It took our family nearly a year of househunting before we found our way to Orinda, and even then, it was quite by accident. Orinda, like many hidden gems, doesn’t do much to advertise itself, other than, perhaps, by the brilliantly lit neon sign on our art-deco theater. Some 15+ years ago, we had moved to California from Chicago and were renting in beautiful Montclair Village, trying desperately to find a home there that met all of our needs. On a lark, following the BART line eastward, we found ourselves in the heart of downtown Orinda, and the pieces all fell into place. We found the schools we wanted, the spectacular scenery, a welcoming, small-town community that is perfect for raising a family, an easy BART commute to the city, some flat land . . .
And we have been here ever since. What do we love about Orinda? What’s not to love about a small town named after a 17th century English poetess? People talk about the schools (ranked among the best schools in the state and in the nation), and yes, they are the result of an amazing public/private coalition that engages the citizens of Orinda – even those whose school-age children are grown up – in maintaining the quality of our schools. Few forces of nature can rival the esprit de corps of the parent volunteers of the Lamorinda community.
But Orinda is so much more than just the schools. My husband, who grew up in Maine, loves its many windy roads and the way that some homes are tucked away in the greenery, with little to mark their presence but a cluster of mailboxes by the roadside. Says it reminds him of the lakeside camps in Maine (minus the lake). Me? I love the semi-rural nature of the area that the citizens of Orinda fight tenaciously to retain.
I love that when I used to take our kids to elementary school, we would take the scenic route and go past a riding arena used by the Xenophon therapeutic riding center for kids with disabilities. I love our homegrown 4th of July parade, where we are always assured of meeting up with old friends. Other towns may do it bigger and better, but I doubt that any match the sense of civic pride that our little parade inspires. Finally, I love that Orinda is the type of community that so many of our children choose to move back to when it’s time to raise their own families.
What are some of my favorite pastimes in Orinda? Grab a book and lose yourself in it for a few hours while ensconced in a window seat at the wonderful Orinda library. Take your dog for a walk and take in the views from Mulholland Ridge, which connects Orinda with its neighbor, Moraga. Check out our outdoor art collection (my personal favorite is the whirligig peacock structure by Caffe Teatro and the frog sculpture in the fountain) by the community center. Meet a friend at one of our several coffee shops.
It’s hard to define what makes Orinda Orinda, but watch the following videos to experience Orinda from the point of view of our kids. Content provided by
Mary Beth MacLennan, Realtor, Prudential California Realty.