Getting there

The Stanford campus is about 24 miles from San Francisco International Airport and about 18 miles from San José International Airport.

San José International Airport (sjc.org) is in the midst of a major, multiyear construction project that includes a new rental car center, a parking garage, demolition of Terminal C, improvements to Terminal A and construction of the new Terminal B. The new concourse is partially completed (Southwest Airlines will be the only carrier using it until next June, but check-in and baggage claim will still be at Terminal A, so plan on extra time to get to your gate). Terminal A’s gates were all renumbered in August—so it’s a little hectic over here. But on the bright side, the airport’s security checkpoint has been expanded and new food options have been added, including a Gordon Biersch restaurant and Peet’s Coffee & Tea, with more to come.

At San Francisco International Airport (flysfo.com), renovation of Terminal 2 (the old, unused international terminal) is scheduled to begin in mid-2010, with an opening date in early 2011. Virgin America and American Airlines will then be moved to the new concourse, which will also have a new gourmet market, a wine bar and dining options with a Slow Food focus. Until Terminal 2 is completed, two domestic carriers, Virgin America and JetBlue, are located in the new International Terminal.

San Francisco Airport Museums (sfoarts.org) curates a wonderful, eclectic mix of rotating exhibits, including art, anthropology, design, sports, animation and transportation. Past shows have ranged from the art of the martini to Native American baskets. The most extensive displays are in the International Terminal and Terminal 3.


Stanford campus

Cantor Arts Center
328 Lomita Dr., Stanford
650-723-4177, museum.stanford.edu
Open Wed.–Sun.

Rodin sculpture garden open daily and lighted until midnight.

Hanna House
650-725-8352, lbre.stanford.edu/architect/hanna_house

More art

Allied Arts Guild
75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park
650-322-2405, alliedartsguild.org

A collection of artists’ studios and shops set in a lovely series of gardens.


First Friday Art Walks
Pacific Art League of Palo Alto
668 Ramona St., Palo Alto
650-321-3891, paloaltoartwalk.com

The PAL’s gallery shop and a number of other galleries are open on the first Friday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; many offer live music, entertainment and refreshments.


Stanford Theatre
221 University Ave., Palo Alto
650-324-3700, stanfordtheatre.org

A lavish, restored movie palace showing classic films, preceded by live organ music on the “Mighty Wurlitzer.”


The road less taken

Stanford University is an easy diversion when calling on Silicon Valley company headquarters:

Apple
14.8 miles

Sun Microsystems
16.11 miles

HP
3 miles

Google
7.35 miles

Applied Materials
14.04 miles