If you're looking for a place to call home, look no further than San Mateo! This vibrant city is situated on the San Francisco peninsula about halfway between downtown San Francisco and Stanford University. Its convenient location, Mediterranean climate, and rich history offer residents the opportunity to have an excellent lifestyle. With its close proximity to San Francisco and other Bay Area cities, there's always something new to explore! Whether you're looking for great schools, plenty of entertainment options, or a welcoming community, San Mateo has everything you need.
1. Family-friendly community events
Families that reside near homes for sale in San Mateo also thoroughly enjoy the city's numerous community events. You can browse community events in the city of San Mateo, in San Mateo County, and in the San Francisco Peninsula. Even though the year is more than half-done, there are still plenty of events to look forward to enjoying in 2022!
Photo courtesy of City of San MateoFamilies who reside near homes for sale in San Mateo enjoy bringing their kids to the weekly Movies in the Park, which are held on Friday nights from September 9–30. The movies are shown in four parks around the city of San Mateo starting at dusk (around 7:30 p.m.). Get there early for good seats and snacks (food sales begin at 6 p.m.).
Somewhat confusingly San Mateo County also has a Movies in the Park series — these moves occur once a month in parks around San Mateo County (the next three in 2022 are Brave, A Wrinkle in Time, and Jurassic World: Dominion.
Long a favorite combination for adults in San Mateo, live music and craft beers are on tap Saturday nights at Par 3 the Lodge. On Saturdays (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.), Live Music at Par 3 on Poplar Creek invites guests to enjoy seasonal food, 12 rotating craft beers, and live music sitting under the tent overlooking the golf course. Bring the kids and find seats indoors or outdoors to dance and listen to live music in a country club-esque setting.
2. Events geared towards children
Family-friendly institutions, clubs, and venues provide new sources of entertainment for kids of all ages.
Photo courtesy of CuriOdyssey
CuriOdyssey
When it comes to children’s activities in San Mateo, CuriOdyssey is in a league of its own. It’s a combination science museum and zoo where kids and families can interact with exhibits or witness wild animals in captivity. Most notably, CuriOdyssey houses many rescued animals that would not otherwise survive in the California wild. There’s something new every day: you and your family might visit otter feedings, learn lessons on invertebrates, and make new friends on the playground. That’s why the institution’s yearly memberships are so appealing!
San Mateo Parents Club
The San Mateo Parents Club regularly organizes social outings similar to the Par 3 music events mentioned above. If you’re a parent or guardian of young children, check their website for children’s outings, adult socials, playgroups, and more.
San Mateo County Events Center
Finally, the San Mateo County Events Center regularly holds large events geared toward children. This August alone, the Center is putting on niche kids events like Reptile Realms (free for children ages five and under) and Brick Fest Live (a Lego fan experience).
3. Quality schools
When considering a move to San Mateo, families of school-age children are always looking for the best schools in the area. San Mateo residents are zoned for schools in the San Mateo-Foster City School District and the San Mateo Union High School District. The latter serves about 9,000 students in and around San Mateo.
Elementary and middle schools
College Park Elementary School is rated highest by GreatSchools.org, with an overall score of 9 out of 10. The school welcomes students from kindergarten through fifth grade. North Star received a 10 out of 10 score for test scores, with students performing far above the California state average in math and English.
The most intriguing junior school in San Mateo is North Shoreview Montessori. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of Montessori schools, they’re essentially learning environments where students lead their studies guided by teachers. North Shoreview accepts students from preschool through eighth grade. The school was one of the first public Montessori schools and has been nationally recognized as a Magnet School of Excellence.
High schools
At the high school level, the highest-rated option in San Mateo is Aragon High School. Between high test scores and its 98% four-year high school graduation rate, Aragon is an excellent option to prepare students for postsecondary education. Hillsdale High School and San Mateo High School round out the trio of high schools in San Mateo.
Private schools
If you live in San Mateo, it’s possible to send your child to private schools from preschool through 12th grade. The Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew and St. Gregory’s Catholic School are both kindergarten through eight grade. The Carey School, founded in 1928, is a non-religious-affiliated private elementary school. Junipero Serra, an all-male Catholic high school in San Mateo, and Notre Dame, an all-female Catholic high school in Belmont, are highly regarded. And Stanford University, one of the best postsecondary institutions in the US, is right around the corner.
4. Nearby parks and nature preserves
Beyond the community events and CuriOdyssey, you also can enjoy the outdoors with the whole family near homes for sale in San Mateo!
If you’re just looking for a place for the kids to play, check out Paddock Park, Parkside Aquatic Park, and Central Park San Mateo (home of the Japanese Garden). All these playgrounds and green spaces are within San Mateo City.
If you have older children and want to spend an afternoon hiking, look into nearby parks like Bair Island Ecological Reserve, Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve, Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, and the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. With plenty of hiking trails, flora, and wildlife, your whole family is sure to enjoy exploring the outdoors near San Mateo!
San Mateo is truly a family-friendly city with something for everyone to enjoy — no matter the season! If you're thinking of making a move to San Mateo, be sure to contact Mary Ann Teixeira for help navigating the San Mateo real estate market.
*Header Photo courtesy of Mommy Nearest
