Selena Young

Life in Mountain View | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about Mountain View? It’s quiet, nice and suburban. And it’s so close to two great downtown areas: Mountain View and Los Altos! Both have great shops and restaurants and their own character.

How has it changed recently? Houses have, and continue to, get nicer. Many original homes have been remodeled or rebuilt. It seems like there’s always some construction going on as you drive around the neighborhood streets. As the area becomes more affluent, it has also attracted new restaurants to the downtown areas.

Do you need a car to get around? Downtown areas are easily walkable, as are parks and schools. However, they are a bit of a walk to get to so sometimes it’s easier to have a car to get around. There are also so many places to go just a short drive away for kids and adults alike.

Tell us something we don’t know about Mountain View: Depending on where your home is located you can be in a different school district. Both Mountain View and Los Altos have great schools.

Any hidden gems? One of my favorite spots I found recently is a tiny coffee shop in downtown Mountain View called 1oz Coffee. It’s incredibly minimalist in decor and menu options. But they serve a great cup of coffee if you’re willing to wait for the pour over.

Good for kids? Yes, it’s really kid friendly. The neighborhood streets are wide and have speed bumps to make sure traffic doesn’t go too fast in the area. Schools and parks are also within close proximity which makes it easy for families and kids. I see a lot of families with kids in the area. And I find that neighbors are friendly and kids will often play together in the afternoons and weekends.

Best place to get a coffee? Alexander’s Patisserie has great coffee and you can always treat yourself to one of their beautiful pastries or cakes. I like to order the chocolate-banana croissant and a coffee. They also have delicious truffles! My go-to are the early grey, coconut rum, and cassis.

Best park? Cuesta is a great little park with rolling paths, BBQ areas, and abundant playgrounds that are filled with sandboxes, slides, and swings. Nearby there’s also tennis courts and a large grassy field for dogs to play!

Beloved neighborhood joints? Vive Sol and Cascal. Vive Sol, in Mountain View, combines a classy vibe with an authentic Mexican feel. And Cascal is a great tapas bar with awesome Happy Hour deals. Their cocktails are quite tasty, roasted cauliflower is to die for, ceviche is impeccable, offer outdoor seating, and host live music on the weekends.

Where are the best places to experience the outdoors? Rancho San Antonio, otherwise, you can easily head out of town. It offers trails that feature all sorts of elevation; farms that house a number of animals; an abundance of wildlife; number of vista points; and perfect picnic areas. It’s great for hiking, running, biking, or even a walk with your kids.

Life In Los Gatos | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about Los Gatos? Where to begin? For one, you’re only a 30 minute drive from a relaxing weekend in Santa Cruz and an hour from the City. There’s also a great variety of restaurants downtown. Ranging from the family friendly to our three Michelin star, Manresa. On top of it all, you’re nestled amongst the hills, it’s a luxurious little Mount Hamlet.

What do you like least about Los Gatos? A lot of people feel the need to tell you that it means ‘The Cats’. I tell them it explains all the cat statues.

How has it changed? The library’s been moved to a new modern location. Other than that really, it’s the changing of the guards in downtown; from boutique clothing stores to juiceries and whatever the latest trendy fitness regime is.

Do you need a car to get around? If you’re going out for a night on the town, a rideshare is relatively affordable and once you’re there you can walk to anything. But you’ll probably want to hop in your car to hit up your nearest grocery store. Everything you need is only about a ten minute drive away.

Favorite grocery store? Lunardi’s. They recently expanded their store so the produce and wine selection are much bigger now. You can always find what you’re looking for, even if it’s 1.5 quarts of ice cream, and the customer service is unbelievable! You’re not a customer there, you’re family.

Good for kids? Absolutely! It’s an incredibly safe and friendly town. The elementary schools host a wonderful annual chorus and musical performance. The middle school has quarterly honor roll breakfasts and goes all out for their end of the year open house. And the high school hosts a fun student/faculty talent show. Every week you can also find hordes of faculty and residents supporting all of the high school’s athletic programs.

Best place to get a coffee? Depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a serious biker and wanna hang out with others who share your passion, the Los Gatos Roasting Co. is for you. If you wanna try the world famous CCC (basically a milkshake of Chocolate, Coffee and Cream) it’s the Great Bear. A Verve and greek yogurt lover? Try Cafe Dio. But if you’re out meeting some friends or family, the Purple Onion Cafe has a wonderful atmosphere!

Best park? Vasona –There’s so many things you can do! You can BBQ, take the kids to the airplane park, ride the carousel, fish, paddle boat, follow the Creek trail to Campbell, or even ride around in a small train! And during the Winter months, there is also a Holiday in the Park event that I would highly suggest. You can either drive through or walk – but you need to get your tickets early!

Beloved neighborhood joint? The Cats is a great BBQ joint and bar a couple minute drive up 17. On the weekends they have live music there and you can bet that everyone’s out on the dance floor!

Where are the best places to experience the outdoors? St. Joseph’s and the Jones trails are great for mountain biking, running, or even a nice walk. Or Castle Rock is just a quick drive up 17, for scenic views of the Santa Cruz mountains.

Final words? As my high school field hockey coach once said, “I will forever bleed orange and black” (the school’s colors). And when you’re a resident here you really believe that. It’s not a town, it’s a family.