Townsend - San Jose, CA

San Jose was one of the first mission settlements in California, founded in 1777. Most folks who lived in the area in the late 19th and early 20th century got by farming, or trading with nearby San Francisco. The city became incorporated in 1850. During the mid 20th century the city began growing exponentially. The city today has grown to be the largest city in Northern California with a total population of over one million. San Jose has grown to be the beating heart of the Silicon Valley. The tech industry has blossomed in this city, and still has much influence over future growth plans in the Townsend neighborhood, as well as the rest of San Jose. To learn more about the history of San Jose check out the History Museum of San Jose in Kelly Park. The entrance fee costs $6 to the museum.

Locals love the Happiness Cafe. If you can't tell already, eating here will definitely make you smile. The cafe provides tasty milk tea options, espresso, Italian soda, and much more. There are many sandwiches and even noodle bowls available for lunch. With nice staff and competitive prices, this place will keep you coming back. If you have a palate refined for Southern tastes, try the Claw Shack on Berryessa Road. This Cajun/Creole inspired "shack" has beautiful decor and lighting. The folks who own the place are incredibly polite, serve generous portions, and offer lots of different dishes highlighting Creole style cooking. If you want something special, try their take on clam chowder, and don't be afraid to ask to try the sauces on anything else.

With the ability to be in either Oakland or San Francisco in under an hour, this neighborhood works perfectly as a basecamp for a commuter. By car there are multiple nearby highways and freeways for access to San Francisco via Interstate 280 or Highway 101, the Eastern Bay area via Interstate 880 as well as San Jose via Highway 87. Finding public parking should not be an issue in Townsend. Locals can walk around Townsend to nearby restaurants or to the adjacent park and golf course. There are lots of sidewalks and walking trails nearby. There are public bus options throughout the city via the Valley Transit Authority, as well as a VTA light rail nearby (about 0.2 miles away). The Bay Area Rapid Transit runs from San Jose to the Eastern Bay Area, while the CalTrain connects San Jose to downtown San Francisco. There are nearby bike lanes that connect Townsend to the rest of San Jose, but bike paths are limited, so bikers should take caution in this area. Hailing a cab can be difficult in this neighborhood. Locals prefer to use services like Uber.

The nearby parks in Townsend make the area special. If you want to exercise or have a nice day in the park with your kids check out Townsend Park. The park does not cost anything at all. During the summer they have viewing of movies in the park. Feel free to bring the dog on leash for a walk as well The park has no cost. The nearby San Jose Municipal Golf Course provides a great opportunity to work on your swing. Take advantage of living nearby and come during the week when less people are on the course. This affordable course provides a driving range as well as golf carts. Expect to pay $60 to $70 for a full game.

Living in the San Jose area can be expensive. A one bedroom apartment in Townsend costs on average $2,000 per month. A beer at a pub nearby will cost anywhere from $4 to $9. Gas prices here are 5percent higher than the national average. If you want to head downtown by bus or rail, it will cost about $4.

The nearby Great Mall of the Bay Area (locals just say Great Mall) houses many familiar high end clothing stores like Burlington, Banana Republic, and Coach. Besides clothing, there are many common specialty stores in the mall like Bose, Samsonite, and the Tuxedo Wearhouse. The mall has an extensive food court, many restaurants as well as a theatre. Locals like to shop at boutiques near the Townsend area like Aristocrats. This shop provides high end clothes for both men and women at the cutting edge of fashion. Come here for stylish underground brand name tees, caps, shoes and jackets. Stay for the laid back vibe and the friendly service. For a cool clothing store with affordable stylish clothes check out Neu2u Thrift Boutique downtown. The store operates one of the most popular thrift style boutiques in the Bay Area. The customer service here will astound you, as the shopkeeper will help guide you through the various styles they have in stock. Don't be surprised if you find some brands names at very affordable prices For groceries most people just stick to the local Save Mart near Townsend. Locals looking to get more specialty produce visit the Whole Foods in downtown San Jose, or the San Jose Flea Market on Berryessa Road. Find it open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m Wednesdays and Fridays, and 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.