Downtown Mountain View - Mountain View, CA Area Guide

Mountain View, a stagecoach stop between San Francisco and San Jose, was primarily sustained by agriculture. The town was incorporated in 1902 and grew substantially with the establishment of aerospace and electronics industries after World War II. In 1990, the city manager issued leases to Google and other technology companies, thus generating tremendous revenue for the city.

The Computer History Museum houses more than 90,000 objects, photographs and films that trace the history of computing from the abacus to the Internet. The Historic Adobe Building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, can also be found in this area.

The Mountain View Art and Wine Festival happens every September, featuring contemporary art from over 600 artists, wine tasting and live music performances. The Kid’s Park area has bungee jumping and rock climbing.

Restaurants line the streets of El Camino Real and Castro Street, and feature diverse cuisines such as Japanese, Korean, Indian, Nepalese and Mediterranean.

For quality sandwiches loaded with toppings, signature sauces and freshly baked bread, try The Sandwich Spot. Choose the Dutch crunch bread for a giant sandwich with chicken and avocado in a creamy sauce, or try the smoked tri-tip sandwich. Friendly staff and decent prices make this a good shop to grab a quick bite. With 24 hearty sandwiches to choose from on the menu, this joint keeps customers coming back for more.

Pacific Catch serves fresh seafood with an Asian flair. Try the Hawaiian poke or raw salad with ahi tuna and spicy aioli, and regulars swear by the cod tacos as well. Don't miss out on your chance to try the Thai coconut shrimp and calamari either. Tasty desserts, upscale decor and a full bar add to the appeal of this place.

The nightlife in the neighborhood largely consists of bars and pubs the locals can use as their watering holes. Rotating beer taps, Irish whiskeys and pool tables bring locals to O’Malley’s Sports Pub and Grub. The pub has several HD TVs for sports viewing, and they offer live music as well.

A large number of residents drive in private vehicles to work, whether alone or in a carpool with co-workers, while others bike to work. Public transportation options include Caltrain, and buses and light rail operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Google, Microsoft and Apple operate shuttles for employees from the Downtown Mountain View Station. Six miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails link neighborhoods, businesses and schools around the area, making it a highly bicycle-friendly community. Most errands do not require a car in this walkable neighborhood.

Transit centers and the downtown area have several public parking lots. Motorists have easy access to U.S. Route 101 and State Highway 85, and they can easily commute to neighboring cities.

Yellow Taxi Cab and Call2Taxi serve the Mountain View area, while Uber serves San Francisco and surrounding areas.

With so many parks and water bodies in the area, Mountain View residents have an abundant number of locations to enjoy boating, kayaking, hiking, running and swimming. Most of the parks have athletic facilities as well for the fitness-minded.

Shoreline Park, built on a landfill, features a golf course, amphitheater and the historical Rengstorff House. The San Francisco Bay Trail runs along the park, allowing residents to enjoy biking and hiking. Locals can rent kayaks, canoes and paddle boats, fly a kite or walk their dogs in the dog park. Pack a picnic lunch and relax on the grass at this free park.

The Stevens Creek Trail along the Stevens Creek has paved bicycle and pedestrian paths. The Rengstorff Park and Pool offers basketball courts, volleyball, tennis, picnic tables with grills and a pool, allowing visitors to enjoy several recreational activities. This park also has several play areas for different age groups. Walking and running paths exist as well. Be aware that the picnic areas require reservations during certain months of the year.

In the summer, Thursday Night Live features live music events and car shows on Castro Street.

The cost of living in Downtown Mountain View runs much higher than the cost of living in San Jose, with the rent for a one-bedroom residence at $3,700. Gasoline prices hover 11 percent higher than the national average, making public transportation that much more attractive. A trip to San Jose using public transportation costs $2, and a pint of beer costs $7.

The San Antonio Shopping Center and the Village at San Antonio have a mix of big retail stores, restaurants and grocery stores.

For trendy scarves, unusual handbags, classy dresses and cute jewelry, shop at Boutique 4 on Castro Street. This store also sells classy home decor items and lingerie. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and one-of-a-kind pieces have customers raving about this store.

At Therapy, shop for clocks, shelves, couches, pillows and other items for your home. This boutique on Castro Street also carries chic clothes, shoes and accessories. Find gifts for someone special, or do your Christmas shopping here. The prices tend to be on the higher side at this upscale store.

Safeway, Trader Joe’s and other smaller grocery stores such as Nob Hill Foods and Ava’s Downtown Market and Deli serve this neighborhood. Shop for fruits, vegetables, pasta, bread, cheese and meat at the Milk Pail Market. This market carries organic produce at reasonable prices and also clotted cream, scones and jam. Mountain View Farmers Market, held every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., sells fresh, local and seasonal produce, bread and other baked goods, eggs, flowers and hot food.