lemiThe land of the free—for good reason! Home to some of the world’s most famous landscapes, cityscapes, and great escapes
24 Hours in Silicon Valley
San Jose, Fremont
Silicon Valley is a buzzing hub of tech corporations and venture capitalist firms. Here, each day promises the idealization of new ideas, the closing of million dollar deals, and the rise and fall of visionaries. Investors, entrepreneurs, and engineers come and go into the vicinity to witness and take part in all of the action. Sometimes, they’re only here for a few hours; so it’s a good thing that the locale is rich with activities. Wherever you are in The Valley, here are our picks to keep you busy in between meetings!
2
The academic base of Silicon Valley, Stanford University nurtures future innovators and progressive ideas. Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google), Elon Musk (Tesla Motors and SpaceX), and Peter Thiel (PayPal) join the list of alumni geniuses. Put yourself in their shoes by walking the grounds as they did! For a quick lesson on campus highlights, join a one-hour tour at 11:30 AM or 3:30 PM every day; or wander on your own to unearth a few insider secrets. We suggest trying to look for steam tunnel entrance near the Old Quad!
- +14086507232300
450 Serra Mall, Stanford, California, USA
- http://www.visit.stanford.edu
2
Catch a glimpse of the Google lifestyle at the infotech giant’s Mountain View headquarters. The massive campus is open to the public, with the exception of the actual offices. That said, you are allowed to enter some of the building lobbies, like the main one which features a wall that displays searches made in real-time from around the world! Explore the area to encounter multicolor Gbikes, Android statues, and busts of important role models. Remember to say hi to Stan, the famous T-Rex installation, and his flamingo friends!
- +1 650 253 0000
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California, USA
- http://www.careers.google.com/locations/mountain-view/
Try gadgets a-plenty at b8ta, a retail store selling the latest tech products! Their catalog even includes gizmos by up-and-coming startups, as well as products only typically sold online. Everything is displayed out of their packaging, encouraging customers to test them. A digital screen beside each item tells you how it works; but go ahead and ask any of the staffers to demonstrate it for you. They’ve been trained by the manufacturers themselves!
- +1 408 915 6362
Santana Row, 333 Santana Row, Suite 1115, San Jose, California, USA
- https://www.b8ta.com/
2
LUNA Mexican Kitchen’s high-brow Mexican fares have earned it a Bib Gourmand distinction from the 2019 Michelin Guide. As soon as you enter, the waft of fresh, hand-made corn tortillas and chips welcome you to the colorful dining room! Rooted in its philosophy of local, unrefined, natural, and authentic (hence, “LUNA”) cooking, the restaurant’s menu features dishes that are made from scratch without artificial ingredients. Order the fire-roasted chile relleno (stuffed chili), which is stuffed with beef stew, then deep-fried to perfection!
- +1 408 320 2654
1495 The Alameda, San Jose, California, USA
- https://www.lunamexicankitchen.com/
2
Detox from the hustle of Silicon Valley at Filoli, an architectural and gardening gem in Woodside. The 654-acre estate boasts a stately red-brick country house that draws inspiration from European and Asian design. Encounter opulent bed chambers, polished ballrooms, and elaborate bathrooms as you move from room to room. Outside, a well-manicured garden awaits to spoil your senses with a variety of colors and smells. A stroll along the grounds is just what you need to forget about business for a while!
- +1 650 364 8300
86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California, USA
- https://www.filoli.org/
Drop by the Tesla Motors Showroom to see the brand’s famous electric cars up close! Learn more about their range of models from the friendly staff. They just might convince you to take one home! For those who want to take the vehicles out for a spin, just schedule a free test drive before you visit. Just note that you must be over 25 years old and a US driver’s license holder to get behind the wheel.
- +1 408 249 2815
333 Santana Row, Suite 1015, San Jose, California, USA
- https://www.tesla.com/
In 1885, Sarah Winchester moved to San Jose, California and began constructing the Winchester Mystery House. It was believed that she did it to appease the spirits of those whose lives were taken by Winchester rifles. At the turn of the century, the mansion stood at seven stories, with 161 rooms, 10,000 windows, three elevators, two basements, and endless architectural oddities! Tour the ghost house and notice staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open to blank walls, and multiple secret passages.
- +1 408 247 2000
525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, California, USA
- https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/
The illuminated brick wall stocked with bottles of alcohol tells you that Paper Plane takes their booze seriously. Beyond their signature cocktails (which includes classic and innovative mixes), the casual bar’s menu also includes aged barrel cocktails, seasonal punches on draught kegs, and a selection of beers! To help you choose the night’s tipple, they have a graph detailing the drinkability of each beverage, ranging from easy sipping to wild.
- +1 408 713 2625
72 South First Street, San Jose, California, USA
- https://www.paperplanesj.com/
About United States
