Marina Lagoon, San Mateo

While situated along the San Francisco peninsula, Marina Lagoon is an rarely explored San Mateo community that has fallen into obscurity. It is a small, skinny neighborhood that follows the twisting tidal channels (called Seal Slough) that makeup most of the neighboring Foster City. The neighborhood is also mostly occupied by flat land area filled with open spaces. For the most part, the district’s commercial area is plotted to the northern reaches of Marina Lagoon, while its housing district is further south. It offers an older residential community with many homes dating back before World War II.

Marina Lagoon’s residential quarters are more middle-of-the-road than anything else. Homes are small and nothing to brag about. They’re typically plain-looking, one-story in size and plotted on small, squarish properties (most of which offer shallow front yards and skinny driveways). The neighborhood as a whole is also somewhat reclusive and rarely visited by the outside world. This is mostly due to the winding channels and US Route 101 that separates the area from most of the city.

Within the heart of the community, you’ll find newly built, mid-size commercial real-estate spread evenly throughout the area (Bridgepoint Parkway is the district’s main drive). They mostly consist of office buildings and nice looking business parks. The area does provide a couple chain restaurants peppered throughout the community to serve the local business clientele. For recreation, Lakeshore Park sits along South Norfolk Street and provides a couple outdoor basketball courts and a youth baseball field. Moreover, Mariner’s Point Golf Center, a shabby 9-hole golf course and driving range, edges the beautiful San Francisco bay and offers great bayside vistas.