Glenview

Just the facts

Main strip:  Park Boulevard
Who dwells here: Residents looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life
Population: 6,252
Founded: Early 1900s
Architecture: Bungalows
Neighborhood giant: Dimond Park
Where to mingle with locals:  Blackberry Bistro

The vibe 

A sweet neighborhood of California bungalows in the lower Oakland Hills, Glenview feels more like a very quiet Rockridge with a couple good restaurants and well-manicured gardens. The main strip of Park Boulevard is pretty much where anything happens now and where it happened then: More than a century ago, the now bustling street was a path where redwoods traveled to get from where they were felled to the lumberyard. The elementary school is Art Deco, built in 1927; and the local breakfast joint serves dishes like eggs (and grits!) till 3:30 p.m. on the weekends. A lazy slice of California.

The inside inside scoop

The historic Leimert Bridge, a bit in Trestle Glen neighborhood territory (but don’t worry, there’s no border patrol), has nice views of the Bay.

If you only have three hours

Go for a walk in Dimond Park and cruise by Sausal Creek, the Lions Pool, and the oldest oak tree in Oakland. The southern entrance to Dimond Park is at MacArthur and Dimond (Dimond dead ends at Park). You can also start at the Dimond Canyon Trail, just east of Park Boulevard, off the woodsy El Centro Avenue.

For a taste of a great Oakland restaurants, there’s Bellanico, a sister restaurant to Aperto in San Francisco, with a busy wine bar and popular pasta dishes.

How to get here

Freeway exit: From 1-580 E, take MacArthur Blvd. toward Park Blvd.; From 1-580 W, exit at 14th Avenue/Park Blvd.

Bart stop: Fruitvale Station is the closest stop, however, you’ll have to take another bus to reach the neighborhood (see actransit.org)

Bus lines: NL, V, 18, 618, 688