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Stanford is a phenomenal place, but so is theBay Area. Going off campus makes a goodcollege experience that much better. Food is al-ways a solid reason to explore, and then there

are concerts, state parks, beaches, shopping,museums, sporting events, and trendy clubsand bars all within two hours reach. You mayfind Stanford to be everything you ever

dreamed of, and if you do, thats great. However, should you get the jitters and seek newadventures, this section ought to get you started. And if you are undecided, well, some-times the appetite for exploration comes with the eating!

The Great Outdoors

HikingArastradero Preserve (Palo Alto) Grasslands, forests, six miles of hiking and

biking trails and a lake!

Eaton Park and Big Canyon Park (San Carlos) Small parks mostly used bylocals, Eaton and Big Canyon offer nice winding hikes.

Edgewood Park and Preserve (Redwood City) offers an abundant array ofwildflowers each spring for lucky hikers.

Hidden Villa Farms (Los Altos Hills) At the base of the Santa Cruz MountainFoothills, this 5-6 mile hike provides views of rabbits, deer, and banana slugs. Atrail along a clear creek leads to Josephines Retreat, where cabins are let forovernight stay. Also hosts the oldest operating hostel in the US.

Point Reyes (Marin County) Awesome views of the coast, wild and rugged, witha quaint lighthouse and miles of empty beaches, this is pure transcendence twohours away from campus.

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Megan McGraw,George Malkin

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Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve (San Mateo) Hiking and walking trails, aswell as an off-leash park for free-spirited dogs.

Sweeney Ridge (San Bruno) This trail accommodates various levels of hikers,since you can adjust youre mileage to total anywhere from 5 to 10 miles,depending on where you start and end on the loop trail. The hike offers great

views of Montara Mountain and surrounding hills, ocean, bay, and lake.Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Portola Valley) As its name implies, Windy

Hill is an excellent location for wind-related activities, such as kite flying andparagliding. There is also a beautiful trail called Hamms Gulch that winds upthrough a redwood forest into the clouds. A great afternoon escape, only tenminutes from campus!

Wunderlicht County Park (Woodside) One of the most ecologically diverse parks,with a wide variety of trees, grasses, and perennials. Elevation is steep, and attimes this park can be a bit hilly, but there are at least 15 miles of relatively flattrails.

ParksAndrew Molera State Park Very undeveloped, rustic area near Big Sur. Miles of

open meadows, beaches, and hilltops.

Big Sur Gorgeous, ecologically diverse state park with tons of available hiking andcamping. The Park also offers Wi-Fi at campsites (though you certainly dontneed it!).

San Simeon State Park One of Californias oldest state parks, with tons ofunobstructed coastal views. A long trip from Stanford, but great if you are drivingto LA or Santa Barbara.

Sunset Beach State Park This popular beach is about sixteen miles south ofSanta Cruz. Main features include pine trees, mountainous sand dunes, andocean side picnic spots. Bring layers.

Van Damme State Park Lush, abandoned, spectacular. Located near the town ofLittle River in Mendocino County. The park also features a dwarf forest that islisted as a National Natural Landmark.

Yosemite The drive to this famous national park is just over three hours. You canhike to Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, or El Capitan. Half Dome itself is a morestrenuous but very rewarding 8.2-mile hike.

Visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex for more!

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Chef Chu

Chef Chu's always attracts a crowd, and if the autographed photos on the wall are

anything to go by, they've attracted some pretty famous people. An extensive menuof traditional Chinese dishes is offeredwhat separates this restaurant is not the se-

lection or the decor, but the quality of the foodwhich is why they have been voted

Best Chinese by both the Palo Alto Daily & Weekly. The Hot and Sour soup is fla-

vored to perfection and the Lemon Chicken is famous. To learn the secret of their

success you can even take a cooking class from Chef Chu himself, who has been run-

ning this place for over 3 decades. Recommended Dish: Basil Chicken & Home-

made Potstickers

1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos

(650) 948-2696

MonFri 11:30am9:30pm

SatSun noon10pm



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BeachesAo Nuevo State Beach Located in San Mateo, this park is the worlds largest

mainland breeding colony for elephant seals. You must reserve a guided walk tovisit during breeding season, which occurs between December and March.Online reservations are available at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523 .

Baker Beach Golden Gate Bridge and dolphin sightings! Be warned, theres anude section.

