StephSF

I have a hard time giving any area fewer than three stars, unless it is a crowded, unpleasant interstate, but by many peoples' standards, anything in East Palo Alto is worthy of one or two stars. However, Tulane Avenue has several things going for it, compared to other streets in town.

It is the northernmost street, and is located in the northeast quadrant, which has better houses and a slightly better reputation than some of the other neighborhoods further south. While still run-down, half of the backyards face north out onto the Dumbarton Bridge, completely removed from anything resembling the rest of EPA. This does, of course, mean more highway noise and other unpleasantries.

In addition to this, being further north means being further from all of Palo Alto's attractions, which is one of the main purposes of living here in the first place.

A nice, leafy suburb of Berkeley, Kensington is nestled in the Berkeley Hills, adjacent to Tilden Regional Park. The views of the bay are spectacular, and the houses here are beautiful and large.

No house is ever too far away from any other house, with a few exceptions of homes that are set back, which means that you are often looking into your neighbor's window if you choose. Parking comes at a premium here. But the area is gorgeous, the parks are great, and Berkeley's many amenities are nearby, so for some people, this area could be worth the price.

80 is never a fun stretch to drive on, and Richmond is not a particularly enjoyable town to visit, or to drive in. Put the two together, and you find yourself in a bit of a traffic mess. Congestion certainly builds here, whether you are commuting from Contra Costa County into San Francisco or returning to the South Bay from Tahoe on a Sunday night (and deemed 680 to be just as bad). The connection with the Richmond Bridge and 580 certainly doesn't help the situation.

Furthermore, the highway takes you through Richmond - arguably one of the worst towns in the Bay Area. Run-down at best, Richmond has Oakland's impoverished vibe, without the culture to go hand-in-hand.

To be fair, while the traffic is bad here, nothing can top Oakland's maze, and the views of the bay are pretty stellar.

Cabrillo Highway in Soquel is basically a carbon copy of its southern neighbor in Aptos, except with one major difference: more traffic. Now granted, the 1 isn't exactly known for being California's busiest interstate, but Soquel does see its fair share of commuters coming in and going out in the morning.

The big disappointment here is that there are no beach or ocean views, which is unusual for this interstate. However, the beach is never too far off, and Soquel has some cute restaurants and coffee shops, as well as some great hiking in the redwoods. None of this could be accessed without this important interstate running through.

Unlike its northern neighbors, Cabrillo Highway in Aptos is a fairly mundane stretch of interstate, especially considering the area that it surrounds. It is past the Santa Cruz rush, so traffic is fairly minimal, even during rush hour. This is always a nice surprise in such a crowded area, but not something that one should get used to if one is commuting from Aptos to anywhere north or in the Bay Area.

The biggest disappointment with the road is that while it parallels the coast, it does not offer the stunning cliffside, coastal views found north of Santa Cruz. Rather, the road flattens out for a while before turning into dramatic coastline again just south of Monterey.

While the highway is not on the beach, it is certainly near the beach and offers beachfront access. With thin traffic and the ocean less than ten minutes away, there really isn't much to complain about here, even if the views leave something to be desired.

San Jose’s lovely interstate 880 is a swarm of mass confusion. What is already notoriously the most congested highway in the Bay Area, 880 actually merges with 680, 101 AND 280, making it a completely chaotic driving experience, even on evenings and weekends.

Given its eastern location, it runs through some fairly colorful neighborhoods of East San Jose. As the town is so block-by-block, it is impossible to make any generalizations, but it is probably good practice to takea good look at where you are pulling off if you are not familiar for the area.

However, like most of Northern California, drivers here are polite – unbelievably so, in fact. It takes living on the East Coast to appreciate Californians’ respect for other drivers – and for their car horns, which are used sparingly.

Sebastopol is not for everyone, but it is SO Western Sonoma County. An artists’ and gardeners’ community, this is the gathering place for the area’s greatest bands, photographers, and botanists alike. Unlike nearby Sonoma’s very well laid-out downtown quad, Sebastopol’s downtown looks very thrown together, like business owners decided independently to put up storefronts that collectively became the area. And that is part of the charm that is Sebastopol.

Close to the ocean and even closer to the redwoods, nearby outdoor activities are aplenty. Kayakers can enjoy the calm waters of the Russian River, and of course, the abundance of nearby wineries don’t hurt, either (so long as you don’t drink too much!) Summers here actually feel the way that summers are supposed to feel, but the cool ocean breezes are never too far off.

