Trabuco Canyon

In the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in Rancho Santa Margarita lies the master-planned community of Las Flores. “It’s very clean, fairly new and very safe, as well,” says Audra Pimatukarnta, a local librarian at the Orange County Library – Rancho Santa Margarita Branch. Las Flores has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, which is significantly lower than the national average of 4. This unincorporated suburb in South Orange County mainly attracts families and features many resort-like amenities. Las Flores consists of 15 neighborhoods, three recreational spaces with patios, a pool, sports courts and over 1,600 homes. “It’s really thriving right now for people that want to live in a calm and peaceful environment with close access to North Orange County for work,” Pimatukarnta says. Properties have nearby trails and striking Saddleback Valley views that offer a sense of privacy and seclusion from other parts of Trabuco Canyon. Oak Tree Park’s over-100-year-old trees provide shade over its many facilities, including outdoor fitness equipment, a pool and playground. Starlight is another park with a playground and tennis courts. These outdoor spaces are reserved only for residents and sit within walking distance of most properties. Golf enthusiasts can join Tijeras Creek Golf Club about 2 miles away, whose 16th hole was voted one of the best 18 in Orange County. For a more wilderness-inspired challenge, residents can venture onto one of the area’s mountain biking and hiking trails. Waterworks, Trabuco and Las Flores Ridge trails meander through Rancho Santa Margarita and are easily accessible from the neighborhood. Las Flores is served by Capistrano Unified Schools, which offers school choice. Las Flores’ zoned options are very highly rated, bringing in students from all over the district. Children can begin at Las Flores Elementary and Middle Schools, which both score A grades on Niche. Tesoro High has an A-plus rating and earns a spot on Niche’s top 100 list of best high schools for athletics and academics in California. The Las Flores Homeowners Association organizes multiple events throughout the year. One of the most popular is the annual Snow Day, where families can sled and play in the artificial snow under the California sun. Other unique activities include movie nights and live music at the Oak Tree Park and pool. Events catered to adults, such as Oktoberfest and Havana Nights, offer various food and alcohol tastings. Conveniently located near the intersection of Oso and Antonio parkways, Plaza de Las Flores has fast-food options and a variety of businesses, including Mesa Foods and Liquors, a postal service and a motorcycle repair shop. The plaza also features popular sit-down dining spots, such as family-owned neighborhood restaurant, Cosmo’s Italian Kitchen, and Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors. Residents can shop for groceries at Albertsons and Skater Bros., under 3 miles away, or at Trader Joe’s and Ralphs, about 4 miles away. There are about 150 storefronts, from Nordstrom and Macy’s to Dick’s Sporting Goods, under 5 miles away at The Shops at Mission Viejo. Shoppers also head to Mission Viejo for Target, Amazon Fresh and The Home Depot. Many Las Flores properties were built from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, and sizes range from compact condos to large single-family homes. Two-bedroom houses can start around $650,000, and five-bedroom homes can climb up to about $2 million. Spanish Revival influences are apparent in the community’s architecture, with distinctive clay tile roofing and stucco or adobe-style exteriors. Homes often include other details, such as plantation shutters and balconettes. Though lots are often situated closely together, many houses have their own backyard pools and other perks, such as cul-de-sac privacy, gazebos and custom landscaping. Streets tend to feature sidewalks, increasing the walkability of the area, but most residents get around by car. The 5 is about 3 miles to the west, which leads commuters about 10 miles toward the Pacific Coast Highway. Other major parkways, such as Oso and Antonio, intersect in the neighborhood. Las Flores is about 53 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles and 26 from Anaheim via the 5. The closest major airport is about 17 miles away at John Wayne Airport in Irvine. Residents often head 3 to 4 miles away to Ladera Ranch and Mission Viejo for urgent care and general hospitals.