markahorn

Del Mar has long been that haunt of the Hollywood elite since the 1930's. On of it's founders Bing Crosby was also involved in the building and opening one of Del Mar's most famous landmarks Del Mar race track. Have no fear normal people live in Del Mar too if you take trip down 4th street you will find an ocean side community filled with beautiful houses with immaculate landscapes. If you play your cards right and save your money you might end up in Del Mar.

If you head to Camino Arriba in Ramona you will find yourself among several lovely homes in a truly rural settings. Most homes in this suburb feature large lots and some even have livestock. If you would like to raise your family on a farm in San Diego county than Ramona is the place you.

Well if you lucky enough to live in Encinitas then congratulations. If you don't than the place you want to dream about lining is the 4th street corridor. This is a collection of many lovely ocean front multimillion dollar properties. If you make it to Encinitas you'll find that it has small town charm and big 1-5 traffic problem. If you in a hurry maybe you could take the chopper.

Another rapidly growing suburb of San Diego, CA is San Marcos, CA. This rapid growth is being fueled by students and faculty of the new colleges opening up in this suburb. San Marcos has houses of all prices most are fairly new and on large lots. Take a drive La Cienega Road and you find a wide variety of different housing choices in this family friendly community.

Escondido is a really cool place to live. It happens to be one of the largest and rapidly growing suburb in San Diego County. Purer Road contains what are typical homes for this area large stylish high end home on large lots with really great landscaping. Escondido is a self contained community with good schools and many shopping opportunities. The only problem with Escondido is the I-5 commuter traffic. The drive to work is a modern Dante's Inferno.

Another great suburb to live in is Santee. Koonce Road is a great example of a typical Santee neighborhood filled with reasonably priced starter homes. The city itself is great. it is self contained and young families need not travel far for great shopping, good schools and exciting recreational activities. However if you need to travel the I-5 to San Diego you are in for an unpleasant commute. This would be a great place to live for work at home workers.

On of the classically beautiful areas in San Diego County is Carlsbad, CA. This city has homes of all values, excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, excellent schools and a family friendly environment. Sadly my visit to Carlsbad left me with one very unpleasant memory, the traffic. The traffic on the I-5 is just awful. That commute into San Diego is a nightmare. If your considering purchasing a home in this are it maybe worthwhile looking into public transportation.

One of the most interesting suburbs of San Diego is La Mesa. La Mesa has real small town charm. From the downtown distinct that has real character to the ultra modern Hacienda style homes that can be found in La Mesa the whole city has a real friendly atmosphere. One of the typical streets in La Mesa is Mayapan Drive. It is a winding road with Hacienda Style homes that are moderately priced (750k).

Chula Vista is a rapidly growing suburb of San Diego. Port Chelsea St. illustrates why. It is a winding road full of well constructed moderately priced family homes (550K range). The affordability of homes in this area along with a moderate commute and a family friendly environment make Chula Vista the choice of many area first time home buyers.

Poway is is my favorite San Diego suburb. Mesquite Tree Trail anchors a typical Poway neighborhood. Filled with large Spanish style houses with immaculate landscaping Poway offers great schools, lots of outdoor recreation and a very family friendly environment. In addition, the commute from Poway, although not easy, is easier than from some suburbs.

One of the housing options open to most Americans is not an option for many Bay Area residents. This option is the mobile home or pre-manufactured housing. One place this is available in the Daly City area is on Franciscan Drive. Many nice homes are available in the 50-100K range. In addition most mobile home parks have on-site maintenance people to insure a clean living environment.

If you take a look at Woodrow St. you will find several nice classic homes built in the late 20's. Unlike other old neighborhoods the houses in original Daly City have some space between them. This is a clean and quiet street, centrally located to schools, churches, shopping and public transportation. This is another great neighborhood to raise children.

On of the oldest neighborhoods in Daly City is the Bayshore neighborhood. Many of the homes in this area were built in the teens and twenties. If you take a look at one of the nice streets in this area Accacia Street you will see nice single family homes in a clean and quiet neighborhood. The negative is that the home are so very close to each other. I mean maybe 3 feet apart in some cases. So if you an outgoing person who tends to get along well with others this might be the place to be.

Right in the middle of downtown Daly City is a small quiet neighborhood called Hillside. The original city planners were wise to plan the neighborhood in a way that isolates it from the busy streets that surround it. Most houses in this are are single family structures built in the 50's. In Hillside the properties are in the 400-500k range. The central location of this neighborhood makes it a great place to raise a family.

I hate to focus on the negative but one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the real estate crash is the Serramonte Neighborhood. Many of the houses in this area are being short sold by banks caught in the real estate depression. You need to look no further than Serra Lane to find several large 4-6 bedroom homes on small lots being sold in the 450-650K range. This is primarily a middle class neighborhood full of hard working folks that spend a lot of time and effort working on keeping their property clean and functional. All these factors make this a great place to raise children.

If your looking for a neighborhood where the planner put the houses into the landscape look at the Southern Hill Neighborhood. The street that illustrates this landscape driven construction is Ardendale Drive. One side of the street is a flat plateau the other side of the road is a valley. Normally they would not bother building a road for one side construction in the case of Southern Hill the built on one side and in a fashion that allows resident to really enjoy the pristine natural landscape. Other than great views this is a quiet neighborhood of single family homes built in the 50's and in the 500K range.

If your looking for a well established neighborhood full of solidly built houses that are large and spacious then Broadmoor Village is the place to be. One of the anchor streets of this neighborhood is 87th Street. These houses range from 450K-650K and were built in the 40's. The large size of these homes is perfect for those looking to do some remodeling. This neighborhood has the advantage of being close to transportation.

If your looking for a reasonably priced home close to the ocean the Belcrest Ave. might be the place to be. Most houses in this neighborhood have 2 stories because if your high up it means that you can see the ocean. The awesome thing is you can get a 500k house and also have a ocean view. This neighborhood is clean and quiet. It is also centrally located. This would be a great place to raise kids.

If your in the market you may want to take a look at the houses on Bellhaven Court. Bellhaven Court is in a subdivision where that houses are very similar they are two stories with shingle roofs, adobe style qualities and double style garages. If you can afford a house in the mid 600k range this might be the place for you. It's clean, quiet and centrally located.

