Redwood Shores - Foster City, CA

Redwood Shores was built on reclaimed land and was the former home of Marine World/Africa U.S.A. (now better known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA). Marine World left in 1986, making way for the development of planned residential communities and large office parks.

Since Marine World's departure, Redwood Shores has seen tremendous growth. In addition to housing and offices, the area saw the construction of a new fire station in 1998, a state-of-the-art library in 2009 and Redwood Shores Elementary school, which opened in 2010.

Redwood Shores is not known for its nightlife, but it has a couple of great restaurants. Tucked away near the bridge on Bridge Parkway, Mistral Restaurant & Bar can be hard to find, but once you're there, enjoy the cozy atmosphere, water views, and patio dining. Featuring seasonally fresh ingredients, the menu changes throughout the year. Mediterranean-influenced seafood dishes and hormone-free Angus steak are often on the menu. Designed to complement the current menu, the rotating wine list includes over 50 selections. The restaurant also offers local beer on tap. While the food and drink can hold your attention, take a moment to admire the work of local artists that adorns the walls throughout the restaurant.

The Marketplace at Redwood Shores offers a few restaurant options within one shopping center, including Una Mas for Mexican food, Amici's East Coast Pizzeria for pizza cooked in a brick oven, and the Grill House for a full-service bar and restaurant. The Grill House grills just about anything, such as fish and eggplant, and classics such as burgers and ribs. If you're getting a side, it's worth a little extra money to opt for the garlic fries.

Most people get around Redwood Shores in cars. The area is easily accessible to Highway 101 for travel to San Francisco, San Jose or other Bay Area locations. There is plenty of free public parking. Cabs are not easy to hail, but Uber is an option.

Redwood Shores is a very bike-friendly area, with wide bike lanes and paved bike paths. The neighborhood is also walkable, with sidewalks and pedestrian paths in most places. The area is generally flat, though some walkways require walking up and over bridges to cross the lagoons.

For public transportation, SamTrans buses service Redwood Shores, and Caltrain offers a shuttle for easy access to the San Carlos train station.

Redwood Shores residents enjoy many public and private parks. Large grassy areas and picnic spots are easy to find. The public parks are free.

One of the biggest parks in the area is Marlin Park. Stay active by taking advantage of the ball fields, basketball courts and tennis courts. The park makes a great spot for a family picnic with convenient picnic areas, barbecue pits and children's playground equipment, including an enclosed section for toddlers. This park also hosts the annual Easter Eggstravaganza and Egg Hunt.

Enjoy great opportunities for biking, running or walking on surrounding bike trails and nature trails, which weave through protected natural habitats. If you're not interested in wearing yourself out, these trails are flat for leisurely strolls and include sections of the scenic San Francisco Bay Trail. As you travel the trails, keep an eye out for a variety of wildlife and birds, including stilts, egrets and herons.

You can also stay active and enjoy the scenery with the 200-acre lagoon system, where you can enjoy non-motorized water sports such as paddle boarding, petal boating and rowing. If being a spectator is more your speed, keep an eye out for rowing races, including competitions of Pacific-12 Conference teams such as nearby Stanford.

In Redwood Shores, man's best friend has a park of his own. Shore Dogs Park lets dogs enjoy the outdoors off leash in one of two fenced-in areas. One area is for big dogs and the other is for small dogs. Dogs exercise, play and socialize in this park year round, and their guardians enjoy a friendly community of other dog lovers. Sometimes seals bask adjacent to the small dog area, an extra perk for nature lovers and a curious sight for the dogs.

Redwood Shores offers an array of homes that truly capture the essence of Bay Area living. For those considering a one-bedroom apartment, you might find pay around $2,946 dollars per month. Alternatively, if a house aligns better with your style, the average house for rent costs around $3,500 dollars per month. For those envisioning a more permanent stay, the average house price typically hovers around $1.4 million.

The main shopping area is The Marketplace at Redwood Shores, which includes Nob Hill Foods, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Togo's, Bank of America, Provident Credit Union and GNC Health. If you're looking for one-of-a-kind finds at local boutiques, those can be found in the nearby areas of Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City.

The only grocery store in Redwood Shores is Nob Hill Foods, but you can also find produce and other food items at the year-round Redwood Shores Farmers Market, hosted by the West Coast Farmers Market Association. This event occurs every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Redwood Shores Library.