Ben's Guidebook to the Local Area

Benjamin
Ben's Guidebook to the Local Area

Sightseeing

Great place for hiking or trail running. Pretty hilly.
68 locals recommend
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
10 Old Stage Coach Rd
68 locals recommend
Great place for hiking or trail running. Pretty hilly.
Flat bike path and running trail. Great for walking, running, and cycling. Path is roughly 6 miles one way with every 1/2 mile marked.
54 locals recommend
Sawyer Camp Trail
Crystal Springs Road
54 locals recommend
Flat bike path and running trail. Great for walking, running, and cycling. Path is roughly 6 miles one way with every 1/2 mile marked.
Not Oracle itself, but there are a couple flat bikepaths and dirt walking trails from that location. There's a free public parking lot to the left when exiting highway 101 Ralston exit to start from. Great views and great for walking, running, and cycling. The afternoons/evenings can be windy. Get out far enough and trails overlook the bay.
14 locals recommend
Oracle
100 Oracle Pkwy
14 locals recommend
Not Oracle itself, but there are a couple flat bikepaths and dirt walking trails from that location. There's a free public parking lot to the left when exiting highway 101 Ralston exit to start from. Great views and great for walking, running, and cycling. The afternoons/evenings can be windy. Get out far enough and trails overlook the bay.
Great hiking through the woods. I could (and have) get lost in this park for hours.
33 locals recommend
Huddart Park
1100 Kings Mountain Rd
33 locals recommend
Great hiking through the woods. I could (and have) get lost in this park for hours.

Food scene

Best ice cream around. A little on the expensive side, but definitely worth it. There's also a location in downtown Burlingame.
54 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2201 Fillmore St
54 locals recommend
Best ice cream around. A little on the expensive side, but definitely worth it. There's also a location in downtown Burlingame.
Favorite low key coffee shop. Don't expect the fancy flavored drinks, but their coffee is great and locally owned.
Papachay Peruvian Coffee
1431 Old County Rd
Favorite low key coffee shop. Don't expect the fancy flavored drinks, but their coffee is great and locally owned.
Best dumplings in the area, hands down. Great price as well. Recommend the pork and sauerkraut. Two orders of dumplings are perfect for a couple.
11 locals recommend
I Dumpling
2660 Broadway
11 locals recommend
Best dumplings in the area, hands down. Great price as well. Recommend the pork and sauerkraut. Two orders of dumplings are perfect for a couple.
Best cheesesteaks in the Bay Area. Go with the original.
Jersey Joe's Cheesesteak
21 El Camino Real
Best cheesesteaks in the Bay Area. Go with the original.
Our local winery we are members to, their wine is delicious. Owned by Italian brothers and producing Italian wine. Their white truffle pizza is also delicious.
Domenico Winery
1697 Industrial Rd
Our local winery we are members to, their wine is delicious. Owned by Italian brothers and producing Italian wine. Their white truffle pizza is also delicious.
Local grocery store. On the pricier side compared to Trader Joes and Safeway, but worth it in our opinion. Their quality is very good. Also great for pre-made food. Their selection of cheese is great.
30 locals recommend
Bianchini's Market
3130 Alpine Rd
30 locals recommend
Local grocery store. On the pricier side compared to Trader Joes and Safeway, but worth it in our opinion. Their quality is very good. Also great for pre-made food. Their selection of cheese is great.
TACO BELL ON THE BEACH. The ONLY Taco Bell on the beach, this is definitely a one of a kind. Parking is a nightmare so be prepared.
59 locals recommend
Taco Bell
5200 CA-1
59 locals recommend
TACO BELL ON THE BEACH. The ONLY Taco Bell on the beach, this is definitely a one of a kind. Parking is a nightmare so be prepared.
Another great coffee shop that also sells wine, beer, and kombucha. They have more options than Papachay and are in downtown Redwood City, so there's lots of restaurants walking distance away.
Coffeebar
2020 Broadway
Another great coffee shop that also sells wine, beer, and kombucha. They have more options than Papachay and are in downtown Redwood City, so there's lots of restaurants walking distance away.
Very small, locally owned brewery very close by. Known for pale ales, IPAs, and DIPAs. They do not typically serve food, although sometimes there is a food truck parked outside.
Alpha Acid Brewing Company
121 Industrial Rd
Very small, locally owned brewery very close by. Known for pale ales, IPAs, and DIPAs. They do not typically serve food, although sometimes there is a food truck parked outside.
Makes some of the best tropical cocktails in the area.
7 locals recommend
Hobee's Restaurant
1101 Shoreway Road
7 locals recommend
Makes some of the best tropical cocktails in the area.
The Bay Area did not have good BBQ until the place opened up! Seriously some of the best BBQ we've had (and we lived in Georgia for awhile). By far the friendliest staff around. They also have an awesome bar with the best bartender Michael. If you go, tell him Ben and Megan sent you!
Capelo's Barbecue
2655 Middlefield Road
The Bay Area did not have good BBQ until the place opened up! Seriously some of the best BBQ we've had (and we lived in Georgia for awhile). By far the friendliest staff around. They also have an awesome bar with the best bartender Michael. If you go, tell him Ben and Megan sent you!

