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.

Saratoga is one of the nicest, most desirable places to live in the Bay Area. Close enough to San Jose to get a city feel, but far enough from the main drag do feel like its own town, Saratoga really sits at the crossroads of the best of MANY worlds. Its western foothill location gives it some of the sunniest, warmest weather in the Bay Area, and Castle Rock State Park, on the summit of Skyline, offers an array of rock climbing and hiking, with scenery that would please any outdoor enthusiast.

But it's not just the surroundings that make it great; the town itself has its own charm and character. The streets are green, leafy, and well-manicured, rivaled only by nearby Palo Alto. The downtown drag is one main stretch of road, and while it is not massive, it comprises dive bars and wine bars alike. Speaking of wine, this town is like its own mini-Sonoma, with great wineries. Mountain Winery offers one of the nicest settings and views in the Bay Area and could easily rival those in Napa.

Homes can be small or large, condo or detached, close to downtown or nestled in the mountains. One thing that they are not, however, is cheap - which should come as no surprise, given how idyllic Saratoga is in practically every way. For those who can afford it and who value quality of life over quantity of real estate, it is worth every penny.

Atherton is one of the top five most expensive towns in the United States, and is home to many dead-end cul-de-sac streets with mansions, pools, and gates that block out unwanted visitors. Rebecca Lane fits the stereotype to a "T."

There are fewer than a dozen homes total on this tiny, two-block street, but each one seems to be built on its own private estate in the middle of Silicon Valley. Traffic will probably not ever pass through here, given the dead ends on either end; the only attraction here is the Church of the Nativity.

There are a few drawbacks to Atherton, other than the price: proximity to North Fair Oaks, a much poorer neighborhood one town over, puts a big target on this affluent community. There is also no way to get anywhere without hitting some significant traffic.

Kenwood Drive, tucked away right behind Safeway, is a very nice, cute, residential street that is perfect for families. The loop-like structure makes it great for walking or short bike rides, and although the houses are close together, they are quite spacious for such a neighborhood.

Proximity to Safeway is a plus, but proximity to downtown is even nicer. For the rare young professional who can afford to live here, the bars are a hop, skip, and a jump away, and families or parents can walk to run their errands (and not having to drive on El Camino is a huge plus).

Square foot by square foot, the location makes the area very expensive. I could also understand some parents being concerned about the fact that the nearby road is home to some fairly heavy traffic.

Veterans Drive is an interesting spot, as it is located in one of San Francisco's only nature areas, and happens to circumnavigate its namesake, the Veterans Hospital. The drive is twisty and windy through the trees, and turns an otherwise pretty area into something a little bit gloomy (exacerbated by the fog that never quite seems to go away).

It's an odd amalgamation of park maintenance, National Park services, and hospital staff that seems to result in a horrible parking situation - I work down by Fort Miley and see people park and hike up the hill to work all the time. Maybe they're getting extra exercise, but parking there always does seem to be full.

The area is also strangely heavily patrolled and regulated, which seems a bit odd for such a safe area. None of this makes the street all that compelling.

Sutro Heights Park offers a unique mix of hiking, beach, and city life all rolled into one. Located in the northwestern corner of San Francisco, it can often feel like the end of the earth. Morning fog rolls in and lingers for the better part of the day, and the sunshine barely permeates through the forest canopies, making it easily one of the coldest spots in the Bay Area. Summers barely creep above 50 degrees.

However, when the fog lifts, you are rewarded with some of the best views imaginable. Panoramas of the Pacific Ocean and the Marin Headlands spread before you, and are easily accessed without having to hike for miles to the top of a hill. The recent parking lot renovations make it a lot easier for drivers to get here, but even on the warmest and sunniest of days, the area remains relatively uncrowded. The remote feel and lack of sunshine make it a relatively affordable area to live in the city, which could be the ideal California dream for beach lovers on a budget.

Aside from the proximity and the cooler, foggier weather, I am hard-pressed to find anything wrong with this area.

Bayhill Drive, home to the Bayhill shopping center, is nothing too spectacular but is a decent little shopping center with more character than some of the nearby San Bruno strip malls. While your standard commercial retail stores are around (Baskin Robbins, CVS, and Taco Bell, for example), there are also some private shops. Best of all, the grocery store is an independently owned establishment.

The area can get rather crowded, and finding parking is harder than it should be. Caffeine addicts will be more than satiated with the Peet's and Starbucks, both in the complex, which means that the parking does have a high turnover. Given that it is at the 380/280 junction, it does see quite a few visitors.

Little known fact: YouTube's corporate office is located here.

