Pleasanton Named an L.A. Times `Weekend Escape'

Many Pleasanton residents like living here because of the small-town feel, great schools and easy access to jobs and recreation all around the Bay Area.

Well apparently this lovely city is now being eyed as a vacation spot by residents of SoCal: Pleasanton was recently featured as a "Weekend Escape" in the Los Angeles Times. 

While we certainly can see why the newspaper was so endeared by our town (we're biased of course), it was a little surprising to read that a city of 71,000, located on a major freeway crossroads and home to powerhouse employers including Kaiser, Safeway and Oracle, is described as "off the beaten path for much of the 20th century."

In fact writer Irene Lechowitzky, who lauded the joys of eating at Dean's, RedCoats and Oasis, was reminded of small town New England.

(If you read the article, don't forget to scroll down to the comments below. One writer seems to have mistaken Pleasanton for another city, claiming that the city is not automobile friendly because of all the speed bumps and is home to meth heads and "gang bangers," but other posters make sure to defend Pleasanton's honor.)

Was the L.A. Times' take on Pleasanton spot-on? Would you recommend the town as a great weekend getaway? Tell us in the comments.