Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area offers the promise of an exciting California lifestyle, but sometimes finding the perfect house is easiest with the help of a local who knows the area and everything it has to offer. We’ve created these guides to help you find the ideal home. Is Redwood Shores the best community for you? Read on for answers to all your moving and relocation questions.
What’s it like to live in Redwood Shores?
Nestled on the southwest shore of San Francisco Bay, the affluent community of Redwood Shores offers residents gently winding streets of waterfront homes, weeping willows, and clear California skies. It’s always a pleasure to show home buyers the vibrant lifestyle afforded residents who love the water. If you choose Redwood Shores for your future home, you might get to enjoy a private boat dock for weekend water fun when you’re not headed into work at one of the region’s major technology firms. Dubbed one of “America’s Top-Selling Luxury Neighborhoods” by Forbes in 2009, this San Francisco suburb features real estate quickly snapped up by eager buyers interested in gaining access to the enviable lifestyle afforded by the technology industry. I’ve seen couples looking to experience a little luxury search for homes in Redwood Shores, as well as families looking for large homes and recreational opportunities.
What types of homes are in Redwood Shores?
One of the best features of Redwood Shores is the variety of residential options that range from classy townhouses to peaceful single-family homes. The community even features condos and luxury apartments if you’re not quite ready for a yard of your own. Another terrific perk is that you can snag a waterfront view whether you’re looking for a cozy condo or a spacious home. Redwood Shores also features varying architectural styles from decades of development that began in the early 1970s. From classic ranch-style, single-floor homes and recently constructed luxury townhomes on the water to brand new multi-story residences on peaceful cul-de-sacs, Redwood Shores is always inviting and changes from block to block.
What’s unique about Redwood Shores?
I love the convergence of nature with Redwood Shores along the waterways that cruise around the city, and I feel it’s one of the stand-out features of living in Redwood Shores. The town spent decades cultivating the cozy bay-side neighborhood feel, and the walkability of Redwood Shores is absolutely the best along this stretch of the Bay Area. You might need a car to get to work in the morning, but you can spend hours of your day just strolling around, enjoying the water and open green spaces. Another rousing feature of Redwood Shores is the fascination of residents with music. With weekly performances, festivals, and celebrations, I can listen to something new every week. During the summer, you’ll want to visit the Music in the Park series at Marlin Park each Wednesday evening. One of my personal favorites happens in July, when the blues comes to Courthouse Square with the annual Blues Festival, which has been a Redwood City yearly event for over two decades.
Where are the good schools in Redwood Shores?
If you have kids in grammar school, you’ll send them to schools in nearby communities like Redwood City, San Mateo, and Burlingame. Each of these small towns borders one another, so don’t worry about any lengthy commutes to school. Some of the area’s best schools include:
- Central Elementary School | Grades K-5 | 525 Middle Road
- Ralston Middle School | Grades 6-8 | 2675 Ralston Avenue
- San Mateo High School | Grades 9-12 | 506 North Delaware Street
Upon graduation from high school, students from Redwood Shores are just a stone’s throw away from some of the best universities in the world. Stanford University is a quick 22-minute drive down the 101 while the University of California at Berkeley is just across the Bay.
What are the best things to do in Redwood Shores?
I think it would be fair to say that families in Redwood Shores work hard and play harder, which seems like a side-effect of living in the driven atmosphere of a Silicon Valley suburb. Events I try not to miss each year are the rowing races from nearby Pac-12 universities, but I’d also recommend taking a look at the private sports club if you have kids who might want to get wet at the water park. You’ll also find no shortage of parks in Redwood shores for things like picnics, barbecues, and playing with the kids since Redwood Shores actually has two dozen parks. The prime location of Redwood Shores also means it takes just a few minutes in the car to reach the vibrant oceanfront metropolis of San Francisco, as well as cozy sites along the Pacific Ocean like Half Moon Bay. Want to spend a day among the redwoods and gorgeous landscapes that make the Bay Area famous? Challenge yourself with the 8-mile hiking loop at nearby Huddart County Park, or gaze at the towering redwoods of Bear Gulch.
Is Redwood Shores right for me?
The influence of Silicon Valley has shaped the destiny of the Bay Area, from the world-class universities to the innovation of local technology titans like Google, Tesla, and Apple. Are you a creative soul who wants to change the world with your art, innovations, and science? You’ll be in good company if you choose to live in Redwood Shores. It’s exactly where you want to be if you love the exciting and creative union of nature and technology.