La Palma, CA 152 Apartments for Rent

To avoid annexation by the neighboring city of Buena Park in 1955, local dairy farmers incorporated their area as Dairyland. That moniker stuck until cow pastures gave way to suburban plots. In 1965, residents voted to change their city name to La Palma.

Don't tell anyone that La Palma lies only 15 minutes from Disneyland, or that on most weekends and summer, you'll be putting up visitors who want to use your place as a base for the Happiest Place on Earth. Tell them instead that the city is a pleasant suburb of Los Angeles, located in northern Orange County, with parks, schools, and access to a major freeway. Then people will come to see you, maybe only once in a while.

Moving to La Palma

For traditional complexes, you get less than six choices for rental apartments in La Palma. Because the area is so small, there are no real distinct neighborhoods; however, this should not deter your search to find apartments. There are still plenty of great places to live in La Palma -- and you may learn to love the coziness of the city (and meet some awesome new neighbors!).

Complexes typically include parking because you need a car to get around the area. If you're in no hurry, you can always take the bus, which is run by the Orange County Transportation Authority. The closest commuter train station is in neighboring Buena Park, and, if you must fly, Long Beach Airport is just seven miles away.

Whether you're filling your rental apt application online or in person, to make the process go faster when you go for your site visit, bring in documentation beyond your picture ID. Pay stubs prove that you're employed, a checkbook shows where you bank, and letters of recommendation from previous landlords can bump you up the acceptance ladder. If you want to know what the apartment managers are going to find out about your finances, order a free credit report.

Living in La Palma

The city is sliced in half by a central greenway that runs from east to west, and continues to neighboring cities. This 1.2-mile stretch of grass has a paved pathway that meanders throughout, which is perfect if you like to take a morning jog. Dog waste stations mean Fido can come along and not earn the scorn of neighbors. The catch: The right-of-way is used by the electric company to plant its giant metal transmission towers.

If you want less electrically charged recreation, head for Central Park, the biggest in the city. You can play a few games in the lighted soccer and softball fields, score a match in two lighted tennis courts, or shoot night hoops in three lighted basketball courts. Grill some hotdogs on the fixed barbecues and chow down at a picnic table.

And did we already mention the crazy close proximity to Disneyland? Oh wait, we did. So to celebrate the inner kid in all of us, get out to the Magic Kingdom and take a spin in a Mad Tea Party teacup or discover your inner kid adventurer in Indiana Jones' Big Thunder Mountain Railroad mine car. Plus, since you'll be so close (and the weather's always perfect), you can find out when to skip the rush and let your childhood geek run wild!

The city celebrates its heritage during La Palma Days, which features a beauty pageant, parade, and festival with food and entertainment. During the Fourth of July, a Fitness Run for Fun starts with a pancake breakfast before having you race to the entertainment at the finish line. The Farmer's Market happens every first and third Fridays at the Kaiser Permanente on Centerpointe Drive.