MUD 2017 attendees: Welcome to Silicon Valley! (rev 3)

We hope your visit to Northern California and the Silicon Valley is a pleasant one. We put

together some tips for your convenience.

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The “big dish” at Stanford University

We have organized a group tour of the 150 ft diameter dish at Stanford University. The group

meets at 200-215pm in the hotel lobby on Thursday to form carpools. We will leave at 230pm

sharp. We must arrive as a group, as the site is gated and locked. We will also visit the

Stanford ARC and return to the hotel afterward. There will be a BYOB hospitality suite in the

Tiburon Room at the hotel on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO: Check out the brochure rack in the lobby.

If you head 5-6 miles south on the San Tomas Expressway and then turn left onto Stevens Creek

Boulevard , you will find several attractions:

Santana Row - upscale shopping, restaurants and movies - http://www.santanarow.com/

Westfield Valley Fair – another nice shopping mall (park around the back to avoid the construction) -

https://www.westfield.com/valleyfair

Winchester Mystery House – tour the crazy house built by Sara Winchester.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Mystery_House

More attractions:

Filoli Gardens – about 40 min drive (no traffic) - opens at 10, last admission at 430 – Georgian country

estate with 16 acre English Renaissance garden. www.filoli.org/plan-your-visit.

Half Moon Bay – If you’ve made it to Filoli, you are half way to the Pacific coast at Half Moon Bay (take

Highway 92 west from Interstate 280). Small coastal town with some restaturants and hotels, several

state beaches. Harbor is a few miles north, more resatuarnts. Hiking trail along the dunes. Even further

north on the coast highway is a left trun to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve… good tidepooling when the tide

is low.

Stanford University – about 15 miles/20 minutes up 101 (exit at University Ave and come thtu

downtown Palo Alto shops and restaurants). Another large shopping mall nearby (Stanford Mall).

Santa Clara University - about 10 minutes. Historic spanish Mission Santa Clara de Asis is on campus, as

is the De Saisset Museum

Mission San Jose – another of the Spanish missions, larger, but it’s not in today’s San Jose, it’s in

Fremont, about 25 minutes/16 miles.

Monterey Aquarium – Wonderful aquarium in Monterey, about 1.5 hrs down US 101, CA 156, CA 1.

Monterey – In addition to the aquarium, there is a pier, restaurants, Cannery Row. Check out the 17

mile drive in neighboring Pacific Grove/Carmel. Also Carmel town, more shops, restaurants and the

Mission Carmel (https://carmelmission.org/). And more wonderful Pacific coast beaches, views and

forests.

Tours:

Intel Museum (free). A good look at silicon technology. Just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/company-overview/intel-museum.html

NASA AMES Resarch center: North on 101 from the hotel.

https://www.nasa.gov/ames/visitorcenter.html

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Computer History Museum: http://www.computerhistory.org/ Also north on 101.

Self driving cars (in the museum and on the streets of Mountain View):

Local Restaurants near the Biltmore Hotel:

St. John’s Grill: Best local burger! http://www.stjohnsgrill.com/ 510 Lawrence Expy. Ste.110 Sunnyvale, CA 94085. Follow your nose to the BBQ.

Faultline Brewing Company (When in California, it’s better than a real earthquake!)

1235 Oakmead Pkwy Sunnyvale, CA 94085 http://www.faultlinebrewing.com Nice dinner options.

Pedro’s Restaurant: Good sit down Mexican food and Margaritas! 3935 Freedom Cir Santa Clara, CA 95054

24 hours, IHOP at 4200 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Pancakes and more! http://restaurants.ihop.com/ca/santa-clara/1704/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Maps&utm_campaign=Google+Places

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Rivermark Village: typically busy with difficult parking (there is a garage in the rear).

Piatti (nice Italian), Chipolte, Red Robin Burgers, Indian, Sushi, Yan Can Asian, Pete’s coffee, and a

Safeway grocery store. 3945 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (hours vary) …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Maria Elena's, 1450 Gold St, Alviso, CA 95002 (408) 946-5336.

Great Mexican food lunch or dinner --- “dive” joint: (Zero, and I mean 0 stars for ambiance --- very high ratings for food.)

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Santa Clara Square: off of Hwy 101 and Bowers Exit (Bowers & Augustine Drive)

- Whole Foods Market (with bar and snack area)

- Il Fornaio – upscale Italian restaurant.

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High end ($$$) – Steaks and other fancy eats:

At Levi’s 49ers stadium (Bourbon Pub, OR, Bourbon Steak House)

4900 Marie P. Debartolo Way Santa Clara, CA 95054

http://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/san-francisco-bay-area/bourbon-pub/

Birk’s Restaurant (408) 980-6400

3955 Freedom Cir, Santa Clara, CA 95054 http://www.birksrestaurant.com/

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Misc. grocery and pharmacy:

Walmart Neighborhood Market: 3255 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Open 7 days: 6AM to 11PM

(408) 961-3599 Behind In & Out Burger; and next to the AMC movie theater.

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SF Bay Driving:

Weekdays between <7-9:00am and 3-7pm (carpool hours), traffic is jammed in many

directions. “counter commute direction” strategies are suggested.

Generally the AM traffic goes toward the Biltmore, from other parts of the bay.

Generally, the PM traffic goes away from the Biltmore, to other parts of the bay.

** Google Maps & Navigation, or WAZE phone App is suggested.

General Warning: Do NOT --- as in NEVER --- leave items visible in your car in a parking lot (hotel, restaurant).

Smash & Grab thieves will target laptop bags, suitcases, etc. Even a radio!

(They are pretty good at identifying rental cars and getting into the trunk too.)

San Francisco (the city) is by far the worst:

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/san-francisco-crime-policy/479880/