Half Moon Bay (location of the annual Mavericks competition!) Half Moon Bay isprobably the closest beach to Stanford. The drive in through the trees isgorgeous, as are the cliffs and sandy beaches. The Pacific waters are perfect forsurfers during the annual Mavericks Surf Contest, but the average person willfind the beach chilly and windy. Check the forecast before you go, and if you gettoo cold, head to Main Street to grab a coffee and check out some shops.

New Brighton State Beach Includes a camping area on a bluff that overlooksnorthern Monterey Bay. Also a great fishing spot.

Ocean Beach This beach goes from the famous Cliff House to Fort Funston andis popular with surfers who can handle its strong waves. If you havent seen theCliff House or this beach, its worth it to go for the view.

Pescadero State Beach 14.5 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The beach is a milelong and is right across from the Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, a popularspot for birdwatchers.

San Gregario Located about 10.5 miles south of Half Moon Bay, this beachfeatures grassy bluffs and a protected estuary behind a wide stretch of sand.

Santa Cruz the Santa Cruz boardwalk is one of the livelier areas nearby. There areshops, arcades, rollercoasters, restaurants and more. While youre down there,walk around the downtown area as well for all sorts of specialty shops, from beadstores to independent bookstores. Visit nearby Capitola City Beach as analternative to the main boardwalk.


Destino Spa

4335 El Camino Real

Palo Alto, CA 94306

650.947.0203

Voted, Best Day Spa & Best Massage by the Palo Alto Weekly and Best Day Spa by

the Silicon Valley Concierge Association. The fusion of our state-of-the-art facility and

Eastern inspired rituals create a spa experience like none other. Drawing from fresh,lush elements of nature, our treatments are a celebration of your senses. We believe

in providing an ultra luxurious experience in a relaxed and intimate setting. Whether

you are seeking a moment of quiet reflection or an indulgent escape, we invite you

to take the journey and discover an elevated sense of well-being and renewed sense

of self.


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Stinson Beach This is a popular spot only about an hour and twenty minutesfrom campus. The beach has some pretty cool rock formations for thoseinterested in climbing. Check the weather before you go!

Day Trips

Alcatraz and Angel Island You can visit one or both of these islands for a price.The views of the Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding water are unparalleled.Hikers, bikers, and photographers alike will love Angel Island. History buffsshould also get their fill: Angel was once known as the Ellis Island of the Westwhile historic Alcatraz is famous (and infamous) as the strict prison that oncehoused the likes of Al Capone.

Berkeley You may be cringing and reaching for your Buck Ferkeley t-shirt, butgive this great college town a chance! Hippies, independent bookstores, and cafespepper the area along with shops and eateries including Urban Outfitters and

Chipotle.Big Basin Californias oldest state park is home to the largest continuous stand of

ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. The Sequoias are huge, reachingup to 379 feet tall! The park is open year round and reservations are encouraged.

Big Sur Rich in history, stunning Big Sur features mountain ranges, rare flora andfauna, and several state parks. The beaches are beautiful but far better suited for awalk than a swim. Camping is your best bet for the area (unless your studentbudget extends to 5 starresorts). Its advisable to makereservations in advance- its apopular place for obviousreasons.

Bodega Bay A prime spot for alow-key, relaxing vacation. Pitchtents in the campgrounds afterafternoon hikes and horsebackor hot air balloon rides

Cambria/Hearst Castle Cambriais an artists colony with a small-town atmosphere and countless


Hommas Brown Rice Sushi

Hommas Brown Rice Sushi takes everything you love about this ancient Japanese

cuisine and gives it a healthy and unique twist for all those sushi lovers and carb-

watchers. For 24 years, we have offered our always fresh fish that we hand roll inbrown rice in a small intimate atmosphere to dine in, signifying why we have been

referred to as a hidden gem. Call in to make reservations, order take out, or request

our catering services.

2363 B Birch St., Palo Alto

(650) 327-6118


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bed & breakfasts, located a few hours south of Stanford. The beauty of thescenery rivals many other popular California getaways, and many of the shops,restaurants, and galleries are affordable for a student budget. Hearst Castle is a165 room Spanish villa six miles north of Cambria.

Lake Tahoe A great space for skiing, hiking, and water activities, Tahoe is great in

every season. The summertime sight of the glistening lake surrounded by trees isnothing short of breathtaking. The cabins and campgrounds are popular, so makeyour reservations early!

Monterey Home to the famed aquarium, Cannery Row, and Fishermans Wharf,this town is full of noise and activity. On a clear day, taking the scenic 17-Miledrive from Monterey to serene Carmel is quite a treat for the eyes.

