Apart from the learning and working hours, it is also important to have some time to relax and absorb the Silicon Valley culture by visiting some of the places that made it an icon of innovation. There are several iconic places to visit and get inspired by those that created the modern technologies. Silicon Valley is also part of the beautiful California with fantastic opportunities to enjoy the nature.
In this article we will conduct you through an inspiring visit of Silicon Valley. Having an opportunity to visit Google, Microsoft and Facebook headquarters is for many people inspiring. There is much more in this free guide to Do-Your-Self tour.
TOUR DURATION: 1 day starting at 8am. Stops are sorted in a specific order to create a one day intensive tour starting at 8 am. You are also welcome to spread the site visits over 2-3 days.
TRANSPORTATION: You can do it by using a Lyft or Uber driver calling the car every stop. Download the Lyft or Uber app, add a credit card, and you are ready to go. A rented car might be challenging for parking.
ADDRESSES: don't forget to download the PDF with all addresses and directions to have in your hand. Get a free copy of the last version using the link at the bottom of this page.
Enjoy!
HP Garage
First stop. HP Garage today stands as the inspiring symbol of innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit, where two college friends, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, first pursued the dream of a company of their own. Guided by an unwavering desire to develop innovative and useful products, the two men went on to blaze a trail at the forefront of the electronics revolution. Before going to visit HP Garage you can learn more about the HP origins reading this article.
On site, don't miss to read the plate with HP founders story.
Facebook sign
Make a stop in front of the Facebook campus in Menlo Park. There is an interesting story behind (literally) the Facebook's sign in front of its campus. Namely, the building where Facebook moved the office was previously owned by Sun Microsystem that was acquired by the Oracle in 2009. Sun was one of the Silicon Valley legend that made the personal computer.
Mark Zuckerberg did not want to replace the Sun Microsystem's sign, but he flipped it over and put the Facebook's sign on the front.
Why he did that? He wanted to keep his employees motivated, as the Sun logo represents what can happen when you are on the top but you fail to innovate.
Oracle
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Redwood Shores, California. The company sells database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products—particularly its own brands of database management systems. The company was founded by three engineers in 1977 under the name Software Development laboratories and changed its name to the Oracle in 1982. After it was publicly traded, in 1987. Oracle was ranked as the world's largest database management company. Continuing to innovate in 2010. they acquired Sun Microsystems becoming the steward of Java. Since 2016. they focused more on supporting startups developing global digital programs. In the last years, they have collaborated with scientific research centers and the biotech industry.
You can drive in front of the Oracle buildings. Eventually stop at Pullman Hotel to enjoy a coffee on the nice terrace with a view of the Redwood Shores and Foster City.
From Oracle, you should drive to the Foster City, a suburb of San Francisco, on the east edge of San Mateo. It was founded in the 1960s on engineered landfill in the marshes of the San Francisco Bay, and named after T.Jack Foster, real estate magnate who owned much of the land comprising the city and who was instrumental in its initial design. It is considered to be a part of the Silicon Valley due to its proximity to Silicon Valley cities, and it is known as one of the best places to live in California. Around 82% of the area is water, and it is a great place to visit.
Google and Googleplex
Take the 101 from Foster City and drive just a few miles south to Mountain View. You will reach the Googleplex a complex of buildings that serves as the headquarters for one of the most powerful companies in the technology industry - the GOOGLE. The word combines Google and complex, but it also represents an enormous number - 10 to the power of googol that is 10100 -- a one followed by 100 zeroes. Google is the most famous internet search engine giant and the fairly massive campus is open to anyone who wants to wander around it. If you want to enter, you need to be escorted by employees. However you can walk outside the buildings and do some other nice things.
One of the most interesting things to see are the Android statues at the Googleplex. They are based on the code names for versions of Google's Android mobile operating system, which are named after desserts and sweet treats. The most recent version of Android statue is located in front of the Googleplex. The other statues are a few blocks away next to the Google Store. This area known as Android Garden is open to Google employees and their guests, and visitors are encouraged to take photos.
The map of the Googleplex you can find here.
Computer History Museum and Self driving car exposition
The Computer History Museum (CHM) with a four-decade history is the world's leading institution exploring the history of computing and its ongoing impact on society. It is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs, and moving images. You can learn about the long history of technology and its impact on the world through several exhibitions: "Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing" (the story of computing), "Make Software: Change the World!" (software impact on the world), "One Word" (advice from the Silicon Valley founders and builders to aspiring entrepreneurs).
