Small Villages in the Heart of Silicon Valley
Tree-lined streets and small village atmospheres characterize Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. They are located side-by-side in the heart of the world-famous Silicon Valley. Combined, the two have a population of a little over 40,000. Forty miles south of San Francisco, they sit at the eastern edge of San Mateo County. Many homes fetch $4 million and higher, putting the city at No. 9 on Forbes’ “Most Expensive ZIP Codes in America” list in 2022.
Summer Happenings in Los Altos
Here are a few things happening in Los Altos this summer! Stop by the Westwind Community Barn to check out Kevin Bacon along with the horses!
Los Altos Farmer’s Market
Thursday evenings, May through October
Stop by the Farmer’s Market for all your favorite purveyors of fine products and your farm-fresh fruits and vegetables!
Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival
Held each July in Downtown Los Altos
The Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival is a great event with all-day free concerts on two stages and entertainment for children all weekend in the Kidzone.
Smaller Towns on the Peninsula
A seven-square-mile village, the village is developed with small businesses, schools and libraries. It is mostly residential and strives to maintain a semi-rural atmosphere. The civic center sits in the middle of an orchard, a remnant of those that once covered the area. The downtown is a triangle with arterials on all sides that enable most through traffic to bypass Main Street. If you’re looking to live in a smaller town on the peninsula, we suggest living here.
School Information
Grades K-8 are served by the Los Altos School District, and high school students attend the Mountain View Los Altos High School District. To confirm the schools assigned to a specific address, check with the district.
Los Altos School District
Mountain View Los Altos High School District
Restaurant Recommendations
Hungry? We recommend you check out these local restaurants:
Los Altos Coffee Shops
Little Sky Bakery
You say you are going there for a cup of coffee, but Little Sky Bakery has the best bread too. We dare you to just get one bakery item. And even better, Little Sky delivers its baked goods locally.
Little Sky Bakery has locations here and Menlo Park and is a frequent staple on the Farmer’s Market circuit throughout the Peninsula. Sign up for their newsletter so you know where they are and when.
Manresa Bread
Another great coffee shop downtown that has the best bakery items is Manresa Bread. Maybe you are just going for a quick cup of coffee. But you’ll stand in line and pretty soon, you’ll be ordering scones, danishes and three types of bread. In addition to Los Altos, you can also find them in Palo Alto, Campbell, Los Gatos and Santa Cruz.
Scientific Claim to Fame
This town may have a legitimate claim to having the first scientifically designed sound baffle in 1970. Santa Clara County undertook a seminal study to calculate the effects of alternate sound wall designs along the Foothill Expressway. The resulting wall brought about the predicted reduction of seven to 10 decibels in noise pollution levels experienced by adjacent homes.
Winter Happenings in Los Altos: Don’t miss the Barn Lighting
Be on the look out for the barn lighting at the Westwind Community Barn each December. Sample cookies and hot cider and/or wine tasting while kids participate in seasonal games, craft tables, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. Santa Claus will be available for last minute holiday wish lists and photos. A community countdown to light up the Barn will begin at 5 pm. For more: click here.
Festival of Lights Parade
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the Festival of Lights Parade, held each year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Los Altos / Los Altos Hills Neighborhood Maps
Contact Us
To gain more insight on homes and neighborhoods, contact Jaime + Julie today.