One of the most prominent streets in Daly City is Mission St. On Mission St. you will find many things that you need for everyday life. There are well over 100 shops, restaurants, fast food joints, houses, apartment complexes on Mission St. alone. In one way Mission St. illustrates the cultural diversity that makes up California today.

One of the nice things about San Jose is the wide variety of different types of housing available. One of the most popular types of housing is the condo. The Rose St. corridor has several condo units of sale. This is a nice established neighborhood centrally located to schools, shops and public transportation.

Sadly when the real estate bubble burst it burst over Willow Glen Neighborhood. You can see for your self by taking a drive down Husted Ave and looking at all the houses that are up for sale. The upside is that if you are in the market for a high end property some are available for at or below cost. On the positive side if you take a trip down Husted Avenue you will see many very nice and beautiful mansions. The neighborhood is quiet and safe and very centrally located.

If you wish to visit some really nice houses all you have to do is take a drive to Crystal Springs Court. This neighborhood is full of million dollar plus homes. I'll be honest sometimes I like just driving around and gawking at places like this. This neighborhood is clean, quiet and peaceful. It is also quite close to schools, churches and shopping.

If you want to see beautiful Milano style homes all you need to do is travel to Poglia Court. This street is just full of million dollar + properties. Needless to say these houses are spotless and the neighborhood is quiet and safe. This is a great place to raise a family if you can afford to.

If your looking for a starter home you need go no further than Holly Drive. There are many home for sale in this area. Most of these homes are nice well built homes originally built in the 50's. In addition this is a clean established neighborhood centrally located and close to schools, parks, churches and shopping. Since most homes in this are are in the 250-350K range these homes are affordable to middle class families.

It was suggested that if I wanted a scenic drive inside of San Jose I should travel the lenght of Alum Rock Road. I am certainly glad that I did. The drive really showed me what the area would look like if it wasn't populated. This would be a really great drive on a motor bike. If you continue the trip into town you will end up a the Mexican Heritage Plaza which is basically like a outdoor performing arts center. What a cool park and drive.

Beginning at N 4th and Jackson traveling 2 blocks East to N 6th St and then 2 blocks further North you will find San Jose's Japantown. This are is full of Asian restaurants, groceries and retail shops. Occasionally you will even see a parade or celebration marking a significant occurrence on the Japanese calendar. This area isn't flashy but it is well worth visiting.

On Curtner Ave. right off the busy Bascom is the International Food Bazaar. The minute I walked in I felt like I was transported to the Middle East. The have an enormous selection of produce aimed at Middle Eastern and Eastern European clientele. They also offer Halal Meats and a wide variety of prepared foods. This store is well worth a special trip.

If you travel Bollinger Road you will see small businesses, school, homes and churches. What you MUST find is a great cafe called Caffe Adria. They have many different coffee drinks and small food items. By far the most popular drink is the White Chocolate Mocha which is heavenly. Don't miss this gem it's worth making a special trip for.

If you take a trip down Story Road you will find a small stretch between S. White and S Jackson. That features several restaurants that serve tasty food. These restaurants include El Pollo Rico (Chicken), La Perla Taqueria Restaurant (Various), Bakery Mexico (Pastry), Boda Chinese & Vietnamese Food (Pho), Phu Lam Chinese Restaurant and Texas Smokehouse BBQ (USA). No matter which you choose it will be tasty.

If you looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood look no further than Ash Avenue. Many of the units in this neighborhood were built in the 30's. What makes Ash Ave unique is that there are no houses to the west of the street. This means that it is much calmer than many of the other streets in the area. This area is a ideal place to raise your family.

If you looking for some larger moderately priced home near downtown you might want to look at the Cypress Ave neighborhood. Many of the houses in this area were built in the 90's in a older style to fit in the neighborhood. You can find several 2-4 bedroom units in the 400k range. This neighborhood also offers the residents a close proximity to schools, restaurants, shopping, etc.

On of the segments of the housing market that isn't well served in the Bay area is the starter home market. In the area in and around downtown that are many 30's era smaller homes that could potentially serve as a nice starter home. One specific neighborhood is the 3rd Lane neighborhood. This is a old established neighborhood that should frankly use a facelift. This being said a savvy shopper may find a great bargain house in this area.

If you looking for a nice high end house with a spectacular view you need look no further than Monte Vista Way. These homes are designed to allow the full enjoyment of the view provided by their lofty perch. Most houses have 3-5 bedrooms, high ceilings and large picture windows. This neighborhood is strategically located close to parks, schools and shopping. Last but not least this is a quiet clean neighborhood that is a great place to raise children.

South Canal Street is kinda off the the beaten path. Trust me it's worth the trip even if you only visit Chef's Warehouse. As the name implies this is a really great kitchen supply store. If you love to cook you will love to buy your cooking equipment at Chef's Warehouse. Unlike many other retail outlets Chef's Warehouse goes out of their way to focus on only the best equipment available.

I'm not the biggest golfer in the world but one of my biggest problems is being able to find one place that I can visit to get everything I need to play well. If you have the same problem head over to Noor Ave pass by the Staples and check out The Golf Mart. This little store has everything a golfer needs. If your looking for clubs they have most in new or used condition. The staff is also very knowledgeable and can help you find what you need.

If you head over to Spruce Street yu find a nice collection of retail outlets for your shopping pleasure. Right in the middle of the chain stores you'll find a Bay area original Raymond's Sourdough. Raymond's is a sourdough bread bakery. They make fresh bread every hour. In addition to sourdough they offer other tasty bakery treats. Wonder if your kids will like sourdough? Once they smell the great fresh bread smell they will love it.

In the middle of what is a really large grouping of ethnic shops and restaurants you'll find Ongpin. Ongpin is a Filipino restaurant that in my opinion is a real standout. They serve really good food at a reasonable price. I guess some of the dishes are a little Americanized but still retain their great flavors. I can't recommend this place enough. It's worth a special trip.

In a little grouping of retail stores that features the mega store Costco you will find a grocery store that is really concerned with providing a great customer experience namely Trader Joe's. I really like this store it seems like the stores were designed with customers in mind. It has a great selection of staples and prepared foods. The only negative is that parking is kinda of tight.

