Words by Johanna Harlow
Ah, sweet San Carlos. You may know this city for its nostalgic summer events at Burton Park, ranging from movie nights and outdoor concerts to an annual August campout where families pitch their tents under the stars. Maybe you’ve attended Hometown Days in May and waved at the Girl Scouts and firefighters on parade floats, before enjoying some western dancing, antique cars, puppet shows and even hot air balloon rides. But this town is more than its festivities.
San Carlos, nicknamed “The City of Good Living,” exudes small town neighborliness. Most of its shops and restaurants are locally owned. It’s lush with trees and dotted with cute parks. The Frank D. Harrington pocket park is named after a beloved San Carlos citizen, volunteer and postman who greeted residents around town by name. Because that’s the kind of place this is. Take San Carlos up on its hospitality and plan a day trip to pay your friendly neighbors a visit.
Cover Photo: Courtesy of Johanna Harlow / Photo: Courtesy of Groovy Goose
Morning Meanderings
If you’re stifling a yawn from your early start, head straight to the Groovy Goose for some java. At this café, the caffeine boost comes with a dopamine hit from the shop’s disco balls and funky fresh color scheme. For the caffeine adverse, there are also smoothies like the Purple People Eater and Groovy Greens.
All fueled up? It’s time to take on the town! If it’s a Sunday, make your way over to Laurel Street for the San Carlos Farmers Market where you’ll find a bright row of tents along a tree-lined road, rain or shine. Browse this cornucopia of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers between the hours of 9AM and 1PM.
Photo: Courtesy of Johanna Harlow
Find Your Niche
Time to track down some of San Carlos’ nearby specialty shops. First stop: Birder’s Garden, which supplies seed mixes, nesting boxes and feeders to entice titmice and towhees to your backyard. Those looking to embrace their creative side can pay a visit to Laurel Street Arts for pottery painting, mosaic making and glass fusing. To make your own melody, stop by Clock Tower Music for a symphony of instruments ranging from guitars and ukuleles to kalimbas and djembes. Be sure to return on the last Friday of each month when the shop’s open mic night spotlights local poets and musicians.
Photo: Courtesy of Johanna Harlow
Next, mosey on over to Olsen Nolte Saddle Shop. Along with ample equestrian tack, you’ll find rack upon rack of Western wear including cowboy hats, plaid shirts, leather boots and belts with really big buckles.
If you prefer travel by plane rather than palomino, ride like the wind to Hiller Aviation Museum to learn more about air travel. In a massive hangar packed with more than 50 aircraft and spacecraft dating from the 1860s to the present day, spend an hour or two learning about the origins of flight, aerodynamics, drones and daring pilots. Vessels vary in size from the hulking jet-black Boeing Condor with a wingspan longer than an Olympic-sized pool to the collapsible rotorcycle, not much more than a seat attached to rotor blades. And be sure to wave to a few pilots as they taxi down the San Carlos Airport runway next door.
Photo: Courtesy of Johanna Harlow
Trek the Trails
Come back to earth and ground yourself in nature at Eaton Park. Often overlooked for Redwood City’s nearby Edgewood Park and Pulgas Ridge Preserve, these dirt paths flanked by California bays and buckeyes see less foot traffic. Though steep, you’ll encounter some stunning views, so follow the little pedestrian bridges along the aptly named Four Bridges Trail, then see if you can track down the park’s labyrinth. If you want to lengthen your hike, continue on to Big Canyon Park, just on the other side of Brittan Avenue.
Take the long way back to downtown via Crestview Drive for more breathtaking views. Between the intersecting streets of Clover Lane and Lewis Ranch Road, you’ll find a scenic outlook nicknamed the Top of the World. On a clear day, it offers views of the East Bay and San Francisco. See if you can spot both the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges.
Photo: Courtesy of Nadia Andreini
Food for Thought
There’s nothing “sleepy” about San Carlos’ dining scene—it’s a real feast of appetizing options. Take Impasto, which serves piping hot Neapolitan pizzas in a sleek space. Opt for the simple yet satisfying margherita or go bold with more daring toppings, like the Fichi, melding mozzarella with fresh figs, prosciutto and chestnut honey.
If you’re a foodie looking for the hottest new spot, you’ll want to head to Esnaf. A Turkish restaurant that opened in June, it’s a bohemian dream with wicker chairs and rattan light fixtures. Here, you’ll feast on succulent sirloin skewers, mercimek corbasi (a traditional lentil soup) and izmir köfte (meatballs and peppers served with a yogurt and tomato sauce).
Other excellent options include Drake’s, New American cuisine in a historic building with beautiful brickwork and wrought iron chandeliers, and Taurus Steak, a Brazilian steakhouse for meat lovers in the mood to splurge.
For dessert, you can’t go wrong at Gelataio. It might be difficult to choose between gelato classics—like bacio (chocolate-hazelnut) and stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate drizzle)—and refreshing dairy-free sorbetto in a medley of bright flavors like lemon, mango, raspberry and green apple … but these are the kinds of hard choices we’re willing to make.
FURTHER FOODIE FAVES + Red Hot Chilli Pepper: Indo-Chinese cuisine with a trendy red-and-black dining room. + Town: West Coast wines, wood-fired rotisserie chicken and tender steaks. + Isarn Garden Thai Cuisine: Easygoing Thai restaurant serving standout stir-fries, soups and curries. + Johnston’s Saltbox: New American fare with a sprawling outdoor patio. + Mints & Honey San Carlos: Creative brunch offerings along with coffee and milk tea. + The Refuge: Renowned for its hand-carved pastrami sandwiches.
Photo: Courtesy of Irene Searles
Imbibe
At the end of your long day, settle in for a drink at one of San Carlos’ watering holes. A great city for hopheads, find exceptional in-house beers at Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, Blue Oak Brewing Company and Hapa’s Brewing. Hoping to turn it into a crawl? Check out the 24 rotating taps and nitrogen-dispensed beers at Ale Arsenal, then raise a glass of Guinness to toast the Irish over at Molly O’s.
If you prefer pinots over IPAs, Domenico Winery is the place for you. Within, you’ll find sophistication in a warehouse space with funky chandeliers and string lights. Stop in for a wine tasting or opt for pizza, pasta and panini at the on-site restaurant Osteria (open Wednesday through Sunday). Decorated to evoke a street cafe in post-war Italy, Osteria boasts an open-view kitchen, burnished concrete walls, hanging plants and pendant lights.
For a one-of-a-kind experience, Auto Vino can’t be beat. This venture is what happens when you unite the guy behind Woodside Vineyards, an Italian sports car aficionado and a restauranteur. A storage facility for luxury, rare vintage and exotic cars, it also offers tastings, wood-fired pizza and tri-tip sandwiches on the weekends. What’s more luxurious than having your glass of cabernet in the presence of a Cadillac?
By car, by foot or by air, the city of San Carlos may be small but it has plenty to offer the adventurous day tripper.