This is a place I have been visiting since childhood. I grew up nearby and attended Covington…read moreJunior High, and we often biked to this park as kids. As we move beyond our teenage years into our 20s and beyond, we start to cherish vivid memories of our past. If you're looking for a great spot to take a leisurely walk, not far from the preserve, where you can enjoy the laughter and cries of people and children, I highly recommend Shoup Park. It's a peaceful and serene place to escape and unwind.

A small park near Los Altos downtown with playground, shaded grassy picnic area surrounded by big…read moreredwood trees, public restroom, event hall and a short walking trail. It's located next to Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, there is a trail connected both parks. The barbecue grill area is quite new and spacious. The grill, sink and tap water are all well-maintained. Ample of free parking.

Not my first time here, but I checked out the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, the…read morePalo Alto Duck Pond, and the Mundy Marsh this past Sunday. Parked in one of several parking lots on site, with signs clearly stating that gates lock at 9pm (in summer). Saw a variety of birds (song sparrows, pigeons, ducks, geese, egrets, and pelicans) in the saltmarsh and mudflats and along the trails, as I explored displays about the lovely creatures, their bird calls, habitats, and more in the nature center (open on weekends). There's even a great boardwalk and observation deck stretching out back, offering scenic views and a peaceful atmosphere. The trails here are awesome for running if you want to be among nature, and the variety of terrains, especially the dirt and gravel pathways, are ideal if you wanna go easy on your joints. I certainly took advantage during my recent visit.

At nearly 2000 acres, The preserve is one of the biggest areas of protected marshlands on the Bay…read more It is teeming with wildlife and the like and parts of it are part of the SF Bay Trail. There is an established trail system and as both a biker and a pedestrian, both sides need perhaps a bit more civility on the trails. I am also perpetually dismayed by the amount of litter and yes those blue dog poop bags (Like you already bagged then left it?). It is a great spot for kids and the duck pond, Byxbee Park, and the Interpretive center will keep things interesting. Some services like bathrooms and water fountains but they may be closed depending on the time you are there.

Trail Off Manmade…read morelake that was a former landfill site and was first conceived back in 1968 by the City of Mountain View to give it's residents a place to play by the water. It wasn't until 1983 when it was actually dedicated, but it's been a staple of the area since. The Good: *Watercraft rentals *Free to visit *Large parking lot *I guess there's a restaurant of some sort but didn't visit or check out. *Access to the SF Bay Trail that take you around various sloughs and to other parks, if one is into a longer hike. *Great birdwatching due to the proximity to The Bay. The Meh: *Very busy place and the parking lots full up fast--especially during the summer. *Be aware part of the Bay Trail does allow puppers, but the other part DOES NOT. So, be aware of signage. The Ugly: *No shade on the Slough trails *Lots of bugs, so wear your DEET. Conclusion: Great shoreland park with plenty of amenities, but it's popularity is it's biggest curse. That and the bugs. But mostly the popularity.

I lived in Mountain View for a little bit and always wanted to go boating here, but somehow never…read morewent. I recently visited for a stroll around the North Shore recreational area, and found it really fun and peaceful. The parking was free, easy, and there weren't too many people, though I suspect it could get popular during weekends or the summer due to the various activities to be had here. It's next to a local landmark, Rengstorff House, and a golf course and Shoreline Amphitheatre. Shoreline Parklands is mainly host to a large park and trail where you can walk, bike, and observe nature, and a large lake where you can sail on various boats. They also offer paddle boating, which could be a fun organizational offsite! There is virtually no shade if that matters to you, but the grounds are more or less flat. At the time, a company was renting out the boat house space for a party. The boat house also does equipment rentals (you can book online) and have tons of lockers. We saw huge groups of coots and geese, and a lot of squirrels with their own personalities. In fact, some squirrels looked like hybrid squirrels... It was definitely interesting observing the thriving nature in this area. We even witnessed some squirrels in heat.

Hillview Park is a small green space near the village of Los Altos that shares a parking lot with…read moreLos Altos library. There are no swings or play structures but there are multiple park benches. It is also a full size soccer field. The grass is very well maintained and the space seems to be pet friendly. Cheers!

Hillview park is part of the Hillview Community Center (listed at the same address at 97 Hillview)…read moreand it's basically a large grassy soccer field by the library preceding Los Altos Stage Company and Bus Barn, off Hillview Ave, across from the library and history museum. Facilities are in the structure at the corner. There's a chicken wire fence on the street side. I go by this park almost every day on our dog's walks. There are often groups of kids and/or adults, either training or playing the game. It's a nice green space otherwise.

We like using this one as a quiet downtown break -- it's right by the library and good for little…read moreones learning to walk. No play structure, but a nice open space. -Play Area: No playground, but open grassy areas suitable for toddlers to explore. -Amenities: Benches and picnic tables. -Shade & Scenery: Anchored by a large coast live oak providing ample shade. -Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with paved walkways. -Parking: Street parking available nearby. -Good for: Families, nannies, caregivers, daycares

Awesome geocache. It's hard to find but great. They have the best pizza. I love their bbq chicken…read moresliders.