If your traveling the Bayshore Freeway and you decide to exit at Terminal Ct. be careful to avoid the handtrucks, forklifts and 18 wheelers parked to be unloaded. Your destination is Hogan's Cafe. This is a true old fashioned diner in the middle of a very busy area. They have classic diner food with a California twist. My favorite thing is this food is served with a real concern for the customer. What ever you order you get the feeling that the owners make it clear that the staff is to do their best to deliver that best food to you as possible. I love this place.

In the middle of a short little shopping area you will find New England Lobster. In my opinion this is the best lobster place in the Bay area. They are basically the live lobster supplier for the Bay area. In addition they have live crabs and anything else that come in and looks good. If you need live, fresh seafood for any occasion this is the place for you.

If your looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood then Santa Clara St. is your street. Composed of post WW II constructed homes this neighborhood is a great place to start a family. Your proximity to churches, shopping, parks, highway access and restaurants makes Santa Clara St. an ideal location.

If your looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood then Langunitas Lane is your street. Composed of post WW II constructed homes this neighborhood is a great place to start a family. This is a great location because this neighborhood is right next to Kenneth Birchfield Memorial Park. This is a great place to raise children.

If your looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood then Surrey Way is your street. Composed of post WW II constructed homes this neighborhood is a great place to start a family. Your proximity to churches, shopping, parks, highway access and restaurants makes Surrey Way an ideal location.

If your looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood then Lawton Place is your street. Composed of post WW II constructed homes this neighborhood is a great place to start a family. Your proximity to churches, shopping, parks, highway access and restaurants makes lawton Place an ideal location.

If your looking for a nice starter home in a well established neighborhood then Kim Place is your street. Composed of post WW II constructed homes this neighborhood is a great place to start a family. Your proximity to churches, shopping, parks, highway access and restaurants makes Kim Place an ideal location.

If your looking for a nice starter home in the actual city of Hayward you need look no further than Lone Tree Place. In this neighborhood you'll find a variety of different small home priced in the starter home range. This neighborhood could use some spiffing up but it is not in bad shape. Of course residents will find themselves very centrally located.

Another great neighborhood full of nice starter homes is the Mesa Verde Community. On of the main streets of this community is Gary Drive. The great thing about this community is that there are no overhead neighbors. This mean that the area is much more quiet than the average subdivision. The houses in this neighborhood average around $250K. This is a great place to raise children.

On thing that Hayward has is a large number of homes that fit in the starter home category. On Kelly St. there are many 1-3 bedroom homes selling for between 250 and 350 K. This neighborhood is close to schools, parks, shopping, churches, etc. This neighborhood can get a little noisy but altogether it's a great place to raise kids.

If you want to find out where the high end new construction is happening just take a drive out to Arundel Drive. This housing addition features large new houses on relatively small lots. This are high end homes selling for 850K- 1M. Most homes are multilevel and many have pools. Of course this neighborhood is close to every thing you need to live the good life.

Well if you don't mind driving a little take a trip down Foothill Boulevard until you reach the Golden Mountain Restaurant. I really like this place cause they feature traditional Chinese flavor combos with much less grease. If you have a chance try the salt baked chicken, anything with pork belly or the soy sauce fish. Enjoy this restaurant has something for everybody.

Well if you visit Industrial Parkway West you may be underwhelmed. However if you take a moment to stop and have a coffee at the Hayward Starbucks you will be drinking coffee in the Starbucks with the best service I have ever seen. If you don't feel like sitting around you can take your coffee and walk through Stratford Village Park.

If you travel the lenght of B street you will see a street that has seen better days. However as you get closer to downtown you will run into some really cool shops and restaurants. In addition you'll find a cinema, hardware store, Mexican craft store and a really nice book store.

If your looking for a nice starter home right in the middle of every thing that's going on in the middle of Castro Valley. Most homes in this area were built in the 1950's. Many have between 1-3 bedrooms. Homes in this area sell in the 250-350K range. Of course in this are you are closed to everything including schools, restaurants, stores and highway access.

If your looking for a very large new house with 5-7 bedrooms and a nice relaxing pools then Fairweather Court is the place for you. This homes are on the high end 750K-1.5M and most have pools and some have Olympic size pools. This neighborhood is quiet, clean and close to all the amenities needed. This neighborhood is a great place to raise children.

If your looking for a nice compact house built in the 50's in a quiet stable neighborhood then Cottage Court is for you. Most homes on this street have 1 or 2 bedrooms and moderate square footage. Most homes in this are are in the 250-350k range. Of course this neighborhood is close to schools, park and great shopping. This is a great place to raise a family.

I don't mean to pick on Sherman Drive but it is smack dab in the middle of a sardine can full of big houses on super small lots. This is the first housing addition built in the 21st century style. Put a huge house on a micro lot. The only positive is that many of these houses were built in the real estate boom of 2000 many are available as foreclosures. Sadly the close proximity to your neighbors would no doubt cause conflicts.

The houses on Dalmatia Ave. are really cool. They were mostly built in the 1990's so you have the amenities of the 90's in a very established older neighborhood. These homes are medium sized on smaller lots so they are perfect for middle class families. Of course many great schools, parks, shopping and highway access are close by.

The houses on Brent Court were mostly built in a pseudo Spanish style. They were built in the land boom of the early 70's. Almost all the houses on this street are built on, in and around the scenic hills in this area. Of course this neighborhood is quiet and close to all of the essential services. It would be a great place to raise a family.

I really love the houses on Crest Avenue. For the most part these houses are 2-4 bedrooms on medium size lots. These houses usually cost around 500k which makes them perfect for middle class families. This neighbor hood is less than 1 mile away for school, hospitals and shopping. My favorite thing is that many houses have a huge park as a back yard.

Many of the houses along Crow Canyon Road are quite expensive because they are on huge lots. Crow Canyon Place offers homes built in the 90's on much smaller .25-.5 acre lots. This makes the homes more affordable and the neighborhood demographic more middle class. I would love to find a house in this area.

On of my favorite residential areas is Old Dublin Road. Most of these homes are 3-6 bedroom, brick homes built in the 1940's. The great thing about these homes is that many of the lots are bigger than 20 acres. That is what I love solid homes an huge lots very close to town.

