San Mateo is one of the larger cities on the San Francisco Peninsula and possesses some of the best restaurants and shopping on the Peninsula. Residents take pride in their reputation of being a great place to live, do business and be entertained. Among the most heavily attended venues is one of the largest theatres on the peninsula outside of San Francisco, The San Mateo Performing Arts Theatre, among others are the Bay Meadows horse-racing track, the San Mateo Arboretum and Japanese Gardens in central Park built to commemorate it’s sister city Toyonaka, Japan. Locals take pleasure in a mild Mediterranean climate shielded from the Pacific Ocean by the Montera Mountains creating an environment which explodes in ecological wonder with a variety of natural habitats to endangered Species. The most well known natural area is Coyote Point, a rock outcropped peninsula that juts into the San Francisco Bay. Today Coyote Pointe is home to the Coyote Point Museum one of the most celebrated natural history museums and wildlife centers in California. Enjoying an enormously rich history with a number of historically important mansions and buildings listed in the National Registry of History bringing visitors form all over through out the year. AP Giannini founder of the Bank of America, Seven Oaks Mansion, the Pulgas Water Temple serving Mission Deloras, Borel, Parrott and Howard Estates. San Mateo uniquely connects the Pacific Ocean in Half Moon Bay with the Communities in the East Bay where Hwy 92 meets the San Mateo Hayward Bridge and connects The City of San Jose and San Francisco through the 101. These central connections make San Mateo the best location to travel to and from anywhere in the Bay Area.