View Home Ideally located between San Francisco, Stanford for Europe/NY/DC

Description

EXCHANGE (3 weeks to 3 to 4 months) SOUGHT for UK, SCANDINAVIA, NEW YORK, DC, the NETHERLANDS, SPAIN, ALL EUROPEAN CITIES, NEW ZEALAND. OPEN TO ALL OFFERS. Also interested in any locations near extensive hiking and nature environments, but within reach of a city. MY HOME is a classic comfortable vintage-style home in an upscale town between San Francisco and Palo Alto. One level--no stairs. Very light and bright, a wall of windows offer views to the San Francisco Bay. There is a wood fireplace, hardwood & laminate floors, an updated kitchen with all modern conveniences. There are 2 bedrooms (one doubles as an office) w/queen & full beds. The bath includes both a tub and separate shower. THE GARDEN is large and private; terraced, planted with herbs, roses, fruit trees, and a towering redwood tree. Both a sunning patio with BBQ and a breakfast porch off the kitchen are invitations to enjoy one of the best micro-climates in the region. Lovely all year, with dry summers, full of warm sunshine & cooling breezes most days when San Francisco is often foggy and Berkeley/East Bay and San Jose/Silicon Valley are hot. Fall and spring are especially beautiful, but winter storms (& rainbows) are lovely to watch from the living room windows. THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATION is on a quiet street at the end of a ‘cul de sac,’ about 20 miles south of San Francisco, 8 miles north of Stanford University. It is a very safe, secure and calm family neighborhood with excellent schools—close to the City, yet a serene suburban escape. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS include public transit by commute train & bus as well as easy car access to 2 major freeways. There are NO bridges to cross to the City, thus avoiding expensive bridge tolls and frequent traffic jams. The train (10 minute walk) has frequent (regular and express (6 stops) ) service to San Francisco and Stanford (3rd stop, 10-14 min.), as well as to the Millbrae BART transfer subway station for transfers to other parts of SF and beyond (Berkeley). There are several express buses daily to San Francisco. Use of my hybrid Toyota RAV 4 small SUV may be available for exchange or for a negotiable rate to cover insurance, and maintenance costs. I can provide two bicycles. WALKING AND BIKING Ten-minute walk (easy down a slight hill) to San Carlos town center, a charming European-style village with a weekly farmer's street market, outdoor cafes, numerous parks, a wonderful public library, excellent public schools and quirky, artistic shops. Many international restaurants in town include French, Burmese, Korean, Peruvian, Greek, Italian, Afghan etc. and regional US eateries such as Creole, Hawaiian and southern BBQ. We have wine bars, craft beer pubs, alfresco dining, and restaurants that offer music and dancing on weekends. Our neighboring town has a concert venue, nightclub, live theater and entertainment district. CLOSE-BY in town are many parks, nature hiking areas, an airplane/helicopter museum, and comprehensive hospital. Major shopping malls are close. Nearby (10 min.to 1 hour by auto) one can hike on Bay marshes, in forests & rollings hills or frolic on the Pacific Ocean beaches. It is possible to take easy overnight trips to seaside Monterey, Carmel, and the extensive Napa Valley wine country. Yosemite is near enough for a weekend trip. I have done many home exchange experience, through a different website. Thus I have an extensive tourist and cultural event library and am delighted to tailor recommendations and insider tips based on my guests interests. 2nd home in Ashland, Oregon (home of 7-mo rep theater festival of 11 plays, including many Shakespeare) also available. Info. available on request. Ideal for a visiting scholar (at Stanford or San Francisco Universities) or working tech professionals on temporary contract. Best for 4 persons max. Suitable for children aged 4 and older.