Mount Tamalpais Just north of the Golden Gate, Mt. Tamalpais is the highestpeak in Marin County. Bay Area locals go here for everything from mountainbiking and picnicking to hang-gliding and horseback riding.

Muir Woods Take an awe inspiring hike through the 1000 year old redwoods.Ambitious hikers venture on the 5.2 mile Ocean View Trail to Redwood Trail toSun Trail for a breathtaking view of the Pacific.

Napa Valley famous for its vineyards, restaurants, and resorts, Napa offers scenicdrives and countless wineries. Check out the Napa Valley Wine Train that willtake you on a three-hour tour, accompanied with wine sampling and brunch.Underage? Not a wino? There are plenty of alternative activities, such as thePetrified Forest, Safari West, and the Old Faithful Geyser. The charming town of

Sonoma is also worth a visit.



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Sausalito A beautiful town close to SF, Sausalito offers great restaurants and cafesas well as kayaking, boating and hiking opportunities. Take the ferry in and visitthe Bay Model Visitor Center while youre there.

The Mystery Spot Located near Santa Cruz, The Mystery Spot was discovered in1939. According to the owners, the laws of physics and gravity amazingly do not

apply to this area. Go decide for yourself (and finally see where all those bumperstickers come from).

Yosemite The drive to this national park is just over three hours. You can hike toHalf Dome, Yosemite Falls, or El Capitan. Half Dome is a more strenuous 8.2-mile hike for the more athletic. Dont miss the historic Ahwahnee Hotel and the

Ansel Adams Gallery.


Hillsdale Shopping Center

Hillsdale Shopping Center, located off Hwy. 101 at Hillsdale Blvd. in San Mateo.

The Peninsula's largest, enclosed shopping center welcomes visitors with the per-

fect year-round shopping climate. Beautiful marble and granite floors weave through

the spacious two story center, accentuated by dramatic lighting and burnished brass

fittings.

The diverse selection of shopping experiences range from fashion and jewelry to

household and luxury items with Nordstrom, Macy's and Sears plus 130 specialty

stores including Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel, Apple, Barnes & NobleBooksellers, Coach, Cost Plus World Market, Williams-Sonoma, Bebe, Godiva

Chocolatier, Banana Republic, Forever21, Hollister and Swarovski. Hillsdale Shop-

ping Center also offers delicious dining choices from a variety of fast meals at

FOOD31 to restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen, Outback Steakhouse and

Romano's Macaroni Grill.

Laser Quest

Laser Quest is live action laser tag at its best! The perfect venue for any group; we

have hosted hundreds of events for fraternity and sorority groups, dorm outings, and

many other social events for college students across the country.

Laser Quest games are played in a multi-level maze with specialty lighting, swirling

fog and throbbing music. Unlike many other events, Laser Quest is gender and age

neutral, and you dont need to be an athlete to play! We offer several packages rang-

ing from single games to multi-game private events. We can accommodate a variety

of group sizes, and packages can be customized specifically for your event. Reser-

vations are required.

Please call 650-965-9800 or visit our website at www.laserquest.com for more in-

formation.


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Concert Venues

Palo Alto, unfortunately, does not alwaysattract the most popular musical acts notborn in the 1920s. Luckily, there are a num-ber of great concert venues near Stanford.Here are the best ones to know if you are aprospective concert-goer:

The Fillmore

The Fillmore is the quintessential San Fran-cisco music venue, steeped in tradition andvital to the citys identity. You can see it in theendless posters that line the auditorium or

taste it when you take a bite out of the free ap-ples they hand out before every show. Sincethe 60s, the Fillmore has been symbolic of al-most anything and everything that is hipabout the city. In its heyday, the venue was thehome of free love and counterculture, gracedby the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelinand Pink Floyd. While the Fillmore has beenmoved twice it hasnt lost any of its original

charm. The Fillmore remains the most inti-mate of prominent Bay Area venues with a ca-pacity for just over 1,000 guests. Concertsregularly sell out, with artists usually bookingfor more than one appearance to appease de-mand. For venue info visit www.thefill-more.com.