The biggest drawback to the area is also its biggest asset: its location. Sebastopol is close to lots of cool things, like wineries and farms and redwood trees and rivers, but there really aren’t any major nearby towns for miles. Even the nearest interstate, the 101, is about seven miles away.

Bodega Bay really is one of the North Bay’s best-kept secrets. While most North Bay residents travel to nearby Stinson Beach on a sunny day and sit in traffic for hours, an extra half hour up the 101 will get you to the turnoff that takes you to this little coastal town where The Birds was filmed.

The beaches here are just as good as they are further south, and a fraction as crowded. Doran Beach is about as family-friendly as one can get without importing the Atlantic Ocean’s warmer tides, and further north, Bodega Head gives the dramatic, cliff-side scenery that California is all about. The harbor is great for windsurfing and kite boarding, and the town, although small, has a charming, seaside village feel to it.

One should also be aware that idyllic, sunny beach days are few and far between this far north on the Pacific. Most days, if not cloudy and foggy for the duration, at least start out that way. Either way, the sunsets here are remarkable.


As far as living here…that’s another story. The one grocery store is highly overpriced, and the nearest major town, Sebastopol, is about 40 minutes away. Nightlife is minimal – there is one bar in nearby farm town Bodega, which has a very…local…scene.

But for that individual, that one person for whom the beach and proximity to the redwoods are more important than a vibrant nightlife or cell phone reception, Bodega Bay might just be the perfect place.

Dublin is the place in the Bay Area where anyone from the rest of the country would feel comfortable raising a family. Its East Bay location makes it far more affordable and modest, but being further out, it is not as run-down as Oakland and Berkeley, nor is it as influenced by the city. The houses are similar to those in more expensive areas like Redwood City, San Rafael, and Mountain View, but are significantly lower in cost.
The town itself does not have a huge amount of its own culture – it certainly does not compare to any of the cities or even the Peninsula towns nearby, but it does offer respite from it all, with a great transit system to get there. Between its own BART station and the convenient location at the 580/680 junction, it is very easy to get to the Bay Area’s local culture, with or without a car, and be back to your lovely, safe suburb by the end of the day.

Within the town itself, shopping plazas are more common than downtown strips. There are some major businesses here as well as a military base, but nothing that truly stands out.

Weather here is cool and rainy in the winter, immaculate in the spring and fall, and blazingly hot – but dry – in the summer. Given how far it is from the city, fog here is more of a legend than a reality. Spring is the best time to enjoy the abundance of local hikes, as the area heats up and browns up in the summer, and the green does not return again until the winter rain.

If you are looking for the urban life, this is not the place for you. But if you are happy to live in a nice California ranch and have access the Bay Area’s greatest hits, then Dublin could very well be a great fit.

San Rafael is one part wealthy liberals, standard of Marin County, and one part Mexican immigrants, many of whom are first generation. Such a combination would be unique to almost any other area in the world, but is quite normal in Northern California, where very different demographics seem to coexist all the time.

The northern part of town, Terra Linda, is home to the former, while downtown San Rafael is home to the latter. Shopping complexes are aplenty and the downtown area has some great restaurants, many of which are of the Mexican nature, but overall nightlife in this city is pretty slim.

Interestingly, the yuppie population in this town has a bit more of an influence of displaced east coasters than some other similar neighborhoods on the Peninsula, which is neither good nor bad. The town also has a high Jewish population.

Proximity to San Francisco, wine country, the coast and the redwoods, combined with a near-perfect Mediterranean climate make San Rafael a very nice, desirable place to live, no matter what side of town you are on.

One of the swankest, most posh and well-known places to taste wine on the planet, Napa certainly lives up to its reputation. A cute, accessible downtown area, where one can order a meal complemented by their favorite local finding, is surrounded by rolling foothills filled with wineries far and near, all willing to give you a sampling of their most popular fare – at a price.

Scenery and charm are accompanied by overpriced food, drink, lodging, and entertainment in this area that is loved by some and frowned upon for its extravagance by others. High-end hotels dominate, and it certainly is frustrating to be charged significantly more per flight (tasting of 3-4 wines) than in neighboring Sonoma, on the other side of the valley.

