It’s in a Magazine so it Must be True: Best Places to Live in Bay Area
August 29th, 2007 by bruce_richmondSan Jose Magazine sure likes “best of” lists. According to the teaser on the Aug 07 cover, they’ve picked the top “cities and neighborhoods to consider moving to when buying a home and selecting a good school district for our kids.” That’s it. No overall criteria explained inside, as far as I could see.
However, there is a well-written individual description for each of these Best Places to Live selections. I added SJ mag’s sub-header to the names on the list to keep it interesting and entice you to look at the description, so here goes.
Atherton: Elegant gardens and native trees dominate this quiet small community.
Lovely homes on tree-lined streets have made Burlingame the “City of Trees.” (Trees and nature are mentioned throughout the descriptions of these Best Places.)
Campbell is a quaint community where tradition and progress go hand-in-hand.
Founded as an artists’ colony, Carmel is as inspiring and beautiful as it was more than a century ago. (The only coastal city on the list and the only one in Santa Cruz County.)
Diversity and high-tech innovation abound in Cupertino. (Schools are a regular highlight in these cities’ descriptions.)
With plenty of shopping, employment and recreational opportunities, Fremont captures metropolitan living at its best. (The only East Bay city listed.)
One of the fastest-growing cities in Silicon Valley, Gilroy is open for business.
Hillsborough: A great small town in which to lead a lavish life.
Tree-lined streets and a small-village atmosphere liven up Los Altos. (“Small town” feel is another feature prized by the group creating this list.)
Los Gatos: A small-town feel and rich history can be found in this bedroom community.
Milpitas: This forward-looking city is a vital part of the Valley’s economy.
The city might be tiny, but Monte Sereno is awash with beauty and rural charm.
Thoughtful planning has made Morgan Hill one of the Valley’s most desirable communities. (Valuing the past while planning for the future seems to be another key to getting on this list.)
Mountain View offers homes and amenities suited for every lifestyle.
Palo Alto: The “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” is a blend of old and new.
There are countless reasons why business and citizens choose to locate to Santa Clara.
Community pride and a rural feel separate Saratoga from Silicon Valley.
Woodside: A place to find small-town life at its finest.
San Jose neighborhoods:
Residents retreat from nearby Silicon Valley to the relaxing Almaden Valley.
Families build their future in the developing Evergreen Valley.
Rose Garden: San Jose’s historic neighborhood cultivates its turn-of-the-century beauty.
Hidden in the foothills, Silver Creek is sheltered from the chaos of Silicon Valley.
Willow Glen: A neighborhood that retains its unique identity in spirit and architecture.
There are no surprises on the list. This really is a great place to live.
