San Fran - Mt View/Palo Alto Area

randr21 · Jun 10th, 2008, 05:09 PM

Will be going there to meet up with dh on his business trip there in july. we'll be staying in mt view (hotel avante) since it's central for commuting between his clients...wanted to know how the hotel was, and also, what are some good places to eat or do around mt view?

how far is the drive from mt view to san fran and napa valley? are there tolls?

any info would be appreciated.

oo0ehxtahcee0oo · Jun 10th, 2008, 06:23 PM

ehh an hour+ to SF. im not sure about napa. mapquest it!! that will also let u know if there is toll!! good luck!!

sillywahine · Jun 10th, 2008, 07:18 PM

Napa is around 45min-1hour north of san francisco. You can either take the golden gate bridge (toll $5) or the bay bridge (toll $5). But i think the bay bridge may be quicker.

since you're gonna be in mountain view, why don't you go shopping!
Milpitas is only about a 20min drive where they have the great mall!
they have Saks off 5th, nieman marcus last call, and a whole big shebang of outlets.
and theres also Valley fair too. they have LV and all the fancy designer stores.

sillywahine · Jun 10th, 2008, 07:20 PM

oh and here's local reviews for that hotel:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hotel-avante...Q/query:avante

sailornep5 · Jun 10th, 2008, 08:37 PM

You're looking at 30 mins to SF without traffic, closer to an hour with. Downtown Mountain View (on Castro Street) has lots of good restaurants to try.

lmkhlh2006 · Jun 10th, 2008, 10:17 PM

^^Good luck not hitting traffic through there and chances are you're going to hit a toll along the way.

redney · Jun 11th, 2008, 03:17 PM

There are no tolls if you stay on the Peninsula (where Mountain View is located) up to San Francisco via 101 or 280 freeways (they are called FREEways because there are no tolls

)

You'll have bridge tolls when coming into SF from Napa (via the Golden Gate Bridge) or coming into SF or the Peninsula from the East Bay (via the Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge or Dumbarton Bridge).

For shopping near Mountain View, I highly recommend the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto and Valley Fair Shopping Mall (in/around Santa Clara...someone nearby please correct me).

Santana Row in San Jose is a really cute outdoor shopping street with nice shops and yummy restaurants.

The downtown areas of both Palo Alto and Burlingame are very nice and have cute shops too.

It is HOT on the Peninsula in the summertimes (80s-90s) but cool (50s, 60s) in San Francisco due to the fog there.

randr21 · Jun 11th, 2008, 08:50 PM

thank you so much all...tons of helpful advice. looks like i won't be bored, except when i'm stuck in traffic.

bagaddict44 · Jun 12th, 2008, 09:19 PM

I grew up near Mt vVew.... I second stanford shopping center (Palo Alto) and valley fair mall with Santana row across the street in San Jose/Santa Clara ( its on the border between the two cities)... really good shopping. Also you could go to Santa Cruz if you want to go to the beach, it is touristy though... its about 1 hr from Mt View.

lorihmatthews · Jun 12th, 2008, 09:39 PM

Of course you don't want to miss the shopping in Union Square in San Francisco.

lorenzo94580 · Jun 13th, 2008, 03:14 PM

Don't forget Gilroy premium outlets!! Love that place, but boy does it get hot during the summer!

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23

twinkle.tink · Jun 21st, 2008, 09:14 AM

What do you want to do? Shopping, museums, etc? Are you going to be alone most of the day?

You can do the whole San Francisco thing...Fisherman's wharf, Pier 39, Union Square, etc...honestly though I find the traffic and parking hassle not to be worth it, especially if you just want shopping. Alcatraz Island and Bay tours can be fun, a bit touristy, but interesting if you have never been.

Very close to you, probably 10 -15 minutes or so is the Stanford shopping center (in Palo Alto), which is very nice. Also in Palo Alto there is a great day spa, Watercourse Way, they take spa finder gift certificates. Costco has $100 gc for $79, so you can get a good deal. Valley Fair and Santana Row (right across the street from each other) is about 25-30 minutes away (right on the San Jose/ Santa Clara border...really half the mall in San Jose half is Santa Clara). Santana Row has some good restaurants.

The Winchester Mystery House (San Jose) is very close to Valley Fair, and is interesting, if a bit cheesy. Great America (Santa Clara) is your typically amusement park. Raging Waters (South San Jose) is about 40 minutes away and is a water park.

Except for San Francisco, you won't have problems with traffic, unless you go right at commute times 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM.

Let me know what you're interested in, what kind of food you like, etc and I can probably give you some more advice :)

Jun 10th, 2008, 05:09 PM	#1
randr21 On Shopping Rampage Joined: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,234	San Fran - Mt View/Palo Alto Area Will be going there to meet up with dh on his business trip there in july. we'll be staying in mt view (hotel avante) since it's central for commuting between his clients...wanted to know how the hotel was, and also, what are some good places to eat or do around mt view? how far is the drive from mt view to san fran and napa valley? are there tolls? any info would be appreciated. __________________ Newest Bag: YSL Rive Gauche Embossed Croc in Patent Leather Newest Shoes: Prada Vernice Cera Patent Pump

Jun 10th, 2008, 06:23 PM	#2
oo0ehxtahcee0oo Happily Engaged! Joined: Aug 2007 Location: The Bay, CA Posts: 3,830	ehh an hour+ to SF. im not sure about napa. mapquest it!! that will also let u know if there is toll!! good luck!! __________________ [Click photo to read thread!] Follow me and my video blogging here.

