Your Complete Guide to Visiting Stanford & the Peninsula
From world-class art and panoramic hilltop trails to Michelin-starred dining and the birthplace of Silicon Valley — everything you need to explore the area between Menlo Park and Mountain View.
Palm Drive, lined with Canary Island palms, leads to the Main Quad and Memorial Church. Photo: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0
Stanford's campus is a destination in its own right
The Main Quad's sandstone arcades glow at sunset — Stanford's original 1891 core. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stanford University sits on 8,180 acres of former ranch land — one of the largest university campuses in the country. The good news for visitors: many of its best attractions are completely free, open to the public, and spectacular. You could easily spend a full day here without setting foot in a classroom.
The Main Quad & Memorial Church
Memorial Church's massive exterior mosaic, depicting Christ welcoming the righteous, measures 84 feet wide. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Start where Stanford starts. Palm Drive, lined with roughly 150 Canary Island palms, draws your eye from University Avenue straight to the sandstone arcades of the Main Quad — the university's original 1891 core, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. At the far end stands Memorial Church, often called Stanford's architectural crown jewel. The exterior features a massive mosaic depicting the Sermon on the Mount; inside, 20 stained glass windows fill the Romanesque arches with light and five pipe organs provide the music. The church survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes and remains non-denominational and open to all visitors.
Hoover Tower's 360-degree panorama
Hoover Tower rises 285 feet above campus, inspired by the cathedral tower in Salamanca, Spain. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The 285-foot Hoover Tower, completed in 1941 and inspired by the cathedral tower in Salamanca, Spain, is Stanford's most recognizable landmark. An elevator whisks visitors to the 14th-floor observation deck for 360-degree views stretching from San Francisco to San Jose. The tower also houses a 48-bell Belgian carillon with periodic live performances.
Cantor Arts Center & the Rodin Sculpture Garden
Rodin's Gates of Hell in the sculpture garden — open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, always free. Photo: Allan J. Cronin, CC BY 3.0
The Cantor Center for Visual Arts houses over 38,000 works spanning 5,000 years — and it's always free. But the real showstopper is the adjacent Rodin Sculpture Garden, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, featuring one of the world's largest collections of Auguste Rodin bronzes outside France. Walk among The Gates of Hell, The Thinker, The Three Shades, and dozens more.
Right next door, the Anderson Collection showcases one of the world's finest private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art — works by Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Richard Diebenkorn. Also free.
Hidden gems most visitors miss
Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden
In 1994, ten master carvers from the Sepik River region created over 40 sculptures on-site, following a traditional spirit house floor plan. Includes a PNG interpretation of The Thinker and a pumice Gates of Hell carved with a Sepik flood myth.
Arizona Cactus Garden & Angel of Grief
A desert oasis dating to 1881, designed for the Stanford family's estate. Pair it with the adjacent Stanford Mausoleum and the Angel of Grief statue — one of the most moving and least-visited spots on campus.
Stanford Shopping Center
Not your typical mall. Open-air, 140+ stores set among sculptures and fountains. Dining includes Zaytinya (José Andrés) and the RH Rooftop Restaurant. Free parking and EV charging.
Parking at Stanford
Pay via ParkMobile app. Enforcement is Mon–Fri 8am–4pm only. Parking is free and unenforced on weekends and after 4pm on weekdays.
Trails & nature preserves within minutes of campus
The Peninsula's geography — sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains — creates remarkable outdoor access. Within a short drive of Stanford, you'll find marshland preserves, rolling grassland hills, redwood canyons, and exposed ridgeline hikes with views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Bay.
The Dish: Stanford's iconic hilltop loop
The Dish trail winds through Stanford's foothills with panoramic views stretching to San Francisco. Photo: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0
This 3.5-mile paved loop climbs through golden (or green, depending on season) grasslands to a 150-foot radio telescope built in 1966 — originally used for atmospheric research and later for communicating with the Voyager spacecraft. The hilltop rewards with panoramic views stretching from San Francisco to San Jose. Moderate difficulty, about 534 feet of elevation gain, taking 75 to 105 minutes. No dogs or bicycles.
Palo Alto Baylands: the Bay's last great marshland
At 1,940 acres, the Baylands Nature Preserve is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay — and one of the West Coast's premier birdwatching destinations. Fifteen miles of flat, multi-use trails along the Pacific Flyway. Look for endangered Ridgway's Rails, pelicans, black skimmers, herons, and egrets.
Arastradero, Foothills & Windy Hill
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
622 acres of rolling savanna with 10+ miles of trails. The easy 1.4-mile walk to Arastradero Lake is family-friendly; the 5.1-mile Redtail Loop delivers 360° views.
