Things to visit in Silicon Valley - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 07:14:39 am
content: Dear all.By short-term I got the possibility to spend some time in San Francisco. I would like to make a trip through Silicon Valley as I have at least one whole week to spend.Right now I have on my list: Tesla, APEX electronics, LinearIt would be nice, if you could give me some hints what / who to visit.Best regards, Simon

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 07:33:33 am
content: Computer History MuseumThe HP Garage (photo op only, private property)More threads:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/one-day-in-silicon-valley/andhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/supporters-lounge/silicon-valley-nerd-tour-1-5-day-itinerary-(prelim)/

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 07:37:53 am
content: Pied Piper.

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 07:42:51 am
content: Thanks Dave!The second link doesn't work for me due to rights limitations. Could you make it public?Quote from: EEVblog on May 30, 2015, 07:33:33 am

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 09:38:14 am
content: If you have a free day at SF I recommend the very popular golden gate bike ride. Business like Blazing Saddles will give you everything you need. You bike to Sausalito or Tiburon and come back with the ferry boat.http://www.everytrail.com/guide/bike-the-bridge/map

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 10:15:17 am
content: I spent a lot of time in SF.....Silicon Valley isn't exactly a tourist destination. The HP garage, and the Apple house is just a 1960-70's house. It's nothing to see really. And a long drive away from SF just for that. Google map it - it's the same thing. A tour of tesla might be interesting. Just to see their raw-materials-in-car-out-the-other-end thing. Otherwise once you've seen one manfacturing floor - you've kinda seen them all.While you're in SF for the time..... The exploratorium will bring out the inner child in you. Trust me. You'll be "mind blown" along with the kids there. It's amazing.http://www.exploratorium.edu/If you love garlic (and who doesn't?) go tohttp://thestinkingrose.com/- but warning - it's in the "red light district" - so don't take your kids there if you don't want questions like "Daddy, what's a 'Live Sex Show'?"

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 10:47:03 am
content: Quote from: EVlab on May 30, 2015, 07:42:51 amI can post some suggestions from there:Advanced Components ElectronicsHalted/HSCWeird StuffNasa ames centreIntel museumFairchild buildingshockley labsExcess Solutions

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 10:49:20 am
content: Quote from: george graves on May 30, 2015, 10:15:17 amI think you are VERY WRONG!As beeing an electronics nerd, Silicon Valley is the place for vacation !!!Maybe only the visit of the garlic restaurant will stop you to get entrance to some places ...Some other question: Isn't the bay area also known for wine? Aren't there some wineries that are worth a visit?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 10:54:37 am
content: As for San FranAlcatraz is cool of course. I went on a tour under Alcatraz before they closed it:Go to this awesome arcade machine museum on the warfhttp://www.museemechanique.org/You can play all the old machines and it's free.Make sure you get the cable car ride down the main drag toward Alcatraz, and be up front!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 11:04:50 am
content: Quote from: EVlab on May 30, 2015, 10:49:20 amI have to agree with George! It's not that exciting really.Also in San Fran visit the Yoda fountain:https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Yoda+Fountain/@37.798851,-122.450482,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xe9c90de80067ba0e

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 11:05:32 am
content: Quote from: george graves on May 30, 2015, 10:15:17 amWow, they moved it since I was there.Agreed, don't miss it.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 11:17:36 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 30, 2015, 11:04:50 amAnd while your there -never, ever call it "San Fran"It's "The City" or "SF". Calling it "San Fran" will get your cabbie to make sure he drops you off on peir 31 - not peir 39. A sold 3-4 miles walk - just to mess with you. Locals will despise you. (Why? I don't know - that's just how SF is)It's like being in NY and and pronouncing "Houston" street right. (it's "house-ton" - Not "Hooous-ton")If you're bored go check out Berkley, the campus is fun. And the college food around there is slightly amazing. You'll get offered weed about ever 2 blocks. But there is an amazing hot dog place that is the original soup nazi.If you have a car - drive up twin pikes. Oh...And if you're flying into SF - look out the window -the salt farms are AMAZING!

