San Mateo is a lively, walkable Bay Area city with a charming downtown, diverse restaurants, waterfront parks, easy bike routes, and ready access to beaches and nearby hiking—comfortable and active for a travel therapist spending several weeks and quick to feel like home.
Centrally located between San Francisco and San Jose (both ~20–30 miles away) with SFO and Caltrain nearby, you’ll have big‑city museums, nightlife and Silicon Valley energy a short ride away without being stuck in a dorm‑town.