Hercules

Far north of San Francisco, near the shores of the San Pablo Bay, is the small Foxboro neighborhood. Situated in the golden hills of Contra Costa County, and the city of Hercules, this community was built in the 1980s and has been slowly growing ever since. Residents here enjoy quiet suburban living with easy access to parks, shopping centers and a main freeway that leads to Oakland and San Francisco. “The community was designed to achieve an ultimate lifestyle,” says Ciela Fuentes, a local realtor with Keenan Howard Realty. “Up by hills, there are parks, walking trails, a clubhouse, a swimming pool and tennis courts.” Another part of Foxboro's appeal is its affordability, as real estate prices are lower than other city neighborhoods and Bay Area locations. “If you want to live in Hercules without having to pay the price of Hercules proper, this is the sweet spot to go.” A subdivision with two-story, traditional single-family homes anchors the neighborhood, which also includes a small section of townhomes and condos along the parkway. The neighborhood’s wide, softly winding streets are populated with vibrant greenery, from boxwoods and California bay laurels to clusters of tall columnar trees. The most common housing styles include split-level, bungalows, mid-century, and traditional homes. Two-bedroom condos and townhouses can go for around $400,000 to $550,000, while single-family homes typically range from $500,000 to $750,000. Students can attend Rodeo Hills Elementary School, which gets a C-plus rating from Niche, followed by Carquinez Middle School, which gets a B-minus rating. The B-plus-rated John Swett High School offers a CTE Careers Academy program, which helps students gain knowledge and skills for future careers. The neighborhood is cradled by Interstate 80 to the west and the John Muir Parkway to the south, providing convenient and accessible routes for getting around the city and into other Bay Area hubs. Buses are available at Willow Avenue and Viewpoint Boulevard. The Oakland International Airport is located around 27 miles south. Foxboro Park is the neighborhood’s central park, featuring a playground, basketball courts, open green spaces, picnic tables and tennis courts. It’s connected to the Foxboro Community Center, where the neighborhood holds town meetings. A few miles out to the west is Crockett Hills Regional Park, a former ranchland that’s now home to various multi-use trails that guide along grassy fields, ravines and a shoreline. The park is also a popular spot for mountain biking along its rolling hills landscape, where cow sightings are common. A few miles south is the Refugio Valley Park. Studded with willow trees, there's a picturesque lake for strolls, picnics or feeding the ducks and geese that roam around the area. Just a few miles to the west is the San Francisco Bay Trail with access Pointe, a popular fishing pier. The Willow Shopping Grand Avenue Center is located north of the neighborhood, with a mix of fast food, stores, service shops and local restaurants. Won Thai Cuisine is a family-owned Thai eatery offering traditional Thai food classics in a laid-back, unfussy space. Indian food is the star of Zaiga Restaurant, while authentic Central American Salvadorian food can be found at El Cuscatlan. Everest Grocery offers Indian grocery items, while the national grocery chain Safeway is less than two miles west on San Pablo Avenue. For more popular dining options, residents can head less than three miles west by the shores of Hercules to spots like The Powder Keg Pub. The restaurant serves seafood dishes, including oysters, fish and chips, clam chowder and crab sandwiches. The nearby Refugio Valley Park is where residents come together for various community events, including a summer Movies in the Park Series with outdoor movie screenings and food trucks. The park is also home to the city’s annual Cultural Festival, held on the first Sunday of June. The festival features live music, local performers, food trucks and local vendors. A Holiday Tree Lighting event is held at the Hercules Community Swim Center, a few miles out in December. The event kicks off with Santa lighting the community tree and starting the celebration for the holiday season.

A densely built Bay Area community, Village Park is a dream for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. There are multiple parks nearby and a community pool, just beckoning residents to enjoy them. This swath of Hercules has a plethora of retail and dining amenities in the area as well, and easy highway access. “There’s great weather,” says local Realtor Viktor Manrique of Realty World Regency. “It’s great for commuters.”