Mountain View
A picturesque urban oasis with stunning views and a vibrant tech scene
Welcome to Mountain View
Named for its beautiful mountain vistas, the city of Mountain View is an urban oasis nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. With sweeping views of Shoreline Lake and the surrounding mountains, there are breathtaking outlooks in all directions.
The city has long been an important part of the growth of Silicon Valley as a worldwide center of information technology. In the middle of the 20th century, the city was home to the first company to develop vital silicon semiconductor products.
Mountain View remains a central hub for technology sector jobs; major corporations like Google and Microsoft have expansive headquarters in the city. This quickly growing community is perfect for families and young professionals alike. Mountain View is known for its lively entertainment scene, excellent restaurants, and plentiful recreational spots.
What to Love
- Gorgeous lake and mountain views
- Highly rated local schools
- A major center of technology and innovation
- The bustling, walkable downtown district
Local Lifestyle
Mountain View is ideally located in the greater Silicon Valley area, with easy access to San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Los Altos via highway and rail. The city’s vibrant downtown corridor is lined with upscale shops, cafes, and lounges for a thrilling social scene. And foodies will love the innovative, award-winning restaurants.
Mountain View homes range from sleek downtown condominiums to sprawling mountaintop estates. And there are plenty of options for all kinds of recreation around the city. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of spots for hiking, fishing, and boating in the surrounding nature preserves. Mountain View is home to several venues hosting live music and theater performances.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
South Bay foodies have plenty of choices for upscale, award-winning eateries in the Mountain View area. Michelin-star restaurant
Chez TJ is housed inside a gorgeous Victorian home with an artfully restored interior. A single chef’s tasting menu highlights innovative contemporary French dishes like chicken fried quail and pommes souffle with caviar.
Scratch is a New American eatery serving contemporary comfort food in a sleek downtown dining space. The menu here features inventive takes on classics like chicken fried calamari and crispy tofu.
Google’s corporate headquarters,
Googleplex, is located along Shoreline Lake in Mountain View. The complex grounds are open to the public and contain several pieces of public art and lots of verdant green space.
Microsoft’s largest campus outside of Redmond is located in Mountain View. Some of the grounds are open for a driving tour, and the
Computer History Museum is just outside of the company site. This museum preserves some of the most important artifacts in computing history. The museum also organizes regular lectures and seminars on the history of the information technology industry.
Things to Do
Each fall, the Mountain View Art and Wine Festival brings visitors from all over the country to celebrate art, music, and wine. This event includes live musical performances, street painting, art sales, food trucks, wine booths, nighttime dance parties, and a fun play area for kids.
Set along the shores of Shoreline Lake, the
Shoreline Amphitheater is an expansive outdoor theater hosting festivals like Lollapalooza and BachFest. The large lawn seats 16,000 people, with reserved seats for 6,500 guests.
In downtown Mountain View, the
Civic Center and Civic Center Plaza host various music events and festivals year-round. In the summer, there are weekly outdoor concerts and KidStock children’s festivals for Mountain View residents.
Stevens Creek Trail runs through Mountain View, with five miles of paved trails and over 25 miles of hiking trails that wind along Stevens Creek. There are spots for fishing and boating along Stevens Creek that run adjacent to the trails.
Schools
