Mecca was featured in the 1966 film The Wild Angels and inspired the outlaw biker genre of movies three years before Easy Rider.
Mecca, California is a census designated place with a rough population of around 8,500 people. This place is thriving and has hot appeal! Really hot to be exact -- the summer temperatures average over 100 degrees for four months of the year! Even winter is hot with an average temperature of the mid-70s. You can ditch your winter clothing when you move to Mecca!
Moving to Mecca
You are going to find the standards for securing an apartment in Mecca are the same here, too. A security deposit along with a pet deposit and first and last month's rent are usually required. All of that is typical. You will need deposits to turn on the utilities but that is often done online so you don't need a copy of your lease or rental agreement. When renting an apartment you can expect to undergo a basic application process and a credit check. The credit check may or may not be part of the process when renting a home from a private individual.
While Mecca is a great place to live, there are precautions you need to take when the summer heat is at its peak. The humidity is typically low so it might feel cooler than it is in reality, so you'll need to be sure to stay hydrated.
Neighborhoods of Mecca
If you are looking for houses to rent in Mecca you might be surprised to find that there are no neighborhoods. This is because Mecca is itself a neighborhood of sorts. Finding apartments for rent in this area is not normally difficult and there are usually plenty of options available. While finding a home to rent with a pool would be nice, there are local community pools that you can use to cool off in the summer.
Living in Mecca
Mecca may be a census designated place but there is plenty to see and do in the immediate area. Once you get settled you need to visit the Salton Sea State Park in the Salton Sea Recreation Center. This is one of the world's largest inland seas where you can channel your inner adventurer and get your fill of fishing, kayaking, camping, birdwatching and hiking. Photographers enjoy photographing the area due to it's diversity and beautiful natural scenery. For even more outdoor fun, there is the world famous Joshua Tree National Park. Here you will find trails for hiking, mountain biking and you can even do some rock climbing. If you can't get enough of nature during the day, you'll be happy to know that camping is an option so you can fall asleep under the stars.
If you feel like moving indoors at some point, there is the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino. This 4-star resort and casino offers a variety of gambling enticements and great food.
By now you have probably worked up quite an appetite. Luckily, you'll have a wide variety of options here. Jalisco Mexican Restaurant gets rave reviews on Yelp for their Chavelas and is considered by many to be the best Mexican food in the Coachella Valley. If you are looking for great Chinese food, Ha Ha Chinese restaurant is nothing to laugh about! This is some seriously great Chinese food at incredible prices. Be sure and try their fried curry beef dumplings to start. Their Cashew Chicken and Kung Pao Shrimp both get rave reviews but their Pepper Steak is also outstanding. If Italian is your thing, Mario's Italian Cafe is the top choice in the area. They have a lobster and shrimp cannelloni that is out of this world. Their pizza is pretty good but it's gourmet pizza so it might be a little different than what you are used to from your favorite delivery guy.
For seafood in this area you have to visit The Crab Pot. California is known for great seafood. The Crab Pot is known for having the best seafood in the area; that sort of puts it into perspective. There is one serious problem at this place and that is deciding what to eat. Everything is outstanding so deciding what to eat can be a real challenge. Try the Alaskan Seafest and just give in to your urge to splurge!
If you are looking for steak, hit the Spotlight 29 Casino. They have the best steaks in the area and the prices are great. You don't even have to gamble; many people dine there and never set foot in the Casino at all. You can also get outstanding steaks and scallops at the Arnold Palmer Restaurant, but the hot menu item there is the Filet Mignon Beef Stroganoff, some of the best you will get outside of the Pushkin Cafe in Moscow!
You have run around outside, climbed a bunch of rocks and stuffed yourself silly at a great restaurant; and it's time for a drink. Where you head depends on the ambiance you are looking for in a bar. If you want to catch the game and drink some beer then you want to head to the Beer Hunter Sports Pub. Sure the snacks here are great, in particular the chicken egg rolls and the mini burritos, but it's the beer and games that keep people coming back for more. In addition to your standard beers, they also have craft beers for you to try. You can also stop in for breakfast and the pancakes are pretty popular as it the ham and cheese omelet. You can even add a mimosa to any entr̩e.
There is a lot in Mecca for you to enjoy and the activities mentioned above just scratch the surface. Your new home will give you a great base for exploring the community and everything that it has to offer. It could takes decades for you to explore everything and by then there will be new places to dine, new shops to visit and new friends to take along with you.
