I-- 280, San Bruno

The stretch of 280 that runs through San Bruno is a bit of an anomaly in that there actually IS traffic here during rush hour, unlike its southern counterpart on the Peninsula. This has everything to do with the fact that it is close to the city and the many nearby malls and shopping plazas. However, it also runs through the foothills of the area, which means that the views overlooking the bay and the valley are phenomenal. It even makes sitting in traffic almost bearable.

The area can get a bit foggy at night and early morning, given the proximity to the ocean and the relatively small size of the protective hills, but it is still a very nice place to live. With hiking trails and parks nearby, the city at your fingertips, and plenty of shopping and restaurants in town, it is not hard to overlook the fact that a major interstate runs right through.