by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Jun 14, 2022 | Neighborhood descriptions, Neighborhoods, Neighborhoods in Saratoga, Parks, Santa Clara County (all), Saratoga
The Prides Crossing neighborhood in the northern part of Saratoga has a lot to boast about: a sense of community, easy access to commuter routes and many amenities, and laid-back California luxury. We’ll go into more detail below, but here is a profile of the neighborhood in bullet points:
- The average home is ~2,400 SqFt on ~12,500 SqFt lot, built between the early 1960s-70s
- Homes are in the attendance area for either Saratoga or Cupertino schools
- Expect to pay between $3 – $4M for most homes, possibly a little less for a small home near a busy street, and more for a larger, centrally located home
- The neighborhood is home to 2 parks, a member-owned pool and racket club, and has easy access to commuter routes, shopping, entertainment, and places of worship
- There are few hazards, but keep an eye out for Zinsco panels
Where is Prides Crossing?
Click to view full size – Prides Crossing map with markers
North of 85 near the Campbell and West San Jose borders, boundaries of the neighborhood include Prospect Rd to the north and Cox Ave to the south, with 85 and Saratoga Creek at the southern corners. To the west, Scully Ave and to the east Titus Ave border what makes up the majority of the neighborhood, although they are not exact boundaries (the map paints a better picture). Miller Ave is the main thoroughfare through the community with a brick and brass sign marking it’s entrance at it’s intersection with Cox Ave.
While not technically part of Prides Crossing, I did include a corner of the Summerplace subdivision (built 1973) in the neighborhood map as it might easily be mistaken as such. There are 46 homes in the Summerplace tract (5233), but 37 are only accessible through the Prides Crossing neighborhood, touching the south end of Kevin Moran Park, while the other 9 are on the opposite side of highway 85!
Continue reading below, or explore other areas in our interactive map of neighborhoods in this city. We are slowly adding more!
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by Mary Pope-Handy | May 26, 2022 | Almaden Valley (SJ), Parks
Recently my family and I visited the Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in Almaden Valley. As the bird flies, it’s less than 2 miles from our home, but somehow we hadn’t been there before. We loved it and I thought our readers might enjoy seeing some images and learning more about this cool pocket of nature in suburbia.
There are some informative signs in the park. One stated that there are 15 types of oak trees in California – something I had not previously known. In this park there are several types of oaks, including, I believe live oak, valley oak, black oak, blue oak, and the California buckeye, which is related. (There are some empty or blank sign stands along the trail. For neophyte explorers like myself, it would be great if they would indicate which type of oak is which.)
Guadalupe Oak Grove Park boasts 62.7 acres with paths or trails. Some of these trails are fairly level and not on challenging terrain, while others are more steep. The trails wind through varying types of vegetation. Some parts are dotted with oak tress, others are shrubs or grasses.
It’s located at 5982 Thorntree Drive San Jose, CA 95120 and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. More location info is at the bottom of this post.
This is immediately adjacent to Jeffrey Fontana Park, which has a playground, lawns, and the more typical neighborhood park features, so it’s very convenient to visit both in one day. Guadalupe Oak Grove Park does not have a tot lot, youth playground area, et cetera, per the city of San Jose’s page for this park.
Close to the parking lot there is a shady stretch where you’ll find log benches to the side. It’s a pleasant spot to just relax and watch the birds and other animals.
Other sections are grassland. Right now, they are dried out (so it’s no surprise that barbecues are not allowed here!). It was mild the day we stopped by, but this area might be uncomfortably toasty on a summer day.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Feb 18, 2022 | Neighborhoods in Willow Glen, Newer Homes, Parks, photos, Willow Glen (SJ)
Willow Glen is one of the most charming areas of San Jose, consisting of many older homes which feature lovely, classic architecture. Most Silicon Valley home buyers treasure the Willow Glen charm and ambiance, but many are seeking newer homes. A fabulous option is “The Willows“.
KB Homes built “The Willows” in 1999 to 2000. It is tucked away at the southernmost tip of Willow Glen, off of Foxworthy Avenue & close to Almaden Expressway, but only about 2.5 to 3 miles from all the action on Lincoln Avenue.
