A hidden treasure behind Stanford University's vast expanse of open space land holdings, Portola Valley, like his neighbor to the north, Woodside is that rare, woodsy community where children can ride their horses down the streets. Many homes have lots large enough to accommodate horse facilities, pools and/or tennis courts. Portola Valley's trail system is so extensive that at 33.8 miles of trails and 35.5 miles of roads -- the town has nearly as many miles of hiking and riding trails as roads. Located just off highway #280 at Alpine Road, between Woodside and Los Alto Hills, Portola Valley's several small strip shopping centers, restaurants, town buildings, country clubs and riding stables dot both sides of Alpine and Portola Roads as they wind semi-horseshoe like west towards Skyline then north towards Woodside.
A variety of housing options -- all semi-rural with pastoral views, serve Portola Valley residents. Ranging from the 1960's Frank Lloyd Wright inspired contemporaries in unincorporated Ladera off highway 280 to the lavish estates of Golden Hills and Westridge. Portola Valley is also the home of one of the most innovative and environmentally friendly developments in California, the award winning Portola Valley Ranch. Tucked into the rolling hills off Alpine Road, the 205-home development has two pools, tennis courts, a vineyard, community garden and miles of hiking trails. The homes are often difficult to see from Alpine Road and that was the idea of this planned 1970's community characterized by contemporary-style, homes painted in earthy tones, clustered on cul-de-sacs that blend in with the natural, common areas that separate them. There are no manicured lawns, fenced gardens, private pools or tennis courts to mar the natural scenic beauty of the area 453-acre development with only 25% devoted to homes. The project was honored with the Sunset Magazine/American Institute of Architects Home Award in 1977-1978.
4,462 residents live within the 10-square-miles of Portola Valley, earning a median household income of $158,217 yearly. 85 single family homes were sold last year, with a median price of $1,994,112. The well regarded, Portola Valley School District includes an elementary school K-3, and middle school, 4-8. Both schools have API scores in the mid 900's. There is also an excellent private middle/high school, the Woodside Priory, formerly all boys, it recently became coed. The Priory's focus is on college preparation with 96% of their graduates going on to 4 year colleges and 4% attending junior colleges. Sunset Magazine Publisher Bill Lane spent his childhood in Portola Valley and later became a member of the first town council. He and his wife Jean built their dream home in the Westridge area in the 1950's, designed for them by Sunset headquarters' architect, Cliff May.