Campus Life

The Basics

Stanford provides a thriving residential campus and community of creative and accomplished people from around the world. Located 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose, Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California’s dynamic Silicon Valley. While at Stanford, you will discover that Stanford students sometimes seem to speak another language (known as Stanford Speak).

Stanford campus offers a wealth of sightseeing and educational opportunities. Whether it’s performing arts, athletics, lectures or cultural events, Stanford is bustling with activity.

• Stanford has over 600 student organizations that enrich the social, cultural, and educations experiences of our students
• The historic Main Quad features Richardsonian Romanesque and California Mission Revival architecture
• The Science and Engineering Quad beautifully incorporates modern and technological elements
• Art enthusiasts will enjoy touring the Cantor Arts Center, Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery, and strolling through the Rodin Sculpture Garden
• Sports aficionados should visit the Avery Aquatic Center and Cobb Track and Angell Field
• Have a picnic in the Oval; take a self-guided Outdoor Sculpture Walk, Tree Walk, or visit the Mausoleum and Angel of Grief or Arizona (Cactus) Garden
• History buffs may enjoy the Historic Red Barn, which was constructed in 1878-79
• Explore the Stanford Foothills with a hike to The Dish; walk, bike or run on miles of scenic paths
• Listen to the smooth stylings of student DJ’s at Stanford’s KSZU radio station
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory offers public tours
• Campus Dining: Stanford offers over 30 dining options right on campus, including California cuisine, sandwich shops and coffee houses
• Local Dining: Yelp’s guide to the best restaurants in Palo Alto
• Lodging Guide: If you have guests coming to visit, review this lodging guide for information
• Public Transportation: If you’re traveling in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can reach Stanford by way of public transportation

Amazing California!

The Bay Area

Stanford is in the heart of the (San Francisco) Bay Area, which itself is in Northern California. In addition to the City (San Francisco), there’s the North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula (where Stanford is located), and South Bay (which includes Santa Cruz).

San Francisco

Even on the warmest of days throughout the year, always bring along a jacket when visiting the City. Someone once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

• For a grand overview of San Francisco, consider taking the scenic 49-Mile Drive. (Here is a map)
• CliffHouse and Ocean Beach are destinations to see, and can be the starting point for some incredible hiking along Baker Beach on the north shore of San Francisco. Perhaps you’ll find your way to the Land’s End Labyrinth, or Camera Obscura
  
• Day Sail on San Francisco Bay
• Historic Angel Island State Park was the western immigration station, which processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from 1910 through 1940. Pack a lunch, and enjoy some hiking and incredible views
• Shop at Union Square, and visit Chinatown and Japantown
• Clustered in a tourist-friendly area, visit Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square and the Musée Méchanique, San Francisco’s antique penny arcade
• Parks and other points of interest are a natural part of the City. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) supports 19 distinct ecosystems. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, and learn about California history all within San Francisco. Visit Coit Tower (to which you can drive, or walk up hidden stairs), and Twin Peaks. Of course, there’s also the Mount Sutro Cloud Forest. If you enjoy hikes with staircases, you’ll find plenty in San Francisco
• Looking for culture? Museums and galleries abound. Visit the Asian Art Museum, Exploratorium, the Legion of Honor Museum, the Museum of the African Diaspora, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (or SFMOMA, near the Yerba Buena Gardens). There’s also the Clarion Alley Mural Project (a great neighborhood to grab a bite) and the Minnesota Street Project art collective
  
• Golden Gate Park is home to the the deYoung Museum and California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, and Strybing Arboretum and a herd of buffalo, of all things
• University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is another medical school nearby
• In the Presidio, you’ll not only find the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Star Wars Lucasfilm campus (and Yoda), but also the Presidio Pet Cemetery, and the Exploratorium’s Wave Organ

 

East Bay

From San Francisco, the East Bay is on the other side of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island.

