The San Francisco Peninsula, historically a bastion of the most innovative minds and entrepreneurial spirits, remains one of the most desirable places in the world to call home.

From the nostalgic days of the gold pioneers and railroad tycoons, to the boom of high-tech, venture capital, and biotechnology, and social media, the Bay Area has reinvented itself myriad times...often leading the country and the globe in financial and cultural influence.

While the source of wealth may change over the decades, the delightful suburbs of the Peninsula remain largely the same. Hillsborough (incorporated 1910) maintains its sense of privacy, history, and architectural grandeur. Nestled amidst Lower North Hillsborough mansions, the legendary Burlingame Country Club is esteemed as one of the country's oldest and most exclusive private clubs. Neighboring Burlingame celebrates its Centennial in 2008, still thriving as the quintessential “small town” suburb of San Francisco with one of the Bay Area's favorite upscale downtowns. Atherton (incorporated 1923) preserves its secluded luxury on gated, 1-acre parcels. Woodside (incorporated 1956) quietly prospers as the country estate hideaway of many top flight executives basking in a near-perfect climate. Portola Valley (incorporated 1964) and Los Altos Hills (incorporated 1956) present bucolic orchard-like terrains backdropped by sweeping views above San Francisco Bay.

Many of the West Coast's most prestigious luxury estates are found in this small handful of Peninsula towns: Hillsborough, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, and Los Altos Hills. These enclaves consistently rank in the top 10 in surveys such as Worth Magazine's “America's Richest Towns,” and are associated alongside other premier upscale communities of the United States such as Aspen, Colorado and Jupiter Island, Florida. In 2007, Money Magazine named Hillsborough, California the #1 Earning Town in America with a median household income of $263,000, 5.5 times higher than the national median. Highly rated and locally supported school systems also rank among the country's best in these select Peninsula locations.

The Peninsula lifestyle can be experienced in all its diverse beauty within 30 minutes of wherever you are. Whether you are strategizing on Sand Hill Road or lunching in Burlingame, a 30 minute drive (give or take) of your choice will get you into downtown San Francisco... or Stanford... or seaside hamlets along the Pacific coast...or two international airports... and all the rich culture, titanic business centers, and pristine nature in between. “Cosmopolitan Chic Meets Village Charm!” And when the weekend rolls around, world-class getaways of Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Pebble Beach, and Carmel-by-the-Sea are within very reasonable driving distances. Welcome home!      -Article by Geoffrey Nelson