Once a year Castro Valley holds a tremendously large parade honoring it "cowboy" past. It's called The Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade. This parade route is straight down E. Castro Valley Blvd. The parade is full of horses, cowboys and clowns. I'll be frank your kids will love it but adults will find themselves bored.

Located on 4128 Bay Street between Chapel Way & Papazian Way is Mideast Grocery and Deli. This is one of many restaurant offerings in this Fremont shopping area. Mideast ha absolutely the best shawerma sandwiches, falafel and Kibbeh Neyah. As a bonus they have groceries if you need an excuse to stop in on your way home.

If you travel on Christy St. just East of Auto Mall Parkway you will find a collection of four restaurants that I really enjoy. The first, Panera Bread, is a chain restaurant that serves the best sandwiches. The second is Premiere Pizza which is a kid friendly place that makes good pizza. The third is Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill which uses super fresh ingredients to make very tasty food. Last but not least is Vida Y Vino Wine Bistro which is a Tapas Bar with a great wine selection. I promise you won't leave Christy St. hungry.

I'm giving you a little insiders tip to attending the Fremont Festival of the Arts. We always walk down Hastings St. to get to the festival. Hastings Street and many other downtown Fremont are transformed into booths, stages and makeshift galleries all in the name of celebrating the many different types of artistic expression. This festival is, in my opinion, is the biggest event in Fremont.

It seems like Fremont has done a good job to place it's interesting places in plain view to motorists. I'm tooling down 84 and I notice what look like a farm in the middle of Fremont. Further investigation discovered the Ardenwood Historic Farm. My family spent a great afternoon there the little ones loved interacting with the animals and seeing how the vegetables were grown. Planning to return this year at pumpkin time.

When your driving along the Paseo Padre Parkway you will notice a large open mostly dusty area. This is Coyote Hills Regional Park. You will find yourself compelled to exit the parkway and check out some cool trail. Along with a visitors center there are a selection of many trails that offer a peaceful respite from the noise and traffic of the city. Take a hike, take a break.

On Iron Horse Lane between G and H St's you'll find the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. The museum it self is undergoing renovation and expansion. You will find a mix of photos, movie posters, projectors, etc in the museum but the true draw is the screenings of the classic silent movies. The entire family will enjoy watching a silent classic movie. If you visit Fremont you must visit the museum.

The Buddhanusorn Thai Temple is located on Niles Blvd. between Linda Dr & Rancho Arroyo Pky. This is a beautiful authentic Thai Buddist Temple. The temple itself is designed and built in the Asian style. The grounds of the Temple are groomed in the Thai style. We were happy to discover when we arrived that there is a Thai restaurant on site that serves food to raise money for Temple upkeep. This Temple is a must see for any fan of Asian culture.

Head east on Anza-Pine Road and you will find yourself on the campus of Ohlone College. Established in 1965 Ohlone is an example of a typical commuter college built to serve the needs of Veterans furthering their educations with GI Bill money. You'll notice there is a lot of parking, a lack of dorms and a compact campus layout typical of a commuter campus.

On a short stretch of Anza St, just West of Ohlone College you will find three of the best restaurants in Freemont. First Seisho Japanese Restaurant offers delicious authentic Japanese cuisine. Next door is Mission Burger home of the best burger in Fremont IMHO. The next restaurant is Tony's Tacos. This is a small family run restaurant that pack a big punch of flavor. An added bonus is the fact that all the restaurants are reasonably priced.

At the corner of Stanford and Vineyard Ave. you'll find one of my favorite parks in the Bay area, Mission Peak Regional Park. This park has several hiking options but the best it to hike to the peak itself. This hike is not easy or hard but it is somewhat testing. Two problems are that the lack of trees means that it is hot in the park and on the trail and the fact that there are some snakes hanging around the park. All problems aside the view from the peak is worth the trouble.

You can find Andrew Spinas Park at the corner of 2nd Ave. and Bay Road. This is a cool park with all new playground equipment. The thing that I really liked was is best described as a monster spray hose placed in the middle of a astroturf circle. This is really cool for kids that are non swimmers it lets them play in the water without swimming. The park also has lighted tennis courts, BBQ pit, Picnic area and rest rooms. A really clean and fun park.

Since I'm a tennis lover I always want to pass on the park(s) that offer tennis in the cities I visit. On the corner of Turkshead at Quay Lane you will find Dolphin Park. This is a neat clean 2 acre park with a picnic area, BBQ pit and a playground. The star of this park is the tennis court. This is a readily available really nice public court. This park is great the kids can play on the equipment while you play tennis.

On the corner of Locust St.and McEvoy St. is the very tiny Fleishman Park. It is less than a acre big but offers summer swimming, playground, picnic area, BBQ pits and restrooms. One warning is the fact that the park is so small that on a nice day this park can get very busy. Please remember that parking on busy days will be tough.

You will find Shore Dogs Park in the 1300 Block of Radio Road in Redwood City. This is a cool fenced in park designed for dogs and their human friends. The good thing about the park is that the play area is fenced it. The fence allows the dogs to run and play as they wish. This park demonstrates that Redwood City is a dog friendly city.

You will find Marlin Park at the corner of Neptune Dr./Cringle Dr.. This park is a very good substitute for Hoover park until renovations are finished there. Marlin Park is a 11 acre park featuring football, soccer and baseball fields, a play ground, picnic area, BBQ pits, Tennis courts, Basketball courts and restroom facilities. This park is very nice and in a great location.

At the corner of Woodside Rd. and Spring St. you will find Hoover Park. This park is a large 10 acre park in the middle of Redwood City. I understand that the park is currently undergoing renovation. Personally I loved the pre-renovation park. I can't wait to see what they have planned for the new park. The new park will have a pool open in the Summer, ball fields, playground, picnic area, BBQ pits, basketball courts and rest rooms. This is a great place to let you kids blow off some steam after traveling around sightseeing.

Right in downtown on El Camino Real is a monster mall called Sequoia Station. One of the cool things about this mall is they have their own parking. On my last visit they had a 24 hour grocery and pharmacy. They have around 20 restaurants including coffee shops, pizza, health food and candy store. They also have many clothing store, post office, dry cleaners, etc. Literally everything you would need. They are also right next to the Cal Train Station.