The stretch of 280 that runs through San Bruno is a bit of an anomaly in that there actually IS traffic here during rush hour, unlike its southern counterpart on the Peninsula. This has everything to do with the fact that it is close to the city and the many nearby malls and shopping plazas. However, it also runs through the foothills of the area, which means that the views overlooking the bay and the valley are phenomenal. It even makes sitting in traffic almost bearable.

The area can get a bit foggy at night and early morning, given the proximity to the ocean and the relatively small size of the protective hills, but it is still a very nice place to live. With hiking trails and parks nearby, the city at your fingertips, and plenty of shopping and restaurants in town, it is not hard to overlook the fact that a major interstate runs right through.

92 is definitely one of the biggest perpetrators in the world of Silicon Valley traffic, as can be seen both on 280 and 101. The buildup is visible for about two miles on both interstates, and the off ramp to the highway may very well be the worst part.

Once on the road, it is a great connector during off-peak times, but a bit of a blockage during rush hour. The biggest plus to this road is that it is the only connector south of 380 on the Peninsula that is a true highway, and not barricaded by red lights. If you have the option to cross here rather than on 84 in Woodside/Redwood City, it will save you a traffic headache.

The above is a phrase that was recently overheard by a middle-aged woman walking with her friend on a warm spring night on Santa Cruz Avenue, and this statement is definitely reality. But it is her reality. For affluent, middle-aged women, it doesn't get much better than downtown Menlo Park. There are sufficient nice restaurants of various ethnic backgrounds to stay well-fed for weeks, the shopping covers all of one's basic needs, and the streets are well-maintained and well-manicured. Benches are aplenty, and the area is small enough to navigate with ease in about a half hours' time.

But for the young, hip, tech-savvy mavens of Silicon Valley, the area leaves something to be desired. This area lacks the country charm of Woodside, the vibrant art scene of Los Gatos, and the ethnic smorgasbord of Mountain View. Neighboring Palo Alto holds the nightlife trump card, and Saratoga has a trendy, rustic charm that is not seen here.

True, perfection is in the eye of the beholder, and for the majority of those who reside in Menlo Park, this area does just the trick.

Skyline Boulevard in Daly City is basically an extension of its northern neighbor in San Francisco. The architecture is more SF than it is Silicon Valley, but the drive itself is more ocean than urban. The Pacific Ocean runs parallel to this scenic drive, and the hills on the east side of the street add to the remote, natural feel.

The fog is more prevalent than even the ocean itself, which can give the drive a gloomy feel on bad weather days (which seem to happen often). This part of the peninsula is also fairly removed from the bulk of the activity, making it a more residential area. But when the fog burns off and the sun comes out in the afternoon, the drive out here is absolutely worth it!

Next to the Great Highway (which it connects right up with) this is THE best drive in San Francisco! Forget everything that you know about traffic and city rush - Skyline Boulevard offers stunning views of the ocean as it slowly creeps up the hill to offer equally fantastic views of the Bay. On a foggy day, the area is chilly and lovely, and on a sunny day, it is one of the rare occasions where you actually associate San Francisco with the rest of California and the beach culture.

Proximity to other cool things in the city is harder to come by - SF State and the zoo are not far, but these are not really the things that San Francisco is known for. While public transportation helps, it is not a solution and I would recommend owning a car if you live out here - or bringing your car, and heading back to your fun loft in SOMA or your townhouse in the Haight at the end of the day.

However, beachfront property like this is a rare find ANYWHERE in California, and there is no better place on a sunny afternoon (or a very rare sunny morning).

No matter where you are on the 101 in this part of the Peninsula, this always seems to have the absolute worst traffic during rush hour - and I haven't quite figured out why. The area is fairly densely populated, and the junction for the Dumbarton Bridge is here, but there aren't the same number of large corporations as there are further south in the valley.

Nonetheless, the traffic can be seen at most major intersections before even entering the on ramp, and the timed light system (which could be a help or a hindrance) prevents too many cars from getting on at a time. This is the case pretty much from 85 all the way up to 84.

The one up side of the road being so populated is that, unlike other parts of the Bay Area, the highway is actually very well-maintained - no bumps on the road here (that is, if you can actually move enough to feel them). At least the drivers are polite.

The whole complex of new developments behind IKEA is probably one of the best investments in East Palo Alto - but a lot of people know that already, because some of the condos have appreciated $100,000 since they have been bought. In the meantime, you really don't feel like you are in the town that was the murder capitol of American in 1992 when you are hanging out here.

Here is the fun twist though that I just learned: lately, some of the local gangs have been taking up residency here, because the area appears to feel safe under the radar of the police. Given that there are far worse problems, police pay little attention to this neighborhood, which could become problematic at some point in time.

