Walking Tour of Downtown Palo Alto

Palo Alto calls itself the "Birthplace of the Silicon Valley" and has a legitimate claim: it is the home of the garage where Dave Hewlett and Bill Packard founded the original Silicon Valley startup, HP.

But Palo Alto, with Stanford University to the south, has grown into an upscale community complete with an active downtown area that boasts high-end stores, an affluent atmosphere, and great restaurants.

This walking tour of Palo Alto (which means "tall tree" in Spanish) starts from its historical namesake and guides you through its historic University Avenue and many of the places that make up downtown Palo Alto's culture.

1. El Palo Alto
2. Palo Alto Southern Pacific Station
3. Digital DNA
4. The Stanford Theatre
5. University Cafe
6. Borders at the Varsity Theater
7. Robaii (closed)
8. The Cardinal Hotel
9. Palo Alto Creamery

First stop: El Palo Alto. Palo Alto Ave. and Alma St.

1.  El Palo Alto

El Palo Alto, the redwood after which the city is named, is in Palo Alto Park, at Palo Alto Ave. and Alma St., before it connects with El Camino Real. The towering tree is believed to be over 1,000 years old and originally had two trunks before the second was lost in a storm back in 1885. It served as an easily recognizable meeting point for Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola who is credited for the discovery of San Francisco Bay by Europeans.

Next stop: Palo Alto Southern Pacific Station. Walk southeast down Alma St. toward downtown Palo Alto.

2.   Palo Alto Southern Pacific Station

Built as the Palo Alto Southern Pacific Station in the 1940s, this building is the current CalTrain station for downtown Palo Alto and a reminder of the dominance of the train as a means of transportation in California during the 19th and early part of the 20th century. This historic station is still a key transportation hub connecting Amtrak, CalTrain, Marguerite Shuttle, and VTA bus services.

Next stop: Digital DNA. Walk northeast down University Ave. to Pizza My Heart.

3.   Digital DNA

The "cyber egg" was created by Brazilian artists Adriana Varela and Nilton Marx and symbolizes Palo Alto as the birthplace of the technological revolution, and a centerpiece of Silicon Valley. The egg itself has electronic components welded into its shell of steel and resin and sits in a small courtyard where local bands often play during the summer.

Next stop: The Stanford Theatre. Across University Ave. from Digital DNA.

4.   The Stanford Theatre

The Stanford Theatre first opened in 1925 and is one of a dying breed of classically-designed movie houses. You'll find many old black-and-white favorites, beyond and including standards like Casablanca to Hitchcock, playing there. And, to add to the ambiance, you'll often hear the Mighty Wurlitzer organ during intermissions.

Next stop: University Cafe. Walk northeast down University Ave.

5.   University Cafe

This upscale cafe is the epitome of downtown Palo Alto. From its open-air arrangement in the summers, to their meticulously prepared dishes, to the expensive but never boring coffee selection, the University Cafe exudes high-end Northern California living with a cultured but graceful elegance. It's not so trendy that you go there to be seen, but if you're into that, it never hurts to be seen there.

Next stop: Borders at the Varsity Theater. Walk northeast down University Ave.

6.   Borders at the Varsity Theater

Unlike the Stanford Theatre, the Varsity Theater is a classic movie house that didn't make it. But while the only constant is change, the Borders bookstore uniquely fits its traditional selection into the lobby and showcase of the old theater, and uses the traditional Spanish courtyard and fountain to their full effect in greeting customers coming in from University Ave.

Next stop: Robaii. Walk northeast down University Ave. Make a right on Cowper and stop at Hamilton Ave.

7.   Robaii (closed)

Hamilton Ave. doesn't receive nearly the traffic of the main strip, University Ave. But there are a few places that make it worth the slight detour. The first is Robaii, which has the best falafels, baba ghanoush, and hummus in all Silicon Valley --- and best of all, they have a combination platter that will give you all three!

Next stop: The Cardinal Hotel. Walk southwest up Hamilton Ave.

8.   The Cardinal Hotel

The Cardinal Hotel was originally built in 1924 and has evolved into an "old world" boutique hotel that carries itself with great dignity and nostalgia and even retains the neon which was added during the 40's. The Cardinal Hotel is a gentle reminder that there's still a haven for old charm of Palo Alto.

Next stop: Palo Alto Creamery. Walk southwest up Hamilton Ave.

