The sprawling San Mateo bridge is one of the lesser known of the 4 bay area bridges.
I love it when an afternoon drive leads you to somewhere completely unexpected.
Last week we took a little drive out to San Mateo, a place I don't often visit. A wrong turn in the car led me to Foster City, a surprising suburb where the houses run along little canals! I guess it is an homage to Venice Beach in LA or something... but somewhat out of place in the otherwise generically suburban neighborhood. Foster City is a creation of the 60's. What used to be a marshland, was subsequently converted into a residential area that has over 16.5 miles of navigable canals! You can read more about it in an article the New York Times ran a few years ago.
I also managed to stumble across a vantage point of the San Mateo bridge that gave me a different perspective on its size. Originally built in 1929, this is the longest bridge in California and the 25th longest bridge in the world. I kinda love the architecture of the rebuilt bridge - true 60's modern style that is both an eye-sore & a delight.
Foster City in San Mateo County boasts a man-made network of blue canals that provide waterfront living for about 30,000 residents.
From this perspective, you can see the long and winding reach of the San Mateo bridge. This is more than 752ft worth of bridge right here!
Windsurfers & kite-surfers delight in the waters of the Bay Area. Don't let the calmness of this pic trick you, the currents are brutal.