10 Reasons Why Living in Foster City is Great
1. Waterfront lifestyle with real lagoon access
Foster City is defined by its 200+ acre, five-mile lagoon system, a calm network of waterways ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, or cruising in electric boats. Public launches at places like Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park make it easy to step straight from shore to water, turning the lagoon into a natural extension of the neighborhood. The Triton also has its own private boat and kayak launch.
2. Miles of bayfront trails
The Levee Pedway and Foster City’s stretch of the San Francisco Bay Trail trace the shoreline in a wide, looping path with open water on one side and landscaped neighborhoods on the other. It’s a favorite route for morning jogs, evening bike rides, or weekend walks with the dog, offering uninterrupted views across the Bay. And because it links directly into the larger Bay Trail network, residents can head out for a short waterfront stroll or keep going for miles along one of the Bay Area’s most scenic continuous trails.
3. Expansive, well-kept parks
From the broad 20-acre lawns and waterfront amphitheater at Leo J. Ryan Park to the sprawling soccer and baseball fields at 23-acre Sea Cloud Park, Foster City makes green space a centerpiece of daily life. Ryan Park hosts community events, picnics by the lagoon, and paddle launches, while Sea Cloud is known for its tournament-ready fields, batting cages, and long walking paths that wind past open meadows. In between, smaller neighborhood parks like Edgewater and Catamaran offer a more intimate scale with playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, shaded picnic tables, and tucked-away spots to relax by the water.
4. Organized sports and recreation
The city invests heavily in organized recreation, with programs that support both youth and adult leagues across a variety of sports. Sea Cloud Park, in particular, has become a hub for local athletics with multiple baseball diamonds, soccer fields, batting cages, and well-maintained turf that draws teams from across the Peninsula. Beyond Sea Cloud, other neighborhood parks provide basketball and tennis courts, so there’s a steady rhythm of organized and pick-up play woven into daily life in Foster City.
5. Dog-friendly spaces
Foster City isn’t just pet-friendly—it’s pet-smart. The Foster City Dog Park (aka Edgewater Bark Park) is a standout: two separate, fully fenced areas—one for large dogs, one for small—laid out with synthetic turf and decomposed granite for cleanliness and comfort.
If you need off-leash time beyond the dog park, several local parks offer early-morning off-leash hours. From 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily—and until 9:00 a.m. on Sundays—dogs may roam off leash in designated areas at Boothbay, Catamaran, Edgewater, Farragut, and Sea Cloud Parks (though never on synthetic turf).
For those walks that must stay leash-on (or just prefer an uninterrupted route), the Levee Pedway offers a lovely, clean path along the bay—bag dispensers are thoughtfully provided, and pets are welcome on leash as they enjoy waterfront views and fresh breeze.
6. Convenient commutes across the Bay Area
Centrally located on the Peninsula, Foster City makes commuting easier: about 25 minutes to Palo Alto, 30 minutes to San Francisco, and under 15 minutes to SFO. With direct access to Highway 92 (San Mateo–Hayward Bridge) and close connections to US-101, residents can reach Silicon Valley job hubs, the East Bay, or San Francisco quickly.
7. Strong focus on safety
The city’s Police Department emphasizes community partnership and prevention, and residents consistently highlight the sense of safety and calm.
8. Quality schools
The San Mateo–Foster City School District serves local families with four schools located right in Foster City: Audubon, Brewer Island, and Foster City Elementary Schools, along with Bowditch Middle School. Bowditch, in particular, is well-regarded on the Peninsula for its academics, extracurricular programs, and diverse student body. Families also value the district’s commitment to arts, music, and STEM education, and the city’s close-knit community feel often carries into the schools themselves. For high school, students typically attend San Mateo High School or Hillsdale High School within the Sequoia Union High School District, both a short drive from Foster City.
9. Master-planned design
Foster City stands out as one of America’s largest master-planned communities, designed in the 1960s with intention and precision. Built around an engineered lagoon system, the city was laid out with winding, tree-lined streets, neighborhood parks, and defined residential and commercial zones that keep the community both orderly and inviting. The result is a waterfront city that feels cohesive and calm, with green space and water access woven into daily life
10. Levee improvements and future resilience
The Foster City Levee Project is a multi-year effort to raise and reinforce miles of shoreline, protecting the community against future sea level rise and severe storms. In addition to bolstering flood defenses, the project is reimagining the waterfront with an upgraded Bay Trail, new pathways, and improved public access—ensuring residents can enjoy safer, more resilient, and more inviting shoreline spaces for decades to come.
Bonus 11. Dining at home and nearby
Local dining includes solid local favorites like Tokie’s Japanese Restaurant and Waterfront Pizza, plus a variety of international options in plazas around town. Best of all, you’re just minutes from downtown San Mateo, one of the Peninsula’s top dining hubs with ramen shops, sushi bars, and global restaurants that draw food lovers from across the Bay.
Love Where You Live
Set along the lagoon, The Triton pairs unique luxury apartments with one-of-a-kind amenities and attentive service for a Silicon Valley lifestyle beyond the ordinary. Contact us today to explore move-in specials, available rentals, and more.