But let’s go back to the downtown area, where the sun shines over the hundreds of acres of wineries. One can take the wine train and sample food and drink for hours while enjoying the scenery. More active visitors can rent bikes and do a self-guided wine tour – or skip the wine altogether and spend days touring the countryside.

It’s not cheap, but maybe it’s not so bad, either.

Aptos is a great suburb to Santa Cruz for families and beach lovers alike. Clean, modern new housing developments and great schools make the town a great place to raise a family, far enough removed from the underground Santa Cruz drug scene for it to be safe, but close enough to enjoy the fun family activities that this beach town has to offer. For those who aren’t hip to the sheep-like feel that housing developments sometimes have, older homes in other neighborhoods have unique, charming touches like loft-style upstairs areas and spiral staircases.

But let’s not kid ourselves; it is not the family atmosphere or the STAIRS in the houses that make people want to live in Aptos. People live here for one thing: sheer proximity to the beach. And Northern California beaches have something that its LA and OC neighbors do not: redwood trees. It is one of the few places in the world where one can go for a hike in the redwoods and go surf in the same day: the same morning, even!

True to form for the area, real estate is not cheap, although one could find a single room rental in the area for a relatively reasonable price. While not quite as expensive as some of its neighbors on the other side of the hill, the town’s coastal location makes it come pretty close. But it does offer the best of many worlds: surf, sand, suburbs, Santa Cruz, and a beautiful redwood forest nearby.

Few towns can boast to be among the wealthiest in Silicon Valley and still offer a huge amount of diversity, but then again, few towns are Menlo Park. Historically, Menlo Park’s Sand Hill Road was once the wealthiest street in the country, and home to many of the major companies during the dot-com boom. Menlo Park’s affluence still stands in many neighborhoods, between the bustling downtown area and the mansions in the foothills.

However, there is another side to Menlo Park – the developing, working-class areas of North Fair Oaks and Belle Haven, which are home to first and second-generation immigrants from Mexico and the Pacific Islands. Given the close proximity of everything here, the populations mix in town and in schools, but stay segregated when they go home at the end of the day. Belle Haven schools historically perform much more poorly than other schools in the area. There is also a history of gang activity, though nowhere near what one would find in the neighboring East Palo Alto.

There is no shortage of activity or amenities here – in addition to your basic shopping, convenience store and grocery needs, Menlo Park is home to a vibrant, bustling downtown area with some great shops and restaurants. Though smaller in both size and breadth than neighboring downtown Palo Alto, downtown Menlo Park is clean, well-maintained and a great place to walk around. Nearby El Camino Real serves most other shopping needs, although traffic never seems to lighten up here.

Bottom line: the rich are still rich, and the poor are still poor, but they seem to coexist rather well.

Palo Alto is one of the most well-known towns in Silicon Valley – and for good reason. Home to one of the country’s most prestigious universities AND one of the fastest growing companies – Stanford and Facebook, respectively, Palo Alto has plenty of reason to be on the map, and is a perfect representation of the old and the new Silicon Valley, respectively.

This title – no small feat to live by – comes with both perks and pitfalls. A beautifully laid-out downtown area is perfect for pedestrians – students and fine diners alike, who enjoy their fine French food and their cheap pizza and beer. From zen yoga studios to buzzing coffee shops, downtown Palo Alto is a great place for visitors from afar or just around the corner.

Houses here are beautiful and reasonably sizeable, although somewhat close together for the price at which they sell – a common phenomenon in California’s most popular places. The schools are some of the best, although many residents here choose to send their children to private school.

Speaking of which, real estate prices are exactly what one would expect for such a town. Houses are some of the most expensive in the country – don’t expect anything other than a small condo for under $500,000. And the traffic is certainly not what justifies the prices – University Avenue, the main drag, is completely congested at all but the latest hours of the night.

But if you can brave the traffic and handle the prices, this is a very, very nice place to live. And if not – it is a lot of fun to visit!

Capitol Avenue Falls under the category of standard East Palo Alto streets - the houses are run-down but have some potential, gang activity is slightly under wraps but is still prevalent, and the schools are not good but there is the option to send kids to schools in other towns. Given the proximity to University Avenue and Donohoe Street, traffic is heavier than on other side streets, but the visibility and the fact that the homes are in the backyard of many of EPA's longtime establishments means that it is slightly harder to commit crime here. This street is also within walking distance of many of the grocery stores and the major shopping center, if you can brave the walk.

