If you’ve ever wanted to live in a Hansel and Gretel storybook—minus the witches—Montclair is your destination. Perched high in the Oakland Hills, this neighborhood feels more like a Sierra Nevada resort town than a part of a major city. The winding, hairpin roads are shaded by massive Monterey pines, redwoods, and eucalyptus trees, leading to homes that cling to the hillsides to capture sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay.

The heart of the community is Montclair Village, a charming, walkable commercial district that feels remarkably un-urban. Here, you’ll find the iconic "storybook" firehouse and a Tudor-style library, alongside independent bookstores, local hardware shops, and long-standing cafes like the Montclair Egg Shop. The architecture is famously eclectic, featuring everything from 1920s cottages and mid-century modern "stilt" homes to massive contemporary estates. With immediate access to the hiking trails of Joaquin Miller Park and Redwood Regional, Montclair is the ultimate sanctuary for those who want to swap sirens for owls.