The Fox Theater

A quick hop across the bay, The Fox Theateris located in the heart of a revitalized Down-town Oakland. Reopened in early 2009 aftera 43-year hiatus, The Fox has become theflagship for Another Planet Entertainment,the music company that puts on the annualOutside Lands and Treasure Island MusicFestivals. The theater itself is a throwback toan extravagant 20s movie theater, complete

with a giant red curtain, gold trim facades andceilings covered in Victorian murals. Ofcourse, there are the modern amenities foundwith two massive hanging speakers providingthe audio firepower to please even the picki-est music aficionado. Since its opening, The



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Fox has hosted a whos who of indie rock bands, among them Sonic Youth, The Shins,Bloc Party and The Arctic Monkeys. For upcoming acts check www.thefoxoakland.com.

The Great American Music Hall

A very respected, intimate venue for live music and entertainment in San Francisco. This

hall is often a great place to catch rising stars. Recent acts include KT Tunstall, The Ex-pendables, and James Blake. Also be sure to check out GAMHs sister venue, the live mu-sic club Slims.

The Greek Theatre

Venturing into enemy territory has its risks, but just bear in mind that youre doing itfor the music. Berkeleys Greek Theatre is really the heart of the beast, home to Cals grad-


Pizza My Heart

You don't really become a Stanford student until you have enjoyed a slice of Pizza

My Heart pizza. Their delicious hand-tossed pizza and undeniably Nor-Cal roots

makes them almost as Stanford as the band. Their location in downtown Palo Alto

is the perfect place to chill with friends and their free pizza slice coupon in the back

of the Unofficial Guide and Directory is legendary among students. With great pizza

and a chill scene, its no wonder they are the go-to place for dinner or delivery and

their Pizza My Heart t-shirt is part of most students' wardrobes.


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uation ceremonies and a certain Big Game bonfire. Secluded from the surrounding cam-pus, the century-old amphitheatre is nestled in the Berkeley foothills. Because of its de-licious location, the stone sanctuary has had little trouble attracting big name artists fromDeath Cab for Cutie to Phish to Vampire Weekend. The Greek Theatre has something foreveryone, with a spacious pit area for the passionate music fan to the stone steps and grass

area where you can stretch your legs and enjoy audio bliss. Those who arrive early enoughfor a show can royally take in the experience seated in the handful of thrones that linethe amphitheatres pit. www.apecon-certs.com/ venue_greekTheatre.comfor concert information.

Popscene

Popscene isnt exactly a venue. Itsmore a scene, an idea conceived by a

few bored individuals starving for anintimate way to see upstart music acts.Over the years, the Bay Area eventhas provided indie enthusiasts with anup close and personal setting to seerising musicians for a paltry price.

Among the names on an endless list ofthose who have graced Popscenes stage before their induction into the public spotlightinclude Franz Ferdinand, Phoenix and Kings of Leon. While the event usually takes place

on Thursday nights at 330 Ritch Street, organizers can change up the venue to better suit


Slims (415) 255-0333.

333 11th St., San Francisco.

Opened in 1988 by legendary R&B artist Boz Scaggs, Slim's is a live music night-club dedicated to providing the public with excellent service, a congenial atmosphere,

good food & drinks, and the finest of American Roots MusicBlues, R&B, Ca-

jun/Zydeco, Jazz, Alternative, Punk, Rock, Indie, Folk, and more. The club is located

in the South of Market district of San Francisco, a hub of nightlife in the city.

Visit www.slims-sf.com for our calendar, tickets, and more info!

The Pasta Market

Check out Pasta Market for some of the best noodles close to campus. Sauces taste

like homemade, and the marinara is especially notable for its satisfying heartiness.

Waiters are attentive and very helpful in pointing out their favorites among the sauces

you may not have tried before.

Recommended Entree: Fettuccini Alfredo


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artists or scheduling needs. Information onPopscene can be found at www.popscene-sf.com.

Shoreline Amphitheater

A large outdoor amphitheatre 7.5 milesfrom Stanford that features the biggest actscoming through the Peninsula. The bestway to find out about concerts here isthrough LiveNation, http://www.livena-tion.com/.

The Warfield

One of San Franciscos oldest concert ven-ues, The Warfield features as good a musi-cal experience as the city has to offer. Thevenue opened in the 20s, originally de-signed as a Vaudeville theatre and slowlytransitioning to a movie palace. The

Warfield has stayed true to the era, main-taining scarlet and gold walls to a massivebalcony and ornate chandeliers. By the

70s, however, the venue was turned into apremier music venue with artists includingThe Clash and Bob Dylan providing somememorable performances. The GratefulDead would come to call the Warfieldhome in the 80s, playing night after nightto cement their place in the venues history.The theater, with a capacity of about 2,000people, is the favorite venue for bands that

enjoy the Warfields renowned sound sys-tem and its airy floor space. Getting thereis simple enough, heading north on theCalTrain to San Francisco and then walkinga few blocks to the citys shady TenderloinDistrict. For event information visithttp://www.thewarfieldtheatre.com .

