Santa Teresa - San Jose, CA Area Guide

Santa Teresa was once contained within the 9,647-acre tract of land awarded to Jose Joaquin Bernal in 1834. The land was used for cattle farming and agriculture, and through the course of generations, it was divided and split into parcels for family heirs. Although most of the land was sold, the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch was retained and operated by the family until 1980. Santa Teresa was developed on land sold from the original parcel.

Visitors tour the restored ranch house and barn at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch historic site for a living-history experience of ranch life in the early 1900s. The ranch hosts several events such as Family Fandango, an evening of song, dance and demos that celebrate history, and Howl at the Moon, an astronomy evening with a lunar-effects focus.

With choices that include fast-food burgers and simmered curries, most of the neighborhood's eateries can be found at the Plaza de Santa Teresa and Santa Teresa Village shopping centers.

Satisfy a Mexican craving with a generous portion of carne asada at El Amigo. Locals strongly advise that you start with the guacamole, made-to-order at your table. Sit on the outdoor patio for the Sunday brunch buffet, and enjoy enchiladas, menudo, fajitas and the pancake station while listening to the wandering mariachis-- and two words to top it all off: watermelon margaritas.

Whether you eat in or take out at Lee's House Chinese restaurant, you get fast service, generous portions and reasonable prices. Take home a selection of dishes and thrill the family with eggplant with spicy meat sauce, honey walnut prawns in cream sauce and huge, crispy egg rolls.

Savor the spicy flavors of Indian cuisine at Emperor of India on Cottle Road. Locals swear by the tender butter chicken and the fresh, hot naan that they use to soak up every drop of the spicy sauce. Take on the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, and for about $10, you can enjoy tandoori chicken, potato pakoras, paneer curry and much more.

For an evening's entertainment, sports fans head to Sideline Sports Bar & Grill to watch the big game, shoot some pool and knock back a few beers. As a bonus, this bar serves complimentary snacks. Hideaway Lounge on Monterrey features a friendly staff, jukebox music and late night drinks for a cozy dive-bar experience.

Maybe you can run some errands on foot if you live near one of the pockets of retail activity, but you need a car to get around in Santa Teresa. Don't worry about finding a parking spot when you go shopping-- local stores provide lots of free parking. If you want to shop downtown, you can easily hop on US 101 and be in the city center within 20 minutes.

Bus service runs along Santa Teresa Boulevard and north-south on Cottle Road for neighborhood connections, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority connects Santa Teresa to San Jose with light rail service.

Don't expect to find a cab to hail – just phone for taxi service. Uber San Francisco serves the Bay area and gives you another option for booking a car and driver.

For cyclists, several Santa Teresa streets feature dedicated bike lanes, and off-road trails provide scenic bicycling opportunities.

With a dozen small city parks and one huge county park to choose from, Santa Teresa residents have no shortage of green space and recreation options. At La Colina Park, you can enjoy a peaceful lunch in the sheltered picnic area, hike up the hill to enjoy a stunning view or let the kids have some fun in the playground area. For a more active outing, take the team to George Page Park for a game on the baseball diamond, tennis court or grassy fields.

Enjoy raw natural beauty and wide open spaces on the 1,627 acres of Santa Teresa County Park. Choose from the 18 miles of unpaved trails, and get on one of the paths for cycling, hiking or horseback riding, or reserve the picnic area and barbecue pit to put on an outdoor bash for up to 100 guests. Challenge yourself on the links of the park's 18-hole public course for weekday green fees of $42, or get the kids in the game on the 9-hole par-3 course.

Raleigh Linear Dog Park and Miyuki Dog Park provide enclosed areas where dogs can run leash-free, socialize with other dogs and burn off excess energy.

Santa Teresa residents head downtown for Music in the Park at St. James Park where bands such as Maroon 5 have headlined the free summer concert series.

The cost of living in Santa Teresa comes in only slightly lower than the San Jose average cost but still significantly higher than the California average cost. Renters, be prepared – the average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,841 per month.

At least daily incidentals don't hurt your wallet. A cool brew at the pub runs about $4, and a ticket to downtown San Jose via VTA Light Rail costs $2.

Expect to pay West Coast prices at the pump – the cost of gas in this neighborhood runs about 23 percent higher than the national average cost.

Two main commercial centers serve this neighborhood. You can shop for discount clothing, housewares and bed linens at Ross Dress for Less near Santa Teresa Village, and pick up your prescriptions and pharmacy items at Rite Aid in Plaza de Santa Teresa. Chain-store favorites include Staples for office supplies, Goodwill for deeply discounted treasures and Trendy Trends for bra tops, booty shorts and leggings for dancers.

Pick up a new laptop or iPad by shopping online or in-store at MacBlowouts on Camino Verde Drive. Take in your banged-up iPhone for repairs, or, for an unbeatable price, take home a pre-owned Mac with a 60-day warranty and a buyback option for future upgrades.

Brighten someone's day with a floral arrangement or bouquet from Brunetto's Florist & Gifts. Celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, send get-well wishes and congratulate graduates with fresh and silk blooms, gift baskets and fruit baskets from this neighborhood staple.

Santa Teresa doesn't specialize in boutiques, but downtown San Jose does.

Bay Area Superfood serves the neighborhood with grocery supplies. Locals attend the nearby Blossom Hill farmer's market for fresh fruits and veggies.