Neighborhoods

Laurel street represents the "downtown" of San Carlos that is loaded with shops, dining, and bars. It has just about everything you can think of. Stick to the side north of arroyo street for the most amount of shopping/dining.
Laurel Street
Laurel Street
Laurel street represents the "downtown" of San Carlos that is loaded with shops, dining, and bars. It has just about everything you can think of. Stick to the side north of arroyo street for the most amount of shopping/dining.

City/town information

Great place to visit for a day trip. Make sure to leave earlier in the morning (before 10am) as traffic can get really bad. Lots of beaches, good food, wine tasting, and 2 breweries. Food places to look up: Ketch Joanne, Granola Coffee House, Old Princeton Landing (bar), Barbara's Fishtrap, and Hop Dogma Brewing
280 locals recommend
Half Moon Bay
280 locals recommend
Great place to visit for a day trip. Make sure to leave earlier in the morning (before 10am) as traffic can get really bad. Lots of beaches, good food, wine tasting, and 2 breweries. Food places to look up: Ketch Joanne, Granola Coffee House, Old Princeton Landing (bar), Barbara's Fishtrap, and Hop Dogma Brewing
Interesting town with a mixture of extremely gentrified and historic areas. Downtown Redwood City is a great time with lots of shopping and dining. Favorite places to go: Gourmet Haus Staudt (German brew house), Coffeebar, FreeWheel Brewing, Milagros, Taqueria El Grullense.
31 locals recommend
Redwood City
31 locals recommend
Interesting town with a mixture of extremely gentrified and historic areas. Downtown Redwood City is a great time with lots of shopping and dining. Favorite places to go: Gourmet Haus Staudt (German brew house), Coffeebar, FreeWheel Brewing, Milagros, Taqueria El Grullense.

Favorite Breweries

Very small, locally owned brewery very close by. Known for pale ales, IPAs, and DIPAs. They do not typically serve food, although sometimes there is a food truck parked outside.
Alpha Acid Brewing Company
121 Industrial Rd
Very small, locally owned brewery very close by. Known for pale ales, IPAs, and DIPAs. They do not typically serve food, although sometimes there is a food truck parked outside.
My personal favorite brewery. About 20 miles away across the bridge, but definitely worth the drive. It is where they make their beer and therefore have beers their satellite locations do not have.
22 locals recommend
Drake's Brewing Company
1933 Davis St
22 locals recommend
My personal favorite brewery. About 20 miles away across the bridge, but definitely worth the drive. It is where they make their beer and therefore have beers their satellite locations do not have.
A great all outdoor taproom. On the weekends this place can be crowded in the evening. Parking is not always the best, but if you can grab a spot it is worth it.
91 locals recommend
Fieldwork Brewing Company
1160 Sixth St
91 locals recommend
A great all outdoor taproom. On the weekends this place can be crowded in the evening. Parking is not always the best, but if you can grab a spot it is worth it.
Great brewery, especially for cask-conditioned beer. Small interior means you should plan to get there early. They often have bands, trivia, comedians, and other events. Parking is not usually a problem here.
18 locals recommend
Freewheel Brewing Company
3736 Florence St
18 locals recommend
Great brewery, especially for cask-conditioned beer. Small interior means you should plan to get there early. They often have bands, trivia, comedians, and other events. Parking is not usually a problem here.