The Apple Store
Westfield Valley Fair Level 1 (Near Nordstrom's)
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 2178
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408.248.4451
Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Apple Computer ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970's with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980's with the Macintosh. Apple is now committed to its original mission -- to bring the best personal computing products and supports to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, business persons, and consumers in over 140 countries around the world. Located on the Apple Computer campus, The Apple Store is open to the public, offering the newest Apple products.
Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, Ca 94043
650.810.1010
Tours: 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Special tour times available by request
Reservations are recommended for all tours.
To schedule a tour, call 650.810.1013 or email tours@computerhistory.org.
It is not just a museum. It's one of the largest collections of computer-related artifacts, documents, films and photographs in the world. Here, you can explore online archives, browse the exhibits, or learn more about preserving the living history of the information age.
The Intel Museum
2200 Mission College Blvd.
Robert Noyce Building
Santa Clara, Ca 95052
408.765.0503
museum@intel.com
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Tour Length: Self-paced, 1-2 hours
The Intel Corporation, founded in 1968, is the world's largest chipmaker. Today, hundreds of millions of personal computers are powered by Intel processors, making the Intel Inside� logo one of the most recognizable logos in the world.
The Intel Museum introduces visitors to the micro-miniature world of computer chips. Using hands-on exhibits, visitors learn the differences among various types of chips, see how they are constructed, and explore how they are used in products that fill our everyday world. New exhibits appear frequently so repeat visitors keep abreast of fast-changing technology. Visitors can also visit the Intel Museum Store to shop for unique "only in Silicon Valley" clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs.
NASA Ames Exploration Center
Moffett Field
Mountain View, CA 94035
Ames Visitors Center 650.604.6497
Tuesday through Friday - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday - Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
The facility boasts the largest Immersive Theater on the West Coast, presenting panoramic views of Mars and Saturn's rings on a curved 40-foot wide screen. Martian images taken as recently as a few weeks ago are featured. New images taken by the Cassini mission of Saturn can also be viewed. The newly installed "Edgarville" interactive display allows users to manage air traffic at a fictional airport. Just arrived from Kennedy Space Center is a Mercury capsule that was used in an actual space mission. Various space suits, both historical and futuristic, are on display. Of course, the personal rovers are still available to be driven by visitors of all ages (in a down-sized mock Martian landscape) and the Mars mission planning tool board developed by Ames is up and running. Located 10 miles north of Santa Clara off US-101 at Moffett Boulevard.
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
SLAC Public Affairs Office
2575 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650.926.2204
Tours generally run at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. with advanced registration. (Please check schedule for dates and times.)
SLAC Visitor Center open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
Tour Length: 2 hours
For a Group Tour of twelve people or more, contact the Tour Coordinator at 650.926.2620 or pao@slac.stanford.edu.
A 426-acre research laboratory for the U.S Department of Energy offers a guided two-hour tour that includes a lecture, slide presentation and a look at experiments. Visitors may purchase lunch at the SLAC Cafeteria provided that arrangements are made in advance. The SLAC Visitors Center has representative displays on the scientific programs of the laboratory. This facility is a wonderful place to view the technical developments and research efforts of the laboratory. Located at 2575 Sand Hill Road, east of highway 20, just 20 minutes from Santa Clara.
Stanford University
650.723.2560
Group tours are available Monday - Friday for a fee based on group size.
Scheduled times are 9:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. and by arrangement.
Fees (subject to change):
Schools and Nonprofit Organizations: 1-20 $40.00; 21-50 $55.00; 51-70 $75.00; 71-100 $95.00
Travel and Private Organizations: 1-20 $60.00; 21-50 $80.00; 51-70 $100.00; 71-100 $120.00
Also, tours for individuals and small groups of less than 9 are FREE. These smaller group tours are offered daily at 11:00 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. All tours meet at the Visitors Center at 295 Galvez at the corner of Galvez and Campus Drive in front of the Stanford track.
Tour Length: 1 hour
Stanford University's Visitor Information Services welcomes more than 150,000 visitors to campus annually and provides information about the university and surrounding area. Student guides who are well versed in the university's founding and history, academic offerings, and student life lead free one-hour walking tours. The tours include the Main Quad, Memorial Church, science and engineering buildings, White Plaza, the Stanford Bookstore, and the libraries. Located off El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road. From Highway 101, take the Embarcadero Road West exit. Follow Embarcadero Road for 3 miles to the campus entrance.
The TECH Museum
201 So. Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113-2008
408.294.TECH (8324)
Daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
General Admission: Exhibits only $9.00, IMAX Admission $9.00, Combo ticket $16.00, discounts for seniors and children.
Groups: (20 or more, pre-paid) $8.00 Exhibits only, $8.00 IMAX, Combo $15.00
Tour Length: Self-paced 2-4 hours
IMAX movie approx. 45 minutes
Only in Silicon Valley can you find The Tech Museum of Innovation. A place celebrating human ingenuity and the spirit of the possible. A place that's about real stuff. A place that's fun for all ages, putting you in touch with technology as you've never experienced it: hands-on, minds-on, in your face, up-close, and fascinating. The Tech features five galleries with awesome interactive exhibits, the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theatre, a cafe, and a gift store. Located just minutes from Santa Clara in downtown San Jose at the corner of Park and Market Street. Accessible via I-280 and 87.
Technical Special Events
Physics, Science and Math Days
California's Great America
Off I-101 at Great America Parkway
408.986.5854
A mix of hands-on experimentation, and hands-in-the-air fun turns Northern California's largest family entertainment center into the area's largest hands-on learning lab. Physics, Math and Science Days offer elementary, middle, and high-school students the chance to discover the "thrill" of learning as they apply scientific and mathematical principles to the real-world rides and attractions at California's Great America.
The Park offers the only exclusive, students-only Physics, Science & Math Day at any theme park in California. For over 20 years California's Great America has been thrilling students and teachers alike with hands on learning that bring the concepts of the classroom to life in our 100-acre theme park Students from all over Califonia, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Canada have benefited from this unique program.
Computer Stores
Micro Center
3255 Mission College Blvd., Bldg. 1
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: 408.919.5400
Business Services: 408.919.5400
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Fry's Electronics
1077 E. Arques Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Tel: 408.617.1300