Palo Alto is the heart of Silicon Valley featuring a charming mixture of old and new residential neighborhoods, historic buildings, vibrant shopping and retail districts. The city is known for its thriving tech industry and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as its close association with Stanford University.
Downtown
The downtown area along University Avenue is a bustling center for shopping, dining, and entertainment. It features a mix of high-end retailers, boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. The area also hosts popular events such as the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts and May Fete Parade. Palo Alto has several other smaller shopping and dining areas including Midtown Palo Alto.
Community
Palo Alto offers a high quality of life, with a strong sense of community and a focus on sustainability. The city encourages bike-friendly infrastructure, supports green initiatives, and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle. It has five community and youth centers, and a recently renovated Palo Alto Junior Museum that provides children a place to learn, explore, play, discover, and get curious about science, nature and animals.
Schools
Palo Alto Unified School District is well-known for having highly regarded public schools like Palo Alto High School (Paly) and Gunn High School. The district consistently ranks among the top school districts in California and nationally. Additionally, Palo Alto is home to several private schools including Castilleja School. Click here to determine assigned elementary, middle and high school.
Parks & Recreation
Palo Alto offers robust community amenities including 36 parks, 39 playgrounds and 41 miles of walking and biking trails. Up in the hills, Foothills Park, which used to only be open to Palo Alto residents is a wonderful place for picnicking and hikes. The nearby Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve also provides expansive wetlands and trails for bird-watching and nature enthusiasts.
Location
Palo Alto is situated in the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately 35 miles south of San Francisco and 14 miles north of San Jose. It is bordered by Menlo Park to the north and Mountain View to the south. The city's central location and two Caltrain stations provide easy access to major tech companies, Stanford University, and the amenities of the Bay Area. With a population of 66,000 and city size around 25 square miles.