San Carlos

 

San Carlos is a residential suburb nestled between Belmont and Redwood City on the San Francisco Bay shoreline at the midway point between San Francisco and San Jose. It’s known as “The City of Good Living” for its year-round sunshine and inviting atmosphere. San Carlos is full of quiet cul-de-sacs and calm streets lined with spacious single-family homes, with some apartment and condominium buildings located close to the downtown area. Neighborhoods rise into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains to San Carlos’ southwest, thereby enhancing many properties with captivating views of the Bay Area.

San Carlos combines the best elements of urban life and nature. The walkable downtown area mixes mom-and-pop stores with trendy dining and nightlife spots, while the community has access to San Francisco Bay and the trails and scenic viewpoints of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

San Carlos, with its lively downtown area running along Laurel Street and El Camino Real, offers a great variety of dining options. Town is one of the best restaurants in the area, pairing West Coast wines with American-style steaks and seafood. Other favorites include burger, beer, and pastrami joint The Refuge, Johnston’s Saltbox, which offers local artisan treats, and new fusion restaurant Stamp Bar & Grill. 

Laurel Street’s Savanna Jazz Club showcases some of the very best jazz musicians with performances every night of the week. Bring your bookworms to the delightful The Reading Bug, which sells children’s books and toys in a setting modeled after an enchanted forest. Along with recognizable brands, such as Trader Joe’s and Home Depot, there is a year-round farmers’ market each Sunday with vendors selling fresh produce and gourmet foodstuffs, and creative artists playing live music. San Carlos has numerous wineries and tasting rooms where you can sample the best the West Coast’s vinicultural regions have to offer, including Domenico Winery, Cuvee Wine Cellars, Flying Suitcase Wines, and Russian Ridge Winery. Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company serves a fantastic selection of craft beer and regularly hosts live music performances and food trucks on Friday evenings.

The adjacent green spaces of Big Canyon Park and Eaton Park together offer 73 acres of verdant open space, with rugged hiking trails and spectacular San Francisco Bay views. Burton Park is a smaller neighborhood park featuring a water play area, picnic tables, and sports fields. The Museum of San Carlos History displays fascinating exhibits that trace the area’s development. Hiller Aviation Museum at San Carlos Airport features over 40 aircrafts spanning the evolution of flight. Hometown Days is a major civic celebration held on the third weekend in May, bringing live entertainment, food vendors, a pet parade, and other family-friendly activities to San Carlos’ streets.

San Carlos is served by the San Carlos School District.