If you visit Redwood City you must visit the historic Fox Theater. It is located right around the corner for La Fiesta restaurant on Winslow. The theater is massive and takes up the block. It is truly a beautiful venue. Happily for us the management is often booking all types of acts to play there. In my opinion it is worth the ticket to just see the interior of the theater. Please keep in mind parking in downtown Redwood City is tough.

On Saturday mornings between 8 AM and Noon they have a really awesome Farmers Market. It is easy to find it is on the corner of Winslow and Hamilton. The market is kinda on the small side focusing on organic produce. This is a real event with bands and many sales at most local shops. This event would get 5 stars but I'll be honest parking is tough.

One of the most amazing things about Redwood City are the vast array of shopping options visitors have while visiting. On of the most impressive strips is a one block stretch of Main St. between Broadway and Middlefield. In one block you'll find an branch of UC, galleries, antique stores, gourmet grocery store, night clubs and a employment agency. You could spend hours in this block.

If you are serious about playing or learning to play tennis in San Leandro the sooner you find out about Heath Park the better. The park is basically just a collection of tennis courts.The park also has a portable restroom, drinking fountain, picnic table and barbecue. The park also has off street parking. This is both a place to play and a place to be seen in San Leandro.

This is a must not miss short little drive. When they constructed the marina they needed to make some some land extensions to form the marina. On these extensions are a couple of short little roads you can drive on. The great thing about these roads is that they are in the bay. When you drive on the road the view is awesome. Try West Dike Road for a unforgettable view.

Bonaire Park is located at the corner of Juniper and Sagewood streets. It is a 5-acre neighborhood park. The purpose of the park was to provide a place for the local residents to have picnics, let their children play and to provide a place for the neighbors to play horseshoes. The park has picnic areas, playground, restrooms, horseshoe pits and plenty of off-street parking.

Cherry Grove Park is a 4-acre park, located on Leonard Drive at Williams Street. The park is right next to John Muir School. Amenities include a tennis court, 10 barbecue pits, night lighting, parking, 21 picnic tables, play areas and restrooms. The tennis court must be reserved through city hall.

Siempre Verde Park is located at the corner of Park Street and San Leandro Boulevard. It is a very nice green open space that provides a recreational space for the residents in the area. The park has a play ground, basketball courts, a baseball field, a picnic area, BBQ pits and restroom facilities.

Memorial Park, built and opened in 1938, is San Leandro's oldest park. You can find Memorial Park at the intersection of Bancroft and Callan avenues. A Creek runs along the north side of Memorial Park. The park large sitting areas and picnic facilities and two separate playgrouds. There are 5 barbecue pits, 10 picnic tables and restroom facilities.

Located right behind the Dayton Elementary School is the Dayton playground. This is a great place to take the kids to play on the summertime in San Leandro. Since it is located in the middle of a neighborhood and behind to school it is a quiet respite from the busy city life. The playground has all the standard equipment that your kids love.

At the north end of Elvina Drive you will find a nice place called Stenzel Park. It is an nice neighborhood park located in the middle of San Leandro. The park has four regulation ball fields, four barbecue pits, six picnic tables, a half court basketball court, restrooms and a concession booth. If you want to watch a game or play a game this is the place for you.

Travel the short distance down Wicks Boulevard and you will end up at the Marina Community Center. This cool meeting space is the home of many events in the San Leandro area. Most large scale meetings and conventions in this area are help in the Community Center. In addition the grounds of the Community Center are quite nice and any visit to the center should include a stroll around the Center.

Every Wednesday evening between 4PM and 8PM from May to October on Parrott Street between E 14th St and Washington Ave in downtown San Leandro you will find a vibrant marketplace of sweet, juicy, tree-ripened fruits; delicious, healthy, just-picked vegetables; beautiful fresh-cut flowers; gourmet foods; and tasty snacks. This is the famous San Leandro Farmers Market. You should check it out it's a great event.

Right off 9th Avenue is a great place called Central Park. The park has great sport facilities and a modern playground. What makes this park unique is that there is an authentic Japanese Garden and a functioning narrow gauge railroad. This is really a great green space in the middle of a city. The best thing about this park is that it appeals to adults and children.

Well it's not Harvard but this area is the home of the College of San Mateo. It is a very compact and functional campus built by professionals for students. One of the coolest things that I found to do was to take in a great show at the super cool planetarium. The show was good enough to hold the attention of even very small children. Parking is tough when school is in session.

I hate to say it but this area of San Mateo is kinda of like a graveyard of sorts. It is the home of soon to be destroyed Bay Meadows race course. This great track was home to all of the equine stars and even served as the home base of the best jockey in the history of horse racing Russel Baze. I recently visited this area and I'm glad to say that I know what a horse track looks like before they destroy them all.

At the end of Bahai street you will find the Los Prados Park. This is a great park with a lake, playground, picnic area and lots of green spaces. The best part of this park is the fact that they have a full service conference center on the park grounds. This would be a great place to have a meeting you would be in the city and the country at the same time.

Right in the middle of a residential neighborhood is the compact Beresford Park. I really love this little park. It is very clean and full of smiling faces. In this small park they have a garden center, playground, restrooms, tennis courts, baseball diamond, skate area, bocce ball court, picnic area, basketball court and indoor meeting area. If you want to do it it is here. Enjoy. I'll see you there.

Nestled in the middle of a residential neighborhood is a great park called Fiesta Meadows Park. It is a small park just filled with spirit. I dropped by on a Saturday just in time to see a spirited soccer game and sample the products of a few street vendors. Soon after I arrived I realized that this was the place that the neighborhood comes to play. In addition to the soccer field the park has a playground and restrooms.

Lakeshore Park lies East of Marina Court and stretches all the way to the San Mateo/ Foster City slough. The park has a nice picnic area, basketball courts and BBQ pits. It even has a small sandy beach. In my opinion the beach and the water is really not clean enough for swimming. So if you bring the kiddies make sure to have plenty of things to keep them busy and out of the water. This park would be a nice place to go on a cooler day when you can't swim but would like to be near the water.

