Palm Park - Redwood City, CA Area Guide

In the years following World War II, many developers overhauled the area now known as Palm Park. The neighborhood experienced a huge aesthetic transformation in the 1960s when construction of the Woodside Road overpass began. Newly erected residences were either single-story ranches or low-rise apartments. These dwellings still exist in Palm Park's lower end, while new developments paint the landscape of Palm Park's higher end.

Palm Park houses no museums, nor does the neighborhood have a vibrant arts scene. However, the Sequoia YMCA of Silicon Valley, located in Palm Park, plays an active role in the community. The Sequoia YMCA offers ongoing health and wellness courses, swimming lessons and exercise classes to the community in addition to a few annual events. Each year the "Y" hosts a golf tournament as well as a 5K and 10K run.

Palm Park is a melting pot of cuisines. Whether you are in the mood for authentic Italian, Japanese, German, Mexican or American, you're sure to find it here. No central restaurant location exists, per se, but you can find many sprinkled throughout the area and along Woodside Road.

Sushi Plus, located in Woodside Plaza, creates the best sushi rolls in the South Bay, according to many. Restaurant regulars consistently remark about the generous fish portions.

Transport your taste buds continents away, but just a few blocks down, for the flavors of Mexico. Bravo Taqueria deserves a standing ovation for its nachos. Regulars also praise this restaurant for the non-greasy quality of their fresh and well-seasoned food.

Most bars and clubs that night owls flock to reside in or near the downtown Redwood City area. Closer to Palm Park, though, beer drinkers imbibe at the Villa Roma Cocktail Lounge on Woodside Road. Villa Roma offers regularly occurring karaoke and trivia nights, so many people go to partake in these events. Should you decide to go, you too will potentially be able to sing along to outdated show tunes or name the different actors who played Darren on Bewitched. The staff here are friendly as well and so the only downside to this bar is that parking, like in other nearby places, can be difficult.

Most Palm Park residents drive. Each household owns an average of 2.3 cars. If you're one of the few who do not own a car, though, fear not. The SamTrans bus line serves the immediate area and CalTrain, the Bay Area's commuter railway line, services the larger South Bay and San Francisco area.

You will have a hard time hailing a cab on the spot so either reserve one ahead of time or open up your Uber app and make a car reservation that way for less than you might spend on a cab.

Parking is readily available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Palm Park streets are narrow and parked cars squish together like sardines in a can, so when you're looking for parking, keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to use your best vehicle maneuvering skills.

Residents of the area can easily access California State Routes 82 and 84, which are El Camino Real and Woodside Road, respectively. Bayshore Freeway, also known as Highway 101, is just a stone's throw to the north.

You can walk the Palm Park neighborhood but be careful. Many freeways run nearby and cars heavily populate the area. These words of caution apply to cyclists, too, though there are designated lanes in certain areas.

Palm Park's namesake park, located at Hudson and Poplar Avenue, keeps families entertained with play structures for the kids and large grassy areas for the rest of the family. The many tables entice families to picnic at this local park as well.

You enter this park free of charge, and it's usually far less crowded than nearby Red Morton Park, but be forewarned that parking is very difficult. Your best bet is to park on a residential side street and walk over.

Occupying nearly an acre of land, Palm Park makes a great walking or bicycling destination spot. The park's acreage provides ample space for dogs, too; just be sure to pick up after them.

Palm Park hosts no annual events. People flock to the Hometown Holidays Annual Children’s Festival and Fireworks Show in downtown Redwood City, just over a mile north of Palm Park. This yearly festival includes an outdoor party, Santa Claus and tree lighting ceremony.

Median rent for a one-bedroom in Palm Park costs around $1,400 per month, which is slightly lower than the overall city average.

CalTrain costs vary, depending on your age and where you're traveling to. An average trip will probably run you around $5. The cost of a bus ride on the local SamTrans line also varies but averages approximately $2.

A pint of beer at a local bar costs about $6, and gas rests 6 percent higher than the national average.

Boutiques and major shopping areas dot the streets of downtown Redwood City, rather than the more residential Palm Park neighborhood.

Stores located in downtown Redwood City vary in price range, but most are relatively affordable with few high-end stores. Brick Monkey tempts customers with its unique collection of home goods and furniture. At Brick Monkey, if you don't find exactly what you're looking for, you can place a custom order with one of the friendly sales associates.

Tucked away in the northern region of Palm Park, you will find M & M Nursery, a gem of a shop with a large assortment of flora. Though the staff is knowledgeable, people do not go there for the service but for the extensive selection.

Palm Park residents do their shopping primarily at the Safeway on Woodside Road. On Saturdays, however, many of these same residents stop by the Redwood City Kiwanis Farmers' Market for food that's a little more local. Open from 8 a.m. to noon, April through November, this market boasts seasonal fare from the Greater Bay Area.