Are you a technology advocate or an innovation lover? If yes, San Francisco is a must-visit! This tech hub is a great place for entrepreneurs and enthusiasts. The city also prides itself as the home of top-notch universities such as Stanford and University of California (UC), Berkeley. In addition, Silicon Valley, which is considered the home of many tech giants, is just an hour’s drive away. For a relaxing tour, take a car rental San Francisco airport and visit some of the places below.
Tech-Focused Universities
Stanford University
Elon Musk, Larry Page, Tiger Woods, Reese Witherspoon, and Sundar Pichai are just a few of the famous graduates of this prestigious university. It currently ranks at No. 4 in the QS WUR Ranking By Subject, No. 5 in the QS World University Ranking, and No. 13 in Postgraduate Programs. It is one of the largest university campuses in the United States. You may want to spend a whole day visiting this place. If you are coming from San Francisco airport, the drive going to Stanford University is about 30 minutes.
UC Berkeley
Some of the notable graduates of this prime university include Steve Wozniak, Julia Morgan, Barbara Lee, and Julia Morgan. It is a public academic institution that currently ranks at No. 1 in Top Public Schools, No.15 in National Universities, and No. 184 in Best Value Schools. It will take you about an hour to get here if you are driving from San Francisco airport.
Google Headquarter
This tech giant is headquartered in Mountain View, California. Once you’ve landed at the airport, take your SIXT Car Rental and take the US-101 S route for a 30-minute drive going here. Parking at the Google Complex is free. If you don’t know anyone working at Google, you can still tour the outside part of the Google campus. Take plenty of selfies as you walk around the campus. The area is open seven days a week but if you’re visiting on weekends most of the office buildings are closed. The whole campus is about 26 acres big so if you wish to spend the day exploring this place, make sure to wear your comfy shoes. If you’re lucky, you might also see Google’s self-driving cars while you’re exploring the camps.
Apple Headquarter
Big fan of Apple products? If so then visiting their headquarters should be included in your bucket list. If you’re coming from the airport and want to get your hands on some cool Apple products, drive to Apple Park Visitor Center. It’s a 35-mile drive and could take you about 40-50 minutes via rented car. It opens at 10 AM until 7 PM. Apple Park campus is not open to the public except for the visitor center where you can go up the rooftop and see the gorgeous view of the whole park. The Apple Store is also a great place where you can check out exclusive items not available in other stores around the world.
The Tech Interactive
This is also another 40-50-minute drive from the airport. But if you are coming from visiting the Apple Headquarters, it will only take you about 15-20 minutes to get here. This place is also ideal for kids and immerses them in learning across various areas. There are exhibits under Biology, Biotechnology, Engineering, Arts, Music, Earth, Space and many more. You can also enjoy an immersive IMAX film to cap off your day. Another option that you can enjoy is to design robots and other digital creatures.
Computer History Museum
With your rented car, take a trip to the Computer History Museum which is about 30-40 minutes away from the airport. But if you are visiting the Google campus, it’s better to drop by this place too. It’s just 5 minutes away or if you wish to walk, it will take you about 30 minutes. Learn about the timeline of computer history and personally see the evolution of technology. Take the chance to try out computer coding. Take note, the museum is closed every Monday and Tuesday. It’s open the rest of the week from 10 AM – 5 PM.
Facebook Headquarter
The Facebook headquarters is located 20 miles away from San Francisco airport. It’s about a 30-minute drive. Remember, Facebook does not provide any public tours. You may get a chance to enter the headquarters if you’re meeting someone who works inside. If you’re happy just taking a photo at the huge ‘thumbs up’ sign along Willow Road, then make the trip.
There are still plenty of tech hubs to visit from San Francisco. We have LinkedIn, Tesla, Steve Jobs and HP Garage, to name a few. California continues to become a leading tech city as investors, inventors, and tech geniuses continue to consider this place their home. When visiting the city consider not only the touristy spots but also the reputable tech hubs. Speak with some tech professionals when you get the chance. You might end up having a deeper appreciation of our digital world.
