One Of California's Most Affordable Cities Shines With Border Flavor, Festivals, And Desert Charm

The grand size of California offers many worthy destinations to visit, from north to south, but it isn't necessarily known for its affordability. However, with a little research, you can still find the most budget-friendly California vacation destinations. Southern California's inland desert region is one of those areas to look in, which includes Imperial, an affordable city and underrated retirement destination with a friendly small-town vibe. Just up the road from Imperial is its big sister city, El Centro, which, in addition to being one of the state's most affordable cities, is known for border flavor, festivals, and desert charm.

El Centro's early beginnings date to 1906 when the city's founders purchased the land, revamped it, and it became a bustling agricultural community with rapid growth from 1910 until 1920. In Spanish, "El Centro" means "the center," and the city was aptly given this name due to its location in the middle of the Imperial Valley, and was incorporated in 1908. It's the largest city in the Imperial Valley, covering 11 square miles, with a population of over 40,000 residents.

There are several factors that make El Centro one of the most affordable cities in the southern half of the Golden State. One is that the median home price in El Centro is approximately $372,000, significantly below the statewide average of over $800,000. As an agriculturally centered city, wages are typically lower than in other parts of California, with a median household income of $56,043 annually. The proximity to the Mexicali/Calexico border with Mexico makes El Centro a multi-cultural cross-border community, and also contributes to its low cost of living. Despite extreme summer heat, El Centro's weather is mild and features over 300 days of sunshine per year, making it a prime winter escape from colder and more expensive destinations.

Getting to El Centro by car means driving Interstate 8 between San Diego and Yuma, but Amtrak does have two routes that service Yuma, and Greyhound offers service from San Diego. If you're flying in for your El Centro visit, the Imperial County Airport, seven miles away, has limited flight options, so you might choose Palm Springs International Airport, 104 miles away, or San Diego International Airport, 117 miles away. Mexicali's international airport is approximately 29 miles away, if you're coming from the Mexican side of the border.

You'll find the streets of downtown El Centro lined with Mexican restaurants, including La Fonda Bar and Grill, featuring authentic border flavor tastes, and unique local stores and markets, along with the Main Street Mall. The historic Imperial County Courthouse, built in 1924 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a photoworthy attraction for history buffs. Given the short distance to Mexico (10 miles), if you've got your passport and a sense of adventure, traveling into the cross-border community of Mexicali is a must-do. Stroll through the Historic center of the city, including the Chinese district "La Chinesca" and its history museum, the Cuauhtémoc School, and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. You can also taste Mexican beer at Antigua Mexicali Brewery and dine at the Cinema Curto Market.

El Centro's charm also comes alive in its city parks, including its largest, 28-acre Bucklin Park, featuring picnic tables, a half-mile track, open space, a playground, and a pond. Town Square on Main Street has a large lawn and a cement stage area. You can also experience the ultimate thrilling recreation at California's largest dunes with endless golden sands by heading to the Imperial Sand Dunes, 34 miles away from El Centro.

One of the best things to do when planning your trip to El Centro is to time your visit to coincide with one of the city's festivals or special events. It won't be hard to do, as El Centro and the surrounding Imperial Valley are chock full of community events for locals and visitors to choose from. The El Centro Air Show is an annual free spring event taking place at Naval Air Facility El Centro, the winter training home of the famed Blue Angels flying team. The California Mid-Winter Fair, held at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds, spans ten days in February and March. Here, you'll find family fun, including amusement park rides, entertainment, and food with a nominal ticket cost, depending on the activity. The city's cross-border culture is also displayed through its Cinco De Mayo celebration, which honors Mexican-American culture with a parade, music, and food, and the Fiesta de Los Muertos, an event to honor the dead in Mexican culture, which occurs in November. In December, to celebrate the season, you can head to Bucklin Park for the El Centro Christmas Festival with crafts, shopping, and food vendors. The Cattle Call Rodeo, one of Imperial Valley's signature events, takes place in November in nearby Brawley, featuring events celebrating cowboy traditions of the American West.

El Centro has lots of accommodations for any budget and style when you're looking for a traditional motel or hotel option. If you've got an RV, the pet-friendly Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort, located on 120 acres with a lagoon, and the Desert Trails RV Park offer choice amenities for desert goers. Cottonwood Campground offers 25 year-round developed sites with vault toilets on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, for an affordable rate.