Seniors Enjoy Mountain View

Mountain View, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, is named for its views of the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. Nestled (I like that term…) between the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Francisco Bay, senior travelers will find Mountain View in the heart of the Silicon Valley, 10 miles north of San Jose and 35 miles south of San Francisco.

The city is home to approximately 75,000 residents, many nationally and internationally known hi-tech corporations, and a thriving small business base. Mountain View boasts strong safety and public education records and is considered one of the best places to live in the Bay Area.

Coming from the north, look for the Taco Bell on the right just before the road heads inland towards Devil’s Slide. Twenty years ago it was an A&W Root Beer, at which time it was the world’s most beautiful hamburger stand, now it’s the World’s Most Beautiful Taco Stand (WMBTS). Should be worth a visit just to view that Taco Stand.

From Agriculture To High Tech

And there is history in Mountain View, just as there seems to be in most every city I know in the entire state of California. Mountain View began as stagecoach stop on the route connecting the Port of San Francisco and the new State Capitol in San Jose.

Covered in lush orchards and magnificent vineyards the town became an agricultural boomtown in the late 1800′s. The town was incorporated in 1902 with a population of 611.

The city’s population exploded with the growth of the electronic and aerospace industries but Mountain View remained predominantly agricultural through the 1940′s, 1950′s, and the 1960′s.

Mountain View has seen itself transformed from an agricultural-focused town into a high-tech center located in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

Seniors Find A Vibrant City

Senior visitors to the city will find it a pedestrian-friendly environment. Most of the city’s attractions are located downtown around Castro Street. Mountain View’s vibrant and active city center offers restaurants, shops, theater and sidewalk cafes.

Senior visitors enjoy the downtown area for its festivals like the annual Art & Wine Festival, its parades, cultural events, weekly farmer’s market and free concerts.

Loaded with fun attractions and things to see and do, senior visitors start off with the Computer History Museum. Along with the Museum, tourists enjoy Shoreline Park. The Shoreline Lake Aquatic Center and Café is one of the few places that offers a true respite in Silicon Valley. It’s the perfect place for a break from the office, lunch, or a few hours spent learning how to sail.

For you hikers, Stevens Creek Trail is at the top of the list in the area. Put Mountain View on your list the next time you visit the Bay Area in California. jeb