Find Vacation Rentals in Palo Alto

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Palo Alto Information

Palo Alto is located in the San Francisco Bay area, 35 miles south of San Francisco and 14 miles north of San Jose. Spend the day eating and shopping and enjoy the year-round beautiful weather. Immerse yourself in a night out in Palo Alto, which should always include a delicious dinner at one of the many world-class restaurants. Part of the Silicon Valley, it is well known as a leader in developing technology. Hewlett-Packard, an American multinational information technology company, was founded in Palo Alto. Also, Steve Jobs spent 20 years in his home in Palo Alto. It continues to be a hub for successful innovators. Palo Alto is home to the beautiful Stanford University campus where students and visitors can take in the centuries-old architecture while walking through campus. The campus, built in 1885, stretches out in vast knolls and courtyards. Drive up Palm Drive and make sure to grab a picture as you come into view of Memorial Church.

The Stanford University campus comes with many attractions, including Hoover Tower, Memorial Church, Cantor Arts Center, Rodin Sculpture Garden and the atmosphere of a bustling campus. The university considers the Stanford Memorial Church their architectural crown jewel. It was built during the American Renaissance in 1903. Stanford Shopping Center, located near downtown and Stanford’s campus, is one of the top shopping centers in the country. It is home to over 140 stores, dozens of restaurants and coffee shops, and a space for public art by nationally acclaimed artists. With award-winning gardens, a European-style street market and 1.3 million square feet of retail space, prepare to shop ‘til you drop. If you aren’t worn out shopping all day, nightlife centers around restaurants and will continue to seat customers until almost midnight on weekends. With a large student population, enjoy popular bars until after 1 in the morning, or spend a nice evening at the popular and classy Evvia Estiatorio, the destination for classic Greek dishes. If you’re still moving after midnight, dance on over to the top nightclubs of Palo Alto. Learn how to salsa or bachata dance at Alberto’s Nightclub on-the-floor lessons or make up your own moves at Club Illusions, which boasts over 6,000 feet of space, three bars and a heated patio.

Just over the hill, less than an hour away, make your way to the beach. To the north of Palo Alto, you have Half Moon Bay and San Gregorio State Beach. To the south, you also have Santa Cruz and Capitola. Spend the day lounging on the sand or play a game of beach volleyball. If you’re interested in a new beach experience, go to Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and experience one of the largest undisturbed marshlands in the San Francisco Bay area. Considered one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast, take up a pair of binoculars and join in on the spectacle. Other activities include nature walks along the 15 miles of trail, or take to the water and wind surf or kayak. Stop and smell the roses at Filoli Estate and Gardens, a beautiful estate with a collection of more than 500 varieties of roses. Filoli is 654 acres with a 36,000 square foot Georgian country house and 16 acre English Renaissance garden. Terraces, trees, flower beds and much more are meticulously groomed and change with the season. The gardens and estate are open from early February through October, with a weeklong holiday after Thanksgiving, so plan accordingly. The estate is west of Redwood City and about a 15 minute drive north on Interstate 280.

Tripping.com offers over 1,000 places to stay in Palo Alto. Spend the night in a professor’s luxury home next to Stanford University or enjoy a modern hotel in the heart of town. Skip a night out to soak in your personal spa at one of over 100 rentals with hot tubs at Tripping.com, or snuggle up to your pet in a choice of almost 100 pet-friendly rental options. Most hotels are situated along bustling El Camino Real, which divides the north and south sides of the city and separates the Stanford campus from Palo Alto. Choose hotels located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, or a rental nearby, to be in walking distance of Palo Alto’s nightlife.

If you are visiting Stanford University, the best way to get there is to use the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle bus service, which loops through downtown Palo Alto, Stanford Shopping Center, the El Camino corridor and many other main stops. Palo Alto’s transportation network operates frequent trains up and down the Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, allowing for train trips (instead of road trips). Other transportation includes Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority buses, local taxis and many walking and bike paths to pave the way to your destination.