Off Campus Activities
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See these places of interest and things to do off campus in the surrounding areas of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Mountain View.
| Activity/Event | Hours | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer History Museum | Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | The Computer History Museum is a museum of computer history, located in Mountain View, California. The museum presents stories and artifacts of Silicon Valley and the information age, and explores the computing revolution and its impact on society. | 1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 |
| University Ave Shops | Friday and Saturday Hours Vary based on business | Defined roughly by Alma and Webster streets and Lytton and Forest avenues, downtown Palo Alto is a charming combination of small-town accessibility and urban ambience. Outdoor cafes, tiny coffee shops, bookstores, mom-and-pop specialty shops, national chains, art galleries, two movie theaters and numerous restaurants attract shoppers, eaters and entertainment-seekers of all ages. Parking along University Avenue can be difficult during the peak restaurant hours, especially on weekends, but there are several large garages available to the public. | Downtown Palo Alto |
| Stanford Shopping Center | Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Stanford Shopping Center is Northern California’s premier open-air shopping and dining destination with Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Wilkes Bashford, RH and more than 140 world-class specialty stores, ranging from luxury brands to local favorites. Enjoy an extraordinary mix of restaurants and cafes from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, True Foods Kitchen and The Melt, to Pacific Catch and so many more. Shop at Sigona's Farmers Market for the freshest California produce and gourmet specialty foods. Breathtaking gardens, sculptures and fountains accent the garden environment that people come from all over the world to see. Stanford Shopping Center truly is a one of a kind experience. Whatever the season, it’s always magically in bloom! Experience the garden of everything. Stanford Shopping Center is located between El Camino Real and Sand Hill Rd. The Center is situated in the heart of the Silicon Valley, adjacent to the world renowned Stanford University Campus. | 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304 |
| Town and Country Village | Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. with extended restaurant hours | Upscale mall with chains & specialty stores, services & eateries amid pedestrian walkways & gardens. | 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
| Foothills Nature Preserve | Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - Sunset | Bounded by Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Pearson - Arastradero Preserve and Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, the 1,400-acre Foothills Nature Preserve is a nature lover's paradise. Miles of trails provide access through rugged chaparral, woodlands, fields, streams, a lake, and provides spectacular views of the Bay Area. Wildlife abounds, and it is common to see deer and coyotes; if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of a bobcat. | 1799 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 |
| Baylands Nature Preserve | Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - Sunset | Bound by Mountain View and East Palo Alto, the 1,940-acre Baylands Preserve is one of the largest tracts of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Fifteen miles of multi-use trails provide access to a unique mixture of tidal and freshwater habitats. Many consider this area to be one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast. The preserve has a substantial resident population of birds as well as being a major migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway. | 2775 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 |
| Palo Alto Art Center | Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | The Palo Alto Art Center is your place to see and make art, activate your creativity, and expand your community. Created by the community, for the community in 1971, the Palo Alto Art Center provides an accessible and welcoming place to engage with art. We engage approximately 150,000 people every year through a diverse range of programs. | 1313 Newell Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 |
| Filoli Gardens | Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. The estate boasts 654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Originally built as a private residence in 1917, Filoli was opened to the public in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The property is considered one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, featuring a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard, and hundreds of acres of Natural Lands with 6 distinct ecosystems and nature trails. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories, so that one day all people will honor nature, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. | 86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062 |
| Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden | Garden Hours Open during daylight hours. Home, Library, and Office Hours Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | The Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, a non-profit organization, is a remarkable resource for everyone. Located in Old Palo Alto, our historic property has a rich legacy, a commitment to education, and year-round beauty. Come see Gamble for yourself—it’s free and the garden is open to the public every day during daylight hours. Our historic two-and-a-half acre property includes a rose garden, cutting garden, formal herb garden, demonstration bed, wisteria garden, and an allée. Here are five good reasons to get outdoors at Gamble: Enjoy a new view, Notice what’s in bloom, Ditch the tech (for a bit), Relax and re-center, Take a breath of fresh air. Come enjoy Gamble Garden, operated by a small staff and a legion of volunteers for the enjoyment of all. | 1431 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
| Downtown Palo Alto Farmers’ Market | Saturday ONLY 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | The Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market is a volunteer nonprofit that has been connecting farms & local food with our community since 1981. The Palo Alto Farmers’ Market has provided local growers, chefs, and bakers a venue to sell their goods and interact with the community. | 601-699 Gilman St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
| Junior Museum and Zoo | Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ticketed Entry Times: 10:00 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is located in Palo Alto, California and part of the City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department. It was founded in 1934 by Josephine O’Hara in the basement of a local elementary school.The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is dedicated to providing quality science education, supporting wildlife conservation, and advocating for animal welfare. Our robust community outreach program serves approximately 184,000 children and their adults. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is a place where children and their caregivers come to learn, explore, play, discover, and get curious about science and nature. | 1451 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
| The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) | Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) is the Bay Area's only museum exclusively dedicated to the history of technological innovation from 1750 to 1950. Originally opened in 1990, MOAH relocated to the historic Williams House in downtown Palo Alto in 1997.Museum of American Heritage’s mission is to demonstrate mankind’s ability to enhance human life through technological innovation by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting mechanical and electrical artifacts. To show the evolution, influence, and relevance of historic innovations to the technologies and society of the past and present. We collect, preserve, and display historic objects and inventions that illustrate the effects and influence of innovation before the age of computers. | 351 Homer Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
| Gallery House | Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Gallery House, founded in 1958, is a premier collective of Bay Area artists showcasing contemporary fine art in the heart of Menlo Park. Our gallery features paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed-media works that reflect both modern innovation and timeless craftsmanship. With a rich history rooted in community and creativity, Gallery House offers a welcoming space where art lovers and collectors alike can connect with the vibrant spirit of local artistry. | 826 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025 |
Please note: These listings are included as a courtesy, and do not indicate an endorsement. Please verify open hours and access information with locations directly. Some may require tickets or paid entry. Information subject to change without prior notice.