9.   Palo Alto Creamery

The last stop on this walking tour is the sweetest, the Palo Alto Creamery. The Palo Alto Creamery makes some of the richest milkshakes in the Bay Area, from ice cream it makes a few blocks away. This diner has a traditional feel complete with red vinyl seats and stools at the counter, but you'll find interesting variations on your standard diner fare.

Vision North San Jose Gets Boost

Just last March, redevelopment plan for North San Jose was stuck --- tangled in a lawsuit by neighboring cities Santa Clara and Milpitas over traffic flow. 

The plantiffs contended that the proposed redevelopment would create population growth and traffic problems that would spill over into neighboring cities as well as I-880.

How quickly things change. 

In December, the Santa Clara County Superior Court approved a settlement allowing the vision for North San Jose to proceed. 

Now, Cadence Design Systems has announced that it intends to perform a major renovation on its headquarters, constructing a five-story 208,000 square-foot building to house all their 2,100 headquarters employees.  They currently have four separate low-rise buildings which will be obsoleted under the plan.

According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, "Under the new plan, the city hopes to bring in 32,000 new homes and apartments, 26 million square feet of new industrial development and about 1.5 million square feet of new restaurants, shops and supporting services."

But more importantly, it increases the density allowed in the region, meaning taller structures and increased urban expansion.  The area is already home to Cisco, BEA and Sony among other companies, and Idaho-based Micron Technology will expand its Silicon Valley facilities into existing buildings there as well.

Project managers for this vision of North San Jose say that the goal is to bring over 80,000 jobs to San Jose, with the focus on attracting high-tech companies and corporate headquarters.  But they also set a goal for creating a "rich pedestrian environment within the core area to encourage use of the transit system."

Santana Row: Silicon Valley's Urban Oasis

Image of Santana Row Cafe

Santana Row has been described as a cutout of Paris' Champs Elysees transplanted to Silicon Valley.  Its main thoroughfare, which gives name to the neighborhood, is the backbone of this urban oasis, lined with luxury stores and a variety of restaurants. 

And when the weekend comes, so do the luxury cars of every make and model.  Who needs a car show when you have Saturday nights at Santana Row?

But Santana Row isn't just another shopping mall.  To recreate the urban experience, they've created a new neighborhood all unto itself.

Atmosphere

Santana Row is designed to have the bustle and energy of an urban neighborhood complete with people dining outside, playing chess with two-foot pieces in the plaza, and sipping wine or spirits while watching the shoppers go by.

While there are major chain retailers like Best Buy and Crate and Barrel, among the list of stores on Santana Row, these behemoths are safely tucked away from where most shoppers would stroll as opposed to visit.  An outdoor courtyard with an abundance of tables and seating hosts live acts, and even the hot dog stand next to it adds to the authenticity.

Living in Santana Row

The developers deserve credit for creating an urban atmosphere from an area of urban sprawl, without making the feel contrived or out of place.  There are hints of unsubtle commercialism, though, with chains like Pasta Pomodoro and Z Gallerie, but the feel remains consistent, even if it's a little sanitized.

This is a mixed-use development in its purest form with shops, bars, restaurants, and living spaces for thousands.  There are currently 219 impressive lofts and townhouses that sit above the shopping arcade in three distinct buildings.

The Villa Cornet

The Villa Cornet is the easiest to recognize because of the distinctive towers that flank the two corners of the building facing the main thoroughfare, one home to a Borders bookstore. 

The largest townhouses (called "villas" in Santana Row parlance) are located on its upper floors and both visitors and guests are welcomed by fountains guarding the main courtyard leading to the 21 impressive three-story units, ranging in prices over $1 million. 

Yes, they're large and luxurious with the great amenities you'd expect, but what you pay for is the location at the epicenter of Santana Row, just a stone's throw from every corner of the neighborhood.  In this regard, they don't disappoint, whether you're facing the Hotel Valencia or Downtown San Jose.

The DeForest Building 

The DeForest Building pays homage to a key figure who changed the course of electronics and ultimately computing.  This building is named after Lee DeForest, the inventor of the vacuum tube: his inventions helped lead to radio as we know it today. 

The building itself has 98 two-story lofts and is reminiscent of industrial buildings in Lee's heyday around the turn-of-the-century.  The complex is above the Straits Cafe and is home to some of the most impressive patio spaces in Santana Row.