This is a good place for long-term investment (10-20 years) and/or to purchase a starter home, but raising a family here could be tough. You do get more square footage for your money than almost anywhere else on the Peninsula.

In some ways, Manhattan Avenue is a lot like its namesake - filled with tall, shimmering, new buildings at the crossroads of a major traffic hub, it is surrounded by some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country on one side (Palo Alto, or Westchester County), and some of the poorest on the other (East Palo Alto, or the Bronx). To put it more literally, Manhattan Avenue is the tiny development in East Palo Alto that is filled with glamorous law firms and the Four Seasons hotel, which exudes its glamor over a town full of people who will probably never be able to afford a night's stay here.

This is both the best and worst location for this kind of hotel - it is close to everything, but at one of the worst traffic junctions off of the 101. The EPA address makes the leases far more affordable, but can be a turnoff to many clients. The complex is the true definition of a bubble.

Like its southern neighbor in Palo Alto, Bayshore Freeway in Menlo Park can be found a half mile away, given the sheer quantity of traffic getting on and off. Congestion here is insane, but this is to be expected, given that Menlo Park is the access town for the Dumbarton Bridge.

101 is not exactly known for passing through the best parts of town, and such remains true with Menlo Park. The area by the Dumbarton Bridge exit is fairly dead, and further south, the Willow Road exit passes through the run-down, rough around the edges Belle Haven. However, good food is never more than a 10-15 minute drive away in downtown Menlo Park, and the primary advantage here is access, not real estate.

It is a frustrating stretch to drive through, but almost necessary if you live on the east side of the Peninsula. At least the drivers are extremely polite.

Golf Drive runs parallel to the San Jose Country club, and its name indicates this location in the East Foothills. However, the bulk of Golf Drive lies not in this neighborhood, but in Alum Rock, one of the poorest, toughest neighborhoods in East San Jose. While this road may not be as bad as some of those further east, it is still tough and in the same school district. It should be noted that many neighborhoods in San Jose are subject to Little Red Riding Hood syndrom - safe-looking and attractive on the outside, but historically tough and home to a range of crimes, from home break-ins to murder.

Further west, Golf Drive extends into the East Foothills section of San Jose and is home to the San Jose Golf Club, one of the best places to book events in the area. Last year, I booked meetings in ten different major cities across the U.S., and the San Jose Country Club was one of the nicest venues and offered the best rates by far. For residents who would like to live here, particularly because they enjoy the road's namesake sport, I would stick to east of Toyon.

All of the ratings are based on the eastern part of the street. For the western part, assume fewer families and overall recommendations.

For much of San Francisco, Highway 1 is synonymous with 19th Avenue. It runs past SF State University, through the Sunset, Golden Gate Park, and the Inner Richmond before going into the Presidio up to the Golden Gate Bridge.

I have found that there always seems to be a better way to get from point A to point B than the 1, no matter where your destination lies or what your objectives are. From Golden Gate Park south, the highway is extremely congested, due to a combination of heavy traffic and even heavier traffic lights during rush hour. North of there, you can get through the Presidio, but even that is fairly crowded for being in such a remote part of San Francisco.

And the biggest drawback? In a city on the beach, and as a highway known for its views, 1 doesn't offer any ocean vistas past the Golden Gate Bridge. If this is your primary objective, stick to the Great Highway. Otherwise, you are better off on almost any side street if traveling this way.

San Francisco's Parkside neighborhood is not talked about all that frequently, but it is know for one thing in particular in the summer time - Stern Grove. The park, known fully as Sigmund Stern Grove Park, offers free concerts every Sunday from mid-June to mid-August. On any given Sunday, the amphitheater-style seating fills up as people congregate with picnic blankets, bottles of wine, and yes, the occasional 420.

Parking is scarce on those days, which is unusual for this particular neighborhood. For some reason, the park is positioned such that it gets an unusual amount of sun for being so far west, and as a result, it is far warmer here than one would expect. The ambiance is mostly young singles and couples in their 20s and 30s, but you will also see families, college students, and even older people here. A lot depends on the act.

The rest of the time, there is not much to write home about here. The park is pretty, the fog is prevalent, and the rest of the neighborhood is quiet. Morning traffic on 19th Avenue tends to be rather blocked.