A vacation to Silicon Valley can be a dream come true for Geeks of all ages. While a journey to the birthplace of technology may not be on quite the same level as a religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem or Mecca, it is a significant event that a Geek will never forget.
A sea captain may want to travel and see all of the historic lighthouses along the Eastern Seaboard. Kids would consider a trip to Disneyland to be a dream vacation and other people would be thrilled to spend a week on a tropical island in the Caribbean. While Geeks may like to go to amusement parks and lay out on the beach like their less tech-savvy friends, what they really would love the best is a trip to Silicon Valley.
Not all of today's innovative technology takes place in California's Silicon Valley, but it is the home of technology giants like Apple, Google and Hewlett-Packard. Silicon Valley is filled with venture capitalists looking to fund the next Google or Facebook. Silicon Valley will always be the heart of the industry.
If you want to get a first-hand look at the earliest stages of the digital age on through the latest developments in our digital world, there is no better place to take a vacation than the Silicon Valley. So pack your bags and come out to see where technology began, where it is today, and where technology may go in the future.
Computer History Museum
Upholding the honorary title of Geek makes it almost mandatory that part of your tour of Silicon Valley includes a visit to the Computer History Museum. Home to the largest collection of computer-related artifacts in the world, it is quite amazing to journey through time and see how far technology has come from the early days. Even though you may not have been born back in 1956, you will appreciate the contribution that IBM made to data storage technology by replacing the punched cards with the first disk drives.
Your time in the museum will be like taking a walk through time. As you make your way from exhibit to exhibit, you will have to see the step-by-step advances in technology in what is a relatively short period of time. From the first microchip to the introduction of Atari's Pong game you will move forward in time to see the introduction of the Apple computer and the IBM personal computer.
Moving forward, your tour will feature the brand new Internet and let you see how computers have continually changed to keep up with the times. Explore everything and when you are done, stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir for yourself and maybe a gift for one of your geeky friends.
HP Garage
Close to the Palo Alto campus of Stanford University, in a small, quiet neighborhood, stands a structure of great historical significance. Back in 1938, Stanford classmates, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard rented out the 12x18-foot modest space and started a business. The detached garage served as a research lab, workshop and manufacturing facility for some of the first Hewlett-Packard products.
In 1989, the garage was officially dedicated as the Birthplace of Silicon Valley. In 2007 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. HP purchased and restored the Garage and adjacent home to its original 1938 appearance. Geeks and plain old curiosity seekers are welcome to get a view of this historic site from the sidewalk but are not permitted on the private property. You are welcome to come by and snap a few pictures, but please respect the privacy of the neighbors.
Original Apple Store
Take out your smartphone and use your GPS to find the shortest route to Apple's corporate headquarters in Cupertino. The company store is open to the public, but is not like the local Apple store you might have visited in your home town. They do not sell iPhones or computers at this store, but it is the only place you can buy an authentic Apple logo t-shirt, cap or other accessories.
Google Garage
Garages must hold a special place in the hearts of all those people who aspire to become the next famous Geek in Silicon Valley. Today there are probably hundreds of tech-savvy teens working in their garages to come up with the next great product that will change the landscape in the Silicon Valley. If you were interested in the HP Garage, you will also be interested in seeing the Google Garage. It was 1998 when Stanford grad students Larry Page and Sergey Brin came up with the world's most popular search engine and housed their start-up business in the home of Susan Wojcicki's Menlo Park garage. If you are a Geek, come and gawk at the original company home of the Internet's most influential company.
Weirdstuff Warehouse
If you need anything computer or tech-related you will probably find it in this 10,000 square foot store. You can find almost anything from cables, printers and software to artistic mouse pads and old parts for your vintage computer.
Google's Android Statues
Standing proudly outside of Building 44 at Google's corporate headquarters is a collection of iconic figures. Each plastic Android statue has a code name based on a new version of the popular mobile operating system. Come see the newest Android - KitKat, who joins Cupcake, Gingerbread Man and the others.
Intel Museum
Although this is a small museum, it contains the complete story of Intel and its history of making the brain of the personal computer. Plan on spending a couple of hours and bring the kids along because they will love the many interactive exhibits. This is a fun and educational experience that should not be missed and admission is free!
Annual Shareholder Meeting
If you have a 401-K plan or invest in the stock market, you probably own some of these high-tech companies. If you own a share of Apple, Google or Facebook, and are in town at the right time of the year, you can attend the annual shareholder meeting. What a treat it would be for any Geek to see Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) or Tim Cook (Apple) and maybe even ask them a question.
Silicon Valley is great for Geeks of all ages. While it is a real place with real hard-working people, you will feel like you are in an enchanted land. Visit the tech sites, stop by Stanford University, have lunch at a fabulous restaurant and take a little time to let the magnificence of this area take your breathe away.