The Margo Building

The Margo is opposite the DeForest Building on Santana Row.  It doesn't have quite the backstory of the DeForest building, but nonetheless holds 100 high-end one- and two-story lofts, similar in design and construction to the ones in the DeForest Building.

Like the Villa Cornet, most units that don't face the main strip have a view of the mountains and downtown San Jose.  And like the DeForest Building, the Margo sits only a short walk away from Westfield's Valley Fair shopping center on the opposite side of Stevens Creek Blvd.

Goodbye Vallco, Hello Cupertino Square

Image of New Vallco

The 80's neon-and-hair relic Vallco Fashion Park in Cupertino lost its battle with Westfield's Valley Fair Mall long ago and was pushed further into complete obscurity by Santana Row. 

It's hard to call Santana Row a shopping mall given its balance of city living and planned but not completely contrived urban experiences, but it was even harder to call Vallco competition against the shopping juggernaut that those two adjacent shopping "districts" formed not more than a few miles away.

Vallco (like the mall, its website is under construction) is determined to be more than just the building that houses Todai, the obscenely large sushi buffet.

Like the Downtown Sunnyvale revitalization, Cupertino's Vallco redevelopment has been discussed for quite a while.  Even in 2000, vacancy rates were a sky high 25% compared to Stanford Mall and Valley Fair (2-5%).  With the equivalent of a quarter of the mall always empty, the rest quickly languished.

That hasn't kept the city of Cupertino from being one of the most sought-after places to live in Silicon Valley.  After all, its school district is one of the elite places to get an education in Silicon Valley --- and schools are obviously a huge driver for parents when choosing a place to live.  And both Apple and HP, among others, have major presences there.

But Cupertino is also considered a bit... well... boring.  Cupertino's "downtown" area, where there aren't big enough quotation marks to put around that word, consists pretty much of one hotel and a couple restaurants flanking it. 

With the renaming of Vallco Fashion Park to Cupertino Square, Cupertino hopes to brand itself as a destination, not just a school district.  According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the plan includes a 16-screen AMC movie theater, new restaurants, a bowling alley, and a kid-friendly atrium.

Since Cupertino voted down the original plan to build high-density housing and mixed-use developments a la Santana Row last November, the new Cupertino Square is already clearly differentiated from its urban competitor.  How it fares against Valley Fair remains to be seen, but you can find the latest updates in the our Cupertino Square News section.

Downtown Sunnyvale Revitalization Gets Desperately Needed Kickstart

Revitalization of Sunnyvale's downtown area has been an on again, off again, on again, but mostly off again scenario, and the centerpiece of downtown Sunnyvale, the Town Center mall, has been closed for quite a while with the exception of the Macy's and Target anchor stores.

Image of Murphy St

Sunnyvale has a suburban image, and while it's consistently one of the safest cities in America and has easy access to 101, 280, 85, and the San Jose Airport, a revitalization of its downtown area could do a lot to cement its place as a must-live destination in the Heart of Silicon Valley.  But they're going to have to blow up the Target to do it...

New Developer, Better Chances

Finally, after years of delays by the Georgia-based Forum Development Group, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports today, the project to revitalize downtown Sunnyvale has been sold to a new developer who has more political sway with the local council, San Mateo's Sand Hill Property.

Their experience includes Bridgepointe Mall in San Mateo and Tree Farm in Los Altos, and while the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Sunnyvale plan is far more complex than those projects, the Sunnyvale council has allowed Sandhill to explore a 200 room hotel --- something the previous developer couldn't get on the table.

The project is planned to be a mixed-use development with condominiums, restaurants, and office space.  How similar it is to the open and walkable Santana Row or Pruneyard remains to be seen, but under the new plan, almost all of the existing mall would be demolished, including the Target.  It will be replaced by a new Target which will be larger by almost 30,000 square feet.

The Most Interesting Restaurant Debuts of 2006

Stett Holbrook at Metroactive lists his five favorite restaurants that debuted in 2006.  They'll also give you a good tour of Silicon Valley hot spots, from University Ave. in Palo Alto and Santana Row to downtown Los Gatos and San Jose.

