I spent a week based in Menlo Park, a city located just 30 miles south of San Francisco, which is an excellent base to explore the attractions of Silicon Valley. The valley runs south east along San Francisco Bay and includes the cities of Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino, Santa Clara and San Jose. The area earned its name thanks to the silicon semiconductor devices, which were first manufactured in Mountain View in the 1950s. Since then, the valley has seen the birth of many tech giants, such as Meta, Apple and Google.
How to get to Silicon Valley
There are two international airports serving Silicon Valley; San Francisco International Airport to the north and San Jose International Airport to the south.
There are three main highways through the valley; The US 101 runs along the east coast and the US 280 runs along the west of the valley. El Camino Real runs through the middle and is lined with shops, restaurants and hotels.
Getting around Silicon Valley
Much of my itinerary can be followed by walking and/or cycling. For longer journeys, we used the Caltrain, which runs for around 80 miles, from San Francisco in the north, culminating in Gilroy.
Where to stay in Silicon Valley
We stayed at Menlo Park Inn, which is a fairly typical American motel. It is clean and comfortable. The rooms are spacious and there is a complementary breakfast.
Silicon Valley 1 Week Itinerary
| Day 1 | Palo Alto Elizabeth F Gamble Garden Hewlett Packard Garage Downtown Palo Alto Lunch at Oren’s Hummus Baylands Nature Preserve Dinner at Curry Pizza House Accommodation – Menlo Park Inn |
| Day 2 | Stanford University Main Quad Stanford Memorial Church Hoover Tower Stanford Bookstore Lunch at Tresidder Memorial Union Cantor Arts Center The Anderson Collection Dinner at Araki Sushi |
| Day 3 | Palo Alto Stanford Shopping Center Lunch at Boichik Bagels Stanford Dish Dinner from La Hacienda |
| Day 4 | San Jose Brunch at Coupa Cafe Caltrain to San Jose SAP Center San Jose Sharks Ice Hockey Downtown San Jose Dinner at San Pedro Square Market |
| Day 5 | San Fransisco Caltrain to San Francisco San Francisco Bay Trail Oracle Park Rincon Park Ferry Building Pier 39 Lunch at Boudin Ghirardelli Square Dinner at Gott’s |
| Day 6 | Menlo Park Meta Headquarters Burgess Park Menlo Park Gates Downtown Menlo Park Dinner at Neighborhood Pizza Guy |
| Day 7 | Silicon Valley Brunch at Crepevine Mountain View Googleplex Shoreline Park Cupertino Apple Park Dinner at Lazy Dog |
Day 1 – Palo Alto
Elizabeth F Gamble Garden
Palo Alto is the home of Stanford University, which is ranked as one of the world’s top universities. Many people have moved here to study at this prestigious university. We start our tour at the home of one such family at the Elizabeth F Gamble Garden. Elizabeth’s grandfather was a soap maker and co-founder of Proctor & Gamble. Her family moved to Palo Alto in 1901 so her brothers could attend Stanford. Meanwhile, Elizabeth focused her attention on her beloved garden.
The garden is usually free to enter. We visited during the Winter Festival when entry cost $5 which included a raffle ticket.
Hewlett Packard Garage
Palo Alto is renowned for being the birthplace of many tech companies. At 367 Addison Avenue, you can see the garage attached to the former home of Dave Packard. It was here, in 1939, that computer giant Hewlett Packard was born. The building isn’t open to the public but there is a plaque telling the history of the garage, which can be glimpsed through the gates.
Downtown Palo Alto
After a wander round the garden, we continue into town for lunch. Downtown Palo Alto is lined with shops as well as a large variety of bars and restaurants. It’s an interesting place to take a wander, browse the stores and maybe stop for refreshments. There is also Stanford Theatre; a cinema which dates from the 1920s and shows old movies.
Lunch at Oren’s Hummus
We choose Oren’s Hummus for lunch and order a selection of dips and sides, including hummus, of course. All very tasty – I certainly won’t be troubled by vampires any time soon!
Baylands Nature Preserve
Baylands Nature Preserve is a 1940 acre of wetlands bordering San Francisco Bay. A series of trails provide stunning views and the opportunity to spot plenty of wildlife.
This is also the location of Byxbee parkrun. You can read more about my visit to Byxbee parkrun here.
Dinner at Curry Pizza House
We round the day off by returning downtown, where there are a host of great restaurants. Curry Pizza House, as the name suggests, embraces fusion cuisine with pizzas with curry toppings. We choose half and half; one side aloo gobi and the other palak paneer.
Accommodation – Menlo Park Inn
Accommodation in Silicon Valley can be expensive. We stayed at Menlo Park Inn, which is is conveniently located on the main road through the valley (El Camino Real) close to shops, restaurants and Menlo Park Station. This motel style property has large, extremely clean and comfortable rooms. The price includes parking, wifi and breakfast.
