The Crossings - Mountain View, CA

Originally just a stagecoach stop on the route between San Francisco and San Jose in the late 1800s, Mountain View has developed into a tech giant. The area started as farmland and remained that way for over fifty years until WWII, when the demand for technology advancements changed the area's economic landscape for good.

The Computer History Museum just north of The Crossings showcases advances in the tech world. The area also has a lively local theater scene at TheatreWorks on Castro Street, showing new and classic plays as well as musicals and concerts. On the same street, the annual Mountain View Art & Wine Festival brings the community together every September with food and wine, art, and live entertainment.

Locals find the neighborhood's best restaurants in the San Antonio Shopping Center or along nearby El Camino Real. Within the shopping center, Pizza Studio remains the neighborhood go-to pizza shop, featuring unlimited toppings and a create-your-own menu. Fresh and lively flavors like a rosemary herb crust or spicy buffalo sauce elevate each pizza to a new level. Experienced cooks ensure that it takes only a few minutes for your custom masterpiece to be delivered to your table.

Just outside the shopping center on El Camino Real, Veggie Garden serves up healthy vegetarian and vegan Chinese-influenced dishes. Whether you order General Tso's chicken, wontons with chili sauce, hunan tofu, pot stickers or lettuce wraps, you won't leave disappointed. Vegan shakes and drinks, like the vegan coffee shake, provide a unique option for diners in search of a treat.

For nightlife, locals only need to head a couple blocks outside of the neighborhood. To the east, Opal Nightclub is a popular dance club. The atmosphere and DJs here work perfectly together to get everyone on the dance floor. For a more laid-back night out, head a couple blocks north to O’Malley’s Sports Pub & Grub. With 37 craft beers on tap, everyone is bound to find something they like. Pool tables, large TVs and live music add up to create a relaxed good time with friends.

Residents of The Crossings have a number of transportation options available to them. Although most drive regularly, local buses and light rails, regional trains and cabs all combine to provide ample transportation options. Once you leave the neighborhood, a number of bike lanes throughout the city provide safe passage for cyclists, and the low traffic within the neighborhood keeps it safe for pedestrians.

VTA runs the local buses and light rails. A number of bus stops covering multiple bus lines run through the neighborhood, while the closest light rail stop is two miles to the east in downtown Mountain View. The San Antonio Caltrain Station sits right in the center of the neighborhood.

While regular metered cabs remain fairly common along El Camino, Uber is the easiest way to hail a cab. A few taps on your smartphone is all it takes to have an Uber cab pick you up at your location. Like Caltrain, these cabs also service the entire Bay Area.

Still, driving remains the primary option for getting around. Street parking in the neighborhood never becomes a problem, as almost every home has a garage or driveway. El Camino Real to the south and Central Expressway to the north provide quick routes in and out of the neighborhood, and the 101 and I-280 interstates run just a few miles further away from The Crossings.

Not officially a park, but rather just a standalone playground, parents in the area take their kids to the play area on Concord Circle. Climbing bars and a slide provide energetic toddlers a way to run off some energy. A small park on Beacon Street remains a popular place for residents to walk their dogs, with a gazebo inside the park providing a nice place to relax.

Just outside the neighborhood, larger parks such as Mariposa Park provide ample green space to enjoy the outdoors. Mariposa Park has one of the best playgrounds in the city. A lot of stay-at-home-parents relax with each other here while their kids run around.

Rengstorff Park and Pool has everything you can ever need: public pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, softball field, playgrounds, and picnic spots, all with free admission. While no events take place here, the many amenities provide year-round fun.

The cost of living in The Crossing sits slightly lower than other Mountain View neighborhoods, but still much higher than national averages. The average apartment rents for $2,100 a month and over.

Transportation costs, on the other hand, come in much higher for residents of this neighborhood compared to national averages. Locals pay about 23 percent more for gas, and the $2 fare for local transportation with VTA also comes in higher than most cities across the country.

When heading out to a decent restaurant, expect a meal to cost around $15 and another $5 for a beer.

Residents of The Crossings have ample shopping options right in their backyard. Locals head to the San Antonio Shopping Center for big box stores such as Target and Walmart, groceries from Safeway or Trader Joe's, discount stores like Ross, Kohl's, and Payless, and even a 24-Hour Fitness.

For less commercial, more family-owned and operated shopping, Bruce Bauer Lumber & Supply is a neighborhood stalwart selling wood, power tools, home-repair items, doors, and windows among other building materials. The Bauer family has built a trusted name and reputation within the community and locals respect the service they receive here. For those looking to indulge their creative side, Exotic Silks supplies imported fabrics in a variety of materials, prints and colors.

Another family-owned community store, Dittmer's Gourmet Meats and Wurst-Haus, offers a wide array of meats and sausages as well as pre-made deli sandwiches. Locals praise the fresh ingredients and savory selection. If Safeway, Trader Joe's or Dittmer's doesn't carry what you need, you can also head to Sprouts Farmers Market just across the street from the shopping center. Open every day of the week, Sprouts provides locals with farm-fresh local produce.