San Ramon

San Ramon Valley is considered one of the most desirable areas of Contra Costa County, highlighted by rolling hills and prime mountain views of Mount Diablo. While known for its scenic landscape, the neighborhood also boasts some of the highest-ranked public schools in the Bay Area with coveted year-round mild weather and safe, well-kept residential streetscapes. “San Roman Valley is suburban living at its finest. It’s surrounded by hills, nature and newer developments,” says Nicole Jung, a realtor with Jarvis and Jung Real Estate who has lived in the area for over 25 years. “It’s also very diverse and family-oriented, and there’s a brand-new city center nearby that is San Ramon’s big hub for trendy shops and restaurants.” San Roman Valley’s one main shopping center is Country Club Village, featuring a Starbucks, a Walmart for everyday essentials plus groceries and fast-casual eateries like Mexxi’s, which serves classic Mexican food within colorful and kitschy digs. Just west on San Ramon Valley Boulevard is the family-owned Clementines. With the motto, “Where the bayou meets the bay,” this restaurant offers Southern Louisiana cuisine like gumbo and po boys in a New Orleans-inspired space with live music on the weekends. North of the neighborhood and across Bollinger Canyon Road is the trendy, upscale City Center Bishop Ranch. This open-air shopping and dining plaza is where residents can find everything from big box stores like Whole Foods and Target to ice cream shops, local bars and hip eateries. Fieldwork Brewing Company dishes out pizza and over 20 craft beer selections in a vast space with floor-to-ceiling windows, while the California favorite, Mendocino Farms, offers creative gourmet sandwiches and salads made with fresh seasonal ingredients. Next door, locals flock to The Slanted Door for elevated Vietnamese food and craft cocktails with a modern, open-style kitchen. The neighborhood’s well-maintained streets are wide, with paved sidewalks that flow from one subdivision to the next. The streetscapes are well-shaded by various trees from California bays to live oaks and buckeyes. Most homes display medium-sized manicured front lawns that connect to driveways with one-car garages. The residential subdivisions here date from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, and common houses include Spanish styles with stucco roofs, craftsmans and farmhouse styles. Single-family housing prices range from $750,000 for a three-bedroom, 1,300-square-foot home and can go up to $2.5 million for a 5-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot property. Condo options are another possibility, with prices ranging from $540,000 for older, 600-square-foot condos and up to $1.8 million for newer, three-story detached condos with unobstructed views of the San Ramon Hills. The neighborhood is also home to Sunny Glen, a 55+ residential community with townhouses ranging from $350,000 to $460,000. Residents are surrounded by recreational offerings, from public parks to valley trails and athletic centers. Named for city founder Byron Athan, the suburb’s largest community park is the 20-acre Athan Downs. Amid splashy works of public art, kids can play along a vibrant, modern, all-abilities playground, and locals can practice serving at one of the site’s four tennis courts or toss frisbees out on the open lawn. Nearby Del Mar Dog Park is a popular off-leash park, while the 6-acre Boone Acres Park is one of San Ramon’s oldest neighborhood parks set within a grassy meadow well-shaded by mature trees. It also has a volleyball court, horseshoe pit and playground. When residents are looking to tee off, the San Ramon Golf Club provides a public 18-hole championship course surrounded by residential subdivisions. Public swimming is possible at San Ramon Olympic Pool & Aquatic Center, featuring a 25-yard lap pool, a 50-meter Olympic pool and an aquatic park for children. One of the biggest neighborhood draws is its proximity to the 806-acre, ridge-top Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve, where numerous trails wind through open grassy fields that are commonly home to deer, acorn woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. The area is zoned for top-rated public schools. Students can attend Walt Disney Elementary School, followed by Pine Valley Middle School, which bot get an A rating from Niche. California High School gets an A-plus rating, partly due to its high scores in college prep. The high school offers its students special Pathway programs, including Biomedical Sciences and Engineering and Design. Interstate 680 is the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, bordering to the west. For getting around the city by public transportation, there are a few public bus stops located along nearby San Ramona Valley Boulevard. The closest airport for domestic and international flights is the Oakland International Airport, located about 20 miles west, while the San Ramon Regional Medical Center is just a few miles north. Centrally located, it provides a convenient location for getting to San Jose or San Francisco. The city’s main park, Central Park, is less than a few miles outside of the neighborhood and is home to many community events throughout the year, including an Independence Day Celebration Concert with a Veteran tribute followed by a Motown concert. The San Ramon Arts Foundation provides food and drink for purchase. There’s also the San Ramon Holiday Tree Lighting event, a family-friendly gathering with holiday-themed crafts, treats and festive live entertainment in and around City Hall. The San Ramon Olympic Pool hosts Dine-in Movies throughout the summer, where residents can sit out on lawn chairs or in the pool on floats to watch a movie from the pool. The San Ramon Central Park is also home to a Summer Concert Series, with performances by live bands from the Bay Area with local food and drinks for purchase.