The tree-lined streets are built in something of a loop shape with Rubino Circle being the main access or loop road. Situated on the inner part of the loop are homes with smaller lots that are a little more affordable. The outer part of the circle is built with slightly larger homes on larger lots (but none of the lots are “big”). Sidewalks with soft curbs at the corners accompany the streets and make for a pedestrian-friendly, bike, wheelchair or stroller friendly area. Visit in the early evenings and you will see children and adults walking, strolling, taking dogs for a walk etc. – always a good sign! Because the neighborhood is a bit like an oversized cul-de-sac (no through traffic), it is very quiet in terms of traffic. The area has large street lights, too, making for a safe feeling community.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Sep 16, 2020 | Neighborhood descriptions, Neighborhoods, Neighborhoods in Willow Glen, Parks, San Jose (all areas), Willow Glen (SJ)
When locals think of Willow Glen, most will picture the charming historic homes and bustling downtown strip, but this attractive community extends beyond the historic blocks. The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association defines the Central and Historic Willow Glen area apart from the Greater Willow Glen Neighborhood and Planning Area, roughly 10.4 square miles with approximately 82,000 residents. One of the scenic communities of the greater Willow Glen area is Doerr Park.
Doerr Park
Doerr Park, sometimes called Doerr-Steindorf or simply Doerr, is within the 95124 zip code of San Jose, not far from the Cambrian border. The boundaries of this community are Curtner Ave, Meridian Ave, Foxworthy Ave, and Leigh Ave (See it on this Google Map). It is marked by tidy homes and yards with neat green lawns and airy street trees. Towards the center of this highly walkable neighborhood sits a nearly 12 acre city park. Doerr Park is a sunny community park with expansive lawns, open tree groves, picnic benches with barbeque stations, two magnificent playgrounds for different age groups (one of them has 3-tiered climbing towers and long slides for the older children!), a basketball court, softball field, four tennis courts, and restrooms. The park is very popular!
This neighborhood is accessible, too! There’s shopping and an office complex at the corner of Foxworthy Ave and Meridian, with a Grocery Outlet, gas station, and bank. It’s very close to more shopping including restaurants, Target, Home Depot, and more. For commuters, it’s only a 6 minute drive to 85, 17, and Almaden Expy, and there are bus lines which run along Curtner and Leigh.
There are a few possible negatives to consider, however. Some areas are beside easements for high voltage power lines, though a large portion of the easement connecting to the park has recently been transformed into a community trail. Not all phone lines are under ground, which might be considered an eyesore by some.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Nov 22, 2019 | Los Gatos, Neighborhoods in Los Gatos, Parks
There’s a lovely neighborhood in west Los Gatos which is set between the La Rinconada Golf Course and the Rinconada Hills gated community (near the corner of Pollard and Quito Roads). There are 3 distinct subdivisons: Rio Rinconada (where all the roads are named “Calle” something), Saratoga Highlands (More Avenue, Roxbury Ln, Prince St., Mattson Ave., and part of Wedgewood Av), and a third area which seems to have no specific name but which is said to have been built by Thrust 4 and includes bigger, younger, more expensive homes on larger lots – many with 3 car garages and views.
The La Rinconada Park is one of the major draws to the neighborhood. Another is the very close proximity of a shopping center which includes a good sized Safeway, and an elementary and middle school close by too.
A few years back I wrote about these west Los Gatos subdivisions and the neighborhood generally on my Live in Los Gatos blog, and I also included a video “drive through” for those who’d like a really good feel for the area. Want more info? Please continue reading at Saratoga Highlands, Rio Rinconada, Granada Way and La Rinconada Park Neighborhood on Live in Los Gatos.
What do homes cost there?
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 13, 2019 | Cambrian Park (SJ), Market Info, Most Popular Articles, Neighborhood descriptions, Neighborhoods, Parks, Relocation
Cambrian Park, or more broadly, Cambrian, is a west San Jose neighborhood or district and is one of the more affordable, high-value areas in Silicon Valley. The schools are good, the crime is low, and the commute is not too bad. For people relocating to Santa Clara County, this is a place to know about since quality education and affordability are often high priorities! Most Silicon Valley home buyers would say that Cambrian Park real estate offers a very good value.
What’s the compromise for the more reasonable prices of homes for sale? Well, Cambrian doesn’t have an interesting, upscale downtown area like Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Willow Glen.
But it does have tons of shopping & restaurants and even a Farmer’s Market. It also enjoys a top notch hospital (Good Samaritan) and plenty of parks as well as a fantastic rec center with a large park adjacent to it, the Camden Community Center, which has tons of programs (including an after school program for youth), classes, and a fabulous pool. (My family and I lived in Cambrian in the “Cambrian Gardens” neighborhood for 10 years and loved it – our kids made great use of the community center too.)
Altogether, there are about 75,000 to 80,000 residents in Cambrian, spread throughout the three zip codes of 95124, 95118 and a little tiny bit of 95008.
