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Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos, California

Los Gatos real estate, neighborhoods, condos, houses, homes, market trends, history, events, lifestyle, parks, events, businesses, home, Mary Pope-Handy

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Live In Los Gatos

Relocating to Silicon Valley? Consider Los Gatos!

Sep. 10, 2008
Categorized in: Relocating to Los Gatos

Old Town, Los Gatos (University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030)Relocation is an upheaval, but often one full of excitement and promise. People moving to Silicon Valley find themselves coming to a place unlike any other - it's is an entrepenuer's haven, a high tech magnet. With a highly educated population, low crime, fantastic weather, scenic beauty, and opportunities in every aspect of life, the move to Silicon Valley or the San Jose area is abundant with opportunity for success and happiness.

How do you choose where to live once you decide that Santa Clara County, or Silicon Valley, will be home?  There are a lot of things to consider, from the type of home you want and the commute distance you can tolerate to the availabilty of parks and trails, excellent schools, and an ambiance where you'll feel at home. And cost, too, of course.

Farmers Market at Town Park Plaza in Los GatosFor many, many people relocating to Silicon Valley from within the U.S. or from abroad, Los Gatos is that place that "feels like home". People from Europe have often told me that Los Gatos has a "European feel", and from my year living in Florence, Italy, I can appreciate that correlation! With the many unique shops and great restaurants and the heavy foot traffic, Los Gatos comes across as a place for living and spending time.  It's a true community.

The community aspect is extremely important in Los Gatos. Many things bring people together. Big public events are common in Los Gatos - and many of them are free!  In summers, there are not one but three free musical concert series (Vasona Vibrations, Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park). There's Shakespeare at Oak Meadow Park too. In September, a free movie is shown at Oak Meadow Park and the event is called "Screen on the Green". In December, there will be a well-attended tree lighting ceremony on the first Friday night of the month and a huge holiday parade the next morning. Every Sunday there's a Farmer's Market in the Los Gatos town Park Plaza (across from the post office). There are so many events, all year round, that bring people together. Some are sponsored by local churches (like the St. Mary's Country Fair in early October) or the Chamber of Commerce (Claws for a Cause in September). In November there's an inter-faith Thanksgiving service. Each year it is hosted at a different house of worship. And this is only a passing glance at the fun events that happen each year in the town of Los Gatos.

There are a thousand small things too. Volunteers make this town go! Los Gatos has two museums, and volunteers are the heart and soul of those operations. Volunteers in Policing, the many town commissions are all hosted by volunteers. (My husband is a volunteer on the Los Gatos Parks Commission.)

Schools are a big deal in Los Gatos too. The town is served by three elementary and middle school districts and they range from good to great in terms of the scoring.

Another key element that makes Los Gatos special is scenic beauty. The town of Los Gatos is nestled into the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, so there are gentle, rolling hills and some steeper hills that provide dramatic and impressive views. The terrain is lovely with oak trees and redwood trees alike, but many grassy meadows where you might find deer or wild turkey.  Some of Los Gatos is "horse country" too.  

Vineyards are popular in lots with more space and the Santa Cruz Mountains are filled with wineries. You won't have to go far to taste locally grown and bottled wine, though - we have spots right in town where that can be done! 

Valeriano's Restaurant in Los Gatos, CAThe Old Los Gatos or downtown area is historic and architecturally beautiful too. The Almond Grove District, the Edelen District, and the Broadway area are all turn-of-the-last century vintage and lovely old Victorian homes line the streets. Talk about charm!  In December there are horse-drawn carriage rides that meander through the downtown and historic parts of Los Gatos.

Our weather is conducive to year-round fun outdoors - the Santa Clara Valley enjoys 300 sunny days a year! Los Gatos is the gateway to the coast, too, so it's only about a thirty minute drive from downtown Los Gatos to the beach at Santa Cruz. 

Los Gatos also enjoys a bountiful supply of great parks. Vasona Lake County Park doesn't belong to the town (it's a county park) but it's over 100 acres, with a lake, right in the middle of the town of Los Gatos. Many other parks grace the town from one end to the other. Some have a fascinating history too.

Low crime, great schools, community spirit, fabulous dining and shops, ambiance, and parks are all a part of the Los Gatos experience. 