At the end of Seal Court is a very nice place called the Parkside Aquatic Park. This park was designed with little swimmers in mind. The beach is nice and sandy, the water shallow and warm. The area is wide open which makes it very easy to keep an eye on your children. Please keep in mind that all urban parks with nice beach areas will be very busy at all times.

Off of a very busy street you will find Ryder Court Park. This park offers a place for families to bring their children along with the family dog for a nice urban beach experience. This is a very small park with a nice beach area. In this part of the Bay area this means it's a very crowded and noisy place. If you don't like noise, kids or dogs this is not the place for you. If your use to bedlam you can have a very good time here.

Nestled in this residential neighborhood is Gledora Drive a small quiet road that leads to a nice neighborhood spot called Laurelwood Park. The first thing I noticed about this park is how clean it was. Later I was surprised to discover that this park allowed dogs. This park is very quiet with a nice picnic area with tables. If you didn't bring food there are several nearby restaurants where you can pick up some food and eat in the park. If your thinking about moving into this neighborhood a visit to this park will let you know what the whole area is all about.

Anchored by the magnificent Ritz Carlton nothing demonstrates the transformation of Coconut Grove more than this wonderful hotel. Once a haven for hippies Coconut Grove is being transformed into an upscale trendy location. This area features popular shops, good food and a lively nightlife fueled by relaxing univesity students. On your next trip to Miami visit Coconut Grove.

In the Fabulous Fifties Miami was the true American Riviera. New renovations have made it very fashionable to visit Miami Beach again. Perfect weather a nice beach and fashionable hotels draw vistors to Miami in the 21st century as they did in the 20th century. Just head north of 24th on Ocean Drive your in Miami Beach proper. How sweet it is.

It's very surprising that this neighboord is within a stones throw from the most exclusive properties in the United States. Espanola Way between 5th and 15th is a unique mixture or restored buildings from the 20's and brand new construction. Espanola Way is in it's own way a bohemian respite from the glitter and glitz of Ocean Drive. The buildings, resturants and shops have a unique sixties flair. It is a little break from the excess of South Beach.

For some reason when celebs visit Miami they often end up on Collins Ave. I believe the unique combination of small exclusive hotels, resturants and shops make it perfect for a quick private vacation. I also like to mention that my favorite resturant Emeril's Miami Beach is on Collins Avenue. If you want a relatively quiet time and price is no object Collins Ave is for you.

If your looking for a street that has botique hotels, trendy restrants, cute shops and hopping bars Washington Ave is the street for you. Washington Ave. between 5th and 20th is a eclectic mix of high end hotels, shops, clubs and resturants. If you only have one night in Miami choose Washington Ave.

It's often said if you want the best shop the best. The Lincoln Road Mall is located between 16th and 17th Street on Lincoln Road. This mall give the area a European feel. This is not your grandmothers mall, it has trendy shops, art galleries, movie theaters, a variety of resturants featuring European Cuisines, etc. This is probably the most eclectic group of shops I have ever visited.

On or around NE 54th St, and Biscane Blvd. is a colorful, lively neighborhood know as Little Haiti. You will find a large variety of shops, resturants, music and products of all kind that celebrate the Haitian culture. Have a great french meal, visit a voodoo supply store or have your fortune read. Many options that you find here you won't find anywhere outside of Haiti.
.

One of the great things about MIami is the great ethnic neighborhoods. One of the largest and best is little Havana. On or around the general area of 1500 SW 8th St is a large vibrant, lively neighborhood full of everything Cuban. If your looking for Cuban food, Cuban music, Cuban movies, etc. This is the place for you.

In order to meet the demand for upscale shopping, dining and residential space developers have been moving quickly to conver Brickell Ave. to an upscale living area. This street is in close proximity to where many of the movers and shakers of Miami work and play. Most of the development as occured in the 500-1500 blocks of Brickell Ave. Needless to say this is a lively and colorful street perfect for people watching.

The short strech of Ocean Drive between 5th-20th Street is also known as South Beach or the Art Deco District. This street is hom to several buildings in the Art Deco style. The pastel colors are just lovely in this setting. In addition to the hotels Ocean Drive is home to trendy shops and popular resturants. Even if you can't afford to stay here you sure can still enjoy it for free.

One of my favorite walks in Philadelphia is what I call the yesterday to today walk. I start a Penn Landing and walk west on Walnut Street in until I hit the river. This route passes many of the historically signifigant sites and clearly demonstrstes the transition fom historic Philadelphia to modern day Philadelphia. Walnut Street is a colourful and lively street that measures the pulse of Philadelphia.

Arch Street between Front St. and Ninth St. is a area that represents the beginning of the transition of historic Philadelphia to modern Philadelphia. Heading west you'll see important buildings such as The Betsy Ross House, The Arch Street Meeting House, The US Mint, The National Constitution Center, The Federal Reserve Bank and the African American Museum. In addition to goverment and historic buildings Arch street is also a residential street with many stores and lovely homes.

Market Street has been a signifigant thoroughfare for entire history of the City of Philadelphia. I always visit the Independence Vistor Center to find out what is going on in the historic area of Philadelphia before I hit the street. There is information on hours, guided tours and walking tours. The area of Market between Front and Ninth St. is a lively, colorful street.

One of the most Historically Signifigant steets in the world is Chestnut Street between Front St. and Ninth. I can't possible doi this street justice but in a short strech you'll find sich sights as Congress Hall, The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and The Bourse. The density of history sites in this area is truly amazing you could spend a entire day exploring here.

In a city full of historical sites Walnut St. between Front and 9th St is full of old world charm. Walking west from Front you'll pass the City Tavern, The Eighteenth Century Garden, The Todd House and finally The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution. Each of these sites are interesting but the group helps remind us how important Philadelphia is in American History.

On a stretch of PIne St. betwee 7th and Broad you'll find Philadelphia's lively antiques row. This strech od Pine is home to an eclectic mix of shops, resturants and bars. In addition, there are many refurbished residential units that lend a old school feel to this district. This area is more than a shopping district it is a living neighborhood.

On of my most pleasant Philadelphia surprises is Jewlers Row. Located on Sansom St. between 7th and 8th Jewlers is a busling clean and vibrant area of Jewlrey stores and shops. No matter what your'e looking for you'll find it in one of the over 50 shops here. Take a moment to enjoy shopping.

