Located on the San Francisco Peninsula, this calm California city is the tech hub where Oracle and EA are based. A county seat with 76,000 residents near Silicon Valley.
You'll find Redwood City between San Francisco and San Jose, with a historic downtown and access to bay wetlands and redwood forests. Walk beneath the "Climate Best By Government Test" arches into a district that includes the restored Fox Theater, summer film screenings at Courthouse Square, and the San Mateo County History Museum under a stained-glass dome. Paddle through tidal marshes near the Port of Redwood City, hike among second-growth redwoods at Purisima Creek, or explore the Pulgas Water Temple’s reflecting pool. The city mixes tech industry energy with trails, live music, and a July 4th parade that claims to be California’s largest.
Start with Downtown Entertainment and Cultural Stops
Begin at Courthouse Square, where the 1910 San Mateo County Courthouse holds a museum displaying regional history. Look up at the 22-foot stained-glass dome, then cross the street to the Fox Theater. This 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival building presents concerts and comedy shows under original chandeliers. From June to August, free double-film screenings take place here on Thursday evenings—bring a blanket. Nearby, Angelica’s prepares Oaxacan mole and margaritas on a patio under olive trees. The BottleShop serves California wines alongside dishes like duck confit sliders.
Trails, Waterways, and Seasonal Wildflowers
Drive 15 minutes west via Highway 84 to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Its 24 miles of trails pass through redwoods sustained by coastal fog. At Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, hike the 3.7-mile Cordilleras Trail loop for views of the bay. Dogs can run freely in a 17.5-acre area here. Rent a kayak from California Canoe & Kayak to glide through Bair Island’s tidal channels, where egrets and harbor seals appear. Between March and May, Edgewood Park’s slopes fill with lupine, poppies, and checkerbloom. Stop at the Pulgas Water Temple, a columned structure marking where the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct ends.
Local History and Architecture
The San Mateo County History Museum explains the area’s past, including Ohlone shellmounds and a 19th-century leather tannery. Travel 10 minutes north to Filoli, a 1917 Georgian Revival estate with 16 acres of gardens open for tours from February to October. Union Cemetery, founded in 1859, holds graves of early settlers like lumber businessman Simon Mezes. Near the port, remnants of a WWII shipyard show where cement-hulled ships were built—a design abandoned for being too heavy.
Annual Events and Seasonal Activities
Redwood City’s July 4th parade has run since 1939, filling downtown streets with marching bands, vintage cars, and community groups. In December, Courthouse Square becomes an ice rink surrounded by holiday lights. The Peninsula Museum of Art rotates displays of Bay Area artists’ work. Cañada College Theatre stages productions such as In the Heights and Little Shop of Horrors.
Transportation Options
Caltrain’s Baby Bullet service reaches Redwood City from San Francisco in 35 minutes or San Jose in 25 minutes, stopping downtown at 557 Broadway. Drivers on Highway 101 exit at Whipple Avenue and follow signs to Jefferson Avenue parking garages. From Interstate 280, take Woodside Road north past live oak groves to reach downtown. SamTrans buses link to Stanford University, San Francisco International Airport, and Hillsdale Shopping Center.
