Aahh, time for Day Three of our Virtual Silicon Valley Tour. I was torn as to how to proceed today, but decided to finish the intense part of Bobby’s tour today. As a result, we opted for the ‘Continental Breakfast’ offered at the Cupertino Inn: bagels, croissants, fresh fruit, juice, tea, and coffee. Just enough to take the edge off.
Once again we head into the traffic that epitomizes Silicon Valley, South on Highway 280, to Highway 87 which transverses the north part of San Jose. I exit at St. James Avenue, which puts us in the immediate crunch of commute traffic (the freeways have ‘car pool’ lanes, requiring 2 people, so the freeway drive has been very easy for us). Downtown San Jose has been renovated in the past three to five (3-5) years, and is a wonderful place to wander about in: before it was dirty and gritty; now it is shiny and inviting with lots of personality. The best of high-tech co-exists with Victorian houses built at the turn of the century. Once we crawl along with the commuters going into the Financial Center of San Jose, then turn left on First Street, pass the many hotels that have become a fixture of the area. As we head north on First Street we pass the acreage purchased by Novell for their new campus, Madge Networks (the 3rd largest networking company), Chaparrell, Catellus, Unisys, Texas Instruments, IMP, Aptix, Creative Technologies, LaserScope, Alliance Semiconductor, Hitachi, Hyundai, the property that is the base for Altera Semiconductor’s new campus, Wyse, Fujitsu, Alps Technology, LAM Research, Microsoft’s Santa Clara facility, FirstPoint, Pyramid Technology, Cypress Semiconductor, Perkin-Elmer, Comdisco, Samsung, and Centigram. All of these businesses are located in a seven (7) mile stretch of First Street, just north of the downtown area. These facilities are interspersed with strip malls, multi-business buildings, and open acreage. The reason? The recently completed light-rail system that transverses San Jose has attracted many businesses than want to provide a mass-transit option for their employees. This is a wonderful transit system: clean, efficient, cost-effective, and punctual. The only problem is that it does not span into other Silicon Valley cities...yet.
From the north end of First Street, we make a u-turn, and then head west on Montague Expressway. This takes us into the Orchard Park Business Development. This development was also built on what had been orchards and open-space. This park, including streets like Trade Zone Boulevard, Ringwood Circle, Lund Avenue etc., is the home of several large, and soon-to-be large companies: Acadia, Novell, Dynavision, Becton Dickson, Datron, MicroLinear, Avnet, Commax, Flextronics, Seagate, Microland Electronics, and SCI. Again, most of these companies have many facilities, but feel a need to have a presence in the Valley. The Orchard Park Business Complex mixes architectural styles, company sizes, and business types. This location is quite close to the San Jose Airport (and the Gateway Financial Park), as well as being
close to the downtown area, both of which make it an ideal place to call ‘home’.
Impact Technologies, Mentor Graphics, Sharp Electronics, and VSLI Technology are located off of Zanker Road and Highway 880 at the eastern edge of San Jose. This area had been primarily an area for construction and heavy-equipment firms, but is rapidly developing into another high-tech sub-center with surrounding residential communities.
From this area, we hop onto highway 880 north, passing additional Sun Microsystems offices as well as Okidata facilities as we enter Fremont, the southern most edge of Alameda County. Continuing north, we pass Exar, LSI Logic, Compass Components, and HMT Technology. As we pass the NUMI (New United Motors Inc.) plant we exit the freeway east at Fremont Blvd. From there we head south on Warm Springs Blvd. which is the home to many more up-and-coming high-tech companies: C-Cor Electronics, Oerdex, Qualtech, Applied Materials, Duracom, Aver Media, DFI, Edge Computers, Logistics, Solectron, Micronics Semiconductor, Garrett Communications, ImageQuest, and ASYST. Again, these businesses are scattered among a series of mini-malls, small business parks, and residential areas. For quite some time, these businesses were considered to be “out in the boondocks” ~ now they are merely a part of the continuing and on-going suburban sprawl that defines Silicon Valley. In most cases, these companies settled in the east bay in order to attract employees: by the time that these companies were founded the housing prices in Santa Clara County (the heart of Silicon Valley) had become prohibitive to many people moving into the area (more on this issue later). Fremont was developed around Mission San Jose, one of many Spanish missions founded by Father Junipero Serra back in the late 1700s. Spreading out from the missions, early settlers developed the agricultural bounty of the south and east bay area. To many horticulturists the Santa Clara valley is considered to have some of the richest soil in the world. In the 30s, 40s, and 50s most of the ‘developed’ real estate was developed into farms and orchards taking full advantage of this bounty.