Gates itself is on the east side of the neighborhood, which puts it a little further from IKEA and the interstate, but closer to Pulgas, which has a fair amount of traffic of its own. This is a very nice place to live that is very close to Palo Alto, but is also targeted as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in EPA and is still in the corresponding school district. Great for a single gal or guy, but not necessarily for a newlywed couple hoping to start a family; unless they are able to petition to send their kid to the nearby Palo Alto schools, which can happen.

These are the images that are conjured up when Vacaville is brought up. Home to a military base, the town is filled with housing developments and has an almost Midwestern feel to it. People come from far and wide for the shopping, particularly the outlets, which seem to be the main draw here. It's also a great place to fuel up before hitting raft country or Tahoe, because the gas is so much cheaper.

The other perk is that you get Bay Area (ish) living for Sacramento prices. It's about as far out as you can get and still be considered "SF Bay" by Craigslist standards, but there is water nearby, it is only about an hour from the city (and closer to Oakland, Berkeley and some East Bay hikes) and you are that much closer to the Sierras for a fraction of the cost. It could be worth considering if you want to move to the Bay Area and location is not a huge inhibitor.

Marin County doesn't have the same coastal access that Peninsula residents do, with towns like Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and Pescadero all within a stone's throw, but Stinson Beach comes pretty close and just about scratches the itch for North Bay residents.

In addition to the cute beach town, the setup of the beach itself is great for standard activities - picnics, frisbee, tanning, and enjoying the sun. However, the area is also known for coastal rock climbing and clean surf breaks. The nearby hillside lends itself to great hiking with stunning coastal views.

The down side? There is only one of it, so everyone from the Presidio to Napa congregates here on nice weekend days.

I wish there were a category for the entire "maze" of Oakland on here, but given that there is not, the report on the MacArthur section of the Maze will have to do. This area is the prime culprit of the confusion, anyway.

The "Maze," as is commonly referred to a little highway interchange in Oakland, right around the Bay Bridge. It is the junction of 580, 880, 980 and (you guessed it!) 80. It is very easy to get lost around here, and here are some fun facts to reinforce just WHY the area is so frustrating:

1. Most GPS directions will send you 580 to 880 southbound. The signage for 880 on 580 is terrible, and you can just stay on 880 instead.
2. 580 to 880 via 980, and 80 to 880 are completely interchangeable. There is no reason to get caught up on one over the other, although this is a very easy mistake to make.
3. If you accidentally take 80 westbound, you WILL get stuck on Treasure Island, and have to sit in line and pay the toll before you can turn around and recover your mistake.
4. 580, although considered an east/west freeway, runs completely parallel to 880 until Castro Valley, further contributing to the confusion.
5. 980 is actually 880 for part of the stretch, and 24 for the other part of the stretch. Simple, right?

The area certainly lives up to its name, and traffic reflects this quite well. I would recommend avoiding the area at all costs during rush hour, and take a look at a map and be fully aware of your surroundings before driving through. What a mess!

(Note: My "Safety" rating refers to driving safety, not necessarily neighborhood safety)

Search for Woodside on Google maps, zoom in closely enough, and you will observe that unlike other Silicon Valley towns there are few houses on the map that don't resemble mansions with private pools and tennis courts. Do the same search on any real estate website, and not surprisingly, you will find that almost every house lists for at least a million, and one in ten will reach eight digits, even in a down real estate market.

Such is Woodside, one of the most beautiful and wealthy towns in Northern California. Situated at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with the redwoods right at your fingertips, it is no surprise that the town retails so high; and the size of the homes throughout certainly helps. Accompanying the beautiful scenery is a great little downtown stretch with some cute cafes but little in the ways of nightlife. Nearby Redwood City and Palo Alto scratch that particular itch far better, and like everywhere else, the closer you are to the center of town, the more expensive the homes get and the less land you have surrounding your residence.

Of course, wealthy towns come with great schools, and Woodside is no exception - for the kids whose parents choose not to send them to private school, that is. And like every other town on the Peninsula, one of the wealthiest ares is directly adjacent to a fairly run-down part of Redwood City. Ahh, c'est la vie in an area known for a massive spread of wealth.

Woodside Heights really has it all. Close to downtown, and even closer to 280 and 84, it is home to the beautiful mansions that this town for, and has some things that other parts of the town lacks: cell phone reception, grocery stores, interstates, and access to the rest of civilization. All of this is less than a ten-minute drive to the redwoods, on one of the few parts of 84 that experiences neither the traffic of Redwood City nor the nervous drivers of La Honda Road.

The only visible pitfall to living here, other than a price point that is obviously unachievable for most people, is that being closer to the rest of town comes at a price: while the houses are huge, the lots are smaller which means less room to build up or own a horse barn.

