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Vegas Avenue certainly is not Las Vegas. This street is questionable when it comes to it’s credibility in the safety department. As a woman I always make sure my car is locked when I am driving through this area. I would never walk through this area at night. There is too much concrete and decay for this street to have any appeal. There are companies on this street that I have never even heard of. Public intoxication seems rampant on this street because alot of people seem to sway as they walk. If you are driving by with your windows down random people will yet out things to you for no reason. Usually they want money or something.

Listen up boys and girls of Castro Valley! When the weekend rolls around Madison Avenue is the place to be. So get all glammed up in your best attire and strut your stuff. This street is teaming with a young crowd after-hours. The selection of bars and late night joints offering food to drunken bar hoppers are a hit. The street is finely decorated in bricks along the bar avenue. You can hear live music strolling from some of the buildings as you walk by. This is a great area to meet new people, get together with your friends and leave all of your responsibilities at the door.

Charter Oaks Drive is the envy of Castro Valley. Home dwellers love these types of streets. Larger than meant to be houses with perfected yards and glistening pools. Close to a park, surrounded by a forest and strict traffic zones. The bumpers in the street are really annoying. I guess it is safe to say that no matter how fast of a driver you are you certainly won’t be speeding on Charter Oaks Drive. This is a newer street, only having been constructed in the last ten years. There are new houses that are springing up around this area all the time. It makes me worried that the woods surrounding the area are all going to be dismantled in the next few years. Great place to take a stroll and explore with the family. If you can afford it an even better place to live. I hear the schools in this area are top notch.

Cull Canyon Road is the perfect road to escape from the city. Take a drive down this road and you will find all of the elements of nature. Birds and squirrels are common sights along Cull Canyon road. The road is steep at places and can be rather torrential driving during extreme weather conditions. The road stretches through open fields, houses and a few other areas that are occupied by people. This road is known pretty much by the locals. It would be quite hard to drive out of your way and get lost on this road. If you are going to consider taking a drive on Cull Canyon road make sure you fill up your gas tank!

Veronica Avenue is well known for it’s decorative atmosphere during the holidays. During the holidays, I mean Christmas and the New Year. The fabulous display of lights that some houses showcase make driving one of the best things to do during the Christmas season. This is a tradition that I have taken up with my mom in the past few years, we drive around local neighborhoods and streets to check out the Christmas lights. The only thing that is missing is snow. Veronica Avenue also seems to be in heavy demand on the real estate market because there is never an empty house on the street.

When my parents first moved to America they ended up settling in Castro Valley on Sargent Avenue. Life was definitely very different in the U.S. than in Iran. Sergent Avenue proved to be a quiet but fun street. I made friends with plenty of other kids once I got over my initial shyness. I was not forced to wear my hijab to cover my hair but I did the first year out of comfort and familiarity. It was never an issue with any of my peers which is probably why I took to an instant liking to Sargent Avenue. The houses are all nice. Some of them are older and need of paint jobs and others fit the street very well. The road is large enough for traffic but not really big enough for street parking. Great family street.

I really wish there was more of an Persian scene in Castro Valley. If I want to shop at an Iranian market or something, I usually need to go into San Francisco. I still love eating cultural foods and there are plenty of restaurants in Castro Valley that specialize in Indian cuisine. Village Drive has a few different Indian restaurants including Aroma Cuisine of India. This is a nice place for lunch or dinner. The street also has a very strong Indian presence. Sometimes when I am driving down this street, I feel like I am in a different place. It is a combination of the smells and the styling.

Ray Avenue is a charming street with charming houses to match. The street is somewhat crammed together. I have never been a fan of houses that are so close together if you look out the window you can see into your neighbor’s house, but somehow it doesn’t seem that bad on Ray Avenue. The population from what I have seen is very diverse. The families include Asian, African American and Caucasian. I think it is great when diverse streets come together because they set examples throughout the community. There are plenty of children in the area, so I would advise retired couples to stay away.

Heyer Avenue is not a desirable location by any means. I live on a house in this street because of the affordable rates and it is close to my school. I think that one of the biggest downsides to Heyer Avenue is the fact that Castro Valley just seems to neglect the street all together. Maybe if they soaked some money into the street it could retain some of it’s vitality that it once had. This area is teaming with students, immigrants and poverty stricken families. It is quite an interesting mix.

James Avenue is a small street that is home to a quantity of Castro Valley’s most memorable restaurants. One of these places is the James Randall Restaurant, where the best Mexican cuisine is available at your finger tips in all of South Castro. Their prices are great, & the atmosphere is fun. Also, there is the Grand Avenue Thai Cuisine, which offers supreme service, & excellent food. Overall, this street is a must go for all who are passing through Castro Valley.