Top Ten Reasons to Love Palo Alto

1. Schools, Schools, Schools! Palo Alto has some of the greatest schools in the country. Whether your kid is seven or seventeen, going to school in Palo Alto guarantees access to incredible academic resources and enrichment programs. Gunn High School is renowned for its competitive academics (and award-winning robotics team!)--they send over twenty graduates a year to college right around the corner at Stanford University. Palo Alto Children's Theatre sponsors outreach programs in district elementary, middle, and high schools. First-rate music programs are available at every turn, and choice programs like teacher-directed learning at Hoover, conceptual learning at Ohlone, and Connections at JLS are always options for parents interested in exploring a wide range of learning possibilities for their children.
2. Rolling Foothills, Open Spaces, Artfully Landscaped Public Gardens, Jasmine Flowers---Palo Alto is a community that treasures its trees and open spaces. The city is classified as an urban forest, and Palo Alto stays true to that description with 34 city parks and almost 4,000 acres of wildlife preserves. A local commitment to keeping businesses "green" ensures a healthy environment, as does a requirement forcing all new buildings to adhere to strict environmental codes. There's also a Zero Waste Initiative and a dedication to alternative transportation.
   
3. Calling All Bookworms! Libraries in Palo Alto are truly exemplary--creativity blossoms during the interactive story-telling programs at the Children's Library, and annual summer reading programs keep pages turning. Visits from famous writers dot the library's schedule. Online programs offer opportunities to learn a new language or to survey newspapers from other countries. Libraries here are a community hallmark and a great enrichment resource.
   
4. Nationally Acclaimed Theatres-- Catch the world premiere of an original play or a Shakespeare staple at TheatreWorks, the best repertory theatre in the Bay Area. The current season includes the Pulitzer-Prize winning drama Doubt, August Wilson's Radio Golf, and beloved musical Grey Gardens. Local theatre company the Palo Alto Players mount yearly productions in case you exhaust the shows at TheatreWorks. The Palo Alto Children's Theatre gives kids a place to test their acting chops.
5. Easy Access to San Francisco and San Jose--Two nearby CalTrain stops make getting to San Francisco, San Jose, and other Northern California locations a snap.
   
6. Red Mango Yogurt!!!! Enough said. If you've never tasted Red Mango's creamy froyo perfection laced with your choice of mango, kiwi, strawberry, blueberry, coconut, blackberry, raspberry, chocolate chips, almonds, or basically any other delicious topping imaginable--that's reason enough to move to Palo Alto. Or at least visit.
   
7. University and California Avenues--Both avenues embody Palo Alto's quaint downtown appeal--personalized local shops and restaurants are nestled next to the Apple Store on University, and at night the thriving bar scene makes this area a prime destination for coeds and graduates. Word-class Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mediterranean, and Italian restaurants are among the many dining choices.
   
8. Architecture. Diverse housing styles make Palo Alto visually appealing. New homes with cutting-edge design line blocks alongside cottages, ranch homes, Eichlers, Tudors, and Spanish Style houses.
   
9. The Baylands. The largest tract of undistrubed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay is hemmed in by Mountain View and East Palo Alto. The Baylands encompass 1940 acres of unique tidal and freshwater habitats. The best bird watching in the world is done right here. Wildlife observation platforms and picnic areas with barbecues make this spot a family favorite.
   
10. Locally Sustained Farmers Markets. From mid-May through mid-December farmers markets downtown and on California Avenue are open every Saturday from 8AM to 12PM. Local vendors offer a wide array of fresh produce and specialty items like grass-fed beef, artisan cheese, Bay Area wines, California-grown bananas, mangoes, and avocados. Local musicians provide a relaxing atmosphere for browsing samplings from nearby ranches and farms. Non-Profit.