Los Altos, CA Road Trips

Los Altos is mostly residential but there are some hotspots such as Loyola Corners, Downtown Los Altos, and the various borders between Los Altos and other close-by cities. 1 Los Altos History Museum, 51 S San Antonio Rd, ☏ +1 650-948-9427. Th-Su, noon-4PM. Features exhibits related to the city's history and occasional special events. Free. (updated Nov 2020) Los Altos is one of a small number of California cities with a true Main Street in the traditional sense, in that the downtown area is clearly centered on Main Street. The city's western border is formed by Adobe Creek, the namesake of tech giant Adobe (now based in San Jose). The creek is largely hemmed in by residential subdivisions and is difficult to see at ground level. It is most visible from the Adobe Creek overpass on El Camino Real at the northeast corner of the city. Although not in the city, Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve (Rancho OSP) is a major destination where one can enjoy views of Los Altos, Cupertino, and the rest of Silicon Valley. The park is open daily from sunrise to sundown.

Bicycling is popular, especially on the NE/SW route of Foothill Expressway. Peet's Coffee on State Street is a popular stop for bicyclists. A bicycle route from Los Altos Avenue to Arastradero road is a popular route to Stanford University that avoids much automobile traffic. During evenings in the summer, the Downtown Triangle shows a movie every evening, free of charge. Downtown Los Altos Friday Movie Nights, First Street. Pretend you're a local and bring your chairs, blankets, and picnics to this summer outdoor film series, sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association. free. Fine Art in the Park, 199 University Avenue. 11AM-5PM. An open-air art show featuring original works by over 100 artists. The event takes place in Lincoln Park in late May. free. Los Altos Art and Wine Festival, Downtown Los Altos. Walk the streets of downtown Los Altos as artist hawk their wares. There are rides, food stalls, and musical groups. The festival takes place the second weekend of July. free. Arisa Thai Massage, 4546 El Camino Real Suite 202 (Inside Village Court Plaza), ☏ +1 408 663-8070. Known for their signature massage combining Thai, Swedish, and Deep Tissue modalities. Located in the rustic Village Court Shopping Plaza near Chef Chu’s. The studio is quaint and private - perfect for couples. massage sessions start at $100/hr. 1 Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, 482 University Avenue, ☏ +1 650 947 2790, [email protected]. 6AM-9PM. A small area that features short hiking trails and picnic areas. Class and special events are often held here.

In the El Camino Corridor: Whole Foods Market. has some indoor seating Armadillo Willy's. Lunch and Dinner, American food Chef Chu's. Chinese take-out and dinner Esther's German Bakery. European bread and pastries A Good Morning. American Breakfast The Pasta Market. Italian American Dittmer's Meats. German meats In the Downtown Triangle: Los Altos Grill. American; formerly Bandera's Sumo Sushi, 355 State St, ☏ +1 650 941-9898. Japanese La Scala. Italian cuisine. Replaces the now-closed Bella Vita. Los Altos Village Pantry. Original Pancake House. Pancakes, waffles, and other breakfast items In the Rancho Shopping Center: Andronico's Market. has limited seating Rancho Pizza. Take and bake pizza Main Street Bagel. For bagels and lunch sandwiches In Loyola Corners: Tom's Depot. for breakfast and lunch Cafe Vitale. For upper-scale lunch/dinner

1 Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos, 4320 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 650 941 9900, toll-free: +1-800 321 2211, fax: +1 650 941 2866. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Located very close to downtown Palo Alto. Features an on-site restaurant called Courtyard Long Bar and Bistro that opens until 10 p.m. 2 Enchanté Boutique Hotel, 1 Main St, ☏ +1 650 946-2000, [email protected]. French chateau-inspired boutique hotel in downtown Los Altos. Also features a restaurant called Campagne One Main Bistro that is open daily from 12 to 8 p.m. 3 Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos, 4460 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 650 559 7890, fax: +1 650 559 7891. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Located close to Palo Alto's city center.

If driving on El Camino Real, drive south on San Antonio Road, south on Los Altos Avenue, or south on Grant Road. If taking public transportation, VTA bus lines 40 and 52 go near downtown Los Altos. Interstate 280 provides easy access to Los Altos. If coming in from the north (San Francisco), then use 280 South. There is no method of entry from the west with the exception of Page Mill Road and Moody Road. If coming in from the south, use 87 North with connections to 280 North. If coming from the east, then 280 North is a simple method of entry.

Los Altos is a typical low-density California suburb where most people use private automobiles to get around. The city's commercial areas and some arterial roads have sidewalks. However, many of the city's residential streets do not have sidewalks, which makes walking long distances rather inconvenient. Valley Transportation Authority provides bus service along the El Camino Real commercial corridor and also provides buses which run through Los Altos to link the Caltrain line in adjacent Mountain View with the local community college, Foothill College, in adjacent Los Altos Hills. Line 22 on El Camino Real is Silicon Valley's longest and most important bus line and therefore comes quite frequently. The other bus lines do not. The city has no train or light rail service.

Dial 911 for all emergencies. Violent crime in Los Altos is relatively rare. For hikers, there are some obvious guidelines that should be followed. Bring water, food and a first aid kit if you decide to go hiking in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. The city's police department is located near the city hall. 1 Los Altos Police Department, 1 N San Antonio Rd, ☏ +1 650 947 2770 (non-emergency line), [email protected]. 8AM-5PM M-F. Only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, but can be reached at all times via the non-emergency number. The emergency number +1 650 947 2779 can be used as an alternative to 911. For fire and medical services, Los Altos contracts with the Santa Clara County Fire District and has two fire stations: 2 Almond Fire Station (Los Altos Fire Station), 10 Almond Ave, ☏ +1 408 378 4010. Has at least three on-duty personnel at all times. Features a sculpture by Steve Bartlett called Smoke that resembles a column of smoke. 3 Loyola Fire Station, 765 Fremont Ave, ☏ +1 408 378 4010. Has at least three on-duty personnel at all times.