Welcome to Mountain View
Technology hub with plenty of recreation and beautiful natural scenery
From its humble beginning as a stagecoach stop between San Francisco and San Jose in 1842, Mountain View has become a headquarters center for technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn. Googleplex alone brings over 23,000 employees into the city during workdays. Mountain View has a dense collection of townhouses and condominiums to accommodate the influx of workers. You’ll also find ranch-style houses and large multi-story homes next to the shoreline and wetlands. The Mountain View area has outdoor recreation and the beautiful scenery that gave Mountain View its name.
Downtown Mountain View is pedestrian-friendly and offers diverse options for dining. There’s a network of bike trails, and some residents use their bicycles as their primary means of getting around. Downtown has a vibrant culture and arts scene with events at the civic center and plaza throughout the year. Public transportation connects downtown to Levi’s Stadium for those wanting to catch a 49ers game and to Shoreline Amphitheater, a 22,000-seat venue with festivals and live concerts.
What to Love
- Convenient location for technology hub employees
- Diverse and eclectic neighborhoods
- Plenty of live sports, outdoor music, and festivals
- A network of hiking and biking trails
- Easy access to public transportation
Local Lifestyle
Mountain View is incredibly diverse. Residents are an eclectic mix; you might encounter laid-back techies, high-power entrepreneurs, outdoorsy bikers, and late-night socialites. Luckily, Mountain View’s numerous neighborhoods range from secluded and quiet to bustling and lively.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
You’ll find shops, restaurants, and cafes lined up along Castro Street downtown. Cascal is a lively, colorful restaurant specializing in Pan-Latin cuisine and tapas-style dishes. They offer outdoor dining, happy hour, and a wine club membership. Scratch serves creative New American comfort food in a sleek, warmly-lit setting. For a casual environment, Eureka! Mountain View serves elevated burgers, craft beers, and whiskey cocktails. Highly rated for their food and service, Udon Mugizo serves thick-cut Udon noodles and creamy broth.
Doppio Zero has authentic pasta dishes, Neapolitan pizza, and signature cocktails. Alexander’s Patisserie is a popular bakery selling decadent cakes, colorful macaroons, and deli sandwiches. They also host an afternoon tea service on the weekends. Next door, Red Rock Coffee is an artsy café with live music.
On the corner of Castro and Church Street, Mountain View City Center is a mixed-use building with specialty shops and services. A few blocks down, Books Inc. has been an independent bookstore and local mainstay since 1951. On Sundays, the Mountain View Farmers’ Market is an extensive open-air market selling organic produce, specialty foods, baked goods, plants, and flowers.
Things to Do
Stevens Creek Trail is a scenic, multi-use trail between Shoreline Park and Sleeper Park. It connects to the woodlands, wetland marshes, other neighborhood parks, and public transportation routes. Cuesta Park features several tennis courts, picnic areas, and a playground.
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts is home to several theater groups you can patronize if you want to watch a live performance. They put on plays, musical performances, and outdoor events. Shoreline Amphitheater has world-class concerts and festivals year-round.
The adjacent Shoreline Lake is a recreation area with sailing, kayaking, hiking, and golfing. In September, the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival transforms downtown to feature art and crafts, live music, dancing, and local wineries and breweries. Mountain View Oktoberfest draws attendees from all over the bay area.
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