Yoshis

If you like jazz, you have to go to Yoshis.There are two locations, one in Oaklandand one in SF. Both get great artists. Besure to buy tickets well in advance for thebigger acts, since they will inevitably sellout.



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On top of these, sometimes really big name artists come to the Bay Area and get bookedin an even bigger space, like an athletic venue. Recent instances of this include Kanye per-forming at the HP Pavilion (home of the San Jose Sharks; 30 minutes from campus) andPaul McCartney performing at AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants; 2 blocksfrom the SF CalTrain station).

Museums

Classes are tough, your head hurts, your problem sets are long, and maybe about thelast thing you want to do is to stuff your head with more history trivia, thoughts aboutart, and scientific phenomena. But maybe youwant to refresh your mind by taking what youknow out of the textbook and into physicallyinstantiated exhibits, works, and displays. Ifso, here are some places you might check

out.

First, you can ease into the museum sceneby riding the Caltrain down to San Jose andseeing The Tech Museum. There, you canplay with mini windmills to learn about re-newable energy, look at the structure and cul-ture of the internet by arm-wrestling someonein Alaska, and see what innovations have

come out of Silicon Valley by walking througha clean room where microchips are made.The museum is definitely oriented towardskids, but sometimes you need that perspec-tive.

If you want to take a step up, consider theExploratorium in the Marina District in SF. Its a little bit of a trip to get there and likely


Thaiphoon

Voted the Best Thai Restaurant 20062010, Palo Alto Weekly. Cozy in size and d-

cor, this friendly downtown restaurant serves up delectable Pan-Asian cuisine. The

focus is on Thai, but also has room for many classic as well as original dishes drawn

from Southeast Asian and Indian cooking. The exceptionally wide-ranging menu in-

cludes a medley of soups, appetizers, and entrees featuring beef, poultry, lamb,

seafood, healthy vegetables, noodles dishes, and jasmine brown rice. An attractiveawning-covered outdoor seating area with heat lamps and a Buddha fountain offers

year-round al fresco dining in a jungle atmosphere. The full-bar serves wine, Thai

beer, and other import and domestic beers and exotic cocktails. Catering to events

and corporate functions, take-out are available.

Lunch: MonSat, 113pm; Dinner: SunThu, 59:30pm; Fri & Sat, 510pm.


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involves some use of the MUNI after getting to the city, but youll love it. The museumis entirely hands-on, and you might be wary once you see all the kids running around,but youll get sucked in just as much. Unlike The Tech Museum, this museum truly hadkids of all ages in mind when built. Sure, you know about conservation of energy fromhigh school physics and center-surround receptive fields from Psych 55, but you didnt

really experience it like you will here. Youll learn about the limits of the human senses,how arches stay up, optical illusions, and all the mistakes of invention. And whileyoure at it, take a stroll out to the Palace of Fine Arts right next door, possibly one of themost beautiful places in the Bay Area. The California Academy of Sciences also featuressome impressive aquariums, and it is easily accessible in Golden Gate Park.


Papa Murphys Take N Bake Pizza

Had enough of frozen? Delivery not delivering? If so, raise your pizza cutter high

and declare yourself free of anything less than fresh. Fresh pizza made right beforeyour eyes. Fresh pizza made exactly how you want it. Fresh pizza that you bake at

home so its always hot out of your oven. Cause thats how pizza should be.

Its time to lock the freezer and put the phone down.

Its time to take fresh pizza into your own hands.

Its time to Join the Take N Bake Revolution.

650-328-5200

2730 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA


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Or maybe you dont want to go to a science museum. Instead, you might go to anotherspot at the northern tip of San Francisco: the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Pre-sidio. The building looks small from the outside, but they have packed an unbelievableamount of material in it. You start with Disneys childhood, then wind through Steam-boat Willie, Snow White, and the creation of Disney World. Itll remind you of your child-

hood, but this is not a childrens museum. It takes a hard look at the details and difficultiesof making movies through strikes, wars, and tough economic times. The museum is laidout in a very particular order, and it should only take you about 2 or 3 hours to finish


Spot A Pizza Place

Spot A Pizza Place

115 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto - (650) 324-3131

133 Main Street, Los Altos - (650) 947-7768

Open daily from 11am to 9pm

Take one bite of the delicious, piping hot pizza at Spot and youll understand why

it was voted the best pizza in Palo Alto. They say the secret is in the beer batter crust,

but it is also in the great specialty pizzas and overall freshness. With such great pizza,

low prices, and fast service, this is sure to become your favorite spot!