But at this point, if this is your price point in the real estate market, then it really has to do with personal preference and not whether one neighborhood is better than another.

There are certain streets that people turn up on 84 that make me go "Oooh, people actually get to LIVE there." And then there are streets like Patrol Road, that make THOSE people have similar reactions to what I just had. That's right, Patrol Road is so secluded that it actually gets its own, small access road (Entrance Way) in order to get here.

It's not completely engulfed in the Santa Cruz Mountains; far from it. Less than ten minutes will get you to downtown Woodside, a small but cute stretch of ritzy country town, and another ten will get you to interstate 280. But that is not why people choose to live here. This is a place where people can buy a lot and then build upon it, to build massive, hillside Northern California mansions complete with pools, athletic courts, and whatever else they may desire.

And with redwood scenery all around, there really is no better backdrop for a dream home.

The upper part of this road, which leads to Huddart County Park, is so pretty that it could be a hiking trail. The canyon that it passes is filled with redwoods and waterfalls, and the narrow switchbacks make it reasonably exciting to drive on. In the winter, all of the foliage is shrouded in bright green moss, further contributing to the scenery.

The winter does, of course, tend toward flooding, and some portions of the road might be wetter than one would like. Closer to town, there are several mansions and estates here, filled with acres of land, modern homes, and even some horse stables. Don't even consider living here unless you come from money, but if you do, I can't imagine a better place to live. The homes are even close enough to town that you actually feel like you are living in a real town!

One fair bit of advice: Huddart Park is NOT right around the corner; it is several miles up the road, almost on Skyline. The scenery certainly makes it worth the drive, but the signage can be a bit deceptive if you are not prepared to drive on a challenge road, and places to turn around are few and far between. Nearby Wunderlich Park is your best bet if you would rather log miles on foot than by car, and best of all, parking there is free!

It doesn't get much more average Palo Alto than this - the houses are cute and contemporary, comfortably sized but more understated and closer together than those in nearby Crescent Park. This block is not particularly near anything, but living in Palo Alto means that you are generally not too far from anything, either. Given that it is not off of any major street, the area doesn't experience the noise and traffic of the town, but does have the benefit of being enclosed in the green vegetative tunnel, just like everything else in town.

Perhaps the biggest perk is that the cul de sac setup means that commuters and visitors will not be using your street as a way to bypass Silicon Valley traffic. To be fair, this is a perk for residents, and potentially a drawback for everyone else here.

Casey court lies in the odd amalgamation of real estate that is Menlo Park and East Palo Alto all rolled into one, with very few characteristics of either. The small road, and the area in general, lacks both the charm and wealth of Menlo Park and the affordable, somewhat run-down pre-gentrification of East Palo Alto. Rather, it is a spread of business parks that were built on a lot that was probably purchased well under market value.

With 101 and the Dumbarton Bridge right nearby, the perks are few and far between, but there are a few: the area is flat enough to bike on without sweating through your button-down shirt, and there is a shopping complex with a Starbucks nearby. But the most important aspect of this area is what it does for the rest of the neighborhood - raise the property area significantly.

There are many things that make Edgewood drive "SO" Palo Alto - the huge, modern homes, the thick, leafy vegetation that acts as a buffer between the town and the rest of SIlicon Valley, the friendly neighbors, and the great schools and even better medical facilities nearby. This is absolutely one of Palo Alto's wealthier streets, as indicated by the size of some of the houses, the types of cars in the driveways and three-car garages, and the sheer number of swimming pools in the backyards (which, of course, I am only aware of thanks to Google maps).

Here is the big red flag with this street - it is a mere block away from Woodland Avenue in East Palo Alto, which is geographically close but worlds away on the income spectrum. Any time you have two such neighborhoods close together, one of them has a huge target on its back and a huge potential for depreciation in value. Take a guess which of the two streets I am talking about.

I am not saying that one shouldn't live here or even indicating that it is unsafe, but just be aware of what you are getting yourself into. And if you do live in Palo Alto, wouldn't you want to be closer to 280 than 101, anyway?

With Chaucer Street being located as close to downtown as it is, the area is certainly one of the most desirable in town. Chaucer is one of the last streets to intersect University Avenue before hitting downtown Palo Alto, but the leafy, well-manicured streets, so characteristic of Palo Alto, make it seem worlds apart.

The road, and this entire area, bears semblance to a green tunnel, a feat that is quite remarkable given how business-minded and tech-savvy the whole area is, but such is Palo Alto. Chaucer does have the unique benefit/drawback of intersecting with both Palo Alto Avenue and Woodland Avenue, which contribute greatly to a higher degree of traffic than some of its nearby neighbors (let's be honest, I've used this as a way to bypass University Avenue traffic once or twice).

