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Planning to visit the Palo Alto Area and don't know what to do? We have put together several day trips. Hope some of them will entice your special interest. If you have one of your own to share, please let us know.
California's Great America
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by Jennifer Cluff
California's Great America is Northern California's premier family-friendly theme park. Located in Santa Clara, the park features a full range of attractions and entertainment for the whole family.
Whether you prefer the thrill of attractions like the Drop Tower, a ride that plummets you 22 stories (that's 224 feet!) in under four seconds; or the Vortex, a coaster that hurls you (while standing!) into loops and turns at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour; or you prefer the more casual charm of attractions like Boomerang Bay, an Australian-themed water park; or KidZville, an 18-ride town for the young and the young at heart including traditional bumper cars and a mini roller coaster; there's something at California's Great America for every member of your family.
There's so much to see and do at California's Great America that you might want to consider turning your day trip into an overnight stay. Right across the street from the park, you'll find the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, a timeshare hotel with over 500 recently renovated rooms that are perfect for families and offer a comfortable place to unwind after a long day spent playing in California's warm sun.
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Elizabeth Gamble Garden Center
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by PAL Staff
The Gamble Garden Center sits on a 2.3-acre lot at the corner of Embarcadero and Waverly in Palo Alto. There are two Colonial style buildings in the center: the main house and the carriage house. They were both built in 1902 for a banker named Edwin Percy Gamble.
Edwin's grandfather is the co-founder of the Procter & Gamble Company. The garden is now owned by the City of Palo Alto but funded by members of the center and contributors. It is maintained primarily by volunteers.
The gardens are divided into two sections. The formal gardens are kept according to the original plans. The working gardens are used by members and volunteers for experimental purposes. You can either tour the gardens yourself or take a docent-guided tour for a small fee.
Gamble Garden is located on 1431 Waverly Street. For more information, call (650) 329-1356.
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Rengstorff House
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by Jack Lee
The Rengstorff House was built in 1867. It is the oldest house in Mountain View. It is one of the finest examples of Victorian Italianate architecture. It is a two-story building. It has four bedrooms, sewing room, servant room, marble fireplaces, dining room, library, formal room, family room, and even a smoking room.
Henry Rengstorff grew up in Germany, where his father owned and operated a country tavern near Bremen. He came to California at the age of 21 for the Gold Rush. Arrived in San Francisco in 1850, too late to join in the Gold Rush, he became a bay steamer operator traveling between San Francisco and Alviso. Rengstorff died in 1906, his daughter Elise Rengstorff Haag and her husband moved into the home. In 1979, the house was purchased by the City of Mountain View. In March of 1991, it was dedicated as a public facility by the City Council.
Visit the Rengstorff House at 3070 N. Shoreline Blvd in Mountain View. It is located inside Shoreline Park. For more information, call (650) 903-6088.
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Hiking on Windy Hill
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by Jack Lee
Located above Portola Valley, Windy Hill is a 1,132-acre preserve owned by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It features open grassland as well as fir, oak, and redwood trees. The parking lot is on Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) between Hwy 84 and Page Mill Road.
I recommend taking the eight-mile Windy Hill Loop which consists of the Humms Gulch Trail, Eagle Trail, Razorback Ridge Trail, and Lost Trail.
For more information or trail map, call (650) 691-1200 or visit the District's office on 330 Distel Circle in Los Altos.
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