Mountain View (California) - Wikitravel

Mountain View (California)

Contents

• 1 Understand
• 2 Get in
  • 2.1 By air
  • 2.2 By train
  • 2.3 By bus
• 3 Get around
• 4 See
• 5 Do
• 6 Buy
• 7 Eat
  • 7.1 Budget
  • 7.2 Midrange
  • 7.3 Splurge
• 8 Drink
• 9 Sleep
• 10 Stay safe
• 11 Learn
• 12 Get out

Mountain View [1] in California is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

Understand[edit]

Mountain View is a mid-size city at the heart of Silicon Valley, hosting the headquarters of a number of notable tech companies--Google, Symantec, Intuit, LinkedIn, among others.

Shockley Semiconductor, the first high-tech company to establish itself the region, began research and manufacturing operations in Mountain View in 1956. For this reason, Mountain View is often considered the 'Birthplace of Silicon Valley.'

Mountain View's history prior to the mid-20th century is dominated by agriculture; in fact, much of the city's infrastructure (roads, parks, etc.) bears the names of wealthy families who owned farms and orchards throughout the now-densely urbanized city.

Silicon Graphics, one of the early pioneers in the graphical processing hardware industry, was headquartered in Mountain View before it was sold and later relocated in the early 2000s.

Once a small startup with a nondescript office along Charleston Blvd., Google has since grown to dominate Mountain View's corporate ecosystem. Google tests many of its experimental technologies within the city limits, and self-driving cars maneuvering about on test drives are a common sight along city streets.

Get in[edit]

By air[edit]

Mountain View is reachable from all three Bay Area airports:

• San Francisco: Take a short ride on the BART train to Millbrae station, then take Caltrain southbound service.
• San Jose: Take a free shuttle to Caltrain's Santa Clara station and then take the northbound train service. Also, you can take a free shuttle to the VTA Metro/Airport station and take the VTA light rail.
• Oakland: Take a shuttle van service. This is the least desirable of the three airports in terms of distance. You can also take a shuttle to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station, take BART to Millbrae station, then take Caltrain southbound.

By train[edit]

Caltrain, the area's local commuter train, connects Mountain View to a number of neighboring cities, including San Francisco and San Jose at its North terminus and South terminus. Caltrain stops twice in Mountain View: once at San Antonio Station, and once at the Downtown Mountain View Station. Service to the former is limited during peak commute hours. Caltrain adult day passes range in price from US$7.50 to $21.00, depending on the desired destination(s). A discount exists for youth and senior passengers.

Amtrak and its service to destinations across the state can be accessed via San Jose Diridon Station. A Caltrain trip from Mountain View to San Jose Diridon Station takes about a half hour.

There is also a VTA light rail service that connects downtown to several suburb locations in the South Bay. Light rail has stops in Downtown Mountain View, the Whisman neighborhood of Mountain View, and along Middlefield Road in the North of town. VTA light rail can also be used to connect to the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train (to Sacramento) in Santa Clara.

BART is the Bay Area's subway system, though there are no stops in Mountain View. BART can be accessed by taking Caltrain North to Millbrae, or by taking Caltrain south to San Jose and then taking the bus to Berryessa BART station.

By bus[edit]

VTA lines 21, 22, 40, 51, 52, and 522 stop in Mountain View. One-way fare is $2.00 for adults. Bus service can charitably be described as "sporadic." The Mountain View Community Shuttle is independent of VTA (the regional transit authority) and has no fare.

Get around[edit]

Mountain View is served by VTA bus in addition to the Mountain View Community Shuttle. Coverage is sparse and trips are relatively infrequent, so ridesharing services (Uber, Lyft) may be your best bet for travel around the area.

The whole city and downtown core in particular are pretty easily walkable.

See[edit]

• Computer History Museum, 1401 N Shoreline Blvd (near Highway 101), ☎ +1-650-810-1010, [x]. W-Su 10-5. Arguably the world's largest and most complete computer history museum, documenting the area's primary industry. Hosts a remarkably expansive and diverse collection of computing artifacts from the earliest days of computation to the contemporary era. Its flagship exhibit, 'Revolution,' allows visitors to interact with the first 10,000 years of computational devices--from the abacus and the difference engine to the Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, and beyond. Tours of a functional DEC PDP-1 computer from 1959 are available on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. $15.