But with easy access to other neighborhoods and equally easy access to downtown Palo Alto's cafes, shops, and bars, who cares about a little bit of extra traffic?

Mercy Street is one of those picture-perfect, seemingly suburban streets that is not only completely safe, but located adjacent to downtown Mountain View. Intersecting Castro Street and immediately paralleling California Street, the area really has it all: coffee shops, bars, ethnic restaurants, nightlife, nearby businesses, and a safe, comfortable suburban atmosphere. Even traffic here is a fraction of what it is on the nearby side streets.

The down side, of course, is price: living here means paying at least several hundred thousand for small, traditional California ranches - and significantly more for larger, newer homes. Frankly, given the location, the atmosphere, and the consistent appreciation due to the Google-opoly that exists here, I would just as soon invest in a fixer-upper here for a lower price rather than purchase a larger, more expensive, move-in ready home. Either way, you can't go wrong here - as long as you can afford it.

Let's start by being clear about what Staten Avenue is NOT: It is not a place to raise kids. It is not without crowds. It is not comprised of cozy residences - and it IS a place where you will be on an eternal hunt to find a parking space. However, there are some great perks to living here as well. The area is close to downtown and even closer to Lake Merritt - easily walking distance. The renovated apartments around here are great, public transportation is even better, and across Bellevue Avenue, you will find a fraction of the crowds that are on this street.

Compared to the rest of the Bay Area, the prices are a fraction of the cost, especially the rentals and shares. There is no way that you could live in San Francisco and get the same kind of proximity to the amenities that you have here, and amenities (restaurants, bars, coffee shops) do exist within walking distance.

However, at the end of the day you are still in a crowded area in Oakland. At least it is a safe, crowded area with the lake nearby.

There is nothing too terribly special about Miles Avenue - it is an industrial-feeling, frontage road that parallels highway 24 in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood. This means that the street is in one of the town's best areas but maintains the gritty, industrial feel that is so common of Oakland. Houses here are average sized and older for the area, but are not terrible. The lawn space is limited.

Amenities here include Trader Joe's, a Montessori school, and a barber shop that is designed especially for children. Despite the proximity to the freeway and the lack of lawn space, the street seems oddly kid-friendly.

The biggest plus to living here is that, in addition to the town's own public bus line, the Rockridge BART is right around the corner. However, this also means that public transportation makes the area accessible WITHOUT having to live here.

The good news is that the section of Newark that is closest to the Dumbarton Bridge is filled with business parks, and is not very residential at all. The better news is that Marshlands Road is even more uninhabited than the rest of the area; virtually empty save a few government buildings.

The bad news? The area is completely overtaken by a sewage treatment area that anyone driving over the Dumbarton Bridge can smell. It is completely potent, even with windows shut, and is extremely hard to miss. I always wonder how people manage to WORK in the area, and could certainly not imagine living here.

So if some real estate developer decides, down the line, to build a seemingly underpriced network of condos in the area, be sure to steer clear. If you are moving to Newark, head for the hills (literally!) and go as far east as you can so as to avoid this area.

If you live in Menlo Park and have any choice at all, I highly recommend taking Junipero Serra Freeway when commuting along the Peninsula. It holds a fraction of the traffic, with exponentially more scenery, than its eastern neighbor (the 101).

This has quite a bit to do with the location - western Menlo Park is far more scenic and residential, with massive homes along the rolling hills. The eastern part of town is filled with businesses - and lots of them - stacked on top of one another. Residences here are smaller, closer together, and are often apartment or condo style - meaning higher population density all around.

Junipero Serra (aka 280) might not quite be the magic bullet to levitate your car above all other traffic, but it does serve as a nice reprieve.

Juniper Lane is one of Saratoga's finest - massive houses close to downtown make this easily one of the most expensive streets in the area. While it is not quite walking distance to the nightlife, it is still fairly close, and the ground here is flat enough that biking is fairly easy.

The houses resemble those on MTV Cribs in almost every regard - modern, clean, high-tech, with pools in the backyard. There is but one glaring exception to this - they are extraordinarily close together, like many residences in the Bay Area and all over California seem to be. This doesn't seem to be a problem for those who drop $1 million plus on these homes.

Aside from this, the only true down side is dealing with Saratoga traffic. But hey, it's Silicon Valley. If you can afford a house like this, you are probably used to commuting to your tech job, anyway.

Okay, to be fair, not everything is a condo here, but the places that aren't condos are small, modern ranches. We've all heard the term "location, location, location" in the world of real estate, and in Silicon Valley, this translates to proximity to the downtown areas. Franklin Street is just far enough that it avoids some of the noise and traffic, but close enough that one can walk to the many coffee shops, bars and ethnic restaurants nearby.