For More Information:

Visit my community profiles on my main website, PopeHandy.com:
http://www.popehandy.com/neighborhoods/index.cfm

Chicago Title has a relocation guide online, at no cost. Visit http://www.chicagotitle.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=352 and input California for the state and Santa Clara for the county and you'll get a very helpful guide to Silicon Valley.

What if you love Los Gatos but it's beyond your budget?

I can help you to find a home either in or near Los Gatos if the town is not quite in reach right now. There are many great areas adjacent to Los Gatos, such as Cambrian Park, Saratoga, Almaden Valley, Campbell, and Willow Glen - many of which are more affordable (or may offer a shorter commute). Call or email me and we'll evaluate your wants and needs together to get you as much as possible within your budget!

Why Live in Los Gatos in Particular?

Feb. 24, 2008
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle

When this blog first began, I did a post as to why folks chose to live in Los Gatos (as opposed to Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Almaden Valley, or anywhere else). I've updated it and now pose the question to you: why live in Los Gatos? I would love to get the feedback of town residents!

Please visit the post, Why Live in Los Gatos? and share your insights!

Why Live in Los Gatos?

Nov. 18, 2006
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events

Why Live in Los Gatos?

All of the San Jose and Silicon Valley area has great weather and low crime. Lots of areas are pretty.  Several cities have schools that rival Los Gatos for excellence. So why chose Los Gatos to call home in particular?
 
It’s a fun town.    It has a strong sense of community.   And there is truly something for everyone. (And yes: excellent schools, low crime, scenic beauty are all here too.)

The outdoors is great in Los Gatos, and it is a big part of what makes this town special.  In summer, the townsfolk enjoy free music on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with Jazz on the Plazz, Vasona Vibrations, Music at Borders in Old Town and  Music in the Park.  Oak Meadow Park features Shakespeare in the Park under the stars too. The Los Gatos Creek Trail pleases athletes, who can enjoy fabulous scenery for biking, rollerblading, running, or walking.  We have great parks throughout the town, and they have everyone in mind from little tots to people on horseback. Our county park, Vasona, has boating and kids and adults can take sailing lessons. Doglovers even have a dog park.  Outdoor wintertime festivities include the tree lighting ceremony the first Friday evening in December, carriage rides through the historic downtown, and a holiday parade the first Saturday in December plus a beautiful Fantasy of Lights display each night at Vasona Park from about Thanksgiving through the last day of the year.   There is an arts & crafts fair, a Fourth of July town picnic, and an annual carnival too - you name it!

There’s plenty to do indoors too, from shopping and dining toan art museum, a history museum, clubs, volunteer opportunities and spas!  Los Gatos boasts a community movie theater on North Santa Cruz Avenue, in the heart of the downtown. Dinner and a movie? Park once: dine, view, and stroll. This is the town experience! Testarossa Vineyards is located at the historic Jesuit Novitiate just steps from downtown and there are many more wineries just into the Santa Cruz Mountains – a very quick drive from town. There are restaurants galore, at every price point and with every taste in mind (steakhouse, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Viet Namese, Indian, Romanian, Mediterranean, hamburger and hot dog joints). One of them, Manresa, has won many culinary awards. Another one, Campo de Bocce, features bocce ball courts – you can eat and play! Additionally, there are many coffee houses (unique as well as the chain stores), a great gelato shop (Dolce Spazio) and even a Belgian Chocolate store.

Shopping is a dream, from toys to clothes to household and electronics to the most expensive cars on the road today.

For a more day-to-day example of the variety that exists, let me use grocery shopping as an example.  Though a small town, Los Gatos has every kind of grocery store you could hope for: Trader Joe’s, Nob Hill, Lunardi’s, Whole Foods to Safeway – all without leaving the town.  In summer we still have available an old style produce stand on Winchester Blvd, and every Sunday there’s a great Farmer’s Market at the Town Plaza Park.

Many Los Gatons also belong to a faith community of some sort. We have much variety there too!  Here you find the sense of community in action each Thanksgiving, as there is an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration hosted by several groups.

The town has a teen center and a senior center. Parks & Rec has classes and "funstuff" for all.

Investigate Los Gatos. It enjoys being a part of a large metropolitan area, but is not swallowed up in it. Los Gatos is distinct. It's fun. It's got a great sense of community and belonging and there really is "something for everyone". 
 Living here is wonderful.  Contact me if you'd like more info on the town and living here.  It is a great place to call home!