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San Carlos

Good Living in San Carlos, California

San Carlos prides itself as being “The City of Good Living.” Situated in San Mateo County, halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, the small suburban community of San Carlos is an affluent neighborhood that relishes in its small town charm. Its quaint downtown area is a cluster of intriguing boutique shops and specialty restaurants. Once the home to a handful of now-failed dot com business ventures, San Carlos has rebounded by establishing itself as a classic California town.

The good living of San Carlos happens on many levels. San Carlos is home to California’s first charter school, and all of its schools are regulars at the top of the state’s educational performance rankings. The city offers everything from world-class museums to pristine parks and classic summertime festivals. From hiking to dining, San Carlos openly shares its philosophy of good living with everyone.

Points of Interest

Dining

Considering its relatively compact size, San Carlos packs a big punch when it comes to going out to eat. The city’s menu is crowded with surprising tastes and classic flavors, running the gastronomical gauntlet from ethnic to classic and from local to gourmet. For delectable ethnic eats, try Kabul Afghan Restaurant, La Tosca, Saffron Indian Bistro, Coyote’s Mexican Cantina and Thai Time. Dynamite Mousse specializes in desserts while Jersey Joe’s brings east coast hoagies and grinders to the west coast. Other not-to-miss bites include Izzy’s Steaks and Chops, Spasso Ristorante and Wine Bar and Speederia Pizzeria.

Shopping

Not to be outdone by its diverse dining scene, San Carlos also offers an equally interesting and entertaining shopping scene. For antiques and collectibles, try Then and Now and Laurel Street Antiques. Trendy Alta specializes in dressy and casual women’s apparel and boutique Bracha Stores LLC is the place for elegant female fashion and accessories. Other clothing must include Clair de Lune, Prairie and Sarrtori Fine Apparel for Men.

Entertainment

San Carlos is home to two intriguing public museums and a handful of festivals and events. In the center of town is the San Carlos Museum of History, which contains a small collection of local historical items and information. Favorites include a restored firehouse and displays covering the city’s Native American and Spanish connections. Aviation enthusiast will enjoy the Hiller Aviation Museum, which focuses on helicopter and aviation history. The highlights here are the replicas of numerous ground-breaking aircraft. San Carlos also hosts two annual festivals, the winter themed Week of the Family and the summertime Hometown Days Carnival.

Did You Know?

City Hall once had the address of 666 Elm Street but, after superstitions and jokes became tiresome, it was changed to 600 Elm Street.
San Carlos is the hometown of baseball slugger Barry Bonds, comedian Dana Carvey and blues man John Lee Hooker.
The total population of the city is 27,718.
San Carlos’ schools have hosted both Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton.
The median annual family income is roughly $122,000.

Visiting San Carlos

San Carlos’ rustic, coastal location makes it an ideal outdoor recreation destination. With a collection of public parks and a well-routed hiking trail system, it has long been viewed as an urban oasis for the San Francisco Bay area. As part of the Eaton-Big Canyon Trail, Peninsula Trails and Mid Peninsula Open Space, there’s no shortage of scenic walking routes available in San Carlos. The city also has a robust park system with the favorites being Burton Park and Laureola Park, which are also home to the Senior Center and Youth Center.

Getting There and Around Town

Located on the Bay Peninsula halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, San Carlos is a well-connected city. Not only is it served by the San Francisco and Oakland International Airports, it also has its own San Carlos Airport.

Rolling into the hills of San Carlos via a limo from Nationwide Limousine Service with the Pacific shimmering in the distance is a wonderful welcome to the city. Here, with abundant dining and shopping, quality schools, unique museums, and an intense hiking trail system, it’s not hard to understand what San Carlos means when they say they are the City of Good Living. Call us at 800-339-8936 today to reserve your limo!