The name “Canyon Lakes” may prompt images of a picturesque community, and these images are true to life. The beautiful topography in the neighborhood is typical of many areas in Contra Costa County, with its sprawling hills and mountain views of the Diablo Range in the distance. From the manicured lawns of the golf course to the palm trees that adorn residential areas, Canyon Lakes blooms with greenery. It also boasts several dining and shopping options, a top-performing school district and convenient access to other Bay Area cities, making Canyon Lakes one to treasure. “It puts recreation at people’s fingertips and has great accessibility to business, shopping and restaurants. It just feels comfortable, relaxed and quiet," says Realtor Tammy Barstow of Keller Williams Marco Realty. Barstow has 23 years of experience and while she is now based in Florida, she has sold homes in the San Ramon adjacent area. Finally, according to the CAP Index Score for Canyon Lakes, the likelihood of crime in this area is significantly low. San Ramon Central Park is always buzzing with activity. The 40.8-acre community park includes sports fields, a playground and a large amphitheater. Residents can also explore the Iron Horse Trail, which extends for 4.24 miles. Flat, paved and wheelchair-accessible, the trail is perfect for all types of outdoor activities like hiking, jogging and even horseback riding. At Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery, players can practice their swing and relax with a cold beer afterward. Canyon Lakes is home to a number of places to dine out and shop. Residents can try flavors from all over the world, like Ofa's Island BBQ's Polynesian and Tongan cuisine. There are also lots of spots to satisfy a sweet tooth, like Digby’s Premium Donuts and Sprinkles. Grocery stores include Safeway, Costco Wholesale and Trader Joe’s. City Center Bishop Ranch is the area’s premier shopping area thanks to its sizable collection of restaurants, a movie theater and plentiful outdoor seating. The outdoor mall is also the site for the San Ramon Farmer’s Market, held in rain or shine every Tuesday. The San Ramon Central Park hosts lots of community events, including San Ramon’s largest event: the Art and Wind Festival. Family- and pet-friendly, the festival hosts specialty food vendors, performers and kite-flying demonstrations, to name a few. The park also holds a Summer Concert Series, bringing live music and fun to the Canyon Lakes neighborhood. Canyon Lakes homes have a recognizably Mediterranean look. Many of them have typical features of the style – seen by their white stucco walls and red-tile roofs. "The houses are older but they're well maintained. The floor plans are very laid out well," Barstow says. Home prices begin around $505,000 and can go as high as $1.4 million. Thanks to the walkable streets adorning the neighborhood, getting around on foot is simple and convenient. Houses in the area tend to be sold relatively quickly, selling after about 14 days on the market compared to the national average of 42 days. Students may attend schools in the highly rated San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The district includes many top-performing schools. Golden View Elementary School received an A-plus from Niche and has been counted among the top five schools in Contra Costa County. Iron Horse Middle School also has an A-plus from Niche. California High School, in addition to also earning an A-plus, has also received multiple recognitions as a California Distinguished School and several National Blue-Ribbon Awards. When residents need to commute or simply want to take a trip, there are many major cities located within a 50-mile radius. Crow Canyon Road and Bollinger Canyon Road are significant roadways that cut through the middle of the neighborhood. Public transportation is also available via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) routes. Canyon Lakes is 23 miles north of Fremont, 28 miles east of Oakland, 35 miles east of San Francisco and 38 miles north of San Jose. Many of these cities can be accessed by driving along Interstate-680, which is a major highway that stretches from Fairfield at the north end to San Jose at the south. When residents need to catch a flight, Oakland International Airport is 23 miles away while San Francisco International Airport is roughly 42 miles away.