Day 2 – Stanford University
Today we’re going to Stanford University. You are free to wander round the university’s enormous grounds. The campus is enormous, spanning a total of 8180 acres, which includes a total of 49 miles of roads!
The university dates back to 1885, when railroad magnate Leland and wife Jane Stanford, who had lost their only child (Leland Jr) the previous year, decided to honour their son’s memory by turning their cattle ranch into a university. Thus, in 1891, Leland Stanford Junior University opened for business.
Main Quad
The oldest part of campus is the palm lined Main Quad, which consists of a courtyard with ornate covered walkways and twelve connected buildings.
Stanford Memorial Church
The focal point of the Quad is Stanford Memorial Church, commissioned by Jane as a memorial to her husband, who died in 1893. Its ornate design was inspired by the couple’s travels round Europe.
The interior is intricately decorated with stained glass windows and mosaics.
Hoover Tower
The 87 metre tall Hoover Tower dominates the Stanford skyline. It was built in 1941, inspired by a Spanish cathedral, and is home to the Hoover Institute. One of the first graduates of Stanford, in 1895, was Herbert Hoover, who went on to become the 31st US President. He amassed a large collection of documents relating to 20th Century history, which he donated to his alma mater.
The first nine floors of the tower house this collection. My favourites are the collection of political propaganda posters.
Above, is an observation deck which provides spectacular views across Stanford to San Francisco Bay.
The Tower is open daily during term time from 10 am until 4 pm (excluding the days of home football fixtures). Entry for visitors costs $8.
Stanford Bookstore
The title ‘bookstore’ doesn’t really adequately describe this place. The 4 storey warehouse contains pretty much any item you can imagine (and plenty more) with a Stanford logo added. The range of goods available – and the prices – always make us giggle.
It’s the place to go if you have bags of cash and want to dress your baby as a football or your dog as a cheerleader…
Lunch at Tresidder Memorial Union
We go for lunch in the Tresidder Union; This food court has a number of outlets. I opt for stir fry tofu and chow mein from Panda Express.
While we wait, I am enthralled by the construction of a gingerbread house. And not a fake gingerbread house, it’s all real – a man is piping cherry flavoured icing along the roof while a woman sticks gingerbread men (in Stanford colours, of course) to the walls.
Cantor Arts Center
Stanford is so huge that it boasts not one, but two art galleries; Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection. The Cantor Arts Center first opened in 1894 as the Leland Stanford Junior Museum; a museum created by Leland and Jane Stanford to remember their dead son, who had been an avid collector.
Having succumbed to damage in three earthquakes, the museum was rebuilt and reopened as the Cantor Arts Center in 1999. Nowadays, it contains over 38,000 pieces of art and artifacts from around the world, including one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris.
There is still a room – The Melancholy Museum – dedicated to Leland Stanford Jr and his collections.
Sculpture Park
Outside is a Sculpture Park with a range of sculptures, including several by Rodin.
Even the bike parks are art.
The Cantor Arts Center is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am (10 am at weekends) until at least 5 pm. Entry is free.
The Anderson Collection
Next door is another gallery, this one focusing on Modern American Art; The Anderson Collection.
The Anderson Collection is also free to enter and is open between Wednesday and Sunday from 11 am until 5 pm.
Dinner at Araki Sushi
We dine at Araki Sushi; vegetable gyoza and sushi filled with sweet potato, mango, asparagus and onion tempura. We order tofu too, which the menu describes as being topped with bonito flakes. As the rest of our order is vegetarian, the chef improvises and tops ours with crushed nuts instead. Which leaves daughter No 2 with rather a lot of tofu to work her way through…
Day 3 – Palo Alto
Stanford Shopping Center
Next to Stanford campus is Stanford Shopping Center. It has over 140 stores, including some large department stores (Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nieman Marcus) plus smaller shops, a nice farmers market grocery store and a choice of dining options.
It’s a nice mall, but to be honest, it’s a bit upmarket for us. Daughter No 2 wanted to buy some Christmas wrapping paper, but this is the sort of place where gifts are wrapped for you. So, we make do with some window shopping.
Lunch at Boichik Bagels
Jut along El Camino Real is another mall, Town & Country Village, with a great range of dining options. We have lunch at Boichik Bagels, where they sell amazing bagels. I opt for a salt & pepper bagel with chilli cream cheese and red onion; almost worth running up a mountain for!
Stanford Dish
The Stanford Dish is actually a radio telescope, set on a hill overlooking campus. A 3.5 mile trail takes you in a circle up to the dish (focus on the word up) and back down. In addition to housing the dish, the surrounding area also acts as a nature reserve.
It’s hard work climbing the hill, especially as I’m supposed to be running. But we (I) make it to the top, and after the obligatory photo stop, we descend the other side.
