Redwood City

Situated in a prime location between San Jose and San Francisco, Friendly Acres is an easygoing suburb that’s becoming increasingly popular with Silicon Valley tech workers. Located at the eastern edge of Redwood City, the neighborhood is only a mile from the recently built Meta headquarters, one of the area’s largest employers. Primarily residential, its streets are lined with rows of early 20th century homes amid an eclectic, community-oriented atmosphere. “Friendly Acres really lives up to its name. All the neighbors know each other, people look out for one another,” says Realtor Carey Mitchell of Yellow Dog Real Estate, a long-time Friendly Acres resident and the area’s top seller. <br><br>Friendly Acre’s quiet streets are lined with California bungalows alongside the occasional Craftsman and Mediterranean style house. The housing stock primarily dates to the early and mid-20th century, but many homes have been updated and renovated with hardwood floors, open kitchens, marble countertops and a fresh coat of paint. “It might just look like a little house on the outside but as soon as you walk through the front door, it's really pretty inside. People have done some great remodeling,” Mitchell says. Because of its age, the neighborhood features lots of mature trees and vegetation poking out from front and backyards. Home prices typically range from $1.5 million to $2 million, depending on size and whether it’s been renovated. <br><br>For shopping and dining, residents can stop off at Marsh Manor, a popular local shopping center in the neighborhood. The plaza is home to Freewheel Brewing Company, a British-influenced beer garden that serves classic pub fare, and Lavender ‘n Cream, a local patisserie with made-to-order cakes. At State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria, locals test their skills on the pizza shop’s 1990s arcade games and pinball machines while waiting for their pizza to come out of the oven. For groceries, there’s Delucchi’s Market & Delicatessen, a locally owned grocer with high-quality, organic items. Authentic Mexican fare can be found close by at Tacos El Grullense E&E, a longstanding, family-owned eatery with four locations in Redwood City. For everything else, it’s about two miles to downtown Menlo Park. <br><br>For parks and recreation, residents can head to nearby Andrew Spinas Park. This leafy greenspace has a playground, benches and winding walking trails that curve around the park perimeter. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing in the sunshine. Also nearby is Flood Park, a small, secluded park with tons of old oak trees towering over tranquil walking trails and picnic areas. Less than a mile away, locals walk their dogs, hike and take in the Bay views at Bedwell Bayfront Park.<br><br>Students attend schools in the Redwood City Elementary School District, including Taft Elementary School, located at the center of neighborhood. The school earns a C-plus rating from Niche, and is known for its immersive bilingual program for Spanish-speaking students. Students then move onto nearby Kennedy Middle School, which earns a B rating from Niche, while upperclassmen attend A-rated Sequoia High School. Sequoia High is a top-rated Bay Area high school and one of a short list of several that offer an International Baccalaureate program. <br>Getting around the Bay Area

Undoubtedly named for the tall trees commonly found in Northern California, Redwood Oaks is a comfortable and inviting place to live. Nicole Ruccolo, a Compass Realtor with three years of experience speaks fondly of the neighborhood. “It definitely has a community feel. You can see it in how active the streets are and in all the neighbors sitting outside on their porches.” With the amenities of downtown Redwood City less than two miles away, residents in Redwood Oaks can enjoy an exciting variety of retail, dining, parks, events and more. When residents are in the mood for a meal out, they have many options to choose from. They can try Zareen’s, a contemporary Pakistani and Indian kitchen, that serves South Asian dishes and is a 2020 Michelin Guide Restaurant. For breakfast, dessert or just any time for a sugar fix, there is also Chuck’s Donuts. A family-owned establishment that is open 24 hours, this donut shop will overwhelm patrons with its massive menu selection. There's also Blacksmith, a bar that has been profiled in “San Jose Mercury News” for its upscale cocktails. For shopping, residents can pick up essentials at big box retailers like Safeway, Costco Wholesale and Target. Residents can have picnics, walk dogs or take their children to the playgrounds at Fleishman Park. In the summertime, the little ones will especially love cooling off at the splash pad adorned with a colorful globe motif. Linden Park is considered a neighborhood treasure for its charming theme designed to evoke the life cycle of a butterfly. Uniquely shaped play structures inspire kids to use their imagination and indulge curiosity for the natural world. There is no shortage of fun events to attend in Redwood Oaks. Thanks to the neighborhood’s proximity to downtown Redwood City, locals can experience everything the entertainment district has to offer. They can see a show at the Fox Theatre, which has hosted many famous performers and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. History buffs can head over to the San Mateo County History Museum to check out interactive exhibits as well as programs for children and adults. Students in Redwood Oaks can attend Garfield Community School, Kennedy Middle School and Woodside High School. Garfield received a C-plus rating from Niche while Kennedy Middle received a B-rating. Woodside High earned an A and offers students the chance to try exciting electives like ceramics, music and audio production and animation. Popular home designs include ranch-styles, bungalows and Craftsmans. Many homes also come with well-maintained front yards. Ruccolo says of the homes, “They’re small and tend to be older. There have been some renovations around but nothing major, plus the market has been very competitive.” Costs begin at a base price of $775,000 for a two- or three-bedroom condo and go up to $2.3 million for a larger home complete with four beds and three baths. On average, homes sell after about 30 days on the market. Significant roadways in the neighborhood include Woodside Road, El Camino Real and Interstate-280. While Woodside Road and El Camino Real serve the local neighborhood, Interstate-280 takes drivers beyond, connecting San Francisco to San Jose. The neighborhood is about a 24-mile drive southeast to San Jose, a 15-mile drive east to Silicon Valley and a 34-mile-drive to San Francisco. Travelers can also take the Caltrain, which is a commuter rail line that runs between San Francisco all the way down to Gilroy. The San Francisco International Airport is about 17 miles away from Redwood Oaks.