1. Central Park is a must visit. It is a San Mateo landmark. It has a Bianchi mini train (anyone under five will never want to leave) as well as lighted tennis courts, a playground and baseball field. It even includes a Japanese Tea Garden designed by landscape architect Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo. The Japanese Tea Garden gives the famed San Francisco one a run for its money; it features a granite pagoda, tea house, koi pond and bamboo grove. www.cityofsanmateo.org

2. Visit the Downtown San Mateo site, www.dsma.org to choose any type food you’re in the mood for and they will have a variety of restaurants to fit your palate!

3. Catch a movie at the Cinemark Century 12 Theatres right downtown, www.cinemark.com. You can walk around the city center before or after and grab a bite to eat at any of the many restaurants there and enjoy the hustle and bustle under the lights all throughout the center.

4. Take your choice of any shopping experience in San Mateo from the upscale Hillsdale Shopping Center to a truly local shopping and dining experience down 25th Avenue! www.ci.sanmateo.ca.us

5. Download a bike map of the city for a number of athletic or scenic routes good for daily commuting or a casual Sunday! www.ci.sanmateo.ca.us

6.San Mateo Acting Responsible Together (SMART) is a city-wide public outreach campaign that encourages businesses, schools and individuals to change their everyday behaviors to contribute to reducing San Mateo’s carbon footprint. To do your part as a resident, here’s your chance. www.ci.sanmateo.ca.us

7. Go to the Events calendar of Downtown San Mateo, www.dsma.org to find out about Third Thursday’s Art and Entertainment, local holiday festivities, farmer’s markets available as well as many other happenings around town.

8. Take a history walking tour of the City of San Mateo and learn about this vibrant, exploding city you live in. Here’s a walking tour. Great learning experience and think, you have a conversation piece at the next event gathering where you can expound your newfound knowledge.

9. Great dinners require great ingredients. Explore your inner foodie by grocery shopping at Draeger’s www.draegers.com or Whole Foods Market San Mateo www.wholefoodsmarket.com

10. Whatever your educational needs are, San Mateo boasts a number of levels of education in a great – and safe – school district. Find education where you live at www.ci.sanmateo.ca.us