If there is a “central Cambrian Park”, it would have to be near the original Cambrian Park Shopping Center, which was the first actual mall in San Jose! That area is sometimes known as Cambrian Village. People sometimes use the three names interchangeably: Cambrian, Cambrian Park, Cambrian Village.:
Where is Cambrian Park? Map of approximate Cambrian Boundaries:
View Cambrian Area of San Jose in a larger map
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 29, 2017 | Events, Art and Entertainment, Kids, Parks, Santa Clara
On Saturday, September 16th, the 37th Annual Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival begins! On Saturday from 10AM – 6PM and on Sunday from 10AM – 5PM, make the most of the end of summer with arts, festival food, wine and beer, live entertainment on three stages, open house at City Hall, a passport stamp game, and two childrens’ venues: Kids Kingdom and Toddler Town!
For more information on the Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival, please visit the event page on Santa Clara City government’s website. Use links below to quickly navigate to different areas within the event page.
Don’t forget to plan for sun and expect higher than average traffic. Bring extra sunscreen, water, and clothing to keep the sun off you in the late summer heat! It should be tons of fun! See you there!
Panning on strolling the booths? Shopping opportunities abound! Check out the list of artists and the map of booths on the festival’s Artist page.
Going for the performers? See the lineup of musical talent at the festival page. Enjoy live music and more at the annual Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival!
Going for a glass of the good stuff? Find the list of vintners and breweries with available beverages, open hours, and where to find water (stay hydrated!) through this link.
Interested in a pancake breakfast by the boyscouts? Or want some fried up food to pair with your beverage? Check out the food page here.
Need directions? Use the Google map to find directions from your house to Santa Clara Central Park.
Related reading:
Gilroy Garlic Festival
Fiesta de Artes in Los Gatos (art & wine festival)
by Mary Pope-Handy | Jun 20, 2017 | Almaden Valley (SJ), Neighborhoods in Almaden, Parks
The Oaktree Park neighborhood in San Jose is a scenic residential community with wide appeal to home buyers due to good Almaden schools, close proximity to large parks and is one of only a few areas in Almaden Valley which includes a cabaña and swim team. Additionally, this area is very convenient as it’s close to schools, shops and commute routes to downtown San Jose and much of Silicon Valley. It is a fairly intimate neighborhood with 156 homes.
Where is the Oaktree Park neighborhood?
The Oaktree Park subdivision is within the boundaries of Meridian Avenue, Redmond Avenue and Mcabbe Road on three sides and the Jeffrey Fontana Park on the north side.
The census bureau (and perhaps also the city of San Jose) has attributed names to some parts of Almaden and this neighborhood falls into the Crossgates section. I do not believe that most residents refer to this area that way, though. Perhaps more likely they’d call it part of the greater Fontana Park neighborhood. Just the other side of Meridian is the vastly larger Almaden Meadows neighborhood.
Oaktree Park Neighborhood in San Jose (Almaden Valley area of SJ) – click on image above to go to live Google Map
What schools serve the Oaktree Park neighborhood in San Jose?
The public schools for Oaktree Park are within the San Jose Unified School District:
Los Alamitos Elementary School (API 935 in 2013)
Castillero Middle School (API 846 in 2013)
Pioneer High School (API 822 in 2013)
Los Alamitos Elementary and Holy Spirit Elementary (Catholic) are both just a couple of blocks from Oaktree Park. Additonally there are 2 preschools really close too: Precious Preschool and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool.
For more information and links for schools, school districts, API scores and maps of boundaries lines for schools in the Almaden area of San Jose, please also read:
Schools, API Scores & Maps of School Boundaries in San Jose’s Almaden Valley
What are homes like in Oaktree Park?
Homes in Oaktree Park are single family dwellings – all detached houses (no townhouses or condominiums). These are primarily ranch style or two story ranch style houses, built in the early 1970s on lots of about 8000 to 9000 square feet, though a few are more than that. Interior size runs between about 1600 square feet to about 3000 square feet (if added on). Prices may be in the mid 600s for a smaller home, needing work and a less desirable location (such as on a busy road or immediately adjacent to the high voltage power lines that run through the park) to perhaps a little over a million dollars for a beautifully updated or rebuilt larger home in an ideal location within the neighborhood. In the current market (June 2017), smaller homes are going between the mid $900s to the mid $1.1 million mark and larger homes are selling between $1.2-$1.3 million.
More information on the Oaktree Park neighborhood below!
