Another review that I have held off on... Am I being selfish?…read more Quality/Quantity - Alameda is an island in the Bay Area. A hidden treasure. DON'T let anyone know! One of the safest communities in the bay. 23 square miles, 12.5 square miles of which is water. 78k+ population - Although they are continuing to build aggressively on the ex-naval base. The best part of the island is that there is only XXXX amount of land so it can hopefully NOT get over crowded. Atmosphere - Beaches - Alameda Beach, Crab Cove, Crown, Encinal, etc. Water sports - Kayak, kite surfing, swimming, jet skiing, boating, etc. Harbor Bay, parks, lagoons, trails, volleyball, tennis, skate parks, dog parks, marinas, cycling, etc. Ex-navy base (1997) - Spirit Alley - Distilleries, breweries, wineries, etc. Too many to name! Annual events - Farmer's markets, fairs, festivals, parades, Blue Angels, etc. Museums, art & culture, etc. Beautiful Victorian homes. Amazing views of SF. 3 bridges and tunnels to get on and off of the island. Near Oakland, SF, Coast Guard Island, etc. Service - Ferries - To SF, Oakland, etc. One of the best ways to travel. Price - Affordable. They have inexpensive and expensive options. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1853.

Alameda is so cool. Everyone I've ever met who lives here always says it's a great place to live,…read moreand everyone I've ever met who used to live here say they miss something or other about life on the island. And what an island it is. Except that it's technically three islands, or portions thereof: Alameda Island, Coast Guard Island, and Bay Farm Island. And I was lying again, because as far as I can tell, Bay Farm Island is not an island. It may have been an island at one time, but it's now more of a peninsula connected to Oakland; it also includes Oakland International Airport or whatever its dumb name is now. And the other fun fact is that the very southwestern tip of Alameda Island is technically part of San Francisco. That's right; when they were drawing up San Francisco's crazy borders, which unlike other Bay Area cities' borders often include all kinds of water nowhere near the land portion of San Francisco, they drew this diagonal line that happened to clip the corner of Alameda Island. That's why San Francisco voting returns always include zero votes for East Bay candidates--it's technically possible that someone could live on that corner and be eligible to vote in San Francisco, but it has never happened. The City of Alameda is so strange and weird and magical and wonderful and fake and real and beautiful and safe and salty and many other adjectives. There's the museum aircraft carrier USS Hornet and all these weird industrial experiments going on on the western end of the island, where the naval air station used to be. And there are all these new homes being developed close by. Then there are the lovely old homes on the island, and the coolest part might be the eastern end of the island south of the High Street Bridge, because these just feel like regular only 1950s and '60s neighborhoods, and then you happen upon Eastshore Drive, and the backyards of very normal-looking suburban houses happen to abut the bay! You already know about the tunnels and the Pacific Pinball Museum--a must visit--from my other reviews. Or you should. go read and click on them. Plus there are some great restaurants out here. And Coast Guard Island is funny; it's part of the City of Alameda, but its only connection to land is to Oakland itself. In order to get to the rest of Alameda, you either have to drive through Oakland to one of the tubes or to Bay Farm Island, or you have to get across narrow Brooklyn Basin somehow. Preferably by boat, I would say, but swimming and helicoptering would work just fine too. Oh, and those weird lagoons are perfectly strange. I didn't know what they were for, and I was annoyed that only the people who owned property near them could use them recreationally, but then I learned that they are partially used for storm drainage retention and water treatment, so those people playing in them probably shouldn't be! How perfect.

Cool old laidback kind of town with some really old well kept buildings…read more There is street parking with spaces available even though there are a lot of cars on the street. There are some small shops as well a a bunch of places to eat. Overall the town seems to be a little confused with a vibe that seems to be stuck between trying to be a little bit more modern and at the same time trying to keep the old town charm.

This review is for the parks and recreation reservations department. Danville says they are a…read morefamily centered charming town but I just called the reservations phone number to reserve the meadow and gazebo at Hap McGee park for a first birthday party (the website says it's great for birthday party's, events, weddings etc) but was told no seemingly because it was for a baby's birthday. The man on the phone asked what type of event I wanted to hold, he said he recommends the picnic area. I told him we weren't interested in that area. He continued for a good 5 minutes going on and on about there not being enough parking, they usually only like to rent that space out for weddings, or they rent one house at a time, again suggesting the picnic area. First of all, Whether the picnic area or the meadow is rented out the parking situation remains the same. I finally just asked for clarity to end hi rambling, it's either a yes or no and he said "yeah I'm going to go with no". What! We're Danville residents simply looking for (and paying for) a place to hold a birthday party. It's available, I called 5 months in advance and he said no. Incredibly rude and I would love a sincere explanation as to why because apparently the decision is up this gentlemen and his mood for the day.

