People usually choose between bustling cities or serene suburbs when moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Each town and city in the 550 square mile region has a distinct feel. There are pockets of suburban bliss like Atherton, while San Jose features all the trappings of a big city. 

But house hunters can find a balanced quality of life in Menlo Park. The city is a bedroom community for many residents, but there is a lively downtown filled with a rich variety of restaurants. 

It can be hard choosing a place to settle down in the Bay Area. That is why the team at Prevu Real Estate detailed why house hunters should consider living in Menlo Park. 

Calm city vibe

Menlo Park is a peaceful suburban city on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. 

Beyond the happening downtown and sprawling Meta Headquarters, most of Menlo Park consists of quiet streets laden with single family homes. The city is sandwiched between Atherton and Stanford University, putting it on the outskirts of Silicon Valley and San Francisco. 

Downtown Menlo Park, at El Camino Real and Santa Cruz Avenue, is where locals go to relax at one of the many restaurants lining the streets after a day of boutique shopping. What makes Menlo Park appealing is the relaxed nature of the area. 

Fitness and mindfulness are essential facets of life in Menlo Park, and there are over 100 gyms, trainers, and studios in the city. 

Outdoor spaces are within reach

Parks and recreation are a source of pride for many Menlo Park residents. 

The city sits on the shores of the San Francisco Bay, where the expansive Bedwell Bayfront Park provides impressive waterfront vistas. While the estuary and sights of Dumbarton Bridge are stunning, there are a dozen other dog parks, tennis courts, and hiking trails. 

One of the most popular picnic spots in Menlo Park is Fremont Park, where locals picnic on a lawn in the heart of Downtown. Many neighborhood explorers love a jaunt up to nearby the Stanford Dish. Adventurers looking for a full day of exploring can head to the Thornewood Open Space Preserve, where plenty of manicured trails crisscross the landscape. 

One of the more unique parks of Menlo Park is Meta Park, at 1 Facebook Way. It offers two acres to the public, complete with lighted bike and pedestrian paths, grassy space, and art installations. 

Easy to access the rest of the Bay 

Menlo Park sits just north of the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, on the northwestern outskirts of Silicon Valley. 

This locale makes it perfect for getting to San Francisco, which is about 30 minutes to the north by car, or the heart of San Jose, equally 30 minutes away to the southeast. And while there are plenty of careers in law, venture capital, and tech in Menlo Park, the city's central location in the Peninsula makes it perfect for commuters. 

A quick ride on El Camino Real takes drivers to Menlo Park College, which sits on the border of Atherton and Menlo Park. Dumbarton Bridge flanks the eastern edge of the city, taking commuters across the Bay to Fremont. The 101 runs through the east side of Menlo Park near Meta Headquarters, while the expansive 208 interstate intersects the city's western edge. 

Willow Road and Santa Cruz Avenue are the best ways to travel east-to-west across Menlo Park, and many locals make a stop to eat Downtown, at the corner of El Camino Real and Santa Cruz Avenue. 

Eclectic restaurant scene 

The city limits of Menlo Park create distinctive neighborhoods like Sharon Heights and Allied Arts. But what ties the area together are the vibrant Downtown restaurants located at the intersection of Santa Cruz Avenue and El Camino Real. 

Menlo Park Station represents the eastern side of the region, while Camp Fremont Park marks the westernmost side of the district. There is a concentration of coffee shops and bakeries at Menlo Park Station, where locals like to grab a cup from Philz Coffee before heading out to work. 

The lunchtime crowd can find plenty of brunch spots such as Stacks, famous for its pancakes and open-faced sandwiches. Many locals make a reservation at the French restaurant Bistro Vida for dinner to try the Moules Frites. While there is plenty to eat, do not expect a exciting nightlife with bars and clubs. 

Despite being a city, Menlo Park has a suburban vibe, and many locals looking for a night out drive to Palo Alto or San Francisco for a night out. 

The social heart of Silicon Valley 

Historically, Menlo Park is where Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google. 

The high-tech firm's activity attracted plenty of law firms, venture capital outfits, and other tech companies to the area. Most of these firms have offices on Sand Hill Road, just across the street from Stanford University. 

Many students become residents in Menlo Park, finding work at one of these firms or joining the largest employer in Menlo Park, Meta. The recently rebranded social media firm opened its Facebook Headquarters in the area in 2012, quickly becoming the city's top employer. 

With a workforce of about 17,000, it is common to find people dressed up in Facebook or Instagram monogrammed clothing running errands around town.

Plenty of public transportation

Because Menlo Park sits at the confluence of several transportation corridors on the Peninsula, the city offers robust public transportation. 

Nestled in the heart of Downtown is the Menlo Park Caltrain Station, which is the city's central commuting hub. A nearby shuttle connects residents to Palo Alto, San Jose, and other Silicon Valley cities. There are also bus lines that take locals across the Dumbarton Bridge to Fremont. 

Of course, getting across Menlo Park requires a car if you're doing grocery shopping, but cycling is an increasingly popular way to get around the area. Atherton and Menlo Park residents co-mingle on miles of dedicated paths, trails, and shared lanes. Due to the lack of commercial zoning, many Menlo Park cyclists include the secluded streets of Atherton in their daily ride.

But for folks looking for a quick ride to Downtown, Menlo Park runs a free shuttle service complete with wheelchair access and room for two bikes. 

Prevu Real Estate, Inc. is a licensed real estate broker in California, license number 02134758.