As if my heart wasn’t already beating fast enough, on our return, we spot a coyote near the path!
Dinner from La Hacienda
Today, we have a more gentle day lined up. First, a walk to the nearby Mexican grocery store, La Hacienda, for provisions. As well as selling groceries, there is a very popular counter to the rear where you can order typical Mexican food, such as burritos, tacos etc.
Day 4 – San Jose
Today, we’re going to Silicon Valley’s largest city and the third largest city in California – San Jose. The main purpose of our visit is to watch the San Jose Sharks Ice Hockey team in action. Winter sports aren’t really something you would link with sunny California. Which may explain why the San Jose Sharks are bottom of the NHL league and rarely win a match, but we’re looking forward to it all the same.
Breakfast at Coupa Cafe
First, a walk to the station, stopping at Coupa Cafe for breakfast tacos.
Caltrain to San Jose
Then we catch the Caltrain to San Jose. The journey from Menlo Park to San Jose takes 31 minutes. The SAP Arena is a 5 minute walk from San Jose Diridon Station.
SAP Center
Wevwalk from the station to the SAP Center. This arena is the home of San Jose Sharks. In addition, the venue is used for concerts and other events.
We visited in December, when then were busy building a Christmas tree out of whiskey bottles.
Whilst in San Jose, we tried our hand at something completely different – yoga on ice. Inside the arena, beneath the huge neon sign welcoming us, we descend onto the ice. I wasn’t quite sure what yoga on ice would entail (I had visions of trying to execute a tree pose in ice skates) but am a little disappointed to find there is no ice visible at all.
The entire rink is covered in foam mats. I’ve done yoga before, but this is a much more intense class. Not long after we’ve started, I’m stripping off layers and sweating profusely despite the fact I’m lying on actual ice.
Some of the moves are a bit much for me and I make do with photographing daughter no 2 in action instead.
San Jose Sharks Ice Hockey
We also can’t resist going to watch an ice hockey match. Today is a special day, as the club commentator has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. To commemorate this achievement, all today’s spectators are given a towel with his face on.
After a run-in with the club’s mascot, Sharkie and purchasing the obligatory fridge magnet, we take our seats with daughter No 2’s friend, who works for the Sharks.
The friend has brought us shirts so we can look the part.
Before the match, the team arrives through the mouth of a shark. I suggest that the opposition should come onto the ice through a shark’s arse, but apparently this isn’t the image the club is looking to portray!
Next comes all the pomp of the National Anthems.
Then the match begins. It starts well with sharks going 2-0 up. Apparently, if they score 4 goals, everyone in the stadium gets 4 free tacos from Taco Bell. And if they score 3 goals, the chants in stadium turn from ‘Let’s go Sharks’ to ‘We want tacos’.
Unfortunately, it’s not to be and the opposition score twice to equalise. We have to make do with purchasing tacos from a food stall in the interval.
The match comes to an exciting climax as it can’t end in a draw; following a period of extra time, comes the nail biting penalty shootout. The Sharks are finally defeated after 6 rounds of penalties. Such a great afternoon of entertainment,
Downtown San Jose
We head back into Downtown San Jose, which has plenty of colourful murals on display.
Dinner at San Pedro Square Market
We dine at the bustling San Pedro Square Market. We visit Voyager Craft Coffee, which offers a menu of around a gazillion different coffees. Who knew you could do so many things with coffee? Personally, I hate coffee, so opt instead for strawberry lemonade.
Day 5 – San Francisco
Today, we’re taking the train 30 miles north to San Francisco. First, breakfast – strawberry cream cheese on toast. I’ve never understood why fruity cream cheese hasn’t caught on in the UK?
Caltrain to San Francisco
Then, the 30 minute walk to the station to take the Caltrain to San Francisco Station. For a Brit, it’s a novelty sitting upstairs on the double decker train, but it’s a pain when the ticket inspector arrives. She has no intention of troubling herself with stairs, so tickets and phones must be dangled over the railings for checking.
San Francisco Bay Trail
The Caltrain takes 70 minutes to reach San Francisco and terminates some way from our ultimate goal; the tourist Mecca of Pier 39 – even though l’ve visited San Francisco many times, I can’t resist a visit to this shop lined pier with its sea lion neighbours. So, we take a 3 mile walk along the San Francisco Bay Trail, past numerous piers.
Oracle Park
Starting at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
Rincon Park
On through Rincon Park, dominated by the huge Cupid’s Span sculpture.
Ferry Building
The Ferry Building dates back to 1898. At its peak in the 1930s, it was the second busiest travel hub in the world, shuttling over 50,000 people to and from San Francisco every day. After the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1936/1937, there was a huge drop in ferry passenger numbers and the building was repurposed as a Marketplace.