The houses here are either smaller or are condos, but that doesn't really affect the price. It's not San Francisco, but it's cool enough to warrant higher real estate prices for less space.

Campus drive, so aptly named, is truly the gateway to Stanford University. Circumnavigating the entire campus, it is a welcome change from Palo Alto's consistent congestion - but be prepared to pay hourly for parking on weekdays. That being said, the road can also be used as a through street to give a driving tour if you don't want to stick around. But where's the fun in that?

Fortunately, Campus Drive is also home to the visitors' center, your ticket to make the most of your trip here. Stanford really is one of the best college campuses to visit - steeped in history, but with a modern feel, it has everything from museums to sculpture gardens to sports fields to unique architecture - all with the Stanford name attached.

True to college campus form, everything to do here is free or cheap. This is a great resource for locals and tourists alike, and Campus Drive will get you here no problem.

Serra Street begins at El Camino Real and runs through the Stanford campus, first passing the residences, followed by the campus itself. The former is a driving road; the latter is pedestrian-friendly. Compared to the rest of Palo Alto, driving on the commuter streets on the Stanford campus is a joy, as the traffic is a fraction of what it is in the rest of the town. However, driving around Stanford also comes at a price (literally!) - it is one of the few places in town that actually has paid parking on weekdays.

But few people come visit Stanford to drive around. It is the beautiful green lawns, the unique art sculptures, the architecture, the history, and the museums that draw people here. Serra Street truly is at the center of it all, passing Hoover Tower and the Oval Park, among other Stanford icons. If you come visit the University, you will probably walk here, and driving on this road will get you back out faster.

Maple Street is the last cul-de-sac on the north side of Palo Alto's Crescent Park neighborhood before arriving downtown, which has some perks attached to it. It is further from the interstate but still protected from any through traffic by being a dead end. The houses are essentially mansions that just happen to be closer together, but it is still close enough to downtown that one can walk or bike. And, oh yeah, it is in one of Palo Alto's most desirable neighborhoods.

Given the size of the houses and the location, this neighborhood is indeed family-oriented - if you are a wealthy, hip, tech-savvy family. Palo Alto is unique in that it is comprised more of new Silicon Valley dollars than traditional old money, but that is still a certain niche role. It is very hard to get into, given how expensive it is, and the houses are still abnormally close together for residences of this size and affluence - but such is California.

Overall, probably one of the nicest places in town - if you can afford it.

Leland Manor is definitely one of Palo Alto's finest - although there are many neighborhoods in Palo Alto that could classify under this category, depending on what you are looking for. It's not the closest neighborhood to downtown, but it's close enough that one can still walk and flat enough that one can bike. Proximity to Embarcadero and Oregon Expressway make it easy to get to, without having to contend with the nightmare that is University Avenue traffic.

The houses are beautiful and well-manicured, although a bit close together (standard for this town). The neighborhood is more family-oriented and working adults, rather than young professional or student-driven, as is indicated by the nearby middle school.

Be prepared to pay Palo Alto prices to live here, but if you can afford it, this is a great place to raise a family.

Located on the California/Nevada state line, Crystal Bay is one of the most common lodging options for Bay Area weekend commuters. It offers the best of all worlds - casinos, gambling, nightlife, proximity to some of the best resorts in the Tahoe area (Squaw Valley, Northstar, Alpine Meadows, and Sugarbowl), and of course, stunning views of the lake all around.

Unlike the south shore, where the casino and ski populations seem far more segregated (I haven't a clue what the skiers down there do at night), visitors here tend to mingle more, and many daytime riders moonlight as gamblers. The locals are friendly, the tourists are psyched to meet and greet, the table minimums are low, and the ski homes here are some of the nicest in the area.

If you want come up from the SF Bay and do the Lake Tahoe scene, with the freedom to go to any mountain that you choose without feeling segregated at a resort, I recommend this fun ski/gambling town.

For a major interstate that runs through an even more major city, 280 is not so bad. Daly City is just about the last suburbia stop before hitting San Francisco, and is quite busy as well. Normally, even during rush hour, it is not too crowded coming in. If you are avoiding downtown SF and just trying to get to the western part of the city, this is the place for it. If you are a downtown commuter, you can get to work from here, too.

Traffic always seems to be worse going southbound, for some reason. Even when it is not a traditional rush hour time, 280 south seems to get hit with the standard congestion that one would expect. It is also slightly more industrial and less scenic here than in neighboring stretches of highway down south, but it is a manageable freeway nonetheless.

