Help a Dad decide where move his family in the Bay Area (Oakland: daycares, homes)

[bayarea-girl]

Whoops, sorry for all the grammatical areas. I'm watching kids and trying to write.

[doho95fu]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

doho... I get you about the weather where you currently live. Once you are in SF during the day you will find reason to stay in the city longer. But I get you. Year round the weather in the Bay is nice but when it get cold it gets COLD (but since you are use to the snow it may not be a big deal for you). In where closer so SF will get winter storms that are a pretty big deal but are bareable. San Anselmo gets a lot of flooding in the winter time that is the only negative.

Mill Valley & San Anselmo for what you are looking for and having kids are GREAT areas. All of the areas you listed have FANTASTIC public schools especially when you compare them to the rest of the Bay. But the other areas for me I don't like because I don't like when it gets out and they just seem too far away from things. Walnut Creek & Lafeyette/Orinda/Moraga have really good schools as well. It really depends on what you personally like about each place.

What are things you and your wife like to do? What are your children's interest that might help a bit more. What are things that you want to find in a place. Give more info about yourselfs so that others can better help you.

The thing we enjoy most FOR OURSELVES is going out for dinner, etc. Almost everything else is kid related. We love the beach and the sun, which made me think about Marin. I know the beaches are different from when we lived in LA or even back here, but there is still sand and sun. I like the access to all the parks. An area that would have lots of weekend side trips for the girls would be nice too. Fairs, markets etc. I am also a major beer enthusiast, any good beer bars or breweries in any of these areas? Thanks again.

[bayarea-girl]

Oh, you are a beer guy! There are a lot of breweries all of the place. PM me I have a friend who is a beer enthusiast and I can put you in touch with him. The guy can tell you way more than I.

The beaches are nothing like the beaches in LA mainly because you can't swim in them (way too cold). But still nice to go to in the summer time. I'd say some where in Marin then. The weather is nice and there are so many places to eat. Walnut Creek has better parks though. Wouldn't worry about weekend trips and or activities for the kids. It is the Bay Area there is just too much to do all the time and many places to get away to. When you get to the Bay also check out Alameda (St. Joseph's is a really good school but its private).

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by doho95fu

I am also a major beer enthusiast, any good beer bars or breweries in any of these areas? Thanks again.

Welcome to Anchor Brewing (also has tours) and GORDON BIERSCH among others.

[hsw]

Palo Alto or Los Altos Hills

From a career (and social/education) standpoint, most of the decisionmakers in SF region (many w/young families) live in either PaloAlto area or SF's Pacific/PresidioHts....analogous to UES of Manhattan and Greenwich; Marin and EastBay are much like NYC's NJ/LI suburbs

Marin and EastBay tend to be much less cosmopolitan than either PacHts or PA area...far fewer Harvard, Stanford, etc grads...fewer people who started their careers in NYC (seems like nearly all the financiers on SandHill or in SF are escapees from Manhattan)

Weather in PA area is much like coastal LA....some of world's best weather

Commute from PA to SF (on 280N-380E-101N-280N)) is one of fastest, most scenic drives on planet (~40mins in 8AM rush in rain; <40mins in <7AM or off-peak); bridges in SF (like in NYC) are chronic chokepoints to be avoided...and any major quake w/damage to bridges will dramatically worsen B&T commutes....living in PA and working in SF one is generally going against flow on 280, as most of the <7AM blitz on 280 is from the many singles who live in PacHts but work on SandHillRd and deeper in SiliconValley

Gotta think that, between SFO and SanJose, one has easy access to shuttles to LA region...and realize that, esp in Winter fog/rain, may need to arbitrage foggier, windy SFO vs sunnier, drier SanJose, so often prefer to have choice of two airports equidistant to one's home

[Luke9686]

I recommend Alameda. At least give it a look. I'm not sure about the public schools, but the town itself is very nice. Lots of nice little eateries, and it seems to be a walkable little town.

[doho95fu]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

If you're looking for something a little upscale, both Burlingame and Hillsborough would work. The schools in this area are excellent and there are also several private schools to choose from.

As for Caltrain, the service is just as good as with BART. I've never had any complaints riding the train.

Sound interesting. Any downtowns to speak of?

[doho95fu]

Originally Posted by hsw

Palo Alto or Los Altos Hills

From a career (and social/education) standpoint, most of the decisionmakers in SF region (many w/young families) live in either PaloAlto area or SF's Pacific/PresidioHts....analogous to UES of Manhattan and Greenwich; Marin and EastBay are much like NYC's NJ/LI suburbs

Marin and EastBay tend to be much less cosmopolitan than either PacHts or PA area...far fewer Harvard, Stanford, etc grads...fewer people who started their careers in NYC (seems like nearly all the financiers on SandHill or in SF are escapees from Manhattan)

Weather in PA area is much like coastal LA....some of world's best weather

Commute from PA to SF (on 280N-380E-101N-280N)) is one of fastest, most scenic drives on planet (~40mins in 8AM rush in rain; <40mins in <7AM or off-peak); bridges in SF (like in NYC) are chronic chokepoints to be avoided...and any major quake w/damage to bridges will dramatically worsen B&T commutes....living in PA and working in SF one is generally going against flow on 280, as most of the <7AM blitz on 280 is from the many singles who live in PacHts but work on SandHillRd and deeper in SiliconValley

Gotta think that, between SFO and SanJose, one has easy access to shuttles to LA region...and realize that, esp in Winter fog/rain, may need to arbitrage foggier, windy SFO vs sunnier, drier SanJose, so often prefer to have choice of two airports equidistant to one's home

Fewer Harvard grads in Marin? That seals the deal... Marin it is! I am not a decision maker nor do I need to be surrounded by them, but thanks for the insights. I will take a look at Palo Alto.

[bayarea-girl]

Marin has wonderful people and some "decision makers" as well.

[fsufezzik]

If you're planning on taking public transit to work (which I highly recommend), I agree that being on BART will be more convenient than CalTrain. There's nothing wrong with CalTrain, except that it drops you off deep in SoMa, meaning you have a long walk or a bus ride to get to your office in the Financial District. BART, meanwhile, drops you off on Market Street at the Embarcadero or Montgomery Street. Depending on exactly where your office is, this can be a meaningful difference on your commute.

Aside from that, though, I would personally prefer the peninsula, just for the feel of the communities. I live in the city now, though, so I might not be the best one to opine on East Bay versus Marin versus the peninsula.