Sunnyarts - Sunnyvale, CA

The Ohlone native Americans were the original inhabitants of the Santa Clara Valley. Within the decade of the arrival of the Spanish in the 1770s, Mission Santa Clara was built by Ohlone who converted to Christianity. Throughout the next century, a number of land grants were given out that eventually turned into the city of Sunnyvale. By the end of the 1800s, large populations of Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese immigrants had arrived in the area to work the orchards.

After the names of "Beautiful Murphy" and "The City of Destiny" were declined, the city officially became known as Sunnyvale in 1901. World War II began to change the economy in the area from farming to high-tech research and development. The Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival and performing arts theaters such as Solskrit and Sunnyvale Theatre add a vibrant art scene to the neighborhood.

Less than a mile to the west of Sunnyarts, Falafel STOP is arguably the best falafel place in the Bay Area. The hummus takes everything to the next level. You can order it as its own plate, or add it to your chicken shwarma in pita bread. Add some tahini sauce, cabbage and parsley, and top it off with fries, and you've got yourself an amazing lunch. The atmosphere of this place feels very NorCal. From the time you walk up to the window and place your order to taking a seat in the outdoor patio community-style eating area, it's a laid back experience.

One of the best bars in Sunnyvale sits just outside of Sunnayart's western border of Picasso Drive. Two blocks over on Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, The Local 102 Lounge has the best selection of beer in town in addition to darts, bar trivia, karaoke, pool, shuffleboard and a number of TVs playing that day's big game. This is the hangout of local townies, creating a friendly environment for all.

The majority of Sunnyarts residents drive. Within the neighborhood, every home has its own driveway, and street parking remains available as well. El Camino Real serves as the primary thoroughfare, leading north and south all throughout the Bay Area. I-280 and Highway 101 also sit equidistant from the neighborhood to the south and north respectively, while Highway 85 sits just to the west.

Public transportation commuters rely on the VTA buses that run along El Camino Real and South Wolfe Road. Locals frequently use the buses to get to the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station located 2 miles to the north of Sunnyarts. These trains run all throughout the Bay Area.

Uber cabs operate in the area. With just a few taps on your phone, you can have a car pick you up at your doorstep in a matter of minutes.

Walking and biking are both very safe in the neighborhood, but they are employed more for exercise than transportation. Bike lanes exist along Freemont Avenue at the south end of the neighborhood as well as most of the grid-forming roads surrounding the community.

Heritage Park sits just outside the western border of the neighborhood, but it is easily reached on foot in 5 minutes. The park and accompanying museum feature vintage harvest equipment, paying homage to the area's one-time fruit industry.

Las Palmas Park to the northwest features a summertime splash zone where kids can run around and cool off. Families and couples also use the large grassy area surrounding the lake for picnics under the shade of palm trees. Sports enthusiasts can also use the tennis courts and baseball field.

While all of the neighborhood parks are accommodating to dogs, Seven Seas Park remains the most dog-centric.

Living in Sunnyarts does not come cheap. The average monthly rent in this neighborhood for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,205. This comes in at a whopping 43 percent more than the Sunnyvale average of $1,539 per month.

While not quite as high, locals also pay about 23 percent more at the pump compared to prices around the country. On public transportation, single rides start at $2, although frequent riders get a Clipper Card that can be loaded with cost-saving daily, monthly or yearly passes.

When heading to a local restaurant, expect to pay similar prices as other large metropolises around the country. An entrée starts at about $12 and a regular-priced beer at about $5.

Directly north of the neighborhood on El Camino, big retailers Best Buy and Safeway serve as the closest shops. In the same shopping center, phone stores, auto supply shops, Walgreens, bakeries and Starbucks combine to serve basic needs. Just outside the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station, Macy's and Target are other popular retailers on the shopping trail.

Also near the train station, Isabella Boutique on South Murphy serves as the go-to community shop for stunning and unique outfits. This small shop provides something different from the off-the-rack look of department stores. On that same street, Leigh’s Favorite Books is another local go-to spot. This friendly and cozy bookstore has an amazing selection of new and used books, journals, cute gifts and other knickknacks.

Two farmers markets exist within 2 miles of Sunnyarts: Sprouts Farmers Market on El Camino and Sunnyvale Farmers Market on West Washington Avenue just outside the train station. Sprouts is closer and open every day, while Sunnyvale serves as a fun weekend activity, as it's only open Saturday mornings.