Foothills Nature Preserve
1,400 acres, formerly restricted to Palo Alto residents for 51 years — now open to everyone since Dec 2020. Boronda Lake and spectacular Vista Hill panorama.
Windy Hill Open Space
1,414 acres with summit at 1,905 feet. Views of both the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay — a rare dual-coast panorama. 7-mile Spring Ridge/Hamms Gulch loop.
Shoreline Lake & Stevens Creek Trail
50-acre saltwater lake in Mountain View with pedal boat, kayak, SUP, and sailboat rentals (~$35/hr). 5-mile flat Stevens Creek Trail is great for casual cycling.
Things to see & do beyond the campus
The Computer History Museum
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The Computer History Museum in Mountain View houses the world's largest collection of computing artifacts. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Located at 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View — about 15 minutes from Stanford — the Computer History Museum houses the world's largest collection of computing artifacts. The flagship exhibit spans 19 galleries with 1,100+ objects, from ancient abacuses to early Apple computers, the Cray-1 supercomputer, Apollo guidance computers, and original Google servers. A working 1959 IBM 1401 mainframe runs periodic demonstrations.
Filoli Historic House & Gardens
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Filoli's 16 acres of formal English Renaissance gardens and Georgian Revival mansion in Woodside. Photo: Unsplash via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Twenty minutes from Stanford in Woodside, Filoli is a breathtaking 654-acre estate featuring a 56-room Georgian Revival mansion (1917) and 16 acres of formal English Renaissance gardens with 150+ rose varieties, reflecting pools, and sculpted hedges. Eight miles of nature trails wind through the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains.
Gamble Garden
The Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden at 1431 Waverley Street in Palo Alto is a charming 2.5-acre historic estate built in 1902 by the son of Procter & Gamble's co-founder. Stroll through the rose garden (50+ varieties), formal herb garden, and wisteria garden — all free, open daily during daylight hours, and walking distance from downtown restaurants.
The Stanford Theatre
At 221 University Avenue, the Stanford Theatre is one of America's last great movie palaces dedicated exclusively to classic Hollywood cinema. Built in 1925 and painstakingly restored in 1989 by David Packard (son of HP's co-founder), it screens Golden Age films on original 35mm film. During intermissions, a Mighty Wurlitzer organ rises on an elevator platform for live performances. The theater celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 2025.
Tech campus landmarks
The famous Android dessert sculptures outside the Googleplex in Mountain View. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Googleplex & Android Statues
Colorful oversized Android statues at 1981 Landings Drive. Google Visitor Experience has a café, merch store, and the T-Rex skeleton "Stan." Exteriors only — no building entry.
Apple Park Visitor Center
Rooftop observation deck, AR campus model, exclusive Apple Park merchandise, and the famous latte-art café. Free admission.
Meta HQ Sign
The infinity-loop Meta sign at the Bayfront Expressway entrance in Menlo Park. A quick photo stop; campus is not open to the public.
HP Garage & Professorville
California Historical Landmark #976 — the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley" at 367 Addison Ave. View from the sidewalk, in a National Historic District of 1890s homes.
Farmers markets
The area hosts vibrant year-round markets. Downtown Palo Alto (Gilman St) on Saturdays, 8am–noon. California Avenue on Sundays, 9am–1pm. Mountain View (Caltrain station) on Sundays, 9am–1pm with 80+ vendors. Menlo Park (Chestnut St) on Sundays, 9am–1pm, with a second Wednesday market 3–7pm on Santa Cruz Avenue.
Where to eat: four downtowns, endless options
The Peninsula's dining scene punches well above its weight, spread across four distinct and walkable downtown districts.
University Avenue, Palo Alto — the power lunch corridor
The main street hums with Stanford students, tech executives, and visitors. Tamarine delivers upscale modern Vietnamese with an art gallery attached. Evvia Estiatorio is a long-running fine Greek institution. Oren's Hummus serves authentic Tel Aviv-style hummus. Palo Alto Creamery offers retro diner burgers and soda-jerk milkshakes.
California Avenue — the Michelin star & the piazza
Palo Alto's "other downtown" — a permanent pedestrian mall since 2023 with a more bohemian feel. Protégé is the area's only Michelin one-star restaurant, run by French Laundry alumni. Zareen's serves beloved Pakistani-Indian comfort food. Joanie's Cafe is legendary for brunch. Terùn fires up Neapolitan pizza. Sunday farmers market adds to the European piazza atmosphere.
Castro Street, Mountain View — global flavors
Seven dense blocks with the area's most energetic dining scene. Cascal serves vibrant Spanish-Latin tapas. Ludwig's Biergarten is an authentic outdoor beer garden. Scratch offers farm-to-table seasonal cooking. NAR Restaurant serves rare Caucasus cuisine — Piti, Saj, and Dolma.
Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park — the village with a punch
An intimate, tree-lined downtown with outstanding dining. Camper earned Michelin Guide recognition with a hyper-seasonal Californian menu. Bistro Vida and Left Bank offer Parisian-style bistro cooking. The British Bankers Club has one of the Bay Area's best rooftop patios. Café Borrone is the beloved community gathering spot.
Day trips from the Peninsula
Half Moon Bay & the coast
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Dramatic ocean bluffs and crashing waves along the Half Moon Bay coastline — just 30 minutes from Stanford. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
30–45 minutes west via Highway 92. Dramatic ocean bluffs, wide beaches, a walkable downtown, and Sam's Chowder House for waterfront seafood. The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve has tide pools and cypress forest. Continue south on Highway 1 for one of California's great coastal drives. In winter, Mavericks draws big-wave surfers, and Año Nuevo State Park hosts elephant seal viewing from December through March.
Santa Cruz Mountains wine tasting
Skip the five-hour round trip to Napa. Ridge Vineyards (Monte Bello) is world-famous for Cabernet Sauvignon with stunning mountain views. Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside offers panoramic Bay Area vistas with excellent Pinot Noir — just 25 minutes from Palo Alto. Budget a half-day for two to three wineries.
Other quick escapes
Santa Cruz and its Beach Boardwalk (45 minutes south), Monterey Bay Aquarium and Carmel-by-the-Sea (90 minutes south), or a scenic drive along Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) through redwood forests along the ridgeline, with views of both the Pacific and the Bay.
Getting around & practical tips
Transit options
Caltrain is the backbone — fully electrified since September 2024, running from San Francisco to San Jose with stations at Menlo Park, Palo Alto, California Avenue, San Antonio, and Mountain View. Weekday service every 15–20 minutes at peak, every 30 minutes midday and weekends. Pay with Clipper card or just tap a contactless credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. New electric trains feature Wi-Fi and outlets at every seat.
Stanford's Marguerite shuttle is free and open to the public — not just Stanford affiliates. Routes connect the Palo Alto Caltrain station to campus destinations including the hospital area.
Biking is genuinely practical here
This area has the greatest concentration of Bicycle Friendly Communities in the United States. Palo Alto has 73.5 lane miles of bike lanes — including America's first bike boulevard on Bryant Street. Stanford holds a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University designation. Bike rentals are available from Campus Bike Shop on the Stanford campus. The flat terrain makes cycling between downtowns very feasible.
Driving tips
I-280 ("The World's Most Beautiful Freeway") runs along the scenic foothills and is generally less congested than Highway 101. Downtown Palo Alto garages offer two to three hours of free parking, and most are free on weekends. Rush hour runs roughly 7–9:30am and 4–7pm.
From the airports
SFO is 20–22 miles north (25 minutes without traffic; take Caltrain to Millbrae, then BART). San Jose (SJC) is 14–16 miles south and often less crowded. Rideshare fares: roughly $40–$70 to SFO, $25–$45 to SJC.
Weather & what to pack
The Peninsula enjoys a Mediterranean climate — warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer highs reach the mid-70s°F with essentially zero rain June through September. Winter stays mild at 57–62°F highs with occasional rain.
The key rule: always bring layers. Even in July, mornings can start cool and foggy, and evenings drop into the mid-50s. A light jacket is essential year-round. Comfortable walking shoes are a must — Stanford's campus is expansive.
Image credits
All photographs on this page are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under open licenses. We gratefully acknowledge the photographers who made their work freely available.
| Image | Photographer | License |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Drive & Memorial Church | BrokenSphere | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Memorial Church facade | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Main Quad at sunset | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Hoover Tower | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Rodin's Gates of Hell | Allan J. Cronin | CC BY 3.0 |
| The Dish trail | BrokenSphere | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Computer History Museum | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Filoli gardens | Unsplash via Wikimedia Commons | CC0 (public domain) |
| Android sculptures, Googleplex | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Half Moon Bay coast | Wikimedia Commons contributor | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
License quick reference: CC BY = credit photographer. CC BY-SA = credit + share alike. CC0 = public domain, no restrictions. Full license terms at creativecommons.org.
Want to add more photos? Key Wikimedia Commons categories to explore: Category:Stanford_University_campus, Category:Stanford_Memorial_Church, Category:Stanford_Dish_(Stanford_Radio_Telescope), Category:Android_Sculptures_at_Googleplex, Category:Computer_History_Museum, Category:Filoli, Category:Half_Moon_Bay_State_Beach. Unsplash and Pexels also have excellent free options.