Santana Row

: Most Interesting Restaurant Debuts of 2006 : 

Walking Tours and Hiking Trails Galore

Experiencing the lush hills, breathtaking views and crisp air, only a few minutes away makes the hiking trail in Silicon Valley and the rest of the Bay Area a favorite destination for a quick weekend getaway.

Finding Your Hiking Trail

Sure, a name like The Association of Bay Area Governments doesn't immediately strike most people as a veritable cornucopia of fun, but they publish their impressive guided photo tours of Bay Area waterfront trails, previewing some of the most amazing views of Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas for you.

This map from their San Francisco Bay Trail Guide Photo Tours site shows exactly how complete their coverage is and how close you can be to that outdoor escape you've been hoping for. 

Another complete site for people looking to take in some sunshine is the San Francisco Bay Area Hiker page which guides anyone from weekend walkers to distance trekkers on where the Bay Area's favorite trails are.

They also have photo tours but also a wide-array of detailed nature and wildlife pictures that demonstrate a lot of the wonder of some of the natives you could run into.

Steve's Picks 

I have a couple favorite trails.  When I'm at the Mariners Point driving range (one of my top picks) in Foster City, I like to head up to the San Mateo Bridge, watching the windsurfers along the way.  It's an easy walk usually with a brisk but comfortable wind and the path is completely paved for bikers.  I say bikers because I've rollerbladed the trail a few times and, on eight wheels glued to your feet, you begin to think that the pavement is actually the surface of the moon.

It's part of the Bay Trail which takes you anywhere from Larry Ellison's emerald towers via the the Foster City Pedway the way up to the sailing pavilion (and beyond) at Coyote Point.

My other favorite is way up in the Palo Alto Hills at Skyline Ridge.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  You take Page Mill road all the way up a video game-like two-lane road winding up the mountain side.  There are a few hairpin curves that would make the best Formula 1 racers think twice.  Up the hill you catch glimpses of the entire Silicon Valley from the domes at Moffett Field to the Stanford tower if you've got your eagle eyes on that day.

On the trail, take the San Andreas Trail and have a look at the fence that sits on the fault line.  The four foot break in the fence shows plate tectonics in action.

Recommended Reading: 

• Any Tour of Menlo Park Starts at Keplers and Ends in Xanadu
• Walking Tour of Downtown Palo Alto
• Top Silicon Valley Driving Ranges

Top Silicon Valley Driving Ranges

Silicon Valley's temperate weather means that golf at the driving range can be a year-round activity. While there are plenty of public ranges where you can hit golf balls in the Bay Area, these stand out.

Burlingame Golf Center

Shoreline Golf Links - Mountain View (Best Scenery)

Located in the expanse of natural beauty that is Shoreline Park, the Shoreline Golf Links driving range is less about mechanically hitting balls and more about enjoying the outdoors and being near the water. During the summer, access to the range is often difficult or restricted because of events going on at the nearby Shoreline Amphitheater, and on weekends, there's often a wait. The flagsticks are laser-measured and each stall has its own distance chart so you can more accurately gauge your shots' distance. All stalls are grass on the weekends and mats on weekdays.

San Jose Municipal Course (Most Availability)

The driving range at the San Jose Municipal Course follows the intention of the folks who designed the course itself: make it accessible, straightforward, and readily-available. While there's nothing spectacular about this double-deck range, and there's a pretty heavy crosswind on many days, you will almost always find an open, well-kept stall during its generously long hours of operation. There's something to be said for its consistency, no-nonsense practice greens, and frequent demo days. Mosquitoes do come out at night but maybe they're looking for the 20% discount cards offered at the pro shop.

Mariners Point - Foster City (Best Value)

This driving range offers an inexpensive, quality experience for people looking to hone their shots by hitting the large bucket of 160 balls. Mariners Point is close to the San Francisco Bay and the San Mateo Bridge so the views are impressive and the wind is rarely as much of a factor for golfers on the range as it is on the course and for the windsurfers nearby. Trampoline sized target nets act as a surprisingly fun way of practicing your accuracy and grass stalls are available next to the massive double-deck structure.

Burlingame Golf Center (Best Stalls)

The Burlingame Golf Center driving range reserves several hitting stalls specifically for lefties so that people can more easily choose not to hit while facing each other. The spaciousness of the stalls and concrete dividers allow for a little more distance between you and the other golfers practicing, which helps some people with their concentration.