Jun 10th, 2008, 10:17 PM	#6
lmkhlh2006 L.A.M.B. Lover Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,787	^^Good luck not hitting traffic through there and chances are you're going to hit a toll along the way. __________________ I will have you one day list: L.A.M.B. Chain Plaid Mandeville (pre-ordered from LB) Saddle Montego Rebecca Minkoff Iris Nikki Click to feed an animal today!!! If you don't help them who will?

Jun 11th, 2008, 03:17 PM	#7
redney Lovin' Life! Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,767	There are no tolls if you stay on the Peninsula (where Mountain View is located) up to San Francisco via 101 or 280 freeways (they are called FREEways because there are no tolls ) You'll have bridge tolls when coming into SF from Napa (via the Golden Gate Bridge) or coming into SF or the Peninsula from the East Bay (via the Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge or Dumbarton Bridge). For shopping near Mountain View, I highly recommend the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto and Valley Fair Shopping Mall (in/around Santa Clara...someone nearby please correct me). Santana Row in San Jose is a really cute outdoor shopping street with nice shops and yummy restaurants. The downtown areas of both Palo Alto and Burlingame are very nice and have cute shops too. It is HOT on the Peninsula in the summertimes (80s-90s) but cool (50s, 60s) in San Francisco due to the fog there. Last edited by redney; Jun 11th, 2008 at 03:23 PM. Reason: oops correction needed

Jun 11th, 2008, 08:50 PM	#8
randr21 On Shopping Rampage Joined: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,234	thank you so much all...tons of helpful advice. looks like i won't be bored, except when i'm stuck in traffic. __________________ Newest Bag: YSL Rive Gauche Embossed Croc in Patent Leather Newest Shoes: Prada Vernice Cera Patent Pump

Jun 10th, 2008, 07:18 PM	#3
sillywahine <3 my Louboutins! Joined: Dec 2006 Location: SF:California Posts: 264	Napa is around 45min-1hour north of san francisco. You can either take the golden gate bridge (toll $5) or the bay bridge (toll $5). But i think the bay bridge may be quicker. since you're gonna be in mountain view, why don't you go shopping! Milpitas is only about a 20min drive where they have the great mall! they have Saks off 5th, nieman marcus last call, and a whole big shebang of outlets. and theres also Valley fair too. they have LV and all the fancy designer stores.

Jun 10th, 2008, 07:20 PM	#4
sillywahine <3 my Louboutins! Joined: Dec 2006 Location: SF:California Posts: 264	oh and here's local reviews for that hotel: http://www.yelp.com/biz/hotel-avante...Q/query:avante

Jun 10th, 2008, 08:37 PM	#5
sailornep5 Member Joined: Apr 2006 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,399	You're looking at 30 mins to SF without traffic, closer to an hour with. Downtown Mountain View (on Castro Street) has lots of good restaurants to try.

Jun 12th, 2008, 09:19 PM	#9
bagaddict44 Member Joined: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 218	I grew up near Mt vVew.... I second stanford shopping center (Palo Alto) and valley fair mall with Santana row across the street in San Jose/Santa Clara ( its on the border between the two cities)... really good shopping. Also you could go to Santa Cruz if you want to go to the beach, it is touristy though... its about 1 hr from Mt View. __________________ LV Wish list-2008 mono keepall 55 mono batignolles vertical-purchased 7/08 mono zippy coin purse- purchased 9/08 mono key and change holder-purchased 6/08

Jun 12th, 2008, 09:39 PM	#10
lorihmatthews Luv my Persian Joined: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 6,659	Of course you don't want to miss the shopping in Union Square in San Francisco.

Jun 13th, 2008, 03:14 PM	#11
lorenzo94580 Member Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,027	Don't forget Gilroy premium outlets!! Love that place, but boy does it get hot during the summer! http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23

Jun 21st, 2008, 09:14 AM	#12
twinkle.tink I have a secret :) Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Just call me Tink ;) Posts: 16,000	What do you want to do? Shopping, museums, etc? Are you going to be alone most of the day? You can do the whole San Francisco thing...Fisherman's wharf, Pier 39, Union Square, etc...honestly though I find the traffic and parking hassle not to be worth it, especially if you just want shopping. Alcatraz Island and Bay tours can be fun, a bit touristy, but interesting if you have never been. Very close to you, probably 10 -15 minutes or so is the Stanford shopping center (in Palo Alto), which is very nice. Also in Palo Alto there is a great day spa, Watercourse Way, they take spa finder gift certificates. Costco has $100 gc for $79, so you can get a good deal. Valley Fair and Santana Row (right across the street from each other) is about 25-30 minutes away (right on the San Jose/ Santa Clara border...really half the mall in San Jose half is Santa Clara). Santana Row has some good restaurants. The Winchester Mystery House (San Jose) is very close to Valley Fair, and is interesting, if a bit cheesy. Great America (Santa Clara) is your typically amusement park. Raging Waters (South San Jose) is about 40 minutes away and is a water park. Except for San Francisco, you won't have problems with traffic, unless you go right at commute times 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM. Let me know what you're interested in, what kind of food you like, etc and I can probably give you some more advice :) __________________ Baby Emily is almost here