Recommended: Blind Spot Pizza.


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it. The Presidio of San Francisco, where the museum is located, is a beautiful area withnice views.

If youre feeling even artsier than that, you can take a straight shot south into GoldenGate Park to see the de Young Museum. Its a fairly traditional fine arts museum, with

American art, ancient pottery, and African masks. If its your thread, you might even check

out the textiles exhibits with quilts from across the country. They bring in a variety of ex-hibitions, so keep an eye on their website for whats new and interesting. The de Youngis also an exhibit from the outside:it was redesigned in 2005 and isclad in copper.

Or maybe you want something alittle more wild than that. If so,check out the SF MOMA (San

Francisco Museum of Modern Art),located in the heart of downtownSan Francisco. They also regularlybring in exhibits, but their standingcollection of modern art is perhapsonly second in the United States tothe MOMA in New York City. Beprepared to be confused as youlook at works that remind you of

the finger paintings you did in kindergarten, but also amazed by some of the more in-tense photography. It might not be the easiest on the mind, but if youre ready to con-sider it deeply, this museum might just change you.

To bring it back around if youre a computer geek, you might go for the Computer His-tory Museum in Mountain View. Their hours are somewhat limited, but thats what youget when admission is free. Theres a fully functional Charles Babbage Difference Enginein the lobby, and another room houses many old mainframes of some historical value.The experience isnt particularly well put together, but if you like your nerd history, theresno other collection like this in the world.

And of course, Stanford has its own museum on campus, The Cantor Arts Center. Themuseum hosts special nights for students and has a variety of Stanford-related and non-Stanford related pieces of art. You can even take classes to become a guide there.

Awesome Museums by Genre

Despite what we may have thought as little kids, museums dont have to be boring. Liv-ing in the Bay Area is really advantageous for exploring all kinds of fascinating exhibits.

Art, history and science are definitely well covered. If those dont tickle your fancy after

reading a few hundred pages for class or polishing off your p-set, there are several moreeclectic museums around, too.

Art Museums

The de Young Golden Gate Park houses The de Young Museum, where you canfind various fine art exhibitions all year round. Bring your SUID and get in for sixdollars! The park grounds also feature the Academy of Sciences, beautifulbotanical gardens, and Conservatory of Flowers.



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The California Palace of the Legion of Honor Built in 1924, the Legion of Honorfeatures over 6,000 years of ancient art from across the globe. Works by El Greco,Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso are found within its halls. The Legion is locatedin Lincoln Park, so the Asian Art Museum is only a few steps away.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art The SF MoMA is solely dedicated to

modern and contemporary art. It includes an impressive collection of sometimesmind-boggling artwork. Head there to admire works by artists such as Andy

Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Henri Matisse.

Science and Tech

Museums

The Long Now Foundation San Franciscos Fort MasonCenter is home to The Long

Now Foundation. Dedicatedto fostering long-termthinking, this museumincludes a functionalmechanical computer, someparts for the 10,000-year,electricity-free clock that iscurrently being built in Texas,and the Rosetta Project,which seeks to preserve theworlds languages.

The Tech Museum Located inSan Jose, the Tech Museumalso offers another hands-onexperience with science. Itsgalleries highlight Silicon

Valley innovations,

explanations of the laws of nature, as well as interactive activities coveringgenetics, earth sciences, and more. You can even arm-wrestle someone in Alaskain the name of Internet education. Youll never be too old for this place.

The Exploratorium This Marina District museum is a hands-on experience thatwill probably reach your inner child. Its mission is to explore science, art, andhuman perception. Expect the unexpected with optical illusions and thedemonstrations of the limits of human senses.

The Computer History Museum This one is not only close by (its located inMountain View) but offers a student discount (12 dollar admission). Computer

nerds and Average Joes might both geek out over some of the technologicalexhibits. The museums current Revolution display covers the history andevolution of the computer, from the abacus to modern technology. If you arenttech savvy, bring a translator.