Palo Alto Golf Course (Easiest Access)

The no-nonsense Palo Alto Golf Course driving range located right off 101 on Embarcadero is a convenient stop for many commuters after work who would otherwise be stuck in traffic headed towards the Dumbarton Bridge. While not as beautiful as the Shoreline range located nearby, this range features good highway access and a simple token system on the ball dispensing machines so that, once you've bought a set of tokens, you can get in and out relatively quickly.

Top Silicon Valley Computer Stores

If you live and work in Silicon Valley, knowing where to get computers; components like memory and hard drives; peripherals like printers, mice, and small speakers; consumables like ink cartridges and special paper; as well as gadgets like MP3 players and PDAs is essential. Here are some of the best places to get your equipment!

Fry's Electronics

Fry's Electronics (Best Selection)

Fry's is legendary for its enormous stores, each of which has a distinct theme like Mayan Temple or Old West and carry just about everything that uses electricity down to primitive components like resistors and breadboards. Think of it as Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, and Disneyland rolled up into a single building the size of a Target. It's this amazing atmosphere that attracts knowledgeable shoppers, and their knowledge is essential because of the unimaginably bad customer service. But since prices are generally very good and returns are extremely reasonable, Fry's has developed a loyal following.

Central Computer (Best Components)

Central Computer specializes in selling individual components and building white-box PCs for resale. It's the right place if you're an enthusiast looking for the perfect motherboard, a professional looking for OEM equipment, or represent a company that would like a local vendor for their desktop PCs. Customer service is generally good with knowledgeable, though not overly attentive, personnel. Like Fry's, they have multiple locations in Silicon Valley, but their stores are much smaller. You'll find a strong selection of most computer equipment except printers, which they do not carry.

Surplus Computers (Best for Experts)

There are some good deals to be had at Surplus Computers if you're comfortable diagnosing and fixing computer-related issues or need a component which may not be readily available in a mainstream computer store. The policy for returns is that there are no returns, so being sure of your purchase or being able to make your purchase fit your needs somehow is essential.

Costco (Best Prices)

What Costco lacks in selection, it makes up for by having the lowest prices and the most liberal electronics return policy anywhere. Desktop and notebook computers may be returned up to six months, and it's one year for other electronics. A little bit of patience waiting in the checkout line is rewarded with a great price and the security of knowing your purchase is "insured."

Micro Center (Honorable Mention)

Micro Center is a good choice for buying computers and equipment because of its organized aisles, broad and deep selection, reasonable customer service, and better than average prices during sales. They used to have the premier technical book section of all major retailers, but have pared back their selection considerably. Micro Center compares favorably to Best Buy, Circuit City, and CompUSA, and is a reasonable (but not spectacular) alternative to Fry's, particularly if you expect stronger answers to your technical questions.

Finding the Right Silicon Valley Public School

Choosing the right school for your children is such an important decision that it may help determine where you decide to live. It's not a simple choice, but with the right resources, you can be confident in your decision.

homestead high school building

Standardized Test Scores.

The California Department of Education measures the academic strength of public schools using the Academic Performance Index (API), a score between 200 and 1000. The goal is for all schools to score above 800. While higher scores are generally better, you need to take into account if there are teachers who "teach for the test" and schools that take advantage of the rules that govern "numerically significant groups." You can compare schools on criteria such as API scores, class size and parents' ratings at GreatSchools.net. They also publish an article about 10 Things Parents Should Know about the API. PSK12.com provides similar information and charges a subscription fee for running reports and generating comparisons.

California Distinguished Schools.

The California Department of Education also recognizes "exemplary and inspiring" public schools with the California Distinguished School Award. You can find honorees on their web site by year or by county. Any school given the "distinguished" label may use the title for four years and the award is often a point of pride for the entire community, not just the school.

Subjective factors to keep in mind include:

Ethnic Diversity. Living in California affords you the opportunity to expose your children to a broad range of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

Emphasis on Arts and Athletics. In this age of standardized tests, it's easy for schools to focus only on what the government measures and not on preparing your kids for their futures. A balanced curriculum is a sign of a school that is strong enough to meet a variety of needs and still meet the legislated requirements.

Parent-Teacher Communication. Being able to communicate by phone or email with teachers on a regular basis helps ensure that you have both an understanding of and input into your children's learning process. GreatSchools.net has a library of articles that will help you identify what matters most and help you learn about your options.