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 11:32:38 am
content: Yoda Fountain is a disappointment. It's not really a fountain, more a ornamental waterfall. They could have had him holding a lightsaber with the water jet coming out of that, or even had them coming out of his ears and it actually be a fountain, but no they had to give a character from a kids series a boring statue in a puddle...

author: RickBrant
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 02:40:56 pm
content: While you're in the are for Weird Stuff and Halted Specialties, you might as well visit the "mother ship" Fry's store in Sunnyvale.A strong "second" for the Exploratorium.Verb. Sap.:Avoid Pier 39 and all nearby eateries. Very severe tourist traps, with high prices and mediocre food.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 03:29:11 pm
content: The Burbank Frys is a lot nerdier, though.That's where I bought my Hakko iron. Still, the Sunnyvale Frys is pretty nerdy...I lived in Sunnyvale for a year while I was working on a project at Lockheed, right next door to Moffett Field. I'd have to agree that it's not at all what I expected from Silicon Valley. It's basically just one gigantic suburb, with some office buildings scattered about. I had a great time living there, but I wouldn't be into doing touristy kinds of things. I'd just be checking out some good restaurants, maybe go watch some good bands playing, and just take in the culture. Just my opinion.

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 04:38:20 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on May 30, 2015, 03:29:11 pmThanks for your opinion. Can you recommend one / some restaurants to do so?Maybe visit the bar where Robert Widlar hung out? Or do I have to visit every bar in Silicon Valley then ...

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 05:19:22 pm
content: I would assume Bob hung out wherever was open...If Fibbar MaGees is still around, they make a mean hamburger...or did 10 years ago, anyhow. Teske's in San Jose is a cool German restaurant. It's fun to have a little meal on the back porch. If you're into blues acts or other smaller acts, JJ's is a great small club to hang out at. There's Falafel's Drive In in San Jose, if you like falafels. There are taquiera pretty much EVERYWHERE. You need to try that, especially if you can get a breakfast burrito. Unfortunately, my favorite sushi place IN THE WORLD has closed down, or I'd recommend that in a heartbeat. I think they used to close the road in front of Fibbar MaGees for some sort of street party on certain days...that's fun too, and there are several restaurants right around there as well if you wanted to check that out (you'd need to look up when and if they still do that, of course).It's tough because I never saw it as a tourist looking for a place to go...I just kind of lived there, albeit out of a very nice hotel room.Frys is a good suggestion. It's right off 101, I think, in Sunnyvale. Easy to get to.But from SF, it really is a big drive to basically do not much of anything. The suggestions for some of the museums and attractions were good if you're into that sort of thing. I sort of understand wanting to go there just to see what it's like, because you're always hearing about Silicon Valley this and Silicon Valley that, but the basic culture of the valley is sort of a quiet, traffic ridden suburbia and shopping centers. Everyone just kind of moseys over here and moseys over there. If you really want to take in the culture, just spend a day or two driving around, enjoy some of the pretty scenery of the mountains and such, and hit some local restaurants. You can drive by and see buildings like where Yahoo and Google are...I think they're still around in the area.I don't mean to be down on it. I'm really not. I miss it sometimes. It's just hard thinking up things to do. It's really more of a place you live in than a place you do things in.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 08:21:58 pm
content: FAIRCHILD LABSATARISCHOCKLEY LABCOMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUMINTEL MUSEMNASA AMES MUSEUMAGILENT STORE AND HP MUSEUMAPPLE STORE ON APPLE CAMPUSSLAC ( BOOK IN ADVANCE )TESLA FACTORY (BOOK IN ADVANCE ! )DOC HERROLDS WORLD FIRST BROADCAST RADIO STATIONGREEN STREET IN SF ( INVENTION OF THE TV )FRYS IN SUNNYVALE AND ALSO IN FREMOTN ( MUCH LARGER STORE THAN SUNNYVALEHP GARAGE IN PALO ALTOIf you are here during a weekend i can play guide. (plus you get to be driven around in a Tesla)

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 10:21:35 pm
content: Surely it's Utah for the invention oftheTV?And I'm guessing the radio station is the first permanent commercial station?

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 10:27:09 am
content: Quote from: EVlab on May 30, 2015, 07:14:39 amIf your reffering to the surplus store, thats about 6 hours away from Silicon Valley in Sun Valley, near Los Angeles (easy to confuse)

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 03:40:14 pm
content: Quote from: iampoor on June 02, 2015, 10:27:09 am... ooops ... maybe out of reach for this visit ;-)

author: EVlab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2015, 03:43:05 pm
content: Dear all.Thank you very much for your contribution! I think it will be a very nice and interesting "nerdy" tripHave a nice time, Simon