So, tell me...

welcome. I dont really know what to tell you about it but its not bad.

 

Bay area is a midpoint for everything! Beach to the left, sand to the south, snow to the right, and camping and redwoods to the north!

 

Well, the Bay itself is a mecca of sailing, windsurfing, and kiteboarding all through the summer months when there's a consistent cold strong daily sea breeze starting (roughly) around 11 AM.

Our closest off-roading is Hollister Hills SVRA about an hour south of San Jose, more like (roughly) two hours south of Oakland or Alameda. It's not a huge park, but there are more trails than you can cover in one day. There are tons of forest service logging roads and trails in the Sierras, two to four hours away depending on where you go.

If you like being outdoors, one "sleeper" activity is taking the ferry to angel island and hiking around it and/or up to the peak. Dress warm.

 

if youre looking pleasenton, you may want to consider tracy for a lower cost of living ..... keep in mind though lots of people do this and 580 is a parking lot westbound in mornins and eastbound evenings

but yea the sierras kick ass and most of the good outdoor shit is north or east.

edit: see youre coast guard ... wheres your base? I cant think pleasenton would be close to it

 

Alameda proper isn't a bad place. Folks who've lived there told me they liked it. Definitely a more "urban" feel though. If you want the "burbs" you're on the right track to think Pleasanton.

 

got it ... yea nearest communites to there that arent shitholes, super expensive, or reqire a toll bridge would be pleasenton or walnut creek

 

Off topic but....are you enlisted or reservist? Thinking of becoming a reserve.

San Francisco is cool. Lots of restaurant and night life. I would stay away from Oakland!

 

yeah san francisco is cool .... if you dont like cool shit like a yard or a driveway to park in

 

I should have joined the damn CG... you get all the best duty stations

 

I actually work in North Oakland and my GF works off Hegenberger, so really close to Alameda. We live in Union City which is a short 15-20 miles south. It definitely feels suburban here, but it's safe (especially comparing to Oakland).

Pleasanton/Dublin is a really nice area to look at, but like 97T said, a bunch of people commute from that area and beyond 580 (Tracy, Mountain House, etc), making traffic really congested at times. But overall, 880 in general is a horrible freeway. I once read an article saying that 880 is the most unpredictable freeway in all of Northern CA. You just never know when there will be traffic. So getting to the Oakland/Alemeda area can get hairy sometimes.

Also, BART is really convenient (I take it most days of the week), however your closest station would probably be Fruitvale, and you'd have to look for bus routes or shuttle that can take you to CG island.

But honestly, the Bay Area is quite unique. Like others have said it's the center of a whole of different things: beach, snow, mountains, camping etc. Whatever your interests are, I'm sure you can find something in the imediate area that you'd enjoy.

Oh and, thank you for your service

 

I just moved from Oakland it's not as bad as everyone thinks it is. the parking sucks and the houses are way over priced but if your near lake Merritt it's beautiful in that area and the BART is not that far away.

I just moved to El Sobrante and love it it's out of the city area but it's still a short 7 min drive to the BART stationthat i ride everyday into the City for work. It's also a 5min drive to hiking and fishing and hunting well the hunting part you need to know someone.

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Also Pleasanton is pretty far if your driving every morning one mile in the bay traffic is not the same as one mile in other places in the country and BART don't go to Alameda

 

Oakland has some of the best neighborhoods in the bay area..(some of the worst too).

pleasanton will be quite the haul to and fro to Alameda. if you have kids, the best area for schools will be up the hwy 24 corridor, in layfayette or neighboring hoods.

welcome to the area. you defiinately want to stay on your jobside of the bay bridge. trust me.

 

I live in Concord, about a 30-45 minute drive away from SF but the BAy in general is awesome. Like 707Bro said we've got it all around us. Only thing I'd say is stay away from the tenderloin in SF ha. The Bay is proper though, you'll enjoy it.