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937BREAKING THE BUBBLE

Off the Beaten Path

Muse Mcanique This collection of over 200 coin-operated antique arcademachines and mechanical instruments is found at SFs Fishermans Wharf. Bringplenty of quarters the machines actually work. The museum offers a uniquelook into the Bay Areas past. You may find it bizarre and slightly creepy, butyoull also have fun. If nothing else, youll learn to appreciate your PS3 evenmore. If this place floats your boat, the Pacific Pinball Museum might also beworth a visit.

The Beat Museum If you have an interest in the adventures, writings, andmayhem of the Beat Generation, the North Beach area of SF is the place for you.The Beat Museum itself has memorabilia from Kerouac, Cassady, Ginsberg, andFerlinghetti. The famous City Lights bookstore that originally publishedGinsbergs controversial Howl is only a couple minutes away.

The Cartoon Art Museum Cartoons, comics, illustration, digital animation, andvideogames all have their place at the Cartoon Art Museum. Situated on MissionStreet in San Francisco, the museum features many temporary exhibitionscovering the art of Thien Pham as well as highlighting the Green Lantern comics.This seems like heaven for teenage boys, but all types of people can enjoythemselves here.

San Francisco Seasonal Events

SEPTEMBEREarly Sept: Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival. Use your imagination. Remember

the game Candy Land from preschool? Its like that but in real life! Proceeds go toProject Open Hand. Eat chocolate for charity! What could be better?

Sept: San Francisco Shakespeare Festival (At Golden Gate Park every Sat & Sun inSeptember. Show begins at 1:30pm, but get there at noon for a seat. Free.)

Thursdays: San Francisco Fringe Festival (Starting the first Thursday after LaborDay). Showcases experimental theatre, with 62 international companiespresenting shows at several theatres downtown, all within walking distance ofone another. Under an hour, all less than $8.

24: LovEvolution (formerly Love Fest): A parade and festival celebrating music, dance,debauchery, and love (however one chooses to define it!)

28: Folsom St Fair, A sexy street fair and the worlds largest leather event. Everyonewears his/her most outrageous leather attire for the final day of leather prideweek (takes place on the last Sun of the month. You must be of adult orientednature to attend).

OCTOBEREarly Oct: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival: The best and most musically-diverse free

concert of the year! The greatest acts in folk, folk rock, southern rock andbluegrass spanning 3 days and 5 stages in Golden Gate Park. Its like Woodstockfor the West Coast. Past performers include Iron & Wine, Elvis Costello andRobert Plant (of Led Zeppelin). Bring along a blanket and know your scheduleahead of time so you can find a nice spot to sit and listen.


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7-12: Fleet week with the Blue Angels

Mid Oct: San Francisco Jazz Festival 2 weeks long. Considered the best jazzfestival in the world, this multi-week showcase is a gathering space for legends,rising stars, and eager novices.

Mid Oct: Treasure Island Music Festival. An annual two-day music festival onTreasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay that features the latest andgreatest acts in rock, indie, hip-hop, and electronic music. The besttransportation option is to take CalTrain, walk to the parking lots by AT&T Park,and use the free shuttles provided by the concert organizers.

Late October: Bridge School Benefit Concert. An underrated event organized by NeilYoung that brings some really high profile musicians to Shoreline Amphitheatre,a mere 10 minutes from campus. Tickets are cheap relative to what mostequivalently star-studded concerts normally cost. Neil Young often plays a few

numbers by himself and with the other headliners.31: Halloween on Castro Street. Crazy! Dangerous! Worth it!

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving Week: Tree lighting ceremonies. All around the Bay Area, many groupsare putting on tree lighting ceremonies as the holiday season begins.http://sf.funcheap.com will have them all listed. The biggest one is the Macystree lighting in Union Square, though youll want to arrive early to find a goodspot facing the stage. If youre very proactive, you might even find a spot inside

one of the stores around Union Square for a great view. These ceremonies areadmittedly short, so plan it aspart of a day trip if yourelooking to get the most bangfor your buck.

JANUARY

Date TBD: No Pants Day on theBART: Take public transit at

your own risk.

TBA Zinfandel Wine Festival atFort Mason Center

Mid-January The Arrival of theSea Lions at Pier 39

FEBRUARY

Early Feb: San Francisco Independent Film Festival A celebration of the best indie

films from around the Bay area at various locations around the city.Early/Mid Feb: Chinese New Year Celebration and Parade in Chinatown. San

Franciscos largest festival. Flower Fair, Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, aCoronation Ball, and a Community Street Fair. Watch the Parade (starting around5:30pm) from Market and 2nd St. to Columbus Ave. Dont miss the Chinese New

Year Treasure Hunt. Huge pro: its all free!