This is a tiny little park in Downtown Los Altos. It's got some sculptures, some benches and a…read moresmall walking trail that goes around the park. I was on a walk around the neighborhood and decided to hang out here for a while. It was a beautiful day and I loved the time I spent here getting some zen.

If you happen to be new to Silicon Valley and didn't know this place before Google, Apple, and…read moreFacebook made their game-changing, ginormous marks on the cultural and economic landscape, you might wonder what a "village" park is doing here, next door to multimillion dollar real estate and a super easy Lyft to Mountain View, Cupertino, Menlo Park, and Atherton. Well, it's a thing here. The whole "village" concept, I mean. I live in a "village" called Woodside that has so many billionaires in residence that leading candidates from both major parties stop by during election years to fund raise. They don't call the Bay Area a political ATM for nothing. Sure, we have our pampered horses and Chardonnay vineyards and native plant gardens, too, but mainly places like Woodside and Los Altos have been so altered by tech-triggered affluence that calling them "villages" is a collective exercise in self-denial. As if the last half century didn't even happen. If these were the "it takes a village" villages that Hillary Rodham Clinton was talking about, no wonder she didn't get elected President and Donald Trump did. Except ... Well, except for micro plots of greenery like this tiny patchwork of publicly open and accessible space called a village park. It's actually got a picnic table and charcoal grill, for goodness sake. Not to mention a pair of pretty sculptures and lots of attractive but unpretentious natural beauty. Down the block is an honest-to-goodness produce market (high end, but still) and across the road is a public library, a local history museum, a few nice ball fields, a community center, and even an heirloom fruit orchard that bears silent witness to the days when Los Altos apricots, plums, peaches, and other delicious varietals of stone fruit were shipped across the country. In spring, the flowering of these vast orchards was apparently a thing of amazing grace and gorgeousness. Now, we've got this precious speck of public ground called a village park. Progress happens in mysterious ways. At least we can Yelp about it, though. And hope that the world (eventually) takes notice.

An underrated gem hiding in plain sight Pearson-Arastradero…read morePreserve genuinely surprised me. The Arastradero Creek + Acorn Loop (~2.5 miles) packs in way more variety than you'd expect from a short trail -- you start in cool, shaded creek corridor that feels completely removed from the suburbs, then the path opens up into sweeping golden grasslands with those big, open Bay Area skies that make you remember why you live here. The difficulty sits right at that sweet spot between "actually a walk in the park" and "satisfying enough to feel like a real hike." Elevation gain is gentle but present, terrain is well-maintained dirt trail, and the whole loop flows naturally without any confusing junctions. Wildlife spotting is a real highlight -- keep your eyes up and you'll likely catch red-tailed hawks riding thermals over the hills. Early morning is magical here. So is sunset. A few practical notes: parking is free, dogs are welcome on leash, and the trailhead is easy to find off Arastradero Road. It never felt overcrowded on my visit, which for the Bay Area is honestly remarkable. If you're in Palo Alto or anywhere on the Peninsula and need a quick mental reset without a long drive, this is the move. One of those places you'll want to keep to yourself -- but can't help telling people about.

Decided to go running here this past weekend and was glad there was no winding road on the drive…read moreover. Appreciated the conveniences I found, including a strong cell phone signal in the area, a parking lot on site, and restrooms at the gateway building just steps away. There was a bit of seating and several nature exhibits educating visitors about the surrounding habitats. Interactive displays included bird calls of the quail, red-shouldered hawk, and meadowlark, and animal tracks of creatures like raccoons, bobcats, deer, and coyotes imprinted with descriptions. Deer, coyote, and rabbit scat too, though I found the accuracy of this display questionable. The only actual poop I saw on the trail was horse manure... piles of it. The place had multiple trails with easy access from the parking lot. I mainly hiked the Redtail Loop which stretched through the grassy hills, with scenic views and a few benches along the way, and of course plenty of clear signs noting the connecting trails and miles on each marker as well as the path to Arastradero Lake. The gateway facility and trails appeared to be well kept, a great setting altogether for getting your steps in or just taking in the fresh air and tranquil environment.

This is a small, but great park! Never usually crowded. Some picnic benches, workout equipment,…read moreetc, and a playground are pretty much it! It is directly off the road so be careful with little ones. Overall a fun little park!

Beautiful 7 month old new Mountain View neighborhood park. Park was opened in November 2011. I just…read morerecently saw it when I started commuting to work via bicycle. I went to visit the park today and took my cousin's dog (the Achilles Bruno) for our inaugural visit Park amenities include the following: Benches Bike rack Picnic tables, one with a checker/chess board Swings...2 each children & toddler Sand pit Small child sized climbing rock Twirly bird seats A couple of giant sized frogs Water faucets: big people, little people, & doggie size Solar panel powers something Lite dirt/graveled walk way Big willow tree Nice play structure Spongy/safety ground covering under play structure area and something I have not see at a park ever...eliptical, upperbody teeter totter & a stairclimber...kid sized but definitely can be used by moms & dads too. Lawn area Drought tolerant plants Doggie poop bags No bathrooms Park is enclosed by a wooden fence Groups of 50 or more need to obtain a permit from City of Mountain View