Get to Know Atherton

Atherton is the epitome of quiet luxury, topping the lists of the wealthiest zip codes in the country year after year. This secluded enclave covers just five square miles and is almost entirely residential, with zoning regulations that only allow for one single-family home per acre. Houses are tucked away behind hedges and unobtrusive fences, with no sidewalks in sight, and hidden behind acres of leafy oak and magnolia trees. Though Atherton is home to immense fortunes and bold-faced names, the vibe here is far from flashy — Atherton houses are almost demure in style, emphasizing indoor-outdoor living and drawing inspiration from California’s architectural history. There’s no commercial zoning here, though the Menlo Circus Club, established in 1922, has equestrian facilities, pools, tennis courts, a gym, and a clubhouse with dining. For more expansive shopping and dining options, it’s just a five-to-ten-minute drive to Menlo Park or Palo Alto.

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Living in Silicon Valley

Twentieth-century innovation transformed the Santa Clara Valley, once a verdant Eden of blossoming plum and apricot orchards, from the rural “Valley of Heart’s Delight” to suburban Silicon Valley. Located at the south end of the San Francisco Bay Area, its borders are more or less congruent with Santa Clara County, though they're sometimes stretched by extension to cover tech-forward areas up the peninsula and the lower East Bay. Though roads are the default thoroughfare for local travel, there's a growing number of transit alternatives: Caltrain and now BART provides easy travel to San Francisco and Oakland, and the VTA light rail slinks streetcar-style through downtown San Jose on its way from Milpitas and Mountain View to Campbell and Santa Teresa. The Santa Cruz Mountains to the south and west, along with Mt. Hamilton and the Diablo Range to the east, keep nature in easy reach.