Local activities

Palo Alto

The blend of business, residential and vibrant downtown/University Avenue defines Palo Alto’s unique character. A charming mixture of old and new, Palo Alto’s tree-lined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage. Downtown Palo Alto/University Avenue provides great shopping, coffee spots, eateries and outdoor dining. Influenced by a university and upscale tech demographic, you will find a great mixture of shops and services.

There is perhaps no more striking example of the history of Palo Alto than the city's Professorville neighbourhood. This small residential area, bounded roughly by Addison Avenue, Cowper Street, Embarcadero Road and Emerson Street, epitomizes the spirit of the men and women who populated and nurtured a new town at the turn of the 19th century. The homes in the area date back to the 1880s and the area itself is listed on the National Register as a Historic District. Self-guided tours of the area are available and walking tours of the historic neighbourhood are available for groups by advance arrangement. Please contact our Concierge for a self-guided tour map or assistance with guided tours.

Stanford University

The Stanford campus is located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley. Known affectionately as “The Farm,” its 8,100 acres (3,278 hectares) reach from the rural foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the bustling Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. The Stanford Campus offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Public walking tours are offered year-round at 11:00 am; please see our Concierge for details and a campus map.

You may also enjoy Stanford’s recommended itinerary:

8:00 am – Arrive on campus, find a parking space and enjoy breakfast at one of the campus eateries

9:00 am – Visit athletic facilities and the Hall of Fame

10:00 am – Enjoy a panoramic view of the area from the Hoover Tower observation platform

11:00 am – Take the public walking tour, departing from Memorial Auditorium

12:00 noon – Enjoy lunch at Tresidder Union, or at Cool Eats Café, adjacent to the Rodin sculpture garden

1:00 pm – Take a self-guided outdoor sculpture walk

2:30 pm – Visit the Cantor Center for the Visual Arts and adjoining Rodin sculpture garden

If you are a prospective undergraduate, you may want to consider making a reservation for the Discover Stanford programme. Intended for high school juniors and seniors and their parents, Discover Stanford helps you explore the programmes, places and people that define Stanford’s commitment to undergraduate education within the setting of a world-class university. It begins with a 60-minute, student-led, campus tour. The tour provides an overview of the undergraduate experience, focusing on academic programmes, residential life, and extra-curricular activities (please note that for privacy and security reasons, this tour does not enter student living spaces). The tour is followed by a one-hour information session conducted by a representative from the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Reservations for Discover Stanford are required, and can be made through our Concierge. The programme is offered Monday through Friday, from June to December.

In addition to our suggested itineraries, Stanford has a schedule of campus events and athletic events that will be going on during your visit. Please remember that some of these events may require tickets or prior reservations. Please contact our Concierge for assistance with event listings and reservations.