• Chabot Space & Science Center is a place for students of all ages to learn and be inspired about the Universe and our Planet Earth
• Chez Panisse, opened by Alice Waters, inventor of California cuisine, is where foodies come to worship
• Built in 1928, the Fox Theatre is an architectural masterpiece
• Widely acclaimed as the East Bay’s best, visit the Oakland Grand Lake Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9:00am-2:00pm
• Beat Cal! The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is one of the country’s other oldest and top universities
• For over 50 years, the Woodminster Theatre has been Oakland’s (nonprofit) summer theatre under the stars. The theatre operates from July through September

 

North Bay

On the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge, the North Bay is all about nature. Gas up, bring along a jacket, water, and something to eat!

• Mount Tamalpais State Park in Mill Valley and Muir Woods National Monument (heavily visited by tourists) both offer hiking opportunities through deep canyons, sweeping hillsides, oak woodlands, and cool redwood forests
• Point Reyes Lighthouse (along Point Reyes National Seashore) is just another opportunity for hiking, vistas, and the natural world
• Vista Point, near Sausalito, and the Marin Headlands, which is part of the GGNRA, offers incredible vistas of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean. Take a drive along Conzelman Road from the northern foot of the Golden Gate Bridge to Point Bonita

 

Peninsula

Including Stanford, the Peninsula has Silicon Valley to offer.

• Año Neuvo State Park is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of northern elephant seals. (Guided walks are offered from December through March)
• Back a Yard Caribbean Grill is one of the go-to places for Stanford students. Bring your appetite
• You’re in Silicon Valley, why not visit the Googleplex and Apple Park
• Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio, and Pescadero State Beaches offer beautiful coastlines, and on a good day, maybe even some sun!
• The Moffett Field Historical Society Museum offers a history of the Bay Area and its role in aviation and national defense
• Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is one of the tallest lighthouses in America

 

South Bay

• Santa Cruz has more to offer than just a spectacular beach
• The Winchester Mystery House is a peculiar mansion wrapped in legend and lore
• At over 18,000 acres, Big Basin Redwoods State Park offers 80 miles of hiking trails through old-growth redwood forests
• Los Gatos Creek Trail is an 11.2-mile multi-use recreational trail running through the urban jungles of San Jose, Campbell, and historic Los Gatos
• Visit the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the Municipal Rose Garden
• The Tech (the Tech Museum of Innovation) is an interactive and technology center offering a glimpse of perhaps the most innovative place on Earth

 

Day+ Trips from the Bay Area

• For an overview of the Monterey Bay Peninsula, take the 17-Mile Drive. While there, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In nearby Salinas, learn about John Steinbeck at the National Steinbeck Center
• Hearst Castle was built by William Randolph Hearst in 1919. Famous guests included Winston Churchill, Howard Hughes, Charles Lindbergh, George Bernard Shaw, and many Hollywood entertainers such as Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and Jean Harlow
• Skiing in the winter, boating, hiking, and swimming in the summer. Lake Tahoe, around two million years old, offers plenty of recreational activities
  
• Yosemite National Park, is a heavily visited shrine to human forsight, the power of glaciers, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. Interested in camping? Plan far in advance!

 

So Cal

The Bay Area has pretty much everything you’d want or need, but if you simply must travel to Southern California (So Cal), you will find a lot to do.

• There are many amusement parks, including Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios Hollywood
• Too numerous to list, visit a museum: California African American Museum, The Getty Villa, the LaBrea Tar Pits & Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Tolerance, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, or the Skirball Cultural Center
• How about horseback riding under the Hollywood sign? You won’t be too far from the Griffith Observatory
• Hike along the Hollywood Hills at the Lake Hollywood Reservoir Walking Trail
• Enjoy 21 miles of coastline cycling on The Strand (aka the Marvin Braude Bike Trail). While there, enjoy the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach (aka Muscle Beach)
• Of course, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is here
• Hollywood Boulevard is a cultural icon for tourists! Not only will you find the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but also the Chinese Theater, the Dolby Theatre (where the Academy Awards are held each year), two wax museums (the Hollywood Wax Museum and Madame Tussauds Hollywood), the Hollywood Museum, along with dining, shopping, and nightlife
• Do you enjoy eating in a hole-in-the-wall? While in Hollywood, try the Tamarind Ave Deli. Great sandwiches, served with exotic sodas and chips. A local favorite
• Visit the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld

 

Important Phone Numbers

• Stanford University Department of Public Safety: 650-723-9633
• In the event of an emergency, please dial 911