Following N. Milpitas Blvd. (which is Warm Springs Blvd. with a name-change) back into Santa Clara County, we pass Headway, Seagate, Disc Inc., Adaptec, Komag, Axion, and Lifescan. At this point, we wind our way back to Montague Expressway, and pass the extensive Intel campus immediately before crossing over Highway 101 (which was the first major artery into Silicon Valley). Then we follow Montague/San Tomas Expressway (another name change) back to Stevens Creek Blvd. and north to Tantau Blvd. in Cupertino. This street leads into the main campus for Tandem Computers, another HP facility, and smaller companies such as Ikos, ACSM, and Concentric (the ISP provider previously rated in this zine).
Time for some food, and a little exercise. I take Tantau to Vallco Parkway, and find a parking space within the Vallco Fashion Park’s extensive underground parking garages. One of the best kept secrets of Cupertino is the Museum which is housed in the lower level of this mall. Although the Museum is a bit small, it contains an extensive photo history of the development of Silicon Valley. First, however, we head to the food court for burgers, fries and (for me) a large chocolate shake. While consuming our late lunch, and absorbing the local culture (the arcade is located within the food court), Bobby and I discuss some of the negatives of the Valley (so far all he’s heard is how proud I am of my home).
The reality is that there are some down-sides to living here, I hate to admit it, but it’s true. The most apparent is the traffic. Silicon Valley is not known for having extensive traditional assembly line jobs, it is known for having a need to provide flexibility in an employee’s working hours. For that reason, most people do not commute. Most of the unending commute traffic (7am to 9:30am, 11:30am to 1:30pm, and 3pm to 6:30pm) is comprised of cars carrying only one (1) person. There are several very good mass transit operations (BART, light rail, Cal train, and county-wide bus systems) but are often deemed inconvenient, too slow, and/or too time restrictive for most commuters. I used to work 25 miles from home, and took the Cal train for six months. It took me 45 minutes on the train, plus 15 minutes to get to the train, and 15 minutes to get to the office from the train: thus, one hour and 15 minutes using mass transit. The same commute took me 25 minutes by car. The valley is car crazy. In the 50s it was car crazy because the whole country was and Santa Clara Valley was considered ‘a long drive’ from San Francisco and it’s suburbs. In the 90s it is car crazy because every one wants to have the flexibility and control that having a car provides (it’s also a great way to show off one’s financial success).
The Valley (Santa Clara County) has a real housing problem. In Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Cupertino, the vacancy rate for apartment and house rentals is 2.0%. This results in high rental costs ($1,000./month for a one-bedroom apartment is average) and very long waiting lists (2-4 months is the norm). Additionally, the cost of homes is very high. My mother still lives in the house I grew up in. She and my Dad purchased the house for (approximately) $25,000. in 1960 (3 bedroom 2 bath on <1/4 acre of land). Houses in her neighborhood are now being sold (remember these houses 25+ years old) for $450,000. 2 Bedroom townhouses (you own the house & land) normally sell for $250,000. to $400,000., depending on age and location. Condos (you own the house, but not the land) average $200,000. up. Want to buy an ‘executive home’ (3-4 bedrooms, master suite, 3500 sq. feet)? Expect to pay $500,000. Want a house that is not part of a tract, has a larger size lot, is new, and not in the heart of the valley? Expect to spend $1,000,000. There’s a reason that the San Francisco Bay Area just won (again) the title of most expensive cost of living in the country.
We are in an area consisting of 160 square miles that is home to over 6 million people. These statistics only support that housing and traffic are primary issues for its residents. In spite of this, however, there are many miles of open space, wooded hills, and forested mountains.
After getting these details, Bobby decided he needs a break, so we wander around the mall, check out the electronic shops, music shops, etc. After a relaxing afternoon, we decide to meet my family for dinner before calling it a day. Tonight we have decided to treat Bobby to our favorite restaurant: The Outback. Although this is a national chain, it doesn’t feel like it. Besides, it’s right across the street from Apple, and usually is a ‘watering hole’ for many of Apple’s employees. This is one place that is impossible to leave hungry. The steaks and prime rib are super, the deserts out of this world. After making pigs of ourselves, we drop Bobby at the Cupertino Inn, suggesting he gets lots of rest in anticipation of the day ahead.
