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Burlingame is a city of about 31,000 people on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County, right next to San Francisco International Airport. It takes its name from Anson Burlingame, the 19th-century American diplomat to China, and grew from a wealthy country-club enclave of grand estates into a pleasant, tree-shaded suburb with two lively shopping streets.
Burlingame Avenue is the heart of town, lined with boutiques, cafes and restaurants near the 1894 Burlingame train station, the first permanent building in California designed in the Mission Revival style. The Broadway district offers a second, more casual strip of eateries. Towering rows of eucalyptus trees planted in the 1870s still line El Camino Real, and the Tudor-style Kohl Mansion hosts chamber music concerts.
Quirky attractions include the Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia, while the bayfront offers a section of the San Francisco Bay Trail with views of planes landing at SFO. Wooded Mills Canyon and Washington Park provide shade, and San Francisco is a 25-minute train ride north.
Burlingame's tree-lined main street, packed with boutiques, home stores, bakeries, cafes and restaurants within a few walkable blocks of the train station. It is busy on weekends and pleasant for an evening meal. Use the public parking lots behind the shops, or arrive by Caltrain.
The city's second shopping district along Broadway, with a laid-back mix of family-run restaurants, sushi bars, pubs, bakeries and small shops. It is less polished than Burlingame Avenue and a good choice for an inexpensive dinner. Caltrain's Broadway station is nearby, with limited weekend service.
Built in 1894, this depot is considered the first permanent building in California designed in the Mission Revival style, with tile roofs, arches and a bell-shaped gable. It is still an active Caltrain stop at the end of Burlingame Avenue. Look closely at the old roof tiles, said to come from historic missions.
A grand red-brick Tudor-style mansion built in 1914 for Frederick Kohl, set among oaks on a hillside estate. It is now part of a girls' high school, and its great hall hosts the Music at Kohl Mansion chamber concert series and events. Attend a concert to see the interior; the grounds are otherwise private.
A quirky small museum on California Drive displaying a huge collection of PEZ candy dispensers from the 1950s to today, along with vintage toys. Kids and collectors love it, and you can buy dispensers in the shop. Admission is a few dollars; it is closed on some weekdays, so check hours.
Long double rows of towering blue gum eucalyptus planted along El Camino Real in the 1870s, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They create a striking green tunnel along the old highway through Burlingame and neighboring Hillsborough. See them on a drive or walk; take care crossing the busy road.
Burlingame's largest central park, shaded by tall oaks and redwoods, with playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts and picnic tables near the recreation center. It is a local favorite for family outings and is a short walk from Burlingame Avenue. Free to visit, with street parking around the park.
A paved section of the San Francisco Bay Trail along Burlingame's bayfront, passing hotels, restaurants, Anza Lagoon and open water with views of the Bay and planes landing at SFO. It is flat and breezy, good for walking, running or cycling. Bring a jacket, since afternoon winds are strong.
A wooded canyon in the west of the city where trails follow Mills Creek under oaks, bay laurels and buckeyes. It offers a quiet, shady walk of about an hour with some steep sections. Trailheads are in residential neighborhoods, so park considerately, and watch for poison oak along the edges.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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