More fun things
Sunday Flicks
Sunday Flicks present recent films at 7 and 10 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium. Flicks passes are sold in White Plaza and by C.A.s in on-campus housing at the beginning of the quarter.
Hoover Tower
The Hoover Institution is a public policy research center dedicated to the development of ideas that define a free society. The observation deck in the 285-foot tower is open daily from 10-4:30. Call 723-2053.
Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden
Located at the corner of Lomita Drive and Roth Way, the garden consists of 40 large-scale works created on-location by eleven artists from Papua New Guinea.
Cantor Arts Center
The Center includes the beautifully restored 1893 building, a new 42,000 square foot wing with spacious galleries, an auditorium, a café, a bookshop, and the Rodin Sculpture Garden . With collections in eighteen galleries, it is an interesting place to spend an afternoon. Located at Lomita Drive and Museum Way, only a five-minute walk from the med school. Call 723-4177; for tour information, call 723-3469.
Stanford Lively Arts
Lively Arts presents an annual season of professional performances of music and dance on Stanford campus. Call 725-2787.
Fountain Hopping
A fun and free way to beat the heat, fountain hopping has been a Stanford tradition for years. Most students make sure to tour the fountains at least once during their tenure at Stanford. Not to miss are the Claw in front of the bookstore and the fountains in front of Hoover Tower and Green Library.
Stanford Athletic Events
Stanford boasts one of the best athletic programs in the country. Check out the Big Game versus Cal. Join your fellow med students in basketball’s 6th man club. Be amazed by world champion athletes competing at track meets. Attend the Bank of the West tennis classic and watch your favorite tennis players.
Horseback Riding
Stanford is one of the only schools with an equestrian center on campus. If you already ride or are interested in giving it a try, this is a good place to take lessons. You can also join the Polo Club and practice with the polo team or just exercise the horses.
Communing with Nature
Stanford campus is the largest in the country and much of it is open
land and preserves, so take advantage of the beauty right in your backyard.
Take a tour at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (723-1589, reservations
required), or explore the foothills and greater campus area on your own.
There is an incredible view of the Bay from the dish just behind campus.
Take a short excursion to the Baylands Preserve at the end of Embarcadero
past 101. Go to any of the many open-space parks along Skyline Blvd.
(take Page Mill or Woodside Road west 'til you hit Skyline). Or just
get lost in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains (take 280 South then head
West on 17).
The Pacific Coast Highway
Portions of California's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) have been designated an All-American Road—one of eleven such roads in the nation. This windy, picturesque road that borders the junction of North America and the Pacific Ocean makes for a spectacular drive for its own sake, as well as a delightful route for arriving at numerous outdoor activities and scenic locales. From north to south, all of the following places are good one-day getaways from the stresses of med school life. Interspersed between these sites are beautiful state beaches, far too many to list.
Half Moon Bay
Thirty minutes from Stanford, Half Moon Bay is a quaint, old town that
has the usual tourist attractions. Other activities include the beach,
sea kayaking, and fishing. During salmon, crab and tuna season, fisherman
may be on the docks at Pillar Point Harbor selling fresh fish directly
to the public. The Pumpkin Festival happens in October and is a fun way
to celebrate Halloween. Getting there by Highway 92, you'll pass numerous
nurseries where you can find beautiful fresh cut and potted flowers and
plants.
Año Nuevo State Reserve
This park is about twenty minutes south of Half Moon Bay along Highway
1. During many months of the year, you can get up close and personal
with the famous elephant seals. This is also a great park for geology
buffs; many of the exposed sea cliffs show great stratification and lots
of sea fossils. Check their on-line website before you go because reservations
are required during some months of the year (http://www.anonuevo.org/).
Santa Cruz
An interesting town that provides a nice contrast to Palo Alto. Downtown
you can find many interesting cafes, restaurants, thrift shops, etc.
The town is surrounded by beaches, including the Boardwalk with its outdoor
amusement park and wooden rollercoaster. Visit UCSC, hidden in the redwoods
on a bluff above the town.
Elkhorn Slough
This little out-of-the-way place is mid-way between Santa Cruz and Monterey.
The slough is home to many birds, seals, and otters that you can visit
on a guided kayak tour.
Monterey/Pacific Grove
Stops include the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row.
The true charm of these two towns lies a little inland, in the "downtown" districts
along Alvarado in Monterey and Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. There is
a year-round open market on Alvarado St. in downtown Monterey on Tuesday
evenings. A recreation path extends from downtown Monterey, along the
beach and around the peninsula to Asilomar State Beach. Along the way
are numerous places to stop and check out local wildlife, such as seals,
otters, and some of the best intertidal communities around. Stop and
visit Stanford’s Marine Biology campus—Hopkins Marine Station
located next door to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Miller Library is definitely
my favorite.
Big Sur
The piece of Highway 1 south of Carmel leading to Big Sur is arguably
the most beautiful drive in the world. Big Sur is a park where you can
hike or camp and is surrounded by several other state parks that are
worth visiting. See the website (http://jrabold.net/bigsur/bigs_prk.htm)
for more information.
Golfing in the Bay
Northern California has some the best golf courses anywhere, including the world’s #1 course, Pebble Beach.
Where to play
- Stanford: old school, classic course.
- Shoreline, Mountain View
- Palo Alto Municipal
- Lincoln Park, San Francisco
- Presidio, San Francisco
- Crystal Springs, Hillsborough
Where to take your parents to play
- Stanford
- Pebble Beach
- Pacific Grove Municipal
- Spyglass, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay
- Chardonnay, Napa Valley
- Tilden Park, Berkeley
- Bayonet, Monterey.
- Coyote Creek, Gilroy.
- Olympic Club, San Francisco
Road Biking
Stanford is in the heart of the best cycling location. The Bay Area offers an endless variety of trails; mountains, flatlands, cities, or parks. There are endless numbers of road trails. Some parks who accommodate trail bikes:
- Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
- Los Trancos Open Space Preserve
- El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
- Soquel Demonstration State Forest
- Russian Ridge, Skyline Ridge, and Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
Excellent web resource (http://www.openspace.org) contains downloadable maps, directions, and topological information for all Open Space Preserves.
