Salida

The road into North Modesto is a little less traveled. Full of farmland and flourishing agriculture, this rural neighborhood borders the last suburban subdivisions of the city before fading into green lowlands filled with almond blossom orchards. North Modesto residents have a view of the plowed-dirt countryside with towering pines and swaying palm trees from private farmhouses on several acres of land. Although located in the rustic outskirts of Modesto, this neighborhood’s quiet two-way streets connect to the illuminating McHenry Avenue, which takes a primary route through a commercial sector 9 miles south to a buzzing downtown. "There is a mix of custom homes and subdivisions," says Sherryl Cassle, Realtor with RE/MAX Executive with seven years of experience selling homes in Modesto. "It has good schools in a sought-after school district, and it still has really easy access to Modesto for dining, shopping and everything else you need to do there." The neighborhood’s southern border, between Bangs and Pelandale avenues, is Modesto's final stretch of suburbia. Here, two-story Mediterranean homes and Spanish Revivals sit side-by-side on well-landscaped yards behind sidewalks in cul-de-sacs. Further north, homes become less common, with occasional one-story, ranch-style homes on flat lots spanning over an acre. Homes here are in a rural space surrounded by neighboring farms and almond blossom orchards as the road weaves between patches of forest. Homes typically cost between $300,000 - $800,000. A three-bedroom, ranch-style home can be sold for between $325,000 and $650,000, while a four-bedroom bungalow can be listed for $500,000 to $800,000. Private five-bedroom Mediterranean estates on multiple acres can be priced as high as $1.1 million, and a 10-acre plot of land on Kiernan Avenue costs around $2.2 million. According to the CAP Index, North Modesto has fewer reports of crime than many neighborhoods closer to the city center, with a crime score of 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. Stanislaus Elementary School boasts a B-minus overall grade by Niche. Fourth and fifth-grade students at Stanislaus can begin learning the violin, trumpet or cello as part of the music program. Prescott Junior High School receives a C-plus grade, providing mental health support for students with a strong stance against bullying. Joseph A. Gregori High School maintains an A-minus grade as the #1 best high school for STEM in Modesto, according to Niche. With a student body of over 2,000, students can join Small Learning Communities and professional groups dedicated to a particular subject or potential career path. Ambitious learners can study unique skills or shift careers by enrolling in courses at the Institute of Technology—Modesto, a trade school on Stoddard Road. North Modesto is a car-dependent neighborhood with few sidewalks or bike lanes. Although bus stops for the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) are located along Dale and Pirrone roads. Kiernan Avenue offers passage into the bordering town of Salida to the west, and it connects to McHenry Avenue, which goes south through the commercial district toward downtown or north toward Riverbank, a larger town less than 7 miles east. Sacramento, the state capital, is 71 miles north. San Francisco is 87 miles west, and San Jose is 85 miles southwest. For travel, residents can book an airline at the Sacramento International Airport, 82 miles north. A primary feature of North Modesto is the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Dale Road, a significant hospital complex that aids the city's northern half. While operators may have a quick response time in reaching medical emergencies in North Modesto, ambulances can also be heard from homes bordering the hospital’s main routes. Dale Road has several restaurants and low-key nightlife spots. Mr. Taquito Cocina & Cantina is a Mexican eatery and bar with colorful décor and a bright industrial interior. On a lazy Saturday, the Redwood Café serves brunch items in an attractive social space that doubles as a relaxed tavern and a venue for classy events with a fine selection of wine and an outdoor patio covered in ivy. Further south on Dale Road, the Vintage Faire Mall offers over 170 retailers in an open indoor space. McHenry Avenue is home to essential warehouse stores like Target and Walmart Supercenter. Residents can find groceries at Raley’s supermarket on Tully Road. Save Mart, another place to find groceries, sits beside the Costco Wholesale on Pelandale Avenue, which is perfect for those who prefer to shop their favorite brands in bulk. McHenry Avenue, the city’s primary artery, is bordered by commercial storefronts and entertainment venues as traffic moves south toward downtown. Film buffs can order a cocktail before leaning back to enjoy a movie in the reclining seats at Regal Modesto theater. Kids can speed around the racetrack in a go-kart while parents have a mini-golf date at Funworks Modesto, an 18-acre amusement park on Claratina Avenue. Dragoo Park, also known as Coffee Claratin Neighborhood Park, provides a secluded grassy space perfect for dogs to play and explore the paved trails. With a weathered basketball court, Dragoo Park offers an ideal setting for a friendly game of pick-up hoops. The playground and picnic tables invite families to spend the afternoon outdoors, as the park is centrally located between the neighborhoods on Grecian Avenue, a fitting name due to the Mediterranean-style houses by the park. Forested hiking trails live by the water in Mavis Stouffer Park, which stretches along the Stanislaus River in Ripon. From the Mavis Stouffer Park, residents can read a novel on the sandy bank of the river, cast a line to reel in a whopping striped bass or cool off at the swimming holes on a scorching summer day. The butterfly garden gives insects a friendly place to meet park visitors on a path by colorful flower beds. The baseball diamond, beach volleyball court and soccer field all make this a popular spot for competitive sports. As the weather cools down, fitness buffs can get a workout in at the Performance Lab, a local gym with motivating classes in McHenry. Love Modesto is a massive community event in April, with volunteers meeting downtown before heading out to take on service projects all over the city. Communities come together for drug and crime prevention in early August to increase community-police partnerships in their neighborhoods. George Lucas, the creator of “Star Wars,” who grew up in Modesto, is honored annually as the city takes to 10th street dressed as characters from the films, on the fourth day in May to celebrate “May the Fourth Be With You,” better known as, “Star Wars Day.”