How would tree hugging, vegetarian liberals fair in Pleasanton, Danvile or San Ramon? (San Diego: sales, houses)

[jaynetarzana]

Can anyone tell me about the streets just north of Solano Avenue? I am looking at a rental there. Thanks!

[Yvonne1207]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

Unfortunately, neither Oakland or Berkeley have good schools according to greatschools.net.

Sadly, that is true. I went to school in Oakland when the schools were awesome. No longer.

And I guess I didn't mention Albany because I've always thought that it was a somewhat dicey area. But that is certainly true of Berkeley and Oakland as well!

[jaynetarzana]

This is the first I've heard about it being a dicey area. That is certainly the kind of information that I need since safety is very important when it comes to a place to raise my kids. Do you mind elaborating on what you mean? Feel free to DM me. Can anyone else ring in on this with their opinions?

[Yvonne1207]

The closer you get to the freeway (580/80), and to El Cerrito the rougher the area. The closer you get to the hills to the east, the nicer the neighborhoods.

Have you thought about Alameda? Or Marin County. Marin is pricy but so lovely, and very tree-huggy.

[jaynetarzana]

From what I understand, Alameda doesn't have much to offer. My assessments could be wrong, but I've read through hundreds of posts about Albany and the surrounding areas and it always make Alameda sound boring. Feel free to correct me on that.

We have thought of Marin, but DH will be commuting to and from Salinas for work twice a week. Also, it is very expensive up there and sounds like the traffic situation getting into and out of is getting worse. Not to mention the fact that everyone says it is quite chilly in Marin and we found Aptos (Santa Cruz) too chilly when we lived there. We really loved the weather in San Diego, but prefer Northern California for just about everything else. It is a bummer to live near an ocean that is too cold to go swimming in. But the air quality alone in Southern California is reason enough for me not to go back there.

[Yvonne1207]

Ah.. I forgot you wanted a warm weather location.

I currently live in San Diego county, and would take SD over anything in NorCal. Love it here, and I grew up in the Bay Area.

[jaynetarzana]

Where in SD are you? We lived down there for 10 years and I always longed for more greenery and it was too conservative for us. The only two places we'd consider if we had to live in SD would be Encinitas/Leucadia/Cardiff or Carlsbad because of the schools. But the air quality just can't compare to NorCal. We definitely still have a soft spot in our hearts for SD though since our firstborn daughter was born there.

[gmkarr]

Alameda is a wonderful place and highly desireable to many families - it is all a matter of taste. It appeals to me much more than Albany. It just might not be as tree huggy a place as you are seeking.

[jaynetarzana]

That is what I was referring to, not as much to offer tree huggers like us.

[jaynetarzana]

Okay fellow CDers, the heat is on! I fly out there in 17 days and I will have my little ones with me so I need to have a really good idea of what I need to be looking at. People have suggested Albany and Kensington. But can anyone tell me if there are more desirable places than others in those places? What is considered to be the best elementary school? Thanks again.