Moving to San Francisco...advice needed please

[madiba]

We are moving to SF in June. We will be over for a visit in March to check out places to live. Although we have been to SF before, we spent most of our time down town and the surrounding wine valleys . Does anyone live in the SF bay area and can recommend nice areas? Dh will be working down town and our ds will be 20 month when we move. I am grateful for any advice!

Hi Kerrymumbles: We would like to live on the outskirts I think, say about a 40minutes commute into the city max. Ideally, I would like a 2-3 bed house with garden. Area wise: I like to go for walks & swimming with ds, playgrounds & parks nearby are very important. Not sure about rent prices as I have seen a lot of variation, it all seems pretty high in nicer areas. Say about $3000 per month? What you think?

I lived in Menlo Park for a couple of years, but it was pre kids so I didnt really pay much attention to family areas or nurseries etc.

Lovely place, but £££.

I totally agree with Carmen, some lovely spots, then flanked by some very dodgy places.

Enjoy your experience !

Thanks for your all help Kerrymumbles. I have been to SF before and know it's not great for sunbathing, good for surfing though think I will take a closer look at Marin county seems to tick all the boxes (wine valleys, beaches, walks). But also look at Sunset & Richmond and check the great link you sent (though that might take a while!). Also need to investigate rental prices in those areas.

Carrotfly: how far in Menlo Park from down town? It looks miles away on the map...

...that bad?

@ KerryMumble's description of Marin County/Mill Valley - all totally accurate..
And in theory should've entirely put me off the MC experience, but didn't... It was just utter bliss, but admittedly I was there without family, commuted across GG Bridge only 3x/week, so was all bearable.

I do not know about nurseries/child care or rental prices (I'd be about 10 yrs out of date anyway), but there are lots of families with young children, but yep can be a bit lentilly-weavery, in the nicest possible way.

And they did tolerate me .

thank you girls for all the insights now back to check out rental costs and childcare options....