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Oct 28, 2015 | Cambrian Park (SJ), Parks
Houge Park is a fantasticly appointed, well maintained twelve and a half acre park in the Cambrian area of San Jose (at Twilight Drive & White Oaks Avenue, SJ 95124). There’s something for everyone, whether it’s benches to sit and enjoy the area, tables for playing chess and checkers, or opportunities to play tennis or chess. With a large, grassy spaces and a walking & jogging trail, folks who want to just get out and walk will have plenty of room for that. When my (now grown) kids were small, my husband would sometimes take them there to meet up with a local astronomy club to view the stars. I’d take them to the playground to let off steam during the day. It was really helpful that there is so much space – and restrooms!
Some of the most appreciated aspects of Houge Park are these:
- Restrooms
- 3 Playground areas in all, including one for ages 2-5 & another ages 5-12
- Picnic sites (no reservation)
- BBQ
- Horseshoe pit
- Exercise course
- Basketball court
- ½ basketball court
- Two tennis courts (unlighted)
- Parking lot & plenty of street parking
If you’ve never been to Houge Park, it’s a worthwhile destination and a pleasant surprise in the midst of a residential neighborhood. Cambrian is a popular area in which to live, and even nicer if you’re in close proximity to a beautiful park such as this one.
With the Houge Park sign, shown above, you can see that there are play structures in the distance – with lots of lawn in between.
Below, please note the nicely paved path and par course.
See Cambrian Park market activity by browsing through the map below:
- List View
- Map View
- Grid View
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$1,199,000
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Lot Size
5,999 sqft
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Home Size
1,298 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
2 Baths
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$1,645,000
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Lot Size
6,826 sqft
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Home Size
1,707 sqft
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Beds
4 Beds
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Baths
2 Baths
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$1,899,888
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Lot Size
4,086 sqft
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Home Size
2,345 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
3 Baths
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$1,275,000
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Lot Size
1,137 sqft
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Home Size
1,535 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
3 Baths
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$1,550,000
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Lot Size
5,999 sqft
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Home Size
1,507 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
2 Baths
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$1,598,000
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Lot Size
8,246 sqft
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Home Size
1,876 sqft
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Beds
4 Beds
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Baths
2 Baths
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$1,239,000
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Lot Size
4,134 sqft
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Home Size
1,385 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
3 Baths
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$3,188,000
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Lot Size
10,904 sqft
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Home Size
2,723 sqft
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Beds
5 Beds
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Baths
4 Baths
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$1,349,000
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Lot Size
2,226 sqft
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Home Size
1,888 sqft
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Beds
3 Beds
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Baths
3 Baths
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$1,798,000
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Lot Size
8,839 sqft
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Home Size
2,031 sqft
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Beds
4 Beds
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Baths
3 Baths
See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of
3/27/2023)
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Oct 1, 2015 | Parks
Dogs can be found throughout Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County, particularly in my own town of Los Gatos (ironically, “The Cats”). Our mild climate probably makes dog ownership easier than many other places around the U.S.
Doggie Playtime!
Most parks and trails around the county are open to dogs on leash.
There are plenty of popular neighborhoods where you can walk your canine companion if you want a more relaxed social experience.
School yards are not dog facilities, and while many San Jose area neighborhood dog owners find the empty after-school yard to be the perfect place to run their favorite pooch, it can cause a variety of problems. Kids may play in the yard and step in dog poo, or they might hurt themselves tripping on a hole dug by a dog. Dog claws can also tear up lawns that are maintained for school sports. And even for the best behaved dogs and owners: schools cannot be liable for having a dog on the loose in their grounds.
Dogs are generally not allowed in county waterways, as much of the water is either connected to the valley water supply or are protected areas home to native birds, plants, and even endangered wildlife. Contact the County for availability to non-sensitive sites by special permit. (And with creeks, beware: come of them have bacteria or other organisms which if ingested by your pet can get him or her very sick – we know, we have a lab who cannot resist running water and we have all paid the price. No more creeks for her!)
Special use permits may also be available for organizations with special events such as dog shows, search and rescue exercises, and water retrieval training. Fees and availability vary, and insurance is required. For more information, contact the Special Use Coordinator at (408) 355-2220.
Instead, be content running a dog on-leash, in your yard, or at an off-leash facility!
Where are the off-leash facilities?
Listed below are several parks within the county with off-leash facilities for you and your pooch. Beneath that is a general list of rules for those who wish to use these facilities. Be sure to check with the individual park online for specifics before you visit. (more…)
The Prides Crossing neighborhood in the northern part of Saratoga has a lot to boast about: a sense of community, easy access to commuter routes and many amenities, and laid-back California luxury. We’ll go into more detail below, but here is a profile of the neighborhood in bullet points:
