<p>My kiddo is considering a program that is housed at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA.</p>
<p>Is it possible to walk around town, go to coffee shops, restaurants, whatever, without a car?</p>
<p>Is there public transportation to a beach?</p>
<p>Vanguard is located across the street from the Orange County Fair Grounds, so they’ll be plenty of evening entertainment in the summer. Vanguard is also located next to City Hall. But, it’s not a typical downtown per se. Costa Mesa has several primary streets, none of which are adjacent to City Hall/Vanguard.</p>
<p>Yes, s/he can take a bus to Newport Beach & Newport Pier. It runs down Fairview Road, which is west of Vanguard a few blocks.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.octa.net/pdf/mar08/route047.pdf[/url]”>http://www.octa.net/pdf/mar08/route047.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.octa.net/pdf/mar08/route047.pdf[/url]”>http://www.octa.net/pdf/mar08/route047.pdf</a></p>
<p>I think your kiddo would be much happier with a car if you can swing it. Orange County is huge and there’s a lot to do, and the mass transit is not all that terrific. Having lived here for 19 years (the OC) I can honestly say that none of us have ever used a bus to go anywhere. And there’s not a lot of entertainment in that area.</p>
<p>I’ve been using the local bus system and am fine with it. My only complaint is that it takes forever to go anywhere and you really need to plan your schedule well in order to go places. However it can be done and I find that Google Transit has been very helpful in giving me bus routes to various destinations and such.</p>
<p>I would say plan double the time to go anywhere on a bus vs car. I recall taking a bus to the beach in middle school-15-20 miles on the bus at the age of 13-14, not sure I would let my middle schooler do that today.</p>
<p>I think one CAN live in OC w/o a car, but it is tough. You might look for the mom from Buffalo (paying3tuitions??) who has a kid at Chapman with no car for some recent inside tips</p>
<p>My brother- and sister-in-law are both blind, and live in Orange. They get around by bus, but they are EXPERTS at planning trips. Blind people really memorize schedules. Costa Mesa without a car isn’t something I would want to do, but you could do it – and as another poster wrote, the beach is a straight shot down Newport Avenue.</p>
<p>Some colleges run a campus shuttle to shopping centers, metro rail stations, Target, etc. Ask if they have something like that. </p>
<p>At S’s school, they don’t have one, but the can use their student id to ride the local bus for free.</p>
<p>Costa Mesa isn’t really a “college town”, I know there’s a Starbucks around, but I doubt one can walk to there from the campus. One thing to remember is that everything in Orange County is really not walkable. Sure, it is close if one has a car, but to walk there would probably take 20-30 minutes. </p>
<p>There are fast food restaurants close by the school, but nothing that’s full-service, at least I never notice it when I drive by (I live about 20 minutes away from Vanguard)…</p>
<p>If you want to use the bus to get to Newport Beach, I’d say take the 47 bus, it goes straight down Fairview Ave (which is right off Fair Dr) to Newport Pier. </p>
<p>Anything else you need feel free to ask or PM me.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in Orange County for 20+ years. She’ll need a car. Vanguard is in a nice, safe location, though.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who replied. The program is just a few weeks in the summer, so a car won’t be in the cards.</p>
<p>There will be a chaperone and a van to take them to and from classes, and they will do some activities as a group, but I wanted to hear what was possible to do independently – it is great to hear that the beach is a straight shot with the bus, also that there may be something cooking right across the street at the fairgrounds.</p>
<p>Make sure the kiddo stops by TK Burgers (near the Newport Pier). It’s an old beach hole-in-the-wall, but wonderful!</p>
<p>Is Vanguard the college formerly known as Southern California College?</p>
<p>WashDad – per their web site, yes, it is.</p>
<p>Get a “philly” sandwish at Perry’s by the pier, too</p>
<p>Hope she will be there during the Orange County Fair! There is music, food, rides, shopping, and a bazillion other things to do at the fair, which will all be within walking distance from Vanguard. (BTW, I think the old name was Southern California Christian College)</p>
<p>I live in Costa Mesa and you defiantly need a car. Public transportation is terrible and to get to Newport Beach or anywhere else you need a car.</p>
<p>I’d have to admit that a car would be much easier for travel, however without a car myself and being reliant on the bus system is still possible. As long as you live relatively close to campus in which you do not need a car to commute to school, it should be doable. Obviously it just takes quite a bit longer to get to places but the savings are worth it. The only reason I would say a car is necessary is if you need to commute to work or school; otherwise if it’s more a luxury it can be avoided.</p>
<p>This is from a college student’s perspective. I don’t have a car, so if I need to find entertainment I rely on the bus. Grocery shopping becomes a bit more difficult and requires frequent trips but can be done.</p>
<p>Car definitely.</p>
<p>If it is only a summer program, you can make it work, four years of UG would be tougher</p>