• Castro Street. Castro Street is a charming district full of diversity and interesting local businesses. Although there is a strong Asian presence among restaurants and shops, many different cultures are represented along these blocks. There is a weekly farmer's market and on certain Thursdays it is home to a great street fair with vendors and a classic car show. Coffee and boba shops lining Castro Street are popular hangouts for students and tech workers. Also convenient access from public transportation by way of several trains and buses. If you live near this area or in most of Mountain View, Google provides free Wi-Fi internet all over.

• Google Headquarters, 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy. Drive around the large campus of buildings to see where all the geeks work. Make sure to take a picture in front of the huge Android statue at Building 44 (1635 Charleston Road). The campus is well-landscaped and remarkably picturesque. Enthusiasts of Modernist Architecture will appreciate the glimmering glass exteriors of the many buildings throughout the campus. Great place to go cycling, running or nature-watching.

• Shoreline Wildlife Refuge Area and Trail, In Shoreline Park at the end of Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, ☎ 650.903.6392, [x]. Once the site for dumping trash, Mountain View closed this area as a dump and turned it into a park instead. Now it's a beautiful 700-acre park with a saltwater lake, golf course, rolling grassy hills, and bay trails. Two restaurants provide wonderful views of the surrounding landscape.

• Mountain Bay Plaza, 444 Castro St.. The tallest building in the San Francisco Bay Area outside the three major cities (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland). Marks the center of the Downtown district.

• Pacific Press Campus, 1390 Villa St.. Historic 1904 campus of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, which published one of the region's first newspapers in the early 1900s. Beautiful Spanish architecture surrounded by trees and greenery. The campus is now occupied by Google.

• City Hall, Pioneer Park, and Mountain View Library, 1146 Church St.. Three landmarks occupying the same plot of land in the center of downtown. Pioneer Park marks the 'focal point' of the Mountain View urbanscape and is populated by greenery and trees endemic to the region. A rock garden gifted by Mountain View's sister city of Iwata, Japan is located here.

Do[edit]

• Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Parkway (Off Shoreline Boulevard near Highway 101), ☎ 1-650-967-3000, [x]. Outdoor concert venue with huge tent cover, location for many large Bay Area concerts as well as community events.

• Century Cinemas 16, 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., ☎ +1-650-960-0970. Large movie theater with ample parking showing recent big movies.

• ICON Theatre, 2575 California St. Recently built movie theater with a modern-looking glass facade and sophisticated interior.

• Shoreline Aquatic Center, 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd (in Shoreline Regional Park at the end of Shoreline Blvd), ☎ +1-650-965-7474, [x]. Water sports center with boating, windsurfing, and other aquatic activities. Equipment rental available.

• Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Features performances from regional artists and musicians and hosts a variety of theatrical productions.

• Go to the Farmer's Market [2] on Sunday mornings.

• NASA Ames Research Center and Wind Tunnel, Moffett Federal Airfield, off Highway 101, Mountain View; visitor Center, ☎ 650.604.6497. Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm. Founded in 1939, Ames Research Center has evolved into one of the nation’s premier research labs. Ames provides the products, technologies and services that enable NASA missions and expand human knowledge. The wind tunnel located here is the largest in the world and is where NASA tests large subsonic crafts. The mammoth World War II-era Hangar One is visible from Highway 101 and is one of the world's largest freestanding structures.

• Reach new heights and go Kite Surfing, where the wind in Mountain View is free! Go here to check it out: Shoreline Park at Mountain View, 3070 N. Shoreline Blvd.

• Stevens and Permanente Creek Trails, [x]. Walk, jog, or bike along Mountain View's scenic bike and pedestrian trails. Stevens Creek Trail runs along a small creek into the Stevens Creek Shoreline Preserve. Unique scenery include a tree farm, the Google complex, Moffett Field, and an open space preserve. Permanente Creek Trail connects Middlefield Road with Shoreline Park and the Google complex. Both trails connect to the Bay Trail which extends from Sunnyvale to the Baylands Park in Palo Alto.