I always have had a fondness for college campuses. Philadelphia just happens to be home to the University of Pennsylvania. You can get real feel for the Ivy League by taking a short stroll down the Locust Walk. Locust St. between 39th anf 40th. It central location and historic feel gives me a real feel for the University. Just a note many of the areas around the University are in transition. Please be aware of your surroundings and use your common sense.

Since my gradchildren are always on my mind when I go to a new place I always check out the Zoo. Philadelphia just happens to have a very nice zoo. You can get a feel for the zoo by walking Girard Ave. between 34th and Zoological Drive. After finishing this short walk I'll be surprised if you don't just take a few hours to visit the zoo.

First time visitors to Philadelphia are often surprised by Fairmount Park. An over 4400 acre respite from the city in the city. I once had a very enjoyable walk starting out at 22nd and Pennsylvania Ave. and walking NW on Pennsylvania Ave. This is a starting point for excursions into the park and fills you in on the true park feel of Fairmount Park.

Long known as Atlanta's Common Groud Piedmont Park has long been the outdoor venue of choice for outdoor events in Atlanta. Piedmont Park entrances are located at 12th and 14th and Piedmont. The park has a wide variety of trails, activities, artwork, etc. This park will keep your family busy for an entire day. Much like Central Park all of the streets around Piedmont Park have that country in the city feel.

Turner Field in Alanta is home to the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta has done the sports stadium thing right. On a strech of Hank Aaron Drive from Georgia Ave. to Fulton St. you'll find a real palace dedicated to all that is sports. At the Fulton St. end you'll find the olympic torch from the 1996 olympics. Heading further south you'll dicover that Turner Field is no normal baseball stadium. It has resturnats, museums and shops. Last but not least they also play baseball there. Take in a game and much more at Turner Field.

Boy do I like Urban College Campuses. Atlanta has one of the best. The Georgia Tech Campus is large and very interesting. Probably the best way to get a real feel for this campus is to pick a very busy school day and traverse the campus on Ferst St. This street basically forms a circle inside the campus and passes by many of the important buildings on campus. In addition this campus is great for people watching.

Not to be disrespectful but his area is smack dab in the middle of where the horiffic tornado hit downtown Atlanta last summer. Happily things are back to normal an open for buisness. If you travel down Andrew Young International Boulevard from Spring St. and ending at the Georgia Dome you'll find a strech of some of the most famous buildings in Atlanta. Travelling west you'll pass through Centennial Park the home of the 96 Summer Olympics. Going further you'll pass by the CNN Center home of the first all news network. Continuing on you'll pass by the Phillips Areana home of the Atlanta Hawks. Going further you'll pass by the Georgia International Plaza and finally the walk ends at the Georgia Dome. The Georgia Dome has hosted some of the most signifigant sports and entertainment events in the country.

On a short strech of Andrew Young International Boulevard between Peachtree Center Ave. and Spring St. lies the center of the Atlanta Shopping District. First heading west you'll run into the Peachtree Center Mall. This mall is home to many moderate to high end stores and a nice quality food court. If that's not enough shoppoing for just travel a little more west and you'll run into America's Mart. This is a huge conglomeration of wholesale and retail outlets offering a wide vaiety of items from furnture to high end clothing. This is a enormous amount of mechandise in a very small area.

On a short strech of M. L. King Jr. Dr. Between Pryor St. and Spring St. lies the center of Atlanta's goverment center. Travelling NW on Pryor St. you'll pass the Fulton County Goverment Center travel a little further you'll run into a triad of Federal Govement buildings namely the Sam Nunn, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Richard B. Russel Buildings. This walk isn't for everyone but if you like goverment buildings you'll like this street.

On a short strech of Baker St. between Park Avenue West and Williams St. you'll find a wide variety of fun family activities. Going East you'll encounter the Georgia Aquarium with 8 million gallons the Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the world. Continuing east you'll find The New World of Coca-Cola display. Continuing on East you'll find the excellent Children's Museum of Atlanta. Your Family could be entertained for a couple of days in the small srea of Atlanta. The only drawback is that these attraction are a bit pricey. No matter the cost your family will love a trip to this area.

In the heart of Atlanta'a SONO District lies a strech of Renaissance Parkway between Piedmont Ave. and Central Park Plaza. I would like to call this street Atlanta's Park Ave. This are is one of the first residentail areas in Atlanta. It contains many residental units and lots of green space. "Park Avenue" starts out flanking Rwnaissance Park and winds through the area ending at Central Park. In my orinion this area is the premiere green space in downtown Atlanta.

On Walker St. between Fair St. and Nelson St. you find a strech of older building undergoing renovations. I would like to call this area Atlanta's Loft City. It is unusual to find such a level of renovation in an area not know for inflated real estate prices. Take a trip to this area and see a neighborhood in tranformation. From old and wore to vibrant and new,

On a short strech of Alabama street between Peachtree St. and Wall St. you'll find the entrance to a true Atlanta Landmark The Atlanta Undergroud. This is a huge comglomeration of shops and resturants. It is actually a underground shopping center. If you have time to visit one place make it the Atlanta Undergroud. The diverse selection of stores and resturants are truly amazing.

For some reason Chestnut St. between Baker St. and Fillmore St. Is just full of cool coffee shops, neat cafes, and shops full of diverse offerings. This is also a great area to people watch especially on weekend mornings. One of my favorites is A16 a resturant featuring the cuisine of Naples at 2355 Chestnut. If you have the kids you may wish to visit Johnny Rockets a recreated 1950's diner located at 1946 Filmore. I mainly like this street because it is colorful, lively and what a city should be.

Down the east side of Telegraph Hill Filbert Street becomes so steep it becomes the Filbert Steps. Officially these steps are located on Filbert between Sansome St. and Battery St. This area has platforms and steps to make navigation easier but it is still pretty strenuous. This area is primarily residential with many of the house unique in design.

One of my favorte areas of San Francisco is Nob Hill. My favorite walk in Nob Hill is to basically tavel the lenght of Polk Street. This gives you the oppourtunity to sample the flavor of a very diverse area. More specifiacally Polk St. Between Union and Pine St will give you a good idea of what's going on in Nob Hill. You'll find a lively street full of shops, returants, hotels, etc.

