Junipero Serra Blvd, Stanford

When I think of Palo Alto, I often think of downtown, University Avenue, 101, and maybe Embarcadero in a pinch. Junipero Serra Boulevard serves as the western border for another part of the town - a place where students and millionaires alike flock, a place where no one can afford real estate but everyone can play golf, where cows start to become almost as common as humans.

It may seem odd that in any Silicon Valley town, the houses in the crowded, high-traffic areas are more expensive, square foot by square foot, but such is the case in Palo Alto. This doesn't mean that Junipero Serra homes are cheap - rather, it just means that they have more room to spread out and build mansions. The golf course, the university, and Stanford Shopping Center are the major attractions around here although farms are not uncommon.

Overall the area is very safe, very ritzy, fairly quiet and very expensive. Residents here can also enjoy considerably less traffic on their own private autobahn, the 280 interstate. Not a bad place all in all, IF you can afford it.