Another interesting exhibition since 2014 is "Where To? A History of Autonomous Vehicles" that chronicles the decades-long challenge of bringing self-driving cars to the general public.
Plan your visit and find more information here.
Lunch at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley
One of the iconic places you must visit while being in the Valley is definitely Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, known also as at "Zott's". This is the place where the Internet was born in 1976. Read the story how it happened in this article. The restaurant was recently renovated bringing the 167-year-old institution back to "the best version of itself." Read in this story before visiting the place, but do not miss to try the famous Zott's burgers served on sourdough bread.
Sand Hill Road home of venture capitalists
The Sand Hill Road is an arterial road in western Silicon Valley running through Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Woodside. It is famous for its concentration of venture capitalist firms. Companies such as Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, that invested in Instagram, Airbnb, Facebook, Lyft, and Zynga, among others, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, that invested in Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, Spotify, etc, and many other VCs. The price for the office space at the Sand Hill Road is beating Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Some are also calling it as the "Wall Street of the West Coast". While driving around, one of the restaurants you can stop by for a coffee and nice view is at the Rosewood Hotel - meeting spot for local investors.
Stanford Campus
Stanford University is one of the leading private universities in the world, founded in 1885. Once you are in the Valley, do not miss to have a unique experience of walking around the Stanford campus and be guided by its students. Do not miss to visit historic Main Quad or the new Science and Engineering Quad, which beautifully incorporates modern and technological elements with timeless, elegant aesthetics and an abundance of outdoor space. The panoramic view from the Hoover Tower is breathtaking. If you are interested in art, there are two districts - the Cantor Art Center and the Anderson Collection. If you are interested in sports, you should not miss visiting the Home of Champions. You will also have a chance to enjoy the meal at one of many campus eateries or dining halls.
Have a look at the virtual tour and get introduced to the Stanford campus.
Account 2-4 hours to visit the Stanford campus.
Intel Museum
Intel is one of the first companies founded in Silicon Valley. You should not miss visiting the interactive Intel Museum where you can learn more about the tech world history.
Apple Park Visitor Center
Apple's visitor center is located just across the street from its new private spaceship campus, where the headquarters are based. With its continuous architecture, it offers a place to explore and shop at the Apple Store that features items you can't find anywhere else. Apart from the exclusive Apple - and Apple park - branded merchandise, the Store hosts Apple sessions and events.
Dinner at Buck's
Have a dinner or a breakfast at Buck's of Woodside (lunch is a pretty busy time here!). Before going to the Buck's, you should read Tech Republic article, Wall Street Journal article or Business Insider. Several companies somehow where funded at Buck's that hosted the first meetings between funders and investors. This and many other things make Buck's so iconic
Other inspiring visits
Great place for the evening is Sports Page in Mountain View where the Google's team celebrated their success!Other interesting places are:
- Red Rook Cafe in Mountain View - with its chilled and relaxed atmosphere it is a great place for studying, meeting up or hacking code.
- Philz Coffee - famous on their specially crafted coffee. Several locations.
- Hana House - Palo Alto, cafe created by German tech giant SAP that connects people by offering a space where they can meet, interact, explore new ideas, and bring them to life.
- Cafe Venetia - that brings the Italian spirit to the Silicon Valley. Meeting spot of local investors.
- Coupa Cafe - one of the favored meeting spot for entrepreneurs. Two locations: downtown Palo Alto and in Eng. Quad of Stanford University (other corners in Stanford too).
Download addresses and directions
Download a PDF with all addresses and details mentioned in this free guide. Click Here
How to get more
This free tour is brought to you with the support of the TVLP Institute to offer a cost-saving alternative to commercial-tours for entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts. Before exploring the Silicon Valley you should have in mind that TVLP Institute includes in its programs most of the above visits as an opportunity to relax, take a break from classes and hear about Silicon Valley mindset from guest speakers including venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.If 'just touring' is not enough for you and you prefer having business meetings and learn from the inside, consider to apply to one of the TVLP Institute programs. You will attend classes, mentoring labs, networking events and much more. www.tvlp.co
Ph.credit: Wikipedia, Fotinakis
