Part nerd nirvana, party paradise and gastronomical haven, Mountain View is home to an eclectic mix of museums and tech houses, with an upbeat and lively downtown housing a diverse range of restaurants and cafes. Read on for the top 10 things to do in Mountain View.
You don’t have to be a geek to visit the Computer History Museum. Multi-media exhibits take you on an educational and fun tour of the computer’s evolution over time. Everything from room-size computers to palmtops, phones, consoles, self-driven cars — it’s all here. Starting with the ancient mechanical calculator, working up to early machines, going into Apple, Microsoft, and Google, exhibits are well presented with text, short videos and interactive demos. Grab a bite at the cloud café and pick up a souvenir from the gift shop on the way out.
Computer History Museum, 1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Located at the shoreline, with the beautiful view of the mountains and the bay, golfers here can play the link-style 18 hole golf course. The well-manicured course provides a good challenge to all level of golfers. The course has some fun par 3s and hazards to work around. And there is nothing like kicking back at the lakeside café, after a good game of golf.
Shoreline Golf Links, 2940 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
This one is especially for the shutterbugs and selfie lovers. The Android statue garden is located at 1981 Landings Drive. Very popular among tourists, it is a must visit even for locals. And if you can get yourself invited over to the Google campus, there are lot of fun activities for guests to indulge in.
Android Lawn Sculptures, 1981 Landings Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Android lawn statue © Priyam Goyal
If you’re looking for a lavish meal with friends, a romantic dinner, or a quick bite, Castro Street is the place to be. The street teems with global taste and you can find just about any cuisine at every price. Watch belly-dancing at Morocco’s restaurant, eat sushi at Bushido, spicy Indian treats at Sukoon, or pan-Latin tapas at Cascal. Plus Chinese, Italian, French, Greek, Thai, Mongolian, Korean, fusion, crêpes, ice creams, it’s all here.
The Shoreline Aquatic Center offers windsurfing, sailboat, kayak, pedalo and canoe for rent. For amateurs, there are windsurfing, sailing and kayaking classes and you can sign up to play kayak polo. Set by the bay with gorgeous views of the mountains and miles of trail, it is a great place for hikers and bikers. Catch the most stunning view of the sunset from the park or grab a bite at the café. The lake gets covered with a variety of shorebirds during migration making it an ideal spot for bird watching.
Shoreline Aquatic Center, 3160 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Shoreline Aquatic Center © Priyam Goyal
The atmosphere here is chilled, relaxed, and the place is filled with plenty of smart people either studying, hanging out or coding. With free wifi and plenty of power points to plug the laptop in, this two level café is where it’s happening. Sign up for their monthly coffee tasting sessions, which includes four fresh roasted coffees, a 12-ounce bag of coffee from the tasting and a bit of coffee knowledge. The open mic evenings every Monday at Red Rock have a cult following.
Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
Scientists associated with the SETI Institute have been searching for extraterrestrial civilizations since the 1960s. The institute is situated on a pleasant campus and consists of research labs and centers to provide information to the public. Nothing gets cooler than a bunch of scientists who believe in, and are trying to make contact with others, lightyears away. Visit the SETI campus, or be a part of the SETI at home project.
SETI Institute @ 189 N Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
A pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning is visiting the best and biggest farmers’ markets in the Bay area. This Farmers’ Market showcases over 80 farmers and vendors every Sunday, from 9am to 1pm, hosted by the City of Mountain View at the Caltrain Station year-round. Walk around, sample and stock up on an incredible selection of freshly grown produce and flowers.
Farmer’s Market, Mountain View Caltrain, 600 W Evelyn Ave, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
Castro street turns upbeat and lively at night with its many pubs and lounges. Stephen’s pumps it up with DJs, theme nights, a two-level dance floor, brews and cocktails to keep nightlife lovers satisfied. Irish beer flows freely and music is thumping as the party scene turns wild on weekends at Molly Magees. Huge dance floor, über-cool ambiance, a hip crowd and cheap drinks makes Opal a crowd puller.