• Arisa Thai Massage, 4546 El Camino Real Suite 202, Los Altos, CA, ☎ (408)663-8070, [x]. Known for their signature massage combining Thai, Swedish, and Deep Tissue modalities. Located in the rustic Village Court Shopping Plaza near Chef Chu’s. The studio is quaint and private - perfect for couples. massage sessions starting at $85/hr.

Buy[edit]

Mountain View is the home of many big box stores including REI, Best Buy, Ross, and Costco near the Hwy 101 Rengstorff exit and Walmart, Target, and Safeway in the San Antonio shopping center.

Eat[edit]

Aside from the usual suspects of chain eateries and fast-food fare that dot virtually every city in the area, Mountain View is unique for its sheer density of delicious eateries and restaurants. Many restaurants line the Castro St. downtown strip, though good food is abundant throughout the city. Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai food are among the most common cuisines.

Budget[edit]

• Zareen's, (North Shoreline Boulevard). Indian and Pakistani restaurant serving both delicious traditional fare and Western-influenced dishes; without a doubt one of the best eateries in the city. Creatively decorated and cheerfully-lit interior, though indoor seating is limited. Freshly-baked Naan and Sheermal are favorites, and Chai tea is free! $10-20

• Los Altos Taqueria, (2105 Old Middlefield Way). A local favorite, Los Altos Taqueria serves standard taqueria fare (burritos, tacos, tortas) in addition to plate meals, delicious fish tacos, and fresh fruit juices. Lines often stretch out the door during peak hours. $5-15

• Donut Basket, (2105 Old Middlefield Way). Right next to Los Altos Taqueria, Donut Basket is one of those 'hidden gem' hole-in-the-wall eateries that primarily serves breakfast croissants and bagels in addition to a diverse selection of donuts and pastries. Open from early in the morning to early afternoon. Easily the cheapest breakfast in town from a non-chain eatery. $3-7

• Taqueria La Bamba, (580 N Rengstorff Ave.). Taqueria fare served in a vibrant and cheerfully-decorated interior. Bouncy castle outside is a favorite for kids. $5-15

• Maru Ichi Japanese Noodle House, 368 Castro St, Mountain View, ☎ (650) 564-9931. Kumamoto-style ramen joint offering homemade noodles, plus soba & udon served in savory broths with fresh toppings. $10-15

• Hon Sushi, 1477 Plymouth St. No-frills Japanese restaurant serving sushi and standard Japanese fare. $10-15

• Hong Kong Bistro, (on Castro Street). Western-style food from Hong Kong, vestiges of a colonial era. $7-15

• New Mongolian BBQ, (on Castro St., near Dana St.). Relatively inexpensive all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ (fill a bowl with ingredients and sauce, and it will be cooked for you). $12-20

• Pho Hoa + Jazen Tea, (on Castro St., near Dana St.). Vietnamese noodle and boba joint. Open until midnight. $5-15

• Gelato Classico, (on Castro Street). Italian ice cream.

Midrange[edit]

• Kirin, (on Castro Street). 11 AM-midnight every day. Look past the fish tank crawling with lobsters outside and look in for some cheap and tasty Chinese food. Parking is accessible and the service is quick.

• Fu Lam Mum Sea Food Restaurant, (on Castro Street). 11 AM-2:30 PM, 5 PM-midnight every day. Dim sum is the staple of this restaurant, so come here hungry! Most dim sum plates cost between $3-5, and with the endless parade of food being served, you're guaranteed to walk away full. The shrimp and pea sprout dumplings come recommended.

• Bangkok Spoon, (one block off Castro Street on Villa).

• Taquería Los Charros, (one block off Castro on Dana St). Mexican food. Excellent tacos, and many other choices.