Foster City is one of the nicest places to live in the SF Bay Area. I drive thru it at least once…read morea week. That's because Hwy 92 runs thru it, as it connects to the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge. Foster City was named after T. Jack Foster. It was built in the 1960's, that's why everything is modern. Foster City was a planned community. They set aside space for parks and recreation, shopping centers, and schools. A unique feature of the city is it's beautiful lagoon system. The city has it's own police and fire depts, but I don't think it has a hospital.

I have been a resident of Foster City for 57 years it has given me the opportunity to start my dog…read morewalking business and I'm thriving! The city has been excellent working with me! They approved my 7th Anniversary Picnic Celebration at Gull Park on July 29th!

In what world did the city planner approve construction 8:00am (IN THE MORNING) during peak rush…read morehour for the two lane arteries. In front of James Logan which starts at 8:30am??? I get work has to be done but out of all the times in the day not to mention the month (school started). City planners if you are reading this review is for you.

I have had fun hiking at Dry Creek. There are many restaurants to choose from. I went to 3 of the…read moreschools in Union City. I lived here for 28 years but my mom still lives at the same house for 53 years and seen a lot of changes to the city.

I'm so sad we couldn't get up close due to the renovations but I know it'll be amazing when fully…read morere- opened.

When I think SF, the Japantown plaza is always in my thoughts. The energy here makes it one of my…read morefavorite landmarks of the city and a must see when showing newbies/family/tourist friends around. The mall hasn't changed since I was a teenager and the streets around the plaza have so many different businesses who value your patronage. They host many vibrant and interesting events here so be sure to check their online calendar. Like I said, the energy here is so amazing. The name is well suited!

Having been born and raised in the Bay Area, I come to appreciate the vast amount of unique cities…read morethat are offered. In this case, we take a look at the "City of Pleasant Hill". Nestled in Contra Costa County and located south of Martinez, west of Concord, and north of Walnut Creek, this city has been incorporated dating back to 1961. Here you will find the open space City Hall where there is a walkway arch and natural shrub surrounding it (which is where I captured a couple of pictures on a beautiful, warm spring afternoon). There is also Downtown Pleasant Hill (on Crescent Dr) which offers lots of great shopping, dining, and a nearby movie theater. And finally, there is the Pleasant Hill Park (off of Gregory Ln) which has a big play area for the kids, a bocce ball court, and lots of shaded areas on those warm summer days. What I particularly like about this area is that it has always felt "safe" to me yet it is not quite as diverse as other cities such as Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond. They have a great school system, decent roads, and an overall above average community. Finally, many of the exits are right off the 680 freeway. With that said and done, I am giving the "City of Pleasant Hill" an above average four-star rating.

I love this area other than the fact that it's not always too clean in some areas…read more There's quite a bit of traffic overall but not as bad as over the bridge. There's so many stores and things to visit including hiking areas. Many trails , I love trails! It's not too cold so that's a bonus! Definitely check this town out!

I live near Skygate and walk past it several times a week. The stainless-steel sculpture sits along…read morethe Embarcadero, only about a two-minute walk from Pier 39, so many people probably pass it without realizing its history. Created in 1985 by sculptor Roger Barr, Skygate was the first piece of public art installed in that part of the waterfront. If you look closely, you'll also find a nearby plaque noting that the sculpture was dedicated to the American philosopher Eric Hoffer, often called the "longshoreman philosopher," who spent many years working on the San Francisco docks. The sculpture has a sleek, curved design made of polished stainless steel. It reflects the sky, the bay, and people walking by. On sunny days, the light shines beautifully on it, making it a popular spot for photos. Visitors exploring the waterfront between Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building often stop here. Since it sits in an open plaza along the Embarcadero promenade, it's easy to walk right up to it and see how the reflections change as you move around it. Roger Barr (1921-2000), the artist behind Skygate, had an interesting life that blended art, travel, and teaching. Born in Milwaukee, he served as a Navy pilot during World War II and later studied art in Los Angeles and Paris. During his time in Paris, he interacted with prominent artists and photographers, including Pablo Picasso and Man Ray. Barr later taught art in several places, including California and France, and directed the American Art Study Abroad program in Paris during the 1960s. Another interesting detail is how the sculpture was installed here. Skygate was commissioned by the Becton Dickinson Company, a global medical technology firm, and donated to the City of San Francisco. At the time, it became the first piece of waterfront public art in the city to be fully funded by a private company. Today, it quietly stands along one of San Francisco's busiest walking paths, a small but meaningful reminder of the city's artistic and waterfront history.

12/27/25. Slow traffic here! Toll must be paid @$8…read more Beautiful scenic ride! Bridge is accessible by bicyclists and runners! Definitely a memorable trip over the bridge. Here we come Sausalito!

12/26/2025 On our way to Novato to visit granddaughters and…read moretheir parents!! No traffic ..smooth ride, no rain !!! 5.5 miles strectch on this double deck bridge with bike as well as pedestrian access!