Pier 39
Then we walk on past all the odd number piers from 1 until we reach Pier 39. Of all San Francisco’s piers, Pier 39 is the most famous. You can walk along its wooden boardwalk past touristy shops and restaurants to a viewing platform at the end.
On the northern edge of the pier are pontoons where you can watch sea lions basking in the sunshine.
Lunch at Boudin
After an obligatory visit to the sea lions, we continue to another San Francisco icon, Boudin. San Francisco is famous for its clam chowder in a sourdough roll. There are plenty of restaurants offering the dish along the bay, but our favourite is Boudin. This popular bakery has several branches spread around town, but their flagship store is on Fisherman’s Wharf. They also serve chilli and several vegetarian options in their signature sourdough rolls. I usually opt for the rustic tomato soup.
Ghirardelli Square
We round our trip off with a visit to Ghirardelli Square for the equally obligatory chocolate fix. Once the headquarters of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, this former 19th Century factory now houses various food shops and restaurants.
Ghirardelli has 3 outlets in the complex, including the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop, where you can purchase the famous chocolate in many different forms, including bars, cakes, cookies, ice cream and drinks.
We have walked a total of 20,000 steps, so after she is replete with hot chocolate, daughter No 2 takes pity on me and we take an Uber back for dinner and to collapse in a heap.
Dinner at Gott’s
Gott’s is a chain of Californian roadside diners. They are famed for their excellent burgers, but my favourite is the chilli cheese fries.
Day 6 – Menlo Park
This morning, we set off on our morning walk to explore Menlo Park. Claims to fame: the birthplace of Facebook and being one of the most educated cities in the USA – nearly 70% of residents over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Meta Heaquarters
The general public can’t go onto the Meta Headquarters campus, but you can, if you’re so inclined, walk to the end of Hacker Way and take a photo of the Meta sign.
Burgess Park
We walk through Burgess Park; a pretty park with fountains and a duck pond, as well as sports facilities, a library and Senior Center. Daughter No 2 threatens to drop me here and collect me later. It’s a tempting offer…
Menlo Park Gates
On the edge of the park are the Menlo Park Gates. In 1851, two Irish gold miners purchased a tract of land and erected a gate with a wooden arch bearing the inscription Menlo Park at the entrance to their property. This went on to become the name of the town. However, in 1922, the gates were demolished by “two automobiles filled with singing passengers”. Some 90 years later, a replica of the gates was erected somewhere less likely to get run over by rampaging motorists.
Downtown Menlo Park
We wander through Downtown Menlo Park, stopping at a toy store. Menlo Park’s proliferation of educated residents is apparent in this up-market store, where book titles on display include Robotics for Babies, Astrophysics for Babies and Rocket Science for Babies.
In fact, Menlo Park is so up-market, even the goodwill shop is packed with designer labels well out of my price range!
Lunch from Trader Joe’s
After a visit at Trader Joe’s for provisions, we walk back for lunch and a rest.
Dinner at the Neighborhood Pizza Guy
Today’s dinner is from the Neighborhood Pizza Guy. Out of a cafe in Menlo Park (Cafe Zoe), he sells amazingly tasty 16 inch pizzas. We go for soyrizo (vegan chorizo), red onion and biquinho peppers with a garlic Parmesan spread. Very tasty!
Day 7 – Silicon Valley
Today, we are visiting some of the famous tech firms in Silicon Valley. Most of my itinerary can be followed on foot or using public transport, but today really requires a car. Alternatively, there are companies which offer Tech Tours of the Valley. My route consists of around 31 miles of driving.
Brunch at Crepevine
First up, brunch at Crepevine, which, as the name suggests, specialises in pancakes.
Mountain View
Mountain View is the home of Google.
Googleplex
The buildings on the sprawling Google campus, known as Googleplex, may be out of bounds, but anyone is free to walk the grounds. There is a Visitor Centre, which was closed when we visited. The site is dotted with Android Statues, representing each of Google’s operating systems.
In addition, there’s Google’s resident T Rex fossil, Stan.
We (I) can’t resist having a go on the Google liveried office bikes, which are scattered around the campus.
Shoreline Park
Across from Google, you can follow the cascading path towards Shoreline Park, a city park on the edge of San Francisco Bay.
Cupertino
A nine mile drive south brings us to Cupertino, home of Apple Park.
Apple Park
Most of Apple Park is off-limits, but the Apple Park Visitor Center in is open to visitors and offers exclusive souvenirs as well as a range of Apple products.
You can take a lift to a viewing platform to see the Infinite Loop (aka round) headquarters. I attempted to treat myself to a new iPad in the Apple HQ store, but they were out of stock!
Dinner at Lazy Dog
We round our trip off with burgers at Lazy Dog. Then drive back to Menlo Park along El Camino Real, stopping a few times en route for some souvenir shopping.
- Trip taken: December 2023
- Updated: January 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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