Seniors Settle Into Belmont

A while back I wrote a blog on Belmont, Massachusetts, sent a copy to the mayor of the city as I usually do, and inadvertently sent the same on to the mayor of Belmont, California.  He was very nice and sent a note back complimenting me on our blog. He stated that he would be very pleased if we would consider writing an article on his town as folks there are very proud of what they have to offer as well. So here it is, senior friends, Belmont, California.

I discovered that Belmont is a rather affluent city in San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area.  With a population of around 26,000, Belmont is known for its wooded hills, scenic views of the San Francisco Bay and wide stretches of open space.

This quiet residential community is in the midst of the culturally and technologically rich Bay Area, with a good number of parks: Twin Pines Park, Waterdog Lake Open Space, Semeria Park and Davey Glen Park.

Seniors Find Smoking Ordinance

I would guess that the Mayor has something to do with the fact that Belmont attracted national attention for a smoking ordinance passed in January 2009. It  bans smoking in all businesses and multi-story apartments and condominiums; the ordinance has been described as one of the strictest in the nation. How about that?

There is a lot of history in Belmont and this link has interesting “Then & Now Photos” that highlight the Historical Hot-Spots in town.  I discovered that the famous “Waterdog Lake” is located in the foothills and highlands of Belmont.

The town’s name is most likely derived from the Italian “bel monte,” meaning “beautiful mountain.” It was allegedly named such because of its “symmetrically rounded eminence” nearby. Others think it’s from French (“bel mont”). You choose.

Seniors Enjoy Historic Mansion

These seniors would enjoy visiting Ralston Hall, a historic landmark built by Bank of California founder, William Chapman Ralston. It is located on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University and was built in the 1860′s around a villa formerly owned by Count Cipriani, an Italian aristocrat.

The restored mansion features a hall of mirrors, a grand staircase, crystal chandeliers, a ballroom and an impressive collection of 19th Century antiques. After that visit, I would want her to accompany me over to the the Belmont Historical Society Museum at the Twin Pines Art Center.

Senior readers can enjoy the local Chamber of Commerce site and their video on Belmont. The Dining Guide link is neat as you can flip through pages to search out your palate’s delight. The new Belmont Map and Community Services highlights the amenities that Belmont has to offer senior visitors.  So set your GPS for Belmont and greet the Mayor for me. -jeb