Although the academic curriculum is extremely demanding, graduate students can still find time to enjoy the many advantages of life in Northern California. Jogging, swimming, camping, cycling, and hiking are possible year round in the Bay Area's temperate climate, yet four hours from campus are some of the finest ski areas in the world. Stanford enjoys a mild climate, with temperatures averaging 60 degrees at midday in winter and 75 degrees in summer. Freezing temperatures and frosts, though not unknown, are infrequent. Stanford schedules an extensive array of non academic as well as academic events.
Cultural programming includes music, dance, theater, and films.
Several of Stanford's athletic teams, both men's and women's, are nationally ranked. There are active religious organizations of many denominations on campus. Stanford's Bechtel International Center maintains a very active program of services and events for foreign students and their families. In addition, the immediately adjacent city of Palo Alto has numerous movie theaters, bookstores, several small theater groups, and a variety of good, affordable restaurants, coffee houses, and delis. San Francisco, one of America's most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities, is only a 40 minute drive to the North and offers even more opportunities for culture, dining, and relaxation.