Palo Alto: University Avenue and the Stanford Campus

Palo Alto’s main street is a 10-block long cornucopia of organic cafes, eclectic eateries, gourmet wine bars and mainstream retailers. You could spend a whole afternoon exploring University Avenue and not even get to the side streets which house their own share of treasures. You can shop, eat, browse or simply people-watch Palo Alto’s diverse community (students, academic, technologists, entrepreneurs, Silicon Valley mums).

One the street’s most picturesque and distinctive site is the Borders housed in the old Varsity Theater building. The bookstore and courtyard coffee shop are popular destinations for browsing or catching up. Stroll down a couple more blocks and check out the Apple store (the Apple headquarters are in nearby Cupertino but for all practical purposes, Palo Alto can be considered its hometown so you gotta go see!) and Restoration Hardware.

When it’s time to dine, there is no dearth of options and this street has an astounding offering of diverse cuisines given the size of the town. But as mentioned before, it is the hub of the Valley so it caters to all tastes. An ever-popular location with kids is the famous Cheesecake Factory, which is probably where you should go if you are from outside the US. The meals are huge so don’t forget to save up for desert! If you’re looking for a more local option, check into University Coffee Cafe with its open dining space, wifi and kid-friendly menu. This too is a popular spot so try to get in before the lunchtime rush.

Before you head out, take a drive down Palm Drive to the beautiful Stanford campus, often compared with a country club! You can do a student-led campus walking tour but I would recommend just taking in the splendor at your own pace and checking out some of the sights.