EL CERRITO

A great locale, pleasant climate, pretty residential neighborhoods, spectacular bay views, a new community center complete with a sparkling new outdoor swim center, excellent city services, affordable homes, and a breezy commute into the City make El Cerrito real estate our pick for the best buy in the East Bay.

Neighborhoods here range from the tree-lined "flats" to the winding hills above with more stately homes that look out over the dazzling San Francisco cityscape below. The natural hillside area features hiking trails with some of the most incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of the East Bay.

El Cerrito Plaza hosts a local farmer's market every Tuesday and Saturday, rain or shine. Remnants of "old El Cerrito" can still be found on San Pablo Avenue where merchants include a funky store specializing in acoustic and folk music and Giovanni's Italian Grocery. Fat Apple's Restaurant, between Fairmount and Stockton Avenue, is a local hot spot with some of the best pastries and desserts around.

The historic Cerrito Movie Theater was built in the 1930s and has maintained its original facade, complete with neon lights. Now they have a restaurant and bar inside the building so you can sit and have a good time around the sofas or at a table inside the actual theater. The Contra Costa Civic Theater offers great plays and popular live theater productions.

El Cerrito has recently received a face-lift. The new City Hall, a "green" building, offers picturesque streams and water features throughout. El Cerrito High School and Harding Elementary School are both recently built and absolutely lovely.

Strategically located along Interstate 80, El Cerrito is less than 30 miles from San Francisco and Oakland International airports. Its extensive transportation system includes two BART stations, direct bus lines to downtown San Francisco and Oakland, and easy freeway access.