Wilder is nestled in a secluded valley within the city limits of Orinda. Located just off Gateway Boulevard (the second exit east of the Caldecott Tunnel), it’s an easy 30-minute drive to San Francisco, and less than that if you take Bay Area Rapid Transit from the Orinda station.

But when we say “close,” we mean more than “convenient.” A home in Wilder makes you feel closer to the earth and the spectacular natural beauty of Contra Costa County. It’s a comfortable environment, made even more so by the remarkably mild climate. And everything that Orinda has to offer – the shops, parks, concerts, cafes, the outstanding public schools and the inimitable small-town atmosphere – is minutes away.

Wilder comprises about 1,600 acres of the Gateway Valley. If you were to walk from one end to the other, you would pass through four or five distinct ecosystems. From rocky ridges to lush lowlands. Over creeks. Across meadows of tall grass and California poppies. Through stands of oak and bay. There’s an equally diverse community of wildlife here, including deer, wild turkeys, barn owls, foxes, rabbits and field mice. Our onsite biologist has even spotted bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Wilder’s plans call for the vast majority of this land – about 1,300 acres – to be preserved and restored as native and recreational open space. So Wilder residents and visitors alike will continue to benefit from this extraordinary natural habitat.

Walk around downtown Orinda and you begin to understand the attraction of this charming small town, situated in the hills east of Berkeley. The climate is temperate. The lifestyle is relaxed and congenial. And the sidewalks are full of shoppers, diners, moviegoers and iced-latte-drinkers. There are concerts in the summer at Orinda Community Center Park. Soccer matches, swim meets and other activities for kids. In fact, Orinda is home to one of the top-ranked swim clubs in the nation. And let’s not forget Cal Shakes, the open-air Shakespeare theater that has earned international acclaim. All told, Orinda is a great place to call your home town.

In a way, Orinda is a place with feet comfortably planted in two different worlds. It’s rooted in an era of ranchos and rural farmlands, but with a BART stop that can whisk you right into downtown San Francisco.

If you talk to people who live in Orinda, you’ll find that many of them moved here primarily to get their kids into Orinda’s public schools. The schools here are consistently ranked among the best in California. (For example, two Orinda elementary schools were recently recognized as California Distinguished Schools.) Local festivals tend to have an educational bent, such as the Orinda Film Festival and Orinda Idol, which spotlights talented young vocalists. Public education is supported by the entire community, from very-involved parents to generous local businesses. And, yes, all children living in Wilder will be eligible to attend Orinda schools.