Moving to Redwood City and looking to rent in a good beach side wooded community (San Francisco: houses, luxury)

[dinesh_advytha]

Dear Friends,

I am planning to move to Redwood City from Indianapolis with 100k salary , we are a married couple with an optimal life style[non luxury] . How ever we enjoy the combination of water, tress, mountains . We would like to live close to water [beach or lake or river] so that we can get in to the water when ever the weather is appropriate.

We will appreciate if you can suggest us a good community with the above combination. We would like to rent a place.

I tried to read most of the threads in this forum but could not find a suitable suggestion . Pardon me if this is a redundant question.

Thank you.

[silverkris]

If the water is that important to you, maybe you can consider Half Moon Bay, which is on the Pacific Coast. I don't know what your budget is, though, which is a very, very important factor in such a high cost area.

Commute might be a little long, as you would go over the 92 highway to the 280/92 interchange, where you would either continue on to 92 Eastbound to 101 South, or to 280 South to Woodside Road (State Route 84), going eastbound towards San Francisco Bay. 92 is a windy road, often 2-lanes from the coast to I-280, and I would imagine it gets congested.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by dinesh_advytha

We would like to live close to water [beach or lake or river] so that we can get in to the water when ever the weather is appropriate.

I don't think there are any lakes or rivers near Redwood City at all that would work. The ocean is nearby but it never goes above 55 degrees and the weather is generally cool most of the time and not warm enough for swimming. But some people can seem to handle water that cold or you could swim in a wetsuit. There are pretty strong currents and waves to contend with though. There are places you can live close to the water just not necessarily swim in it.

[twins4lynn]

Redwood Shores is by the bay and very nice with hiking trails, etc. Redwood Shores But no mountains.

[mayorhaggar]

Redwood City is on the wrong side of the Peninsula for that, what you are asking for is Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz, which are not easy commutes to RWC. You could live in the hills near 280 but you'd still have to go down the hill to the west to get to the beach. Also the beaches in the Bay Area are almost always cold, windy and often foggy, and the water is cold, so most people don't really put a high priority on living near the beach, other than hard-core surfers.

[sirmilton]

Only beach life you will get is going to San Francisco or driving over the Santa Cruz mountains to Half Moon Bay. From Redwood City, it would take you maybe ~20-40 minutes to get to Half Moon Bay. You can go kyaking and wind surfing around Redwood City in the bay. I see people paddle boarding in the canals of Foster City which is right next to Redwood City...

Plenty of trails, including urban and nature trails. And if you like mountains, you can hike around the Santa Cruz Mountains, which is just a short drive from Redwood City. OPENSPACE | Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

[dinesh_advytha]

Many Thanks For All the responses :-)

[wave9x]

There is the Crystal Springs Reservoir, which is gorgeous and surrounded by mountains and forest. There are trails along it but the reservoir itself isn't open to the public. There are a couple of small lakes in Emerald Hills but again, not open to the public, though one of them I believe you can get access to and swim in through a membership of some sort. The areas near 280 are hilly and generally have a lot of natural trees, so it seems you might like those areas.

Redwood Shores is on the Bay. You don't want to swim in the Bay but you can boat. It is very flat there (it's on landfill) and it is more of a luxury development type of place, doesn't sound like your thing.

Living on the coast probably isn't what you expect - it is rugged, dramatic, and beautiful, but cool and foggy much of the time. The water is cold for swimming. I'd live in the hills east of 280, and the coast is only 7 miles away, an easy drive when the weather is hot (traffic notwithstanding).

[humboldtrat]

Check out La Honda in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's surrounded by redwood forests and is halfway between Redwood City and the ocean. There's not much there. You would have to do most of your shopping in Redwood City. It's curvy 2-lane mountain roads to get to anywhere.

This is what passes for nightlife in La Honda: www.flickr.com/photos/33461472@N05/4069471516

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Check out La Honda in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's surrounded by redwood forests and is halfway between Redwood City and the ocean. There's not much there. You would have to do most of your shopping in Redwood City. It's curvy 2-lane mountain roads to get to anywhere.

This is what passes for nightlife in La Honda: Apple Jack's | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I second the La Honda recommendation. Also, check out houses along Skyline Blvd. These are more cabins than houses, but they could be with the OP is looking for. I've even seen a few advertised on Craigslist before (for very reasonable prices).