The more I look at nice areas in other questionable towns (Rockridge, Lake Merritt, Berkeley Hills, East San Jose Foothills), the more I realize that East Palo Alto has no such thing, making it, in some ways, the worst town to live in in the Bay Area. Notre Dame Avenue really isn't a huge standout one way or the other - it is simply a decent, understated, moderate street in the northeast quadrant of East Palo Alto.

Someday, if this town grows up into the gentrification that it is so well set up for, Notre Dame Avenue will be one of those great streets to live on. The relatively modern, 1950s ranchers are perfectly fine and no different than houses in other Bay Area towns, and even the worst ones offer a ton of potential. Proximity to University Avenue and access to the rest of the neighborhood mean that the road gets a little more TLC than some of its neighbors, and has amenities like stop signs and street lights (do NOT take these for granted).

In the meantime, it will continue to be plagued with noise, overcrowded homes, no parking on the street, and a shoddy school system that requires kids to be bussed to neighboring districts to get their education. Invest here, but certainly raise your family elsewhere.

There are several Oakland neighborhoods that make you think "wow, I'm not actually in Oakland," and Rockridge, particularly eastern Rockridge, is definitely one of these places. The dining options on college avenue could entertain even the most eclectic of foodies for days, and with its fair share of bars and pubs, the area provides some nightlife as well.

The homes, while not as fancy as some in the Berkeley Hills, definitely have that certain scenic je-ne-sais-quoi that only the Bay Area foothill homes truly embody. Public transportation is abundant here; you really don't need a car to get around (although walking and biking can be tiring given the pitch of the hills around here). BART will take you anywhere that you want in the Bay Area, without ever needing a vehicle.

This is a good thing, because parking here can be a nightmare. I actually know of several people around here who rent apartments and don't have cars, so they rent out their parking space and end up breaking even on their monthly rent. Let's just say that parking here is in high demand.

While it is still part of the cluster of highway in Oakland that some genius traffic planner created, highway 24 is definitely one of the better ones. The main reason? It is actually well-maintained and easy to drive on. This could very well have to do with the fact that it is in the nicer, eastern part of Oakland, or could be because it is not part of 880, which feels like a dirt road and is practically unmanageable if your car has no shock absorption. Either way, it offers a nice reprieve.

I have only driven here late at night or early in the morning, so I cannot speak to the traffic situation here compared to other interstates. It has always been more than fine for me.

Oakland still has a rap for being a sketchy town - which is, in some ways, accurate - but this is the place where you want to live. College Avenue, and Rockridge in general, feels more Berkeley than Oakland and has a much safer reputation.

The street lives up to its name in amenities alone. Among other things, there is a yoga studio, a Crepevine, a taqueria, and an insane amount of cafes, pubs, and other restaurants. The other huge convenience factor here is the Rockridge BART station, which allows you public transportation to anywhere in the Bay Area. They even have free parking on weekends, and $1/day parking on weekdays. I've left my car here overnight and felt completely safe doing so.

Rent is a bit more expensive here than other parts of Oakland, but overall, totally worth it.

Here is what is funny about Mission Street. Despite the fact that it has an entire, major San Francisco neighborhood named in its honor, this major road is anything but symbolic of what the neighborhood now represents. What was once a neighborhood of immigrants, many of whom were first-generation from Mexico, is now a community of hipsters, trendsetters, and young people trying to just "get by" in the city. Gentrification is practically symbolic of the neighborhood, but Mission maintains its traditional roots.

Chain establishments are about as common as coffee shops (read: NONE), but nonetheless, there are still some great finds. Here are a few:

Yoga to the People, just off of Mission on 16th Street, offers donation-based yoga multiple times a day. The studio is sprawling, the teachers are great, and the views of the city are a reminder of the great place we are in.

Taqueria Cancun, just north of 19th Street, has the absolute best Mexican food I have had north of Santa Barbara. I have at least two friends who agree. It is the greasy spoon, down-home food that is emblematic of late-night dining. So good!

And hey, you can probably still find a relatively cheap place to live here, too. If you are looking for nightlife, head over to nearby Valencia.

If there is a single icon in San Francisco that Harland Place is known for, it is the Irish Bank, which offers the biggest, loudest, most crowded, and greenest St. Patrick's Day party in the city. It is loud. It is crazy. There are at least three different forms of music playing at the same time. And it is a blast.

They open up the entire alley for most of the day and charge a $5 cover in exchange for the dance floors, the great company, the rented port-a-potties (good call!) and the thrill of doing something crazy on a holiday that is essentially designed for drinking. If I were a resident here, this is the one night a year that I would certainly adopt the "Can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude.

The rest of the year, this is still a fairly vibrant spot at night. Located in the Nob Hill area, this little alleyway is not far from plenty of other bars, restaurants, and late-night food spots worth their salt. It's not for those seeking peace and quiet, but it is a fun spot!

