L.M.
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You are so lucky! I would LOVE to live there!! Have fun!!! :)
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My husband and I are *considering* moving up north to the bay area. I LOVE LA and would miss it like crazy, but we both have family up there and we feel our kids are missing out on all that family time.
We have family in Palo Alto, and San Jose (both campbell area and downtown)
I am not a big fan of San Jose and Palo Alto is out of our price range (not to mention it's not quite diverse enough for our tastes).
I would LOVE to move to San Fran--- I love the city-- the diversity, the art, the culture, the energy, WALKING! But everyone says not to move there with kids...I guess the school system is impossible? If not to the city I want to live in an area thats got a bustling community and is also an easy commute (hopefully by train) in to san fran as both my husband and I work in the arts. I would like to walk around our neighborhood and find a good community for our kids... walk to the store, etc. but also have a yard and a nice sized home.
What about Berkeley? I've only heard great things about the culture and people... Is it a good place to raise kids? Easy to get into the city? Does it have a trader joes? Would a vegan feel right at home?Are there alot of families or is it mostly college students?
We are sort of a modern, artsy family. I would be interested in finding an artistic preschool and maybe even a charter school for our kids....If we don't move up north we are moving back to the Silverlake/ Los Feliz are of LA... In new york we would probably live in Brooklyn or someplace similar.
We are just beginning to toss the idea around of moving up north and it would mostly be a move for our kids. I just really don't like the San Jose area so I want to find something that fits us. I'd love to hear from anyone that has kids and lives IN the city. I'm pretty sure that would be my first choice but everyone says I'm crazy. I've only spent time in San Fran on vacation so obviously I am unfamiliar with what it is like living there....
any help?
You are so lucky! I would LOVE to live there!! Have fun!!! :)
I lived and worked in Berkeley (and nearby) for many years. Berkeley is a great place to live with families. It has a growing arts district. Great restaurants (including vegan-friendly places). Quick BART ride into SF and very close to Oakland. Off hours, the drive into SF can be pretty quick too - but given that you have to go over a bridge, if there's traffic it can take a while. There's now a Trader Joe's. They also have a great grocery store (2 locations) called Berkeley Bowl - think Whole Foods, but better. Some neighborhoods are great to walk around in and some are more affordable than others. Some of the public schools are good. There are lots of family-oriented activities all the time. I would move back there in a heartbeat if I could.
I grew up in SF and my family still lives there - with kids. Housing is A LOT more expensive, without question. I'm not sure how the school system works, but a few years ago it was a lottery system as to where your child got placed. There are definitely some good schools, but not all of them. SF does have one of the top public high schools in the country (Lowell). I'm not sure about the charter schools. There is definitely a great energy in the city.
Hope that helps a little.
Based on what you're describing, I'd say Berkeley is a great fit. Not just students, also families. Tons of culture and ideal for a vegan. Has a Trader Joes. Very granola type of area. Quick BART ride across to SF.
Haven't lived there personally, but grew up in the East Bay.
Berkeley would probably be perfect for you! One of my sister-in-laws and her family (two daughters now "tweens") live in the Mission. They have a TINY but very well-appointed townhome and it's expensive! I know they've had school issues, but they seem to have found good public options. The other sister-in-law lives over the bridge in Mill Valley. It's also quite expensive, but gorgeous and a number of families. Where they live isn't very walkable though to shops and restaurants and that sort of thing (but they can walk to the end of their street and go on a beautiful 2 mile hike over some hills and be on an amazing beach!).
I lived in Novato, which is about 45 minutes north of the city, maybe less depending on traffic. It was beautiful. I don't know about the schooling, but check the area out if you can. :)
I live in the East Bay area. We love it here. Moved here 2.5 years ago. We pass through Berkley a lot. I think you guys would love Berkley...feel very much at home. It is exactly what you are describing!!
Good luck and best wishes at finding YOUR home sweet home soon!!!
