Kristi Ives' Blog

As Lamorinda residents and Realtors, we are knee-deep into our community….

The Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda areas are many times referred to as “Lamorinda”.  Lamorinda is an amazing place to live due to its beautiful neighborhoods, top-rated schools, excellent arts programs, competitive athletic teams, proximity to San Francisco and much much more.  All of the Lamorinda elementary, middle school and high school API scores are in the 900’s.  Many neighborhoods have their own pool and tennis clubs that you can join.  A great way to meet people and to get your children involved. 

Moraga is a very cozy family-oriented community with wonderful residential neighborhoods.  Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda form a triangle.  You have to drive through Lafayette or Orinda to get to Moraga.  It’s a very athletic town as well; three Olympian athletes from Moraga won medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics. 

Most “Moragans” head to Lafayette or Orinda to eat, however there are some wonderful restaurants here as well.  Across the street from the Safeway is a charming non-working ranch and the farmhouse that serves breakfast and lunch, The Ranch House.  

Some of our other  favorite Moraga restaurants include:

Chef Chao - Chinese

Mondello’s Cucina Italiana

Bianca’s Deli and Catering

Pennini’s - Pizza

Moraga hosts what many people think is the best park in Lamorinda.  Moraga Commons offers just about everything including a great skate park, lots of grassy areas, a water element to run through, disc golf, basketball, sand volleyball, bocce ball, picnic areas with bbqs and fun outdoor concerts every Thursday over the summer.

Saint Mary’s College is located in Moraga, but quite honestly you never see the students.  They campus is beautiful.  They have great fields to go kick around a soccer ball and hold athletic camps there in the summer.

There are two shopping centers, albeit on the smaller side.  The main one has a Safeway and McCaulou’s as well as a few restaurants and banks.  The other shopping center is referred to as Rheem Shopping Center and hosts the Post Office, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Blockbuster Video and Starbucks.

As Lamorinda residents and Realtors, we are knee-deep into our community….

The Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda areas are many times referred to as “Lamorinda”.  Lamorinda is an amazing place to live due to its beautiful neighborhoods, top-rated schools, excellent arts programs, competitive athletic teams, proximity to San Francisco and much much more.  All of the Lamorinda elementary, middle school and high school API scores are in the 900’s.  Many neighborhoods have their own pool and tennis clubs that you can join.  A great way to meet people and to get your children involved. 

Lafayette is a hop, skip and a jump away from the high-end shopping district of Walnut Creek.  Downtown Lafayette has undergone a major renovation with many fantastic new restaurants, cute shops, high-end nail salons, and a brand new library (still under construction).  Don’t miss the charming Powell’s candy shop that has every possible type of candy you can imagine. Shopping wise, there is a Safeway, Whole Foods and a Trader Joe’s.  There is a BART station downtown off of the freeway.

Oakwood Athletic Club is a family-friendly gym to which many people throughout Lamorinda belong.  They offer a variety of classes for children including soccer and tae-kwon-do, a café, an outdoor pool (w/swim team) and child-care.  There is approximately a year waiting list.

The Lafayette Community Center is an excellent resource for a variety of classes and camps for all ages, https://www.lafayetterec.org/index2.htm.  They also have a Tot Drop that we personally have used numerous times when we have been in a bind with childcare.  It is great!!!

If you are into the outdoors, the Lafayette Reservoir is a beautiful spot to go for a casual walk with the dog around the 2.5 mile path, a more vigorous hike on the upper trails, a paddle-boat ride or to sit and read a book.  Briones Regional Park also features several trails of varying difficulties that can be accessed off of Happy Valley Road or off of Pleasant Hill Road near Springhill Elementary.

Some of our favorite Lafayette restaurants include:

Chow’s – Family friendly environment

Yankee Pier – High-end seafood cuisine

Metro – Great bar, great apps

Pizza Antica

Mangia

Uncle Yu’s – Chinese cuisine

Amarin Thai

Blue Ginko – Japaneese cuisine

Millie’s - Breakfast

Great nail salons:

Lavande

Pinkie’s