Mountain View, in California is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. The Silicon Valley lies in the South Bay and the southern Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area. Once best known for its prune orchards, the area underwent explosive growth with the creation of the high-tech industry in the 1960s. Although much of the area suffers from the suburban sprawl typical of much of the western United States, it still has some remarkable charm. The nearby Santa Cruz mountains make for a welcome respite from bustling 21st-century cyberliving.
Mountain View is one of the major cities that make up Silicon Valley, and has many notable Silicon Valley companies either headquartered there or with a large presence, including AOL, Google, Nokia and Microsoft.
Mountain View is located 10 miles north of San Jose and 35 miles south of San Francisco. Mountain View began as a stagecoach stop and agricultural center. The town was incorporated in 1902 with a population of fewer than 1,000 people. After World War II, Mountain View experienced a population boom as the electronic and aerospace industries grew. Today, the city's population is estimated to be 72,200. Mountain View's key attractions include the Shoreline Amphitheater and Moffett Field.
Downtown Mountain View is considered one of the most successful redevelopment efforts in the region. It's a model for how a city can reclaim its core and provide residents with an attractive, pedestrian-friendly district for shopping, dining, entertainment, cultural events and social activity.
There is one special street in Mountain View that you should visit, that is Castro Street. Castro Street is a charming district full of ethnic diversity and interesting local businesses. Although there is a strong Asian prescense among restaurants and shops, many different cultures are represented along these blocks. There is a weekly farmer's market and on certain Thursdays it is home to a great street fair with vendors and a classic car show. Also convenient access from public transportation by way of several trains and busses. If you live near this area or in most of Mountain View, Google provides free Wi-Fi internet all over (it's fast too). Castro Street is also the main downtown area with many restaurants and bars. East and South Asian food is available in abundance, but it is by no means the only choice. Watch the hours of operation; most restaurants in Mountain View are not open very late. A good list of restaurants in Downtown Mountain View can be found here.
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