You would think that one of the wealthiest streets in the Bay Area would not be quite so close to a major road, but when real estate holds the value that it does here, you take what you can get. Hacienda Drive doesn't have a whole lot, but it is near downtown Woodside, which includes a few very nice, quaint restaurants and cafes.

Here is what it does have: stupidly large mansions that are afforded acres upon acres of space for the residents to spread out in. We're talking pools, wineries, tennis courts, the whole nine. Even some of the neighboring, equally wealthy streets don't have the sprawl that Hacienda does.

The road is definitely a blink-and-you-miss it spot, but once you are on the property, you would have to be blind to miss these homes. Is there a "beyond super-wealthy, enough net worth to own a small country" category?

I have often driven through La Honda on 84 and Pescadero, interchangeably, and scratched my head, wondering where people actually live in this town. Granted, there are not all that many residents here, but the ones who do live here certainly must live somewhere, right? It wasn't until looking at a map that I realized that Entrada Way, adjacent to the well-known Apple Jack's Inn, is the gateway to the actual residences and amenities in town.

Surprisingly, many of the houses here are more modest than one would expect for this town. Some are bigger, some are smaller, many look like farm houses, and all of them are dramatically overpriced. Unless you work for one of the camps, this is a tough town to get into.

One thing is for sure: if you are looking for peace and quiet, you have come to the right place.

Sears Ranch Road is not exactly the hip happening Bay Area spot by anyone else's standards...but for La Honda, it absolutely is. Home to the post office, the market, the elementary school, and Sullivan's bar, it is just about the best that the town has to offer.

On any given weekend night, you can find locals of all ages convening here (yes, the kids are allowed in the bars!) and like many hillside Bay Area towns, there is this phenomena of really good music being played at the local hole-in-the-wall bars. La Honda is no exception. Of course, the small town feel is accompanied by the beautifulness of the redwoods. Perhaps even better, this is just about the only spot in town where you will get ample cell phone reception. Not bad, indeed.

...but La Honda is even more quiet and remote. Closer to Silicon Valley but further from the ocean, Pescadero Creek Road in La Honda is about as back woods as one can get in the midst of one of the most populated areas in the nation. It really is a bit of an anomaly.

The beautiful redwoods and other trees make for great hiking, and road bikers with a death wish seem to enjoy zipping down these twisting, winding streets. Motorcyclists here are in heaven as well, it seems.

Houses here are ridiculously overpriced due to La Honda's population cap. It takes a really unique person to want to live ten miles from the nearest grocery store, but the peaceful, quiet, remote nature in the redwoods certainly has appeal for some.

Coming up from Cabrillo Highway, it is hard to beat the peaceful views of untouched beaches - but Pescadero Creek sure is comparable! The road winds up through the hill, first in the shrubbery, then in Douglas firs and madrones, and finally into the redwoods. Heading westbound, the road offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean (is it possible to use the word "stunning" too much?)

To be fair, there is very little in the town aside from a few county offices, cottage-like residences and overpriced gas stations. Cell phone reception goes away really quickly as you head up the road, and residents here (all five of them) pay a lot for a place that has virtually nothing there. But there is something about the nothing-ness that makes it so unique, and so beautiful.

In my opinion, few highways in the Bay Area are more pleasant to drive on than this one. This virtually untouched stretch of Pacific coastline offers picturesque, stunning views of the ocean on the whole drive. The long, clean breaks are a surfer's dream, and the expansive vistas are perfect for every photographer.

Traffic is surprisingly light, which could have to do with the fact that few work destinations or residences are located along this remote stretch. As a result, cell phone reception is complete out in places, which means that you will have to wait until Pescadero or Santa Cruz to upload your cell phone photos to Facebook.

If you are okay doing a little bit of driving and want to escape the crowds, this is a great place to find peace and solitude in an otherwise heavily populated area.

Cabrillo Highway, running from Santa Cruz north to Pacifica, is one of the most beautiful, untouched stretches of coastal road in the Bay Area. To be honest, I can't believe that the area hasn't been overdeveloped. Santa Cruz has the unique positioning of having the road start off as a pretty significant commercial/restaurant/nightlife spot, but it quickly turns into the massive, beautiful stretch of coastal highway that continues some 70 miles up toward San Francisco.

Few spots on the California coast have what Cabrillo Highway does - peace and quiet, aqua-blue water, clean, remarkable, large breaks...and stunning views, all within what is arguably the most under-populated spot in the Bay Area. This could easily turn into Malibu Beach meets Silicon Valley, but something has kept it virtually untouched.

Minimal traffic, coastal views, AND sunsets? This has to be one of California's best drives!