Skywood / Skylonda
Ranked 3rd best neighborhood in Woodside
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Great for
- Peace & Quiet
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Parks & Recreation
- Neighborly Spirit
Not great for
- Public Transport
- Shopping Options
- Cost of Living
- Childcare
- Medical Facilities
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Country Lovers
- Singles
Got a burning question? Why not ask the locals! Simply ask your question below
Reviews
Skywood / Skylonda
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Alice Lives Here"
If you like that woodsy timber town feel like you are on the edge of some old western mining town, perhaps, you will love this neighborhood in Woodside. Though right here, it feels less like it should be called “woodside” than just “woods”.
Right at the junction of Highway 35 and La Honda Road (Highway 84), you have a little trading post sort of area where you will find some restaurants and other kinds of stores you would expect in a place like Big Bear. This is a popular area with outdoorsy types and bikers.
The main restaurant here is Alice’s—a burger and sandwich sort of place with simple fair and laid back attitude; more Santa Cruz than Woodside really. They sometimes have live music on Thursdays, featuring the kind of folksy performers no one has ever heard of. It’s the kind of place that is perfect as a pit stop on your way somewhere else, but not a destination in itself.
Across the street from Alice’s is Mountain Terrace, a favorite location for weddings and corporate events. (They also have dance lessons for those brides and grooms who unfortunately have a pair of left feet.)
Though hidden behind tree cover there are a number of hillside homes mostly dating from the 1960’s. These homes have a sort of ski resort sort of a feel to them—often with a bit of modish modernist sleekness (straight lines and lots of glass for greater clarity of sight). They have high ceilings and exposed timbering and kitchens that connect right onto the dining room and look out over decks, usually onto lush greenery. Redwoods abound providing large patches of shading grooves and magnificent light shows from the tree tops.
I haven’t been here enough to know for sure, but it also seems like an area that doesn’t get that much fog--being just far enough from the coast.
Of course, whenever you live in the middle of woods like this, forest fires, critters and hillside erosion (to a lesser extent given the dryness) are a concern. Also, you will definitely be spending a lot more time getting groceries and that kind of thing in this area.
In a nutshell, if you are an earthy crunchy sort of a guy or gal, and want to live right in nature, this is the sort of place that you will love. If you want big city action—this place will bore you to tears.
Right at the junction of Highway 35 and La Honda Road (Highway 84), you have a little trading post sort of area where you will find some restaurants and other kinds of stores you would expect in a place like Big Bear. This is a popular area with outdoorsy types and bikers.
The main restaurant here is Alice’s—a burger and sandwich sort of place with simple fair and laid back attitude; more Santa Cruz than Woodside really. They sometimes have live music on Thursdays, featuring the kind of folksy performers no one has ever heard of. It’s the kind of place that is perfect as a pit stop on your way somewhere else, but not a destination in itself.
Across the street from Alice’s is Mountain Terrace, a favorite location for weddings and corporate events. (They also have dance lessons for those brides and grooms who unfortunately have a pair of left feet.)
Though hidden behind tree cover there are a number of hillside homes mostly dating from the 1960’s. These homes have a sort of ski resort sort of a feel to them—often with a bit of modish modernist sleekness (straight lines and lots of glass for greater clarity of sight). They have high ceilings and exposed timbering and kitchens that connect right onto the dining room and look out over decks, usually onto lush greenery. Redwoods abound providing large patches of shading grooves and magnificent light shows from the tree tops.
I haven’t been here enough to know for sure, but it also seems like an area that doesn’t get that much fog--being just far enough from the coast.
Of course, whenever you live in the middle of woods like this, forest fires, critters and hillside erosion (to a lesser extent given the dryness) are a concern. Also, you will definitely be spending a lot more time getting groceries and that kind of thing in this area.
In a nutshell, if you are an earthy crunchy sort of a guy or gal, and want to live right in nature, this is the sort of place that you will love. If you want big city action—this place will bore you to tears.
Pros
- Very Woodsy
- Nice Homes
- Quiet and Peaceful
Cons
- Very Expensive
- Far From Necessities
- Fire and Critter Problems
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Country Lovers
- Trendy & Stylish
Skywood / Skylonda
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Nightlife
- Shopping Options
"Mountaineers welcome"
Skywood, also called Skylonda, is a sparse and hidden Woodside community nestled deep into the Santa Cruz Mountains. In fact, you should probably be of the mountain man type if you choose to live here because you are far from anything commercial. As a result, the neighborhood is completely isolated with very few residences and a total population of less than 200. For commuters, public transportation is non-existent while Highway 280 is still a good 20-30 minute drive.
While a relatively large land area, Skywood’s residential quarters are hard to define. Probably because most residences are hidden beneath the dense, green shrubbery and tall oak trees. Homes and/or cabins are somewhat large (usually two-stories in size) and dotted throughout the community. They tend to be painted brown and camouflaged against its wooden backdrop. To get to these homes, you’ll have to swerve around the long, sometimes hidden country roads. In fact, you might not want to travel here when it gets dark.
Skywood is so secluded that it is surrounded by acres of national preserves. These include Thornewood Open Space Preserve, Wunderlich County Park and La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. All of which provide tons of serene mountain vistas, abundant wildlife and acres of hiking trails. If you get lost, there is a Forestry and Fire Protection unit located along Skyline Boulevard. Skywood’s downtown quarters are pretty grim. It unofficially has just one restaurant in Alice’s Restaurant (burger joint) while the rest of its quarters are what you might find at a truck stop on a cross-country tour.
While a relatively large land area, Skywood’s residential quarters are hard to define. Probably because most residences are hidden beneath the dense, green shrubbery and tall oak trees. Homes and/or cabins are somewhat large (usually two-stories in size) and dotted throughout the community. They tend to be painted brown and camouflaged against its wooden backdrop. To get to these homes, you’ll have to swerve around the long, sometimes hidden country roads. In fact, you might not want to travel here when it gets dark.
Skywood is so secluded that it is surrounded by acres of national preserves. These include Thornewood Open Space Preserve, Wunderlich County Park and La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. All of which provide tons of serene mountain vistas, abundant wildlife and acres of hiking trails. If you get lost, there is a Forestry and Fire Protection unit located along Skyline Boulevard. Skywood’s downtown quarters are pretty grim. It unofficially has just one restaurant in Alice’s Restaurant (burger joint) while the rest of its quarters are what you might find at a truck stop on a cross-country tour.
