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San Mateo, California, is conveniently located on the scenic peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose. With attractions like the Japanese Tea Garden in downtown's Central Park, San Mateo is a prime vacation destination. Outdoor recreation opportunities range from a hike at Sawyer Camp Trail to swimming, fishing or sailing at Coyote Point. With over 19 parks in San Mateo County, outdoor enthusiasts can explore urban parks surrounded by skyscrapers or photograph wildlife in woodland areas in the coastal Montara Mountains.

Key facts

The local SamTrans bus and Caltrain commuter rail, as well as BART, Muni, AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit & Ferry, serve San Mateo. A reloadable card works at all locations. Commuters can drive north to downtown San Francisco in 20 minutes or head south 12 miles to Palo Alto and Stanford University. A 20-minute drive on Highway 280 to Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay is one of several scenic routes. The Pacific side of the Bay offers a coastal drive along California's Highway 84.

Hints and tips

Originally settling from San Mateo to South San Francisco, the Ohlone tribe survived over 4,000 years until Spanish explorers arrived. San Mateo's Mediterranean climate is ideal for year-round outdoor fun. Summer high temperatures are consistently comfortable, in the upper 70s.