Not one but three parks adjoin Winter Gardens for plenty of outdoor activities. The parks are Northcote, Padre Dam and Shadow Hills.
In San Diego County, Winter Gardens is a small community -- a Census Designated Place, actually -- with a population of 20,631 according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The community is ideally situated between I-8 and the San Vicente Freeway and near such recreational hubs as Lake Jennings and Lindo Lake, and the Cleveland National Forest.
Moving to Town
This location often has a moderate number of rentals that becomes available on a regular basis. Even with this regularly replenished market, you should still give yourself about a month to find places to rent. You can find an apartment rental such as a 2 bedroom apartment or rental condos in this suburban community. As always, you can search for listings online or by looking in the local newspaper and larger regional newspapers. You may find, however, that your best bet for finding the most viable dwelling is to walk or drive the streets of the Winter Gardens looking for rental properties. This way you'll also know what area of the community is going to be the best fit for you. When you find what you're looking for, make sure you have what your future landlord will be looking for, too -- credit report, identification, and just in case he or she is especially stringent, copies of your most recent bank statements.
You'll want a car if you live here. Most residents commute between 15 and 30 minutes to work, and use a private vehicle to do so. While public transportation is available in the area, it is limited and not use by most as their primary mode of transportation.
Neighborhoods
With its cozy population, Winter Gardens is a pleasantly small community near Santee and about an hour northeast of San Diego. As such, Winter Gardens doesn't have its own neighborhoods and could actually be considered a neighborhood of Lakeside. Near pretty Lindo Lake and just off the San Vicente Freeway (Highway 67) for convenient commuting, Winter Gardens is also close to plenty of spacious park land including Padre Dam and Northcote parks offering walking, biking and just plain relaxing opportunities. Suburban in location but urban by density, Winter Gardens housing consists primarily of small to medium single family homes and apartment complexes. You'll find an even mix of owners and renters in properties built primarily within the last 40 years.
Inland from the Sea
Winter Gardens is located in inland San Diego County where you'll find access to major recreation areas such as the pristine San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. You'll enjoy hiking and exploring this beautiful area spread out on more than 50,000 acres. Spend the day in the refuge, or even the night since there are camping opportunities on site as well.
Close to Winter Gardens is Interstate 8, which will lead you out of California and into Arizona if you like, or -- if you head west -- straight to the Pacific Ocean and its beaches where you can surf, kayak or dolphin watch.
As part of the greater Lakeside area, you'll find plenty of ponds, streams and, yes, no fooling you, lakes to stroll alongside, boat or fish.
Everybody loves a drive-in movie theater, right? While these old-time theaters might be a dying breed, there are still a few still operating. Just a few minutes away in Santee, you'll find one that still shows first-run films year-round.