Valley Oak - Stockton, CA

The city of Stockton was originally settled by native tribes who influenced its culture. After the gold rush in Sacramento in the 1800s, the Valley Oak neighborhood became popular among miners wanting a place to stay as they looked for gold in the Sierra foothills. In the 1900s, residents built farms in Valley Oak, maintaining its title as one of the largest agricultural centers and vineyards in the Central Valley.

While you don't find any museums in Valley Oak, it has a thriving arts scene toward its southern border. Visit Stockton Art League Goodwin Gallery for a look at the projects local artists have been working on, or become a member to donate to local arts in the area.

Annual events and festivals gravitate toward downtown Stockton to the south, but residents find community events around Pacific Avenue such as the Sommelier Boot Camp at Mile Wine Company.

Since most of the land in Valley Oak houses farms and homes, its nightlife maintains a calm atmosphere. Residents travel south of the neighborhood's border to partake in some of the best nightlife in the city, especially near West Lane.

Food in Valley Oak remains as diverse as its environment, with restaurants ranging from Thai to traditional American pub favorites. Try Monorom Restaurant on Sacramento Road for the best Cambodian food in the city. This restaurant serves up thin-sliced Pha Lau pork, as well as a menu item many people have never tried – frog with lemongrass over rice. Whether you consider yourself an adventurous eater or you prefer the classics, this restaurant has something for everyone.

For a combination of the familiar with the new, visit Mama’s Pho & Sandwiches. This restaurant takes a simple American sandwich and creates a twist with modern Vietnamese flavors. Order the Vietnamese sandwich with beef, pork, slices of cucumbers, carrots, daikon, cilantro and jalapeños, covered in a tangy sauce.

Customers who want a cocktail with their meal head to Midgley’s Public House on Lincoln Center. Chef Michael Midgley owns this Stockton staple, which serves up American fusion dishes such as a whole hog roast, chipotle chicken pasta and a rack of lamb crusted with honey mustard. Finish your meal off with crème brûlée and a dessert wine. Make reservations for large parties, since this hotspot fills up quickly during dinner rush.

After dinner, grab a beer at Finnegans Pub and Grill on Pacific Avenue. Catch a local band on its stage, since it's one of the only music venues in the area.

Since Valley Oak sits to the northernmost region of Stockton, most residents use cars to get around in the neighborhood. The main expressway in the neighborhood is Golden State Highway to the east side. Take this highway south to get into downtown Stockton and connect to other major roads. When you drive, find free public parking anywhere along residential roads.

Take the San Joaquin RTA bus to get anywhere in the neighborhood or into downtown Stockton. Hailing a cab remains simple when you live here, since many taxis take people to and from the main shopping centers on Pacific Avenue to residential zones to the north. Request Uber to pick you up from any location in Stockton.

If you choose to walk, find safe sidewalks in the residential zone of the neighborhood. Biking lanes on most major roads are in place to keep area bikers safe.

Not only do residents of Valley Oak get a view of acres of farmland in their backyards, but they also have dozens of parks to visit. You won't find annual events in these parks, but they are the hub of social life in the community.

Valverde Park has tennis courts for the athletically inclined, as well as a baseball field for children.

With a convenient location to the west of the neighborhood, Cortez Park also has tennis courts and basketball courts. This park provides a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere, with plenty of activities for children to stay occupied. Keep your pets on leashes when you walk them through the fields.

While most parks in Valley Oak are free, you can join Elkhorn Golf Club for a fee to become a member. Membership gives you access to its huge golf course and clubhouse amenities.

Since the cost of living in Valley Oak sits at about 1 percent less than living in Modesto, many residents choose to live here. Expect to pay $670 for the average one-bedroom rental rate when you move here.

When you drive, you'll pay about 17 percent more for gas in this neighborhood than the national average. To save money, take the bus anywhere in Stockton for $1.50 per ride.

Beer at a local pub costs about $3 on average, making it some of the cheapest entertainment in the city.

You don't find many shops in Valley Oak proper, since most of the area has homes and farms taking up the majority of the real estate. When you travel south of the neighborhood, you hit the main center of commerce on Pacific Avenue.

While high-end stores don't call Valley Oak home, residents find local boutiques to meet many of their needs. Coppetti Boutique on Lincoln Center sells high-end women's clothing. When you walk in, expect an experience nothing like what you find at your local mall. You get advice from knowledgeable owners who hand-select the best items to sell each month.

Just down the road, Theadora Boutique has seasonal trend pieces at a reasonable cost. Select from dresses, purses, shoes and scarves. This shop sells only designer clothing, so everything in the store has been verified to be authentic.

If you need to stock up on kitchen goods, you never have to go far when you live in Valley Oak. The neighborhood has WinCo Foods, Trader Joe's, and Safeway close by, so residents enjoy convenient locations to when they run out of grocery essentials. Head over to the Stockton Certified Farmers Market during harvest season for fresh produce.