Life In Los Altos | Perspective From A Local

What do you like best about Los Altos? It’s full of natural beauty and encourages its’ residences to try new things. If you want to take up the banjo or knitting there’s a class for that. I also think it’s really cool that the city offers a Newcomers Club, which hosts social gatherings so you can get to know your neighbors.

What kind of transportation is there? It’s a small enough town that there is no real ‘mass transit’ option. There are buses. wonderful walking trails, and bike lanes though. And the Caltrain is about a 10-15 minute drive in Palo Alto so if you don’t have a car it’s not terrible. Though I would suggest owning one.

Favorite grocery store? Foothill Produce has relatively inexpensive produce and a large variety.

Good for kids? Absolutely! Many of the residents here see the school district as something to invest in rather than just benefit from, making it one of the most reputable in the state. On top of that, Los Altos is often ranked in the top 40 safest cities in America.

Best place to get Boba? Teaspoon is by far one of the best places in Los Altos…okay maybe the whole South Bay.

Best place to grab a drink? I really enjoy Honcho’s. They offer a great selection of craft beers, wine, sake, champagne, and specialty cocktails. Plus free popcorn and pretzels! What I really enjoy, is that they have outdoor seating and once a month you can enjoy a live band.

Best place to experience the outdoors? If you have children Shoup Park is a great place to stop by. There’s plenty of slides, jungle gyms, and swings. Plus there’s a cute little creek that kids normally play in. Redwood Grove Park is also a really wonderful spot right next door to visit for a nice walk. It’s a lovely place to get outside, watch the white butterflies in the Spring, or enjoy a picnic. And it’s also stroller and wheelchair accessible! I’d also suggest Windy Hill Preserve and the San Andreas Fault Trail for hiking.

Favorite neighborhood traditions? Oh god, where to begin? The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Fall Festival every October. Then local merchants oversee the annual Festival of Lights Parade. The Los Altos Village Association hosts a variety of events, including the Easter Egg Hunt and Arts & Wine Festival.

Your favorite fun fact about Los Altos: It earned its place on the map thanks to Sarah Winchester (yes, the same one who built the Winchester Mystery House) and the railroads. Sarah once owned the land the city now encompasses. And when Altos Land Co. needed to purchase a strip of her land for the Southern Pacific Railroad line, she insisted that it buy her entire property. Because they now had more land than required, they set about making the surrounding area a destination.

Claim to fame: Though it’s located in Cupertino today, Apple was born in Los Altos in the garage of Steve Job’s parents.

Final words? Los Altos is a wonderful and welcoming community, surrounded by nature, and filled with heart.