Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Mountain View lies in the heart of Silicon Valley, between the southern shore of San Francisco Bay and the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which gave the town its name. It began in the 1850s as a stagecoach stop on the road between San Francisco and San Jose, grew around the railroad and orchards, and was incorporated in 1902.
Today Mountain View is known worldwide as the home of Google, whose headquarters and new Bay View campus spread across the North Bayshore area near the bay. The Computer History Museum tells the story of the digital age, and NASA's Ames Research Center sits at Moffett Field next door.
Downtown Castro Street is a lively, walkable strip of restaurants, cafes and shops near the historic train depot, with a popular farmers market. Along the bay, Shoreline Park has a sailing lake, trails and wetlands, and Shoreline Amphitheatre hosts major concerts. Rengstorff House and Pioneer Memorial Park add a touch of history.
Castro Street is Mountain View's walkable downtown, lined with dozens of restaurants serving Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, Thai and other cuisines, plus cafes, bars and bookshops. Parts of the street are closed to cars for outdoor dining. Park in the downtown garages, and arrive early at popular spots for dinner on weekends.
The Computer History Museum holds one of the world's largest collections of computing artifacts, from slide rules and room-sized mainframes to early Apple computers and a working Babbage Difference Engine replica. The Revolution exhibit covers 2,000 years of computing. Allow at least half a day and check for guided tours and demos.
The Googleplex in North Bayshore is Google's main campus, a sprawl of offices with colorful bikes, gardens and sculptures. Most buildings are closed to the public, but you can walk around the grounds near Charleston Road and see the dome-roofed Bay View and Charleston East buildings. Respect posted signs and private areas.
The Google Visitor Experience, inside the Gradient Canopy building on Charleston Road, is a public space with a Google Store, a cafe, interactive exhibits and an event area under the building's tent-like roof. It is the easiest way for visitors to see the inside of a Google building. Check opening hours online before going.
The Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on Castro Street has several stages hosting theater companies, dance, concerts and family shows through the year. Its plaza connects to the Civic Center and city hall. Pair a show with dinner on Castro Street, and buy tickets in advance for popular local theater productions.
Shoreline Amphitheatre is a large outdoor concert venue in North Bayshore with a distinctive white tent roof over reserved seats and a big lawn behind. It hosts major touring bands from spring through fall. Bring layers, since bay breezes get cold at night, and expect slow traffic leaving after big shows.
Shoreline at Mountain View is a 750-acre wildlife and recreation area on the bay, built on a former landfill, with miles of paved trails, salt marsh views, a golf course and birdwatching spots. Burrowing owls and shorebirds live here. Bring binoculars and a jacket, as afternoon wind off the bay is strong most of the year.
Shoreline Lake is a 50-acre saltwater lake inside Shoreline park, popular for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, with a boathouse renting gear and offering lessons. A lakeside cafe serves food with water views. Wind usually picks up after noon, making mornings better for beginners on paddleboards.
Rengstorff House, built in 1867 for German immigrant Henry Rengstorff, is an Italianate Victorian mansion moved to Shoreline park and restored with period furniture. It is one of the oldest homes in Santa Clara County. Free docent tours are offered on limited days, so check the schedule and combine with a walk along the shoreline.
Pioneer Memorial Park, next to the Mountain View Public Library downtown, occupies the site of the town's old pioneer cemetery and keeps memorial markers among large shade trees and lawns. It is a quiet green spot near Castro Street and the Civic Center. Use it for a break between the library, the arts center and lunch downtown.
The Stevens Creek Trail is a paved multi-use path running about five miles from the bay through Mountain View along Stevens Creek, with bridges, creek views and connections to parks. It is used by walkers, runners and bike commuters. Start at Shoreline and head south for a pleasant ride, and watch for fast cyclists at busy hours.
The Mountain View Farmers Market is held every Sunday morning at the Caltrain station parking lot downtown and is one of the largest in the Bay Area, with farmers selling fruit, vegetables and flowers, plus Asian produce, baked goods and prepared food. Arrive early for the best choice, and take the train to avoid parking hunts.
No reviews yet. Been to Mountain View? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Mountain View? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Austin McKinley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Meiko21 (talk), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Haha169, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Aleh Haiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: 384, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Asoundd, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dicklyon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tugrul Kagan Ates, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Meiko21 (talk), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Marc Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Carlclaunch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Almondox, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Almondox, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mutante, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Nagle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Aleh Haiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Aleh Haiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Aleh Haiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Coolcaesar at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Credit: Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: btwashburn from Belmont, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Noah_Loverbear, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Alexey Komarov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Theurv, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EugeneZelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EugeneZelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EugeneZelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EugeneZelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dicklyon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GualdimG, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0