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Santa Clara is home to all of the public buildings in Alameda. The city town hall and other buildings are located on this street. There are always meetings going on during the weekends about road commissions and board plannings. There are also plenty of shops and areas of interest on Santa Clara street. I just can't really think of anything exciting that ever goes on Santa Clara. The crowd is all tie and jacket business oriented and the people that inhabit the street on the week days look too serious. Even on the weekends the street is lacking in excitement. There are some cute houses and nice neighborhoods on Santa Clara along Pacific Avenue. That would be a nice place to buy a house.

Clement Avenue is another great water front street in Alameda. I actually wished that my parents lived on this street instead of Independence Drive. This street offers candescent views of Tidal Canal which is flocked with water motorists in the summer. Clement Avenue is situated near McKinley Park which is an awesome park by it's own right and a great little but thriving baseball field called Thompson Field. There are plenty of docks lined with little yachts and house boats right off the street. At times, especially during rush hour the traffic noise is enough to give someone a headache. Pounding against the cement are cars on the Nimitz Highway across the canal. I don't know how anyone can sleep through a morning with such noise, that is really the only downside on Clement Avenue.

My parents live on Independence Drive. The area has increased in value but not a lot by California standards. The biggest surprise is that it sits on a Channel that opens up to the San Leandro Bay. Anything in California that is on the water is usually expensive. So this would be a great neighborhood to buy a house for a very decent price that is fairly close to the water. If you walk down to the docks you can see plenty of boats and the city of Oakland which is right across the channel. The docks are a lot more active than Independence Drive is. There is a lot of incoming traffic from Atlantic Avenue with people trying to access the Marina Parkway, so that makes it a little unsafe for kids at times. If parents keep a watchful eye on them, they are usually fine. Great street though to enjoy the quiet and downside of life.

Shoreline Drive is probably the best scenic road in all of Alameda. The road is covered with waterfront views and sandy beaches. It is hard enough to focus on driving without being interrupted by the constant scenery. The sunny days are the best because the sun is reflecting it's ways off the water which gives the whole a sense of heightened romance. Shoreline Drive is also a haven for many tourists, hotels, cyclists, joggers and a great area for summer activities. If you want to get enjoy a fun night out and catch water night views then you need to visit the Tapioca Bar. If your a girl then even better, because you can enjoy drink specials until midnight!

Every big and busy street in large cities have three things in common and those three things are an abundance of restaurants, at least one mall and plenty of stop lights! Encinal Avenue is know exception to this rule. All the big familiar names are not what make this street ideal, instead it is the little places. Dragon Rouge for example is a great hidden gem that serves traditional and authentic Vietnamese food. The place is sort of upscale, so dress for the occasion. My favorite hair salon called the Posh Lounge is also located on Encinal Avenue. This is a great street to catch the latest trends and also you're able to enjoy all the big names. Traffic is always busy in this area even at night. So drive with patience.

Central Avenue is another street that offers great Victorian houses. This street is a little more retail savvy than residential. The Alameda Theater is located on Central Avenue and during the weekends this movie theater mega-plex is a great gathering place to catch a movie and catch up on all the gossip with your friends. There is also a little historical section that is dedicated to the theater because it is pretty old, it has undergone construction though in recent years. You should also check out Central Avenue if you love wine. There is this great little wine company that is a great place to chill and enjoy the best of local and international wines.

Otis Drive takes you along about ten or eleven different streets that are located on this charming waterway that stretches through each of these streets. One of those streets is Pond Isle. All of the streets are very identical and I must confess without the water-way these streets would not be very exciting. The houses on Pond Isle are reflective in superior that much is evident but they lack originality. The houses all face this water-way which offers them access for plenty of water related activities. The many turns would make this an ideal place to jet-ski. I would love to to try to jet-ski through this area sometime. You probably actually know the area that I am talking about because the Alameda hospital is right in this area overlooking the water.

Cuteness and quaint should be the local advertisement for home buyers when it comes to Sandcreek Way. The neighborhood is simply residential with lot's of perks. The houses are newer. The designs vary. Some of are very contemporary and others reflect the whole SW architecture that can be found in New Mexico and Arizona. The area is close to an awesome park and a large sports field that has a track field and baseball field. Great area for families with kids and sport lovers. I would probably say that this street would be for the more seasoned home buyer because houses in this area certainly can stretch the budget.

I love Lincoln Avenue. It is pretty hard to miss Lincoln Avenue if you live in Alameda because the street is pretty big. The best thing about Lincoln Avenue is the houses. I love architecture and the houses on Alameda have a timeless appeal. Many of the houses resemble the Victorian era. They are big and spacious with lots of character. I live in one of these houses with five other girls! Certainly cannot afford one of these houses on my own. The superb decor continues with the little cafe's and the big modern department stores. This street is also home to most of the schools in Alameda, so there are plenty of students that frequent the area. Traffic is clustering at times and can easily be avoided by riding a bike. This is a great area to ride your bike in. The street has a very local and inviting feel.

When it comes to playing hide and seek in terms of street seeking then Fulton street is your quintessential street. There aren't really any areas of great interest on Fulton street and there certainly aren't any houses. The reason that I personally like this street is because of it's almost secretive location and I have a lot of good memories with my friends on this street. I know this might sound weird or even a little cliche but my friends and I would come down to this area a lot of times after it was dark to just hang out and be together. Fulton street is always one of those streets that I will remember with great fondness as I age. I don't really frequent the area much anymore, but this is a great place to hang out with your friends and be in a space where you won't really be bothered.