their lush vegetation, and also the views over the San Gabriel Valley. Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park, the entrance to which is on West Carter Ave, makes for a popular gateway to the Angeles Forest, where you'll find plenty of activities to occupy yourself with, including hiking trails, picnicking areas and many stunning vistas stretching all the way over to the Pacific Ocean. Bailey Canyon Park, the smaller of the two parks, offers the trailhead for a couple of major hiking trails that traverse the Sierra Madre Wilderness. The trails are referred to as the Canyon View Nature Trail and the Live Oak Nature Trail.

If the mere thought of hiking in the San Gabriel Valley foothills is helping to improve your appetite, then there are a number of excellent dining opportunities to greet you in the small city of Sierra Madre. Mother Moo Creamery Restaurant on Kersting Crt does the finest ice cream in town. Nevertheless, ice cream is not for everyone, so let's move along swiftly to Woodland Drive, where you'll find Mary's Market Restaurant, a delicatessen which has been described as being small, funky and friendly and "a hidden gem of a find!" That should give you an idea as to what you're in for should you pay a visit. As you'd expect, Monsieur Crepe on Sierra Madre Blvd serves up French cuisine to its hungry clientele, day in and day out: ooh-la-la!