Eric's Rough Guidebook
Food Scene
Take it with a grain of salt (haha), I'm just sharing what local fare I've found that suits my taste. Maybe yours?
The Hash Browns Benedict is amazing.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Metro City Restaurant & Bar
151 S Murphy AveThe Hash Browns Benedict is amazing.
The Chicken Tikka Masala is very, very good. Great for late night, authentic North Indian fare.
SHAH RESTAURANT
962 W El Camino RealThe Chicken Tikka Masala is very, very good. Great for late night, authentic North Indian fare.
Los Altos Taqueria
2105 Old Middlefield WayBurrito regular, al pastor, FTW.
The best German beer and fried sausages! How can you possibly go wrong? (don't answer that)
Hardy's Bavaria
111 W Evelyn AveThe best German beer and fried sausages! How can you possibly go wrong? (don't answer that)
Not "The" Alice's Restaurant--of Arlo Guthrie fame--but legendary in its own right. A slog to get to if unaccustomed to the winding roads, but truly a Biker's haven.
65 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline BlvdNot "The" Alice's Restaurant--of Arlo Guthrie fame--but legendary in its own right. A slog to get to if unaccustomed to the winding roads, but truly a Biker's haven.
Cinema
Great places nearby to watch movies
Recently renovated multiplex near Google's campus, my favorite movie theater in the Bay Area.
109 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Century Cinema 16
1500 N Shoreline BlvdRecently renovated multiplex near Google's campus, my favorite movie theater in the Bay Area.
Always rotating themed presentations of classic films. Check out the real Wurlitzer pipe organ they play during intermission!
67 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Stanford Theatre
221 University AveAlways rotating themed presentations of classic films. Check out the real Wurlitzer pipe organ they play during intermission!
This is the hippest art-haus theater outside Berkeley.
33 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Landmark Aquarius Theatre
430 Emerson StThis is the hippest art-haus theater outside Berkeley.
Sightseeing
Unusual destinations nearby that might not be found in your guidebook.
A real ghost-town in the middle of the bay! This place is WEIRD! Drawbridge used to be a bird hunting retreat, and people actually lived there until the 70's. Now it's a wildlife sanctuary, but you can still see the "town" as you cross the Capitol Corridor train to Sacramento, or by boat.
Drawbridge
A real ghost-town in the middle of the bay! This place is WEIRD! Drawbridge used to be a bird hunting retreat, and people actually lived there until the 70's. Now it's a wildlife sanctuary, but you can still see the "town" as you cross the Capitol Corridor train to Sacramento, or by boat.
Even locals don't know about this! The Pulgas Water Temple is probably the most peaceful expanse of green earth for 100 miles around, right in the middle of the peninsula.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Templo del Agua de Pulgas
56 Cañada RdEven locals don't know about this! The Pulgas Water Temple is probably the most peaceful expanse of green earth for 100 miles around, right in the middle of the peninsula.
Home of the mythic surf contest, just north of Half Moon Bay beach: another diamond found off-the-beaten-path.
61 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mavericks Beach
Home of the mythic surf contest, just north of Half Moon Bay beach: another diamond found off-the-beaten-path.
Neighborhoods
To help you get a sense of the area, these are general descriptions of the neighborhoods in the South Bay that I grew up and lived in.
The heart of the Silicon Valley. "Historic" Murphy Avenue is right off of the Sunnyvale CalTrain stop, where you find local shops, salons, cafes, bars, restaurants, etc. It's a busy spot, but mostly made up of residential homes. "Safe" is an understatement: this is right next to the legendary Sunnyvale Public Safety office. Unusually good public transportation, for the area. The public library is outstanding, and the parks are very nice.
Heritage District
The heart of the Silicon Valley. "Historic" Murphy Avenue is right off of the Sunnyvale CalTrain stop, where you find local shops, salons, cafes, bars, restaurants, etc. It's a busy spot, but mostly made up of residential homes. "Safe" is an understatement: this is right next to the legendary Sunnyvale Public Safety office. Unusually good public transportation, for the area. The public library is outstanding, and the parks are very nice.
Palo Alto
The stories are all true.
One of the most pleasant little villages left in the Bay Area, one that truly represents what life, "used to be like." Downtown is expansive and diverse. All the shops and food are good, if not great. Relatively far from most other places in the area, it's easy to get around once there.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Los Altos
One of the most pleasant little villages left in the Bay Area, one that truly represents what life, "used to be like." Downtown is expansive and diverse. All the shops and food are good, if not great. Relatively far from most other places in the area, it's easy to get around once there.
Consejos para la ciudad
Facilidad para moverse por la casa
CalTrain
If you want to get to San Francisco, Palo Alto or San Jose, ride-share is fine, but CalTrain will be just as quick (most of the time) and A LOT less expensive. Bullet trains run regularly during rush hours.
Frases útiles
"Hella"
'Hella' is a NorCal word expressing a prodigious quantity or degree. e.g.:
Q: "How many Northern Californians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"
A: "Hella."
Formas de ahorrar
Avoid San Francisco
If you decide to go to San Francisco, plan on spending a lot more money than you plan on spending.
Costumbres y cultura
Tip handsomely
The SF Bay Area is an expensive place--to visit, and to live--so tipping 20% for service is good form.