Looking to move to the Bay Area? Don’t rule out the city of Livermore. This small East Bay city has come a long way over the years, drawing interested homebuyers to the area. If you work in the East Bay, or want to commute to Silicon Valley without paying an arm and a leg, check out what this city has to offer. Here are five reasons—of many—to move to Livermore.

Wine Country

Vineyard in Livermore

Love good vino? If you’re a sommelier, wine enthusiast, or even a casual vino drinker, you’ll love what Livermore has to offer. Livermore has one major perk going for it when it comes to wine-making, and that’s a unique microclimate. The Livermore Valley produces some of Northern California’s best wine, and there are more than 40 world-class wineries scattered around the city. Whether you’re looking for a vintage winery to do some tasting, or a fancy winery where you can sample wine-and-cheese pairings, Livermore is a great place to be.

Outlet Shopping

Bay Area shopaholics may be most familiar with Livermore because of the Premium Outlet Mall. Packed with shoppers on the weekends, this shopping mall has nearly 200 brands, including Gucci, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ann Taylor, Michael Kors, and more. If shopping is your favorite pastime, you’ll enjoy being close to this outlet mall.

Convenient Location

Traveling in the express lane in Livermore

Livermore is located smack dab in the middle of the East Bay. It’s about a 45-minute drive from San Jose, and plenty of Livermore residents commute to the Silicon Valley on a daily basis. You’ll enjoy proximity to other major employment hubs, such as Oakland and Berkeley, without the hefty price tag of those cities. Livermore is also located right off Highway 580, not far from Highway 680, allowing commuters easy access to the interstate.

Science Central

Believe it or not, Livermore has strong roots in scientific research. The Lawrence Livermore National Lab is located in this city, and during The Cold War, many U.S. nuclear warheads were designed here. The lab also contributed to the sequencing of the human genome, and played a role in helping Al Gore win the Nobel Peace Prize. Livermore is also one of only six cities globally to have an element named after it. Livermorium (a synthetic chemical element) was detected in 2000, and the city will forever go down in history as the inspiration for that name.

Racing, Rodeo, and Disc Golf

Disc Golf Course / Shutterstock

Think Livermore is too quiet to be much fun? Think again. This city offers lots of recreational activities that people come from all over the Bay Area to enjoy. The Umigo racetrack offers go karts that move surprisingly fast, so if you’re in the mood for some high-performance driving, this is the place to go. Livermore is also home to a rodeo that dates back to 1918, when a rodeo took place to help raise money for the Red Cross during World War One. That tradition has lasted to this day. Finally, golfing enthusiasts will be glad to know that Livermore’s nine-hole disc golf course is a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon out in the sun.