VIRTUAL SILICON VALLEY TOUR; Day 4
Today is the last ‘official’ day of Bobby’s tour of Silicon Valley. After picking him up at the hotel we head south on North De Anza Blvd. (also known as Highway 9, Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, and/or Saratoga Road ~ we have a habit here of changing street names). After passing Symantec, most of the businesses between Stevens Creek Blvd. and Highway 85 are retail. Just passed Highway 85, we stop for breakfast at The Original Pancake House. The service is a bit sporadic, but the food is consistently great: since it’s open from 6am to 3pm daily, it has to be. I opt for the Swedish Pancakes with lingonberries, and suggest the Dutch Baby (deceptive name ~ it’s huge) for my guest. After a delicious meal, we continue to head south on North De Anza Blvd. into Saratoga. Following the road through downtown Saratoga we pass through Monte Sereno (houses are $1M up), West Valley College,and through Los Gatos. In Los Gatos, we turn right (south) onto North Santa Cruz Road. This road merges onto Highway 17 South, which is where we want to go. This highway is the only main road in and out of Santa Cruz, and has been undergoing a facelift for safety reasons (this stretch of road used to be known as Blood Alley before they put up the cement center dividers).
Once driving passed The Cats (a club that features many up-and-coming bands), we reach the summit, then head down into Scotts Valley. Remember when I asked what company was the western-most business in Silicon Valley? It’s Seagate (and others), located in Scotts Valley. Exiting at Scotts Valley Drive, we head into a bit of a time warp. Scotts Valley is a somewhat isolated community that has retained most of it’s 60s charm: lots of wooden buildings that blend in with the natural environment, even a community park named ‘Hocus Pocus’. Heading south along Scotts Valley Drive we pass Great Wave Software and more Seagate facilities, then head over to Glen Canyon Road. Here I get some curious looks: this is obviously a residential area, however heading north on Green Hills we suddenly descend upon GEC Plessey, and EMU Systems Inc. as well as some buildings previously inhabited by Borland. This is a dead-end street, so head head back to Scotts Valley proper, passed the new tract housing that is going in, and passed the older more uniquely styled homes built when the area was still undeveloped. From Scotts Valley Drive we make a left (east) on Mt. Herman Road and pass Data Logic and turn north (left) onto Santa’s Village Road. This gets lots of chuckles from the passenger seat, but there used to be an amusement park called Santa’s Village that was located here: set up as the North Pole, with Santa’s workshop, teacup rides, etc. This property, however, is now the new Borland campus. The campus, comprised of three-story buildings built with a pagoda-style flair, all sided with dark wood to blend into the pine forests that surround it, is new and well occupied. Looking northeast from the Santa’s Village cul de sac we look across Highway 17, passed the older part of Scotts Valley, to a seemingly out of place butte. It is just to the north of this butte (which I climbed in my youth) that we see the old residence of Alfred Hitchcock. When the famous film-maker was in residence, however, the town was merely one-tenth of it’s current size and configuration. We then re-trace our steps and return to southbound Highway 17. Driving another ten miles or so, we reach Ocean Blvd. in Santa Cruz.
By taking a rather quiet side road, we soon find ourselves at the parking area for the Mystery Spot. This is not one of the better known attractions of the area, but certainly one of the most interesting. In this tiny glen normal perceptions are completely warped: a five foot person appears taller than a six foot person; tennis balls seem to roll up hill unassisted; and level floors are anything but. This south-western part of Silicon Valley (now left behind) is a unique and delightful area that is considered ‘off the beaten path’. In fact, the 1989 loma-prieta earthquake completely shut Santa Cruz off from the rest of California: roads were impassable and emergency supplies were brought in by boat.
After enjoying the rustic Mystery Spot, we return to Ocean Blvd. and head for the Boardwalk. This is an amusement park on the beach, with the oldest and largest wooden-frame roller coaster. It also has the best hot dogs on a stick and lemon icies of any place I’ve ever been. Again, for me, Santa Cruz proper is a bit of a time warp. The people and small shops are just like what I experienced when I came here in the late 60s and early 70s. It is a community that has rejected the hi-tech rush of Silicon Valley, a community that is unimpressed by what kind of car you drive or how much money you make (or don’t make). After checking out some of the rides and entertainments, we head back to the car.
