Those looking for a relaxing getaway less than an hour outside of San Francisco are smart to think of Mountain View. Founded as a stagecoach stop between San Jose and San Francisco, the city has grown quite a bit from its humble beginnings and is now home to some of the biggest tech companies in the world, including Google, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the scenic views and entertaining attractions Mountain View has to offer.
DAY 1
8:30 a.m. – Wake up in your comfy bed at Hotel Avante, a chic Joie de Vivre property located on El Camino Real near the corner of Acalanes Drive. Pack a day bag with sunscreen, a cardigan, and a pair of comfy walking shoes. Then, head downstairs to the lobby and get your fill of the hotel’s complementary breakfast. This isn’t just any run of the mill hotel meal; be prepared to enjoy hot and cold foods (waffles, eggs, bacon, bagels, fruit—oh my!).
9:30 a.m. – Drive four miles north to the base of Stevens Creek Trail and walk until your heart is content. Bring a frisbee and sit in the shade of a tree if you need to rest. Rather bike? Grab a Bay Area Bike Share bike before arriving at the trail (be sure to wear a helmet) and enjoy riding the trail.
Stevens Creek Trail connects to a series of other trails, including the scenic Permanente Creek Trail, so keep going if you feel energized and want to spend the next few hours outside.
(photo via Bay Area Hiker)
12:00 p.m. – Drive back toward Hotel Avante and stop your car at 123 East El Camino Real. Walk through the doors at popular chain, but still ridiculously delicious The Sandwich Spot. Take some time to peruse the menu’s strange names and settle on either 49er Miner (chicken, cheese, and psycho sauce—trust me) or The Remington (salami, bomb sauce—yep, gotta try it—and pepper jack cheese).
1:30 p.m. – Take CA-85 North to Shoreline Boulevard for a little more than three miles and stop at the entrance to the Computer History Museum, quite possibly the coolest place to geek out in all of Silicon Valley. Spend a few hours here checking out early computer models, the timeline of semiconductor invention and information on the people who formed tech history.
One of the coolest things about this museum is the events they offer. Check online before your visit to see who is is speaking—you may just run into tech moguls such as Mark Zuckerberg or Jack Dorsey.
4:00 p.m. – After a full day of sightseeing, treat yourself at Aruna Spa, located at 2500 California Street. Try a stone massage, or, better yet, a tension relief back treatment, which includes skin exfoliation and hydrating.
6:00 p.m. – Back at Hotel Avante, shower and change into some nicer dinner clothes. Then, drive over to Cascal, a Spanish tapas restaurant known for excellent cocktails (go for the Pomeberry mojito) and to-die-for paella.
(photo via MenuMe)
DAY 2
9:00 a.m. – Wake up, skip your free breakfast in the lobby and opt to settle into a chair at Bajis Café over on 2423 Old Middlefield Way. This place is known for its authentic Mexican breakfast so don’t leave without a generous helping of the huevos rancheros or Rodolfo’s quesadilla. Mouth watering.
10:30 a.m. – Next up is a visit to Moffett Field Historical Society Museum, which details the area’s contribution to aviation history. Take a self-guided tour at your own pace and spend time learning about NASA and the history of navigation equipment.
12:30 p.m. – For lunch, head over to Scratch at 401 Castro Street for some yummy American food. Pretty much everything on the menu is delicious, but try not to leave before trying the oysters, truffle mushroom flatbread (upon eating, you will enter a state of euphoria) and the lobster and peach salad.
2:00 p.m. – Continue on your quest to learn all there is to know about the history of Mountain View at the Rengstorff House (or, as the locals call it, “R House”). Built in 1864 by Henry Rengstorff, a farming tycoon, the home is a great example of Victorian architecture. Check out the garden and period photography while there. Call ahead for docent tours on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
(photo via Bay Area Wedding Venues)
3:30 p.m. – Head back to the hotel to get a little rest and relaxation in. You'll need it. Change into some casual clothes and don’t forget to bring a sweatshirt or a light jacket for your evening activity.
5:00 p.m. – Opt for an early dinner at Zareen’s on 1477 Plymouth Street. This place has fantastic Indian and Pakistani food. Start your experience with the chicken memoni samosa and then devour a shami kebab meal.
6:30 p.m. – Get ready to dance the night away at this next stop. After checking the concert schedule for ticket prices, take North Shoreline Boulevard to Amphitheatre Parkway and stop in the parking lot of Shoreline Amphitheatre. This is one of the Bay Area’s biggest performance venues. It's entirely outdoors so make sure to get there early enough to secure a solid spot!
Day 3
9:30 a.m. – Wake up late, pack your bags and enjoy a full breakfast downstairs at Hotel Avante. Then, drive over to Shoreline Lake and spend your time on the water by renting paddleboards available at the boathouse. Feeling peckish? Head on over to the American Bistro cafe and enjoy a glass of wine or grab a fully-stocked picnic basket available for purchase. Relish in the California sun as you round out your getaway in Mountain View.
This article comes to us courtesy of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee. Each week the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee features a #Perfect50 Hours series detailing how to spend 50 hours in a different San Francisco Bay Area city. See more here.
