Family Farm/Hidden Valley, Woodside

The best word to describe the part of Woodside around Family Farm and what was Hidden Valley Farm may be "bucolic." It is a neighborhood of vineyards, views, walkways and wildlife.

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Eight years ago, Stephanie Harmon moved her family into the Hidden Valley neighborhood from nearby Portola Valley. The Harmons ended up building a new home next to an old established vineyard on a stretch that she describes as "tranquil" yet teaming with coyotes, deer, a bobcat, blue heron and red-tail hawks. Neighbors keep horses in pastures where large polo fields once existed, she says, making the dead-end streets off of Portola Road a peaceful area where older people come from the outside to walk and kids can ride bikes to school, she says.

Ms. Harmon estimates there are about two-dozen houses strung out in the neighborhood. There hasn't been much turnover, but when there is, younger families are moving into the homes. Everyone in the community is linked through e-mail. The subject might be something as simple as figuring out who is putting on the annual Christmas party.

Patty Martin is on that e-mail distribution list because her family bought a property there 12 years ago, and co-joined it with another large lot at the top of the hill rising up from the Family Farm. "You get beautiful views," she says, referring to her overlook of both the Western Hills and Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.

Her husband, Eff, says they were living in Atherton and hadn't planned on moving, but "fell in love with the natural beauty."

On any given day, Mr. Martin counts up to 15 deer on their 15 acres, and is delighted to share the land with them. He welcomes the Family Farm as a "quasi open space buffer." Stone pillars at the entrance to the neighborhood set off the farm. More than a century ago, the private men's club featured much activity at its lodges, cabins and stages tucked into the woods. The club now keeps a fairly low profile.

The Martins don't have many neighbors because the homes are rather spread out, but they say they feel close to the ones they do have. They mingle when the neighbors horseback ride on the trail along their property, see them at restaurants, or at dinner parties they throw just to get together.

"The people are very friendly here; there seems to be a lot of esprit de corps," Mr. Martin observes.

"I really love it out here, it's very beautiful and a great antidote to the stress of life in the Bay Area."

-- Kate Daly