South San Francisco, California

The Lord may have banished man from Eden, but fortunately he only banished the fog from South San Francisco. Nestled in between the gorgeous San Bruno Mountains and the Pacific Coast Range, and facing San Francisco Bay, South San Francisco is a little slice of natural paradise. Aside from experiencing the jaw-dropping vistas, there are plenty of fun things to do.

For starters, why not visit the San Bruno Mountain State Park. With more than 2,326 acres (941 hectares) of rugged trails populated by rare plants and butterflies, a hike through the park will make you feel like you've been transported to an earlier, simpler time – but with a highway conveniently nearby. Or how about sailing on the San Francisco Bay, out of the local marina, the Oyster Point. When you get hungry, stop by the Farmers' Market, and feast on nature's best. With mild winters and breezy summers, there's never really a reason not to enjoy the city's great outdoors; or for the little ones to lounge around the house all day.

Of course, a paradise is more than just sunshine and rainbows. It's also about the people who live in it, and South San Francisco's diverse population means there are always interesting people to be met and new cultures to be discovered. For example, if a trip to Hawaii is a bit out of reach, come stop by at the APOP Hawaiian Culture Center and enjoy the culture of the Hawaiian people for just a fraction of the cost.

If you still can't shake off the big city dreams, just hop on the Bay Area Rapid Transit, and San Fran's only 30 minutes away.

But why would you want to leave paradise in the first place?

See our 11 Jobs in South San Francisco, California