Opening the sun roof, we continue south on Highway 17 to Route 152 east. Taking this rural route, we return to Highway 101 north. From here, we will drive north to Old Monterey Road. At this location we find the ‘main’ campus for IBM (also known as I’ve Been Moved). This facility covers over one (1) square mile, including open space and parking lots. The facility is one of the oldest in the Bay Area, and is responsible for the residential area that has been developed around it. Due to the security maintained by IBM we are not able to make a tour of the facility, but its vastness alone underscores why IBM has been, and continues to be, a major force in the world of hi-tech. From Highway 101 north, we continue to Highway 85 north.
Exiting off at Union, we pass Xilinx and Force Computers. Again, these businesses are located in a combination of residential and retail strip-malls. The industrial area that they share was developed and inhabited before Highway 85 was built, but is now adjacent to the highway. After stopping to say hello to my family (employed at Xilinx) and getting a mini-tour, we head back out to Union and head up to Bascom Road. There, we take a side trip to Fry’s Electronics, one of the largest and best established computer stores in the area. After a little shopping spree, we head onto highway 17 north to highway 280 north. Once on 280, we are able to head up to Saratoga Avenue where we veer off to Harry’s Hoffbrau for dinner. This is a deli-type restaurant, only better. They serve many types of meals in a cafeteria-style fashion. Once armed with food, we head to one of the manner dining areas, taking in the stuffed animal heads that adorn many of the high ceilings (in the fashion of old german beer halls).
Over hot turkey sandwiches with stuffing, we discuss Bobby’s plans for the rest of his stay. Within a two-hour drive of Cupertino he has many options:
Amusement Parks: Paramount’s Great America (its new ride ‘The Edge’ is a 22 story vertical ride that gets up to 60 mph in 3 seconds, riders experience a 3-g thrill); Raging Waters (water slides, etc); or The Boardwalk;
Animal Parks: San Francisco Zoo; Monterey Bay Aquarium (with a new deep-sea exhibit); or Marine World/Africa USA (marine acts, as well as tigers, camels, etc. mixing with the visitors)
Professional Sports: SF Giants & Oakland As (baseball); SF 49ers & Oakland Raiders (football); Warriors (basketball); SJ Sharks (hockey); or SJ Sabercats (arena football)
Fine Arts: SF Symphony; SJ Symphony; SF Opera; SJ Cleveland Ballet; SF Ballet; or SJ Civic Light Opera; as well as numerous traveling Broadway shows
Specialty Spots: The Mystery Spot (again?); The Winchester Mystery House (built by Sarah Winchester who thought that as long as she kept building the ghosts of those killed by the winchester rifle wouldn’t get her); The Rosecutian Museum (Egyptian antiquities); The Museum of Technology and Innovation (previously known as ‘The Garage’, this is the best representation of the history of Silicon Valley); Happy Hollow (kids park & petting zoo); The Exploratorium (in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, this is a hands-on way of exploring scientific principals); or the San Francisco Wharf and Pier 39 (maybe a tour of Alcatraz?)
Colleges & Universities: San Francisco State University, University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, Cal State Hayward, San Jose State University (my alma mater), UC Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, plus countless community and technological universities.
There are also many spanish missions from the late 1700s that have been restored and are open to the public.
Finally, Bobby wants the dollars and cents of his visit. Please keep in mind that the hotel accommodations in the area range in price from $29/night (Motel 6) up to $1000/night (St. Francis Hotel suite in downtown San Jose), so the price of a visit to the Valley is very flexible. Additionally, rental cars can cost anywhere between $30/day and ‘the sky’s the limit’ for an on-call limo. However, in terms of dining costs and ‘entry fees’ we have done a very conservative job with our tour:
 
I hope that you’ve enjoyed your Virtual Tour. This is a area that - as a long term resident - I am very proud of, one that I thoroughly enjoy. The area itself provides a unique view of California: there are four micro-climates; three ecological environments; and a view of the true meaning of America’s ‘Melting Pot’ mentality. The Silicon Valley is a very rich and varied place to visit and enjoy: I’ve lived here almost my whole life, and I’m still discovering new things to enjoy and pass along!