14: Valentines Day pillow fight



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Mid Feb: Fishermans Wharf Classic Car Show

Mid Feb: Tulipmania (Pier 39). Get lost in 39,000 tulips from around the world.Free.

Late Feb/ Early March: Pacific Orchid Exposition in the Festival Pavilion at FortMason Center. The San Francisco Orchid Society displays an amazing floralcollection for free.

MARCH

St. Pattys Day: St. Patricks Day Parade. Starts at noon at 2nd and Market St. andends at City Hall. One of SFs biggest annual parades and one of the longest-running in the US.

TBA Emerald Across the Bay 12k The run goes from East Fort Baker, across theGolden Gate Bridge, and into the Aquatic Park.

Last Weekend: SF Street Performers Festival at Pier 39 Enjoy Stanfords ownunicyclists, jugglers and ropewalkers? Then youll probably love this Call (415)705-5500 for more information.

APRIL

Beginning of April: BASEBALL SEASON STARTS. AT&T Park is home to the 2010World Series Champs, the SF Giants. Grab some buddies and go on a collegenight when the tickets are dirt-cheap. Be sure to bring a warm jacket, since thestadium gets chilly and windy at night.

24: SF International Beer Festival Those who are over 21 can sample over 300types of beer (well, not all of them, please) from a selection of the best beerbrewers in the world. Tickets are pricier ($50 in advance), but include unlimitedbeer tasting and noshing. At the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason.

Mid Apr: Sidewalk Arts and Crafts Show. West Portal Avenue, SF.

Mid to Late Apr: San Francisco WalkAgainst Rape sponsored by SanFrancisco Women Against Rape,

the 3.1 mile walk draws rapesurvivors, their supporters andfamily members.

Late Apr: Cherry Blossom Festival inJapantown. Over 200,000 peoplegather to watch martial artists,

Japanese classical and folk dancers,tea ceremonies, taiko drummers,and more.

Late Apr/ Early May: International FilmFestival, the longest-running filmfestival in the USA, attracts anaudience of over 80,000 with over200 films and many filmmakers inattendance.



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MAY

Cinco de Mayo: The Mission bursts with colorful costumes and Mariachi bands.

Mid-May: Bay to Breakers! Annual cross-city 12 kilometer race. Some participantswear costumes. Others wear nothing. Quintessential San Francisco. See kegfloats, kegs in baby carriages, kegs on wheels, kegs for breakfast

Memorial Day Weekend: Carnaval. SFs take on Mardi Gras, featuring Latino, jazz,samba Caribbean music, and more.

JUNE

Starting the Second Saturday: Ethnic Dance Festival the Palace of Fine artshowcases SFs diverse communities through dance.

Second Sunday: The Haight Street Fair The hippie in you would love to attend therecreation of the Summer of Love with thousands of others in Haight-Ashbury.

Mid June: North Beach Festival In SFs Little Italy. Features Italian street painting,gourmet food, cooking demonstrations, live music and arts and crafts booths.

2526: Gay Freedom Day Parade SF Pride 2-day celebration and parade. SanFrancisco Pride is an event with nothing like it.

JuneAug: Stern Grove Music Festival. In the park in the Sunset district. Freeconcert series for 10 weeks. Free opera, ballet, jazz, world music, and a capellaon Sundays. Come early for good seats. Performances at 2pm; pre-performancetalks at 11am.

Late June/early July: Cable car bell-ringing championship. Cable car gripmencompete for prizes. Location changes each year. Call (415) 673-6864 for info.

JULY

4: Fireworks everywhere! Shoreline often has a symphony performance toaccompany, though you can find other free shows in Cupertino, Redwood City,San Francisco, and more.

Late July: Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy. The self-proclaimed Garlic Capital of theWorld. Its your typical food festival with cook-offs, rides for kids, local

community groups, live performers, and cooking demos. Bring sunscreen, water,and a hat because it gets hot in Gilroy, just south of San Jose.

AUGUST

Early Aug: Nihonmachi Street Fair. In Japantown, go here to watch lion dancers,taiko drummers, and karaoke wars, and to learn about the issues that Asian/Pacific Americans face today.

Date TBD: Outside Lands Music Festival. 2 days of big musical acts right in Golden

Gate Park in San Francisco.

uog-2011

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