laa Honda Rd, El Sobrante

El Sobrante, in Contra Costa County, is so far off the periphery that it practically doesn't even count as being a part of the Bay Area - most SF Bay have never even heard of it! Given that it is near Richmond and relatively close to Oakland - not exactly the most desirable neighborhoods around - my expectations were somewhat low. However, El Sobrante is pleasantly surprising, precisely because of suburbs like La Honda Road.

The street veers immediately off of San Pablo Dam Road, and is very quiet and residential. The homes are reasonably sized but understated, and are much further apart than houses tend to be in Northern California, which is somewhat surprising, considering it is not nearly as ritzy as some of the San Francisco or Silicon Valley neighborhoods.

Cell phone reception is fine (this can be a concern in the SF Bay) and the neighbors can often be seen hosting barbecues in the summertime. With views of the East Bay Hills and San Francisco access not far away, this is a great place to be that is relatively unheard of!