Shopping Mall Palm Springs

i want to move to california but i don’t really know where the best places are, any advice?

we are a family of four, 2 teenage daughters aged 16 and 14 with pets.
average income and my father is a maintenance engineer.
we are looking for a family house, no apartments or condos.
we want a lively area, with good shopping centres (malls), near a beach.
we live in gloomy old england a fancy a change so it would be very good for the weather to be nice and sunny.
The area has to be quite safe, have good schools and many opportunities for the myself and my sister to make a good career.
obviously being teenagers our favourite places to go are Los angeles, beverly hills, san francisco, palm springs and all of the main places you see on tv, Malibu is a particular favourite.
could anyone just tell us what there like to live in and recommend any good areas.
It would be helpful if anyone could give us an idea of housing prices and recommend any good estate agents and schools.
Thank you.

I think L.A. would be excellent for you! There are plenty of nice areas. Get a Frommer’s Los Angeles 2010 travel guide from your local bookstore. Read about the various parts of the city and check out the websites listed. Learn which parts of the city are which.

The San Fermamdo Valley is a good area with lots of families, good schools, shopping,paeks, etc. A house there will begin around $4 to 5 hundred thousand and go up, depending on the area. Of course, renting is always an option.

Santa Monica, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, all good areas. Glendale, too.

Malibu is very pricey, so many rich and famous own homes there.. A lot of Los Angelenos go there just for the weekend.

Do your research. There’s plenty of information online…..and you can write to the Chambers of Commerce.

Good luck!

Travelblog: The Smoke Tree Commons Shopping Center in Palm Springs CA