Things to do in Palo Alto
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Tamarine
Palo Alto's most beautiful restaurant is this contemporary Vietnamese place. The dishes have a slight seafood bias and are finely prepared in the style of California cuisine. Most mains are suitable for sharing, and this is one of the Bay Area's best destinations for exotic cocktails.
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Empire Grill & Tap Room
The local yuppies favor this lively hangout that got play in Po Bronson's novel The First 20 Million is Always the Hardest. You can get pizza, sandwiches and sturdy meat-and-potato platters on the shady patio and wash it down with something from the 25 taps.
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Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Few drivers speeding along I-280 realize that things are speeding by beneath them at far higher velocities. The Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, run by the university for the US Department of Energy, goes right under the freeway. Positrons (positively charged subatomic particles) hurtle down a straight 2-mile path in a 4in diameter linac (an accelerator beam tube), on their way to high-speed impacts at the other end of the tube.
Experiments at SLAC have resulted in the discovery of the existence of further subatomic particles, including quarks, and have gained the facility three Nobel Prizes so far. At 2 miles long, SLAC's Klystron Gallery is the world's longest buildi…
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NASA-Ames Exploration Center
A few miles southeast of Palo Alto, the NASA-Ames Exploration Center sits at the north side of Moffett Field. The research center here has contributed to discoveries in hyper-velocity flight, and its gigantic wind tunnel is still used for advanced aerospace research. A one-third scale model of a space shuttle is out front. Inside is a Mercury capsule, a moon rock, astronaut suits and the Immersive Theater with a circular screen that shows awesome footage from the ongoing Mars mission.
Turn off Hwy 101 at the Moffett Field exit and turn left immediately in front of the main gate to reach the visitors center.
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Stanford University
Sprawled over 8200 leafy acres, Stanford University was established by Leland Stanford, one of the Central Pacific Railroad's 'Big Four' founders and a former governor of California. When the Stanfords' only child died of typhoid during a European tour in 1884, they decided to build a university in his memory. Stanford University opened in 1891, just two years before Leland Stanford's death, but the university grew to become a prestigious and wealthy institution.
The campus was built on the site of the Stanfords' horse-breeding farm, and as a result, Stanford is still known as 'The Farm.'
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Hoover Tower
East of the Main Quad, the 285ft-high Hoover Tower offers superb views of the campus. The tower houses the university library, offices and part of the right-wing Hoover Institution on War, Revolution & Peace. At the entrance level there are exhibits on President Herbert Hoover, who was among the first class of students to attend Stanford in 1891. The ride to the top costs around US$2/US$1 per adult/child.
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Rodin Sculpture Garden
Immediately south of the Cantor Center for Visual Arts is the open-air Rodin Sculpture Garden, with a large collection of sculpture by Auguste Rodin, including reproductions of his towering Gates of Hell. Dotted around the campus is more sculpture, all detailed in the free Guide to Outdoor Sculpture leaflet, available at the museum or at www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva.
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Stanford Walking Tours
Free one-hour walking tours of the campus depart from Memorial Auditorium daily at 11:00 and 15:15, except during the winter break (mid-December through early January) and some holidays.
Parking can be a real pain. Meters are around US$2 per hour, and if carrying that much change sounds unwieldy, buy an all-day parking permit from VIS.
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Red Barn
Red Barn, part of Leland Stanford's original farm, stands just west of campus. It's here that Eadweard Muybridge, under patronage of Leland Stanford, photographed moving horses in a study that led to the development of motion pictures. Hiking and biking trails lead from the barn into the foothills west of campus.
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Spago
Spago, owned by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (and presided over by Chef Aram Mardigian), attempts to dazzle at every turn, and mostly succeeds. This is California cuisine with the occasional Puckish Austrian twist (try the spicy beef goulash). Dress to the nines for this one.
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Memorial Church
The Main Quad, an open plaza where the original 12 campus buildings, a mix of Romanesque and Mission revival styles, were joined by the Memorial Church in 1903. The church is noted for its beautiful mosaic-tiled frontage, stained-glass windows and organ with 7777 pipes.
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Bistro Elan
Among Palo Alto's best restaurants for over a decade, Bistro Elan's excellent country French cuisine attracts power lunchers during the day and romantic couples in the evening. For the best atmosphere, head to the garden patio when the weather's nice.
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Main Quad
Auguste Rodin's Burghers of Calais bronze sculpture marks the entrance to the Main Quad, an open plaza where the original 12 campus buildings, a mix of Romanesque and Mission revival styles, were joined by the Memorial Church in 1903.
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Rose and Crown
Hidden away behind Emerson St is this tiny ale house. It's a friendly spot for a pint, or to watch soccer on TV. Pub food and live music several nights a week also draw in the regulars.
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Osteria
For excellent Northern Italian, a loyal fan base crowds into intimate little Osteria. Service is very friendly, but you'll often have to wait for your table (even with reservations).
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Antonio's Nut House
The Nut House stands out in orderly, gentrified Palo Alto. It's a down-to-earth, beer-and-peanuts sort of place. Said nuts are dispensed from a huge mechanical gorilla, so watch out.
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Peninsula Fountain and Grill
A lively beauty, the Peninsula Fountain was founded in 1923 but still has that opening day buzz and sparkle. It's famous for its frothy milkshakes and for hefty American breakfasts.
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Gordon Biersch
Palo Alto is home to the original link in the Gordon Biersch chain of brewpubs. The German-style lagers are good, while the thick crowds are more stockbroker-geek than hipster-chic.
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Palo Alto Bowl
This is the real deal if you hanker to knock a few back (meaning pins). Adding a trendy twist, on Friday and Saturday nights students and singles take over the lanes until 01:00.
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Cantor Center for Visual Arts
Cantor Center for Visual Arts is a large museum originally dating from 1894. Its collection spans works from ancient civilizations to contemporary art, sculpture and photography.
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Stanford Theatre
This recently restored movie house screens vintage Hollywood gems and international classics, accompanied by a 'mighty' Wurlitzer organ.
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University Cafe
Step inside this relaxed space for coffee or a light meal. High ceilings and potted palms make it an airy spot for tasty sandwiches.
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Evvia
If you like lamb, here's your spot. Evvia is a high-end Greek restaurant with a rustic taverna interior. It's food for the gods.
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Kepler's Bookshop
A bright, modern store with a popular adjacent café; in nearby Menlo Park.
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