For more things to do in Silicon Valley please visit Things to do in Mountain View website. For more information about where to stay in Silicon Valley please visit hotel in Mountain View California website.
A sea captain may want to travel and see all of the historic lighthouses along the Eastern Seaboard. Kids would consider a trip to Disneyland to be a dream vacation and other people would be thrilled to spend a week on a tropical island in the Caribbean. While Geeks may like to go to amusement parks and lay out on the beach like their less tech-savvy friends, what they really would love the best is a trip to Silicon Valley.
Not all of today's innovative technology takes place in California's Silicon Valley, but it is the home of technology giants like Apple, Google and Hewlett-Packard. Silicon Valley is filled with venture capitalists looking to fund the next Google or Facebook. Silicon Valley will always be the heart of the industry.
If you want to get a first-hand look at the earliest stages of the digital age on through the latest developments in our digital world, there is no better place to take a vacation than the Silicon Valley. So pack your bags and come out to see where technology began, where it is today, and where technology may go in the future.
Computer History Museum
Upholding the honorary title of Geek makes it almost mandatory that part of your tour of Silicon Valley includes a visit to the Computer History Museum. Home to the largest collection of computer-related artifacts in the world, it is quite amazing to journey through time and see how far technology has come from the early days. Even though you may not have been born back in 1956, you will appreciate the contribution that IBM made to data storage technology by replacing the punched cards with the first disk drives.
Your time in the museum will be like taking a walk through time. As you make your way from exhibit to exhibit, you will have to see the step-by-step advances in technology in what is a relatively short period of time. From the first microchip to the introduction of Atari's Pong game you will move forward in time to see the introduction of the Apple computer and the IBM personal computer.
Moving forward, your tour will feature the brand new Internet and let you see how computers have continually changed to keep up with the times. Explore everything and when you are done, stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir for yourself and maybe a gift for one of your geeky friends.
HP Garage
Close to the Palo Alto campus of Stanford University, in a small, quiet neighborhood, stands a structure of great historical significance. Back in 1938, Stanford classmates, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard rented out the 12x18-foot modest space and started a business. The detached garage served as a research lab, workshop and manufacturing facility for some of the first Hewlett-Packard products.
In 1989, the garage was officially dedicated as the Birthplace of Silicon Valley. In 2007 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. HP purchased and restored the Garage and adjacent home to its original 1938 appearance. Geeks and plain old curiosity seekers are welcome to get a view of this historic site from the sidewalk but are not permitted on the private property. You are welcome to come by and snap a few pictures, but please respect the privacy of the neighbors.
Original Apple Store
Take out your smartphone and use your GPS to find the shortest route to Apple's corporate headquarters in Cupertino. The company store is open to the public, but is not like the local Apple store you might have visited in your home town. They do not sell iPhones or computers at this store, but it is the only place you can buy an authentic Apple logo t-shirt, cap or other accessories.
Google Garage
Garages must hold a special place in the hearts of all those people who aspire to become the next famous Geek in Silicon Valley. Today there are probably hundreds of tech-savvy teens working in their garages to come up with the next great product that will change the landscape in the Silicon Valley. If you were interested in the HP Garage, you will also be interested in seeing the Google Garage. It was 1998 when Stanford grad students Larry Page and Sergey Brin came up with the world's most popular search engine and housed their start-up business in the home of Susan Wojcicki's Menlo Park garage. If you are a Geek, come and gawk at the original company home of the Internet's most influential company.
Weirdstuff Warehouse
If you need anything computer or tech-related you will probably find it in this 10,000 square foot store. You can find almost anything from cables, printers and software to artistic mouse pads and old parts for your vintage computer.
Google's Android Statues
Standing proudly outside of Building 44 at Google's corporate headquarters is a collection of iconic figures. Each plastic Android statue has a code name based on a new version of the popular mobile operating system. Come see the newest Android - KitKat, who joins Cupcake, Gingerbread Man and the others.
Intel Museum
Although this is a small museum, it contains the complete story of Intel and its history of making the brain of the personal computer. Plan on spending a couple of hours and bring the kids along because they will love the many interactive exhibits. This is a fun and educational experience that should not be missed and admission is free!
Annual Shareholder Meeting
If you have a 401-K plan or invest in the stock market, you probably own some of these high-tech companies. If you own a share of Apple, Google or Facebook, and are in town at the right time of the year, you can attend the annual shareholder meeting. What a treat it would be for any Geek to see Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) or Tim Cook (Apple) and maybe even ask them a question.
Silicon Valley is great for Geeks of all ages. While it is a real place with real hard-working people, you will feel like you are in an enchanted land. Visit the tech sites, stop by Stanford University, have lunch at a fabulous restaurant and take a little time to let the magnificence of this area take your breathe away.
For more things to do in Silicon Valley please visit Things to do in Mountain View website. For more information about where to stay in Silicon Valley please visit hotel in Mountain View California website.
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