On a shortstrech of Sutter St. between Stockton St. and Kearney St. you'll find what I like to call San Francisco's Chocolate Heaven. Heading east on Sutter St. you'll find Richart, a chocolate store that treats chocolate almost as a art medium. Buy on of the sample boxes to find out what Richart is all about. Walk a little further and you'll find Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland. In my opinion their champagne truffles are to die for. If that's not enough walk a little further you'll find Cafe' Claude a classic French Bistro where you'll finish you meal with what else a wonderful Chocolate Mousse.

You may not believe it but a small strech of Maiden Lane between Stockton St. and Kearney St. is just filled with small and lage shops very much like you would find in Paris. Heading East from Union Square Park you'll find Yves St. Laurent, Diptyque, Arthur Beren, Chanel, David Stephen, Hermes of Paris and Christofle. After your shopping take a moment to have a nice snack at Bistro 69. Bon Voyage.

In my Opinion Geary St. Between Jones St. and Powell St. is San Francisco's Hotel Row. This Short strech is just full of Classic San Francisco Hotel. In addition, all of these hotel's have fine resturants. Heading east on Geary you'll find the Savoy Hotel, the Hotel Adagio, the Cliff Hotel, the Warwick Regis Hotel, the Hotel Diva and finally the Handerely Union Square. In my opinion all of these hotels bring to mind the optimism that world travelers must have felt when first arriving to San Francisco.

A very interesting strech of Stuart Street between Market St. and the Embarcadero contains smoe of the best San Francisco has to offer. Beginning at Market Street you'll find One Market Resturant a huge palace to gastronomy. Heading SE you'll find several classic San Francisco landmarks including the Rincon Center, the Hotel Griffin, the Harbor Court Hotel and finally ending at Gordon Biersch a Palo-Alto Based microbrewey. Altoghether a nice little walk.

San Francisco has a large number of lovely parks. Yerba Beuna Gardens is one of my favorites because it suceeds in combining plants, art, stores and large public spaces. Yerba Beuna Gardens is flanked by 4th Street between Mission St. and Folsom St. This garden has a large amount green space but you will also find Art, Movie theaters, the Moscone Converntion Center and a great Martin Luther KIng Memorial. I'm just metioning a few of the great things in this mixed use masterpiece.

On a very short stretch of Fulton Street Between Larkin and Hyde. You'll find 2 of San Francisco's best attraction. The Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Public Library. Recently renovated the Asian Art Museum is home to over 13,000 unique pieces spanning 6,000 years of civilization. Not only is the collection impressive the overall layout of the museum makes it a MUST SEE. The Public Library opened in the current location in 1996. It has over two million volumes and several focused collections. These landmarks themselves are great but they provide a great backdrop for people watching if thats something you enjoy.

You wouldn't expect it but right in the middle of Downtown San Francisco is a lively little strip of shops that remind you of shops you find in europe. More specifically, Hayes St. between Laguna and Franklin is just filled with cute shops offering a Plethora of quality merchandise. Take a stroll down this street you'll find a French Cafe, a German Resturant, a Brasserie and the city's best seafood resturant. You also find high end shops offering pottery, folk art, clothing and antiques. A three block area just full of life.

Originally built by Arthur Hammerstein the theater was remodeled for television in 1950 and renamed for the variety show in 1967 and is is located 1697-1699 Broadway between 53rd and 54th Street. The theater has 400 seats and has hosted the Late Show since 1993. Most of the stores featured on the show are in close proximity to the theater. The Hello Deli is around the Corner on 53rd St. The Jamba Juice and Starbucks are across Broadway as is the infamous Flashdancers. During taping this is a great place to see stars getting out of limos if thats your thing.

For many years New Yorkers have been lucky to be able to shop at a wide variety of Flea Markets. The eclectic population of Manhattan makes it likely you'll find nearly anything at a Manhattan Flean Market. In my opinion the best Flea Market in New York is located along W. 39th Street between 9th and 10th Ave. The Flea Market Operates year round on Saturday and Sundays from 6:30 Am til 6:00 Pm. This is a great flea market you'll be pleasently surprised.

Although there are many shoe stores in Manhattan the "Offical Shoe District" is located in Greenwich Village on 8th Street between 2nd and 6th Ave. Many Shoe stores can be found along this strech of 8th Street. I am not a big shoe shopper myself but I can certainly appreciate the wide variety of shoes available in the shoe district.

It's difficult to find single buisness districts that remain intact in Manhattan. One of these districts is the Resturant Supply District. Over 400 resturant supply wholesalers and retailers are located on a 4 block stretch of the Bowrey below Houston. This district is pretty much been the same for the last 50 years. If you need anything cooking this is the place to go.

I first visited Murray Hell on a Thursday night in May. It kind of reminded me of Yuppie Mardi Gras. Large obnoxious crowds are the norm in this neighborhood. Murray Hell runs down 3rd Ave. between 29th and 38th Street. Loaded with expensive beer joints and fru fru resturants frequented by patrons who are much more interested in what they see in the mirror then what they see on the menu. In my opinion the only reason to visir Murray Hell would be to install a new cell tower.

As the immigrant populations poured into Manhattan in the 19th Century they brought there own unique needs with them. One of those needs was the need for cemetery headstones. Many of these headstones simply were not available anywhere else in the United States. For example the large immigrant Jewish population needed headstones in Hebrew. Or Russian immigrants need headstones in crylic. Buisnessmen saw the need and several headstone companies opened on the lower east side. The last of these buisnesses is Silver Monument Works at 125 Stanton at Essex. At one time there were several monument companies in the area. Silver is the only one that remains. Although there may have never been a official "Monument District" but the importance of such an industry cannot be underappreciated.

As Africans immigrated to New York City for a better life many landed in Harlem. Since the largest number of immigrants from Africa come from Senegal the neighborhood they settled in is called Little Senegal. Little Senegal is located on 116th Street in Harlem between St. Nicholas and 8th Ave. This street contains resturants, grocery stores, ethnic food wholesalers, African Product Importers, etc. This area attracts immigrants from many african countries including Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali. The Majoroity of immigrants speak English and a African Dialect. This street is very lively, colorful and full of life. A great place to visit.