• Vaso Azzurro, 108 Castro St., [x]. Italian food, served in a restaurant with substantially-Italian-speaking staff

• Cafe Baklava, 341 Castro St., [x]. Turkish food

• Amarin Thai Cuisine, 174-176 Castro St. (near Villa), ☎ 650-988-9323, [x]. Good Thai food. Also has branches in Santa Clara and San Jose.

• Vive Sol, 2020 W. El Camino Real, ☎ +1-650-938-2020. Specializes in cuisine from the Pueblo region of Mexico. An outdoor seating area makes this a great place to go on a warm summer evening.

• La Fiesta, 240 Villa St. (about a 10 minute walk east of Castro St., just past a bunch of car mechanic shops), ☎ +1-650-968-1364, [x]. Mexican food

• Pho Tran Vu, (1020 N Rengstorff Ave.). Vietnamese fare including pho and rice dishes. Pretty interior. $10-15

• Scratch, 401 Castro Street (Castro and California, across Castro from Cascal), ☎ 650-237-3131, [x]. Updated American comfort food. It has a great bar with unusual, craft selections of American distilled spirits. Also, good soups, salads, and appetizers. Main courses are inconsistent but many are quite good.

Splurge[edit]

• Chez TJ, 938 Villa St. (next to Tied House), ☎ (650) 964-9647, [x]. Swanky, Michelin-starred French restaurant. Friendly waiters and waitresses, quaint interior. Worth the splurge. $125-200

• Cascal, 400 Castro St., [x]. Excellent Latin American Tapas, particularly good for sharing food in groups. A little on the pricy side.

There are other great eateries in Mountain View not on Castro Street:

• Krung Thai, [x]. Thai.
• Garden Fresh, 1245 W El Camino Real, ☎ 1-650-961-7795. Vegetarian Chinese.
• Chilis Grill & Bar, 2560 W El Camino Real, ☎ (650)941-2227, [x].

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

• Best Western Mountain View Inn, 2300 W El Camino Real, ☎ +1 800 785-0005 (fax: +1 650 962-9011), [x].

• Comfort Inn Mountain View, 1561 West El Camino Real, ☎ 650-967-7888, [x].

• Hotel Strata Mountain View, 93 W El Camino Real, ☎ 650-967-6957, [x].

• Holiday Inn Express – Mountain View, 2700 W. El Camino Real, ☎ +1-650-559-9115 (fax: +1-650-559-9045), [x]. checkin: 2:00 PM; checkout: 11:00 AM.
• Hotel Zico, 200 E. El Camino Real, ☎ 6509698200, [x].

• Quality Inn & Suites Hotel, 5 Fairchild Dr, ☎ +1-650-934-0155 (fax: +1-650-968-9562), [x]. checkin: 3:00PM; checkout: noon.

• Ramada Mountain View, 55 Fairchild Dr, ☎ +1-650-967-6856 ([email protected], fax: +1-650-964-4542), [x]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon.

• Super 8 Mountain View, 1665 El Camino Real, ☎ 650-969-9641, [x]. Services include free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking
• Hotel Avante, 860 E El Camino Real, ☎ 650-940-1000, [x]. Boutique hotel with services including free breakfast, Wi-Fi, weekday shuttle, on-site parking and more.

Stay safe[edit]

While one of the safest cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mountain View is not immune to crime. As with all cities, avoid walking alone after dark unless necessary, and make sure to not leave valuables in your car. Stay alert of your surroundings, and utilize common sense.

In general, the Mountain View police has excellent response times and should be contacted in the event you feel threatened.

Rengstorff Park

While perfectly safe during the day, at night the park and its surroundings have historically served as a hotspot for gang activity and should generally be avoided if possible.

Learn[edit]

Carnegie Mellon University, Mountain View. Branch campus of the Carnegie Mellon University offering graduate degrees in engineering and computer science. Located near NASA Ames Research Center.

As of 2020, there were plans to construct a satellite campus of the University of California, Berkeley in the city. Plans have stagnated due to the ongoing pandemic.

Get out[edit]

Routes through Mountain View

San Francisco ← Palo Alto ←	N  S	→ Sunnyvale → San Jose
END ←	N  S	→ Sunnyvale → San Jose

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