Rancho Buri Buri / Sterling Manor, South San Francisco

Located within South San Francisco, Rancho Buri Buri/Sterling Manor is a family-friendly neighborhood firmly gripped in middle-class anonymity. It’s most redeeming characteristic is that it is situated along the peninsula and within close proximity to both the bay and the Pacific Ocean. More specifically, the neighborhood rests above the California Golf Club and nestled between Highway 280 and El Camino Real. Also, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center anchors the northeastern corner and serves most of South San Francisco.

Rancho Buri Buri/Sterling Manor is almost exclusively residential. The area bolsters one- and two-story homes condensed along neighborhood blocks. Aesthetically speaking, houses are rather plain looking and sit on small, compact lots. They lay ground to square front lawns with small, manicured bushes sprinkling the yards. Larger homes with charming house fronts are clustered in the western third of the neighborhood. Here you’ll find charming suburban homes with larger attached garages.

For your shopping options, Sunshine Gardens Shopping Center lies on the other side oft he medical center. But only consists of a pharmacy, a Salvation Army store and a Domino’s Pizza. Most residents head towards Westborough Square Shopping Center along Highway 280. The shopping hub is outfitted with an Orchard Supply Hardware store, a Curves workout center, a Walgreens and a couple other chain stores/restaurants. Rancho Buri Buri/Sterling Manor is also within close proximity to the South San Francisco Bart Station. The The rail connects residents to San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

On my recent trip to California, I travelled to South San Francisco and was able to stop by Rancho Buri Buri. The neighborhood is very suburban and residential. It is a great environment to raise a family in. When I start a family and settle down, this will have to be on the top of my list. Going through the town there was no traffic at all, yet they were close to some major highways to easily access any big towns near us. There were many places to shop, so you would not have to leave town for any necessities. Overall, it looked like a great family-oriented place.

Rancho Buri Buri is a great neighborhood for families first and foremost. Situated between the major roads of El Camino Real, Westborough Blvd and Junipero Serra Blvd, it is surprisingly quiet and calm despite being connected to these major roads. One great transportation feature of this area is that it is easy to access freeways like 101 and 280 from anywhere in the neighborhood, since you can connect so easily to one of the major roads. Public transportation is also a plus, since the neighborhood has several dispersed SamTrans bus stops, as well as a BART station right across El Camino, within a 10 minute walk for most of the neighborhood. One can also get to the Tanforan and Serramonte shopping centers within 10-20 minutes, which is very convenient for any errands or just to have a day out at the mall. For commuters to the city from the area, you can get to San Francisco in about 20 minutes driving (because of the quick and easy access to the freeways), which is not much time at all considering the amount of traffic that can happen. As far as living conditions, this is a very clean and safe area. Despite being in the middle of three big roads, there is little traffic in the neighborhood except for residents, making for a peaceful living experience. There are at least two parks in the area, at Buri Buri Elementary and Alta Loma, for recreation and sports. The proximity of the neighborhood to the West Orange public library just on the other side of Westborough is a great place for kids and adults to read and study. The area also has a few convenience stores and markets, so you don't have to go far for groceries, toiletries or most things you might need. Overall, a great neighborhood for any family.