This place gets 4 because: - The drive up is gorgeous. Avoid driving up in a top heavy car though... every minivan I saw was having a tough time around those bends. - The view is great; you can see from Gilroy (I think... really have no idea what that city is) to the Peninsula and all of Santa Clara Valley. - The tour is short, to the point, and FREE! - There are some amazing photographs throughout the visitor's center. Particularly the oil works from 60 years ago depicting the 'future'. Still no flying cars :[ - And at one point my friend said "Would you like to see the 36 inch or the 120 inch?" Oh come on! Laugh. You'll live longer. read more

Think there's no snow in the Bay Area? Think again! The drive up here is very scenic. I think you can even hike around some of these areas. It was kind of weird at first because there was a Stop sign in the middle of the road, probably because of unsafe weather conditions a few days before. But the weather was really nice so....we just drove around it LOL. Beautiful views up here! Great for taking pictures. Take the tour of the observatory if you can. The tour guide is pretty funny and you get to see the telescope up close. read more

Lick Observatory - Cool telescope with interesting history! - Observatories Near Me - Mount Hamilton, California

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The Lick Observatory surmounts Mt Hamilton in the East Bay, and is a great place to go to on a nice week-end afternoon. The drive there takes between 1 and 2 hours from most peninsula locations, and is quite pleasant (though very windy near the end). Expect astonishing views of the East Bay at the top, and if the day is really clear, of the whole Bay Area. The Observatory itself is pretty old, though it once was the biggest of its kind. Join a free guided tour to enter the dome and hear about its history. Highly recommended! read more

Lick Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Mount Hamilton, California

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Fun way to spend the afternoon! Spectacular views. The Great Lick Refractor is enormous! So cool! The tour guide mentioned they will be closing the observatory to the public in 2016 for lack of government funding. So if anyone is well connected to Washington DC or is a philanthropist please help keep this historical site open. Would be a shame to lose access to such a historical piece of technology here in Silicon Valley... I flew over this site in while flying a Cessna 172 in May 2014. Check out the pic! read more

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Wow! How cool is it to have such an awesome Observatory in your backyard! :) Well... that is if you live in San Jose ;-) I live in San Jose and this is just 30 minute drive up to the observatory. I go here every summer to attend concerts, talks and look at space through the Observatory Telescopes and the ones other enthusiasts bring here. I've seen shooting stars, the milky way galaxy, the moon, the sun (through a solar telescope) and myriads of other planets and nebulae. I think it is a great place for everyone, from kids to adults to seniors. I definitely recommend making a trip to the Lick Observatory at least once if you're living in or visiting the Bay Area! :) BTW, did I mention that the drive up to the observatory is FANTASTIC. curvy and uphill... lotta fun to drive a sporty car up the road. read more

It's easy to geek out about this stuff. I spent so much time at the 120" scope that I forgot about the other buildings. Watching the 16 min video about the fabrication, the construction, and transport of the materials is fascinating stuff. Imagine it 50 years ago! If only it were in operation during the afternoon but Ill settle for the observation factoids by computer screens for now. It's still in a great area feeling like you're on top of the world read more

"Ummm, aunt Jenny...do we need to pull over?" *Barf, Barf, Barf* DO NOT attempt to drive/ride these dizzy and cliffhanging roads if you're not comfortable doing so. And while you get a gorgeous view on a clear day of the entire South Bay, I don't think it's worth the trip. The Lick Observatory operates a 36-inch Great Lick Refractor and Nickel 40-inch Reflecting Telescope by the University of California. What is the difference between a refractor vs a reflector? See here: http://www.ucolick.org/public/telescopes/index.html#tele_types There is a short tour/discussion of the telescopes, hallways of photos of planets and interstellar interests taken by the telescopes, futuristic paintings, and a gift shop . For hardcore viewers, there is a summer visitors program on six Friday evenings, with each one featuring two speakers. Personally, I wouldn't drive the unlit cliff road at night. Good education for the kids if they can brave the drive up and down the mountain ride. read more

The birth of modern astronomy happened here- on this mountaintop. Best attraction/historical site in the South Bay. The view, the history, the scenic drive up are incomparable. Forget visiting FB or Google- to see the work of California's earliest tycoons/entrepreneurs (James Lick was the state's first millionaire), take the hourlong journey to Mt. Hamilton from San Jose to learn about how he made his fortune and donated a sizable portion of it to the state of California, this benefitting generations of citizens, scientists, astronomers, etc. read more

Lick Observatory - James Lick bust - Observatories Near Me - Mount Hamilton, California

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Probably the coolest thing you would never expect to see in the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain. At least my tax dollars are going to work somewhere! read more

Decided to take some out of towners to an off the beaten path attraction and boy were we nearly off the path! It is a scary steep drive up to the observatory. A tip would be to take highway 130 from alum rock instead of Qimby! After several heart attacks you will get there and realize the views are amazing! The telescope is mind boggling and the bathrooms are extremely clean! To top it off there are no entrance fees!! For an adrenaline filled nature drive... go to the observatory! read more

I've wanted to visit James Lick Observatory for a very long time and I finally had the chance to make that trip up there. At first I was a little reluctant to make the drive since I heard it was an hr long, but I had great company and it really wasn't an hr drive up the hill. When we got there we made it in perfect time for the tour. Viewing the refractor was awesome and a must see if you live in the Bayarea. When you are done with the tour there are great views of SJ which looks so small from up top. Great place to pack a picnic lunch or to just relax and enjoy the silence from the busy city below. read more

I've been here 3 times. On daylight time enjoying the museum, a summer program night, and a music of the spheres concert. This is one of the best experiences in the bay area, hands down. The night programs include a scientific talk, a visit to the museum, and the possibility of using the telescopes of amateur astronomers and the professional telescopes too. What else? There is a million things. The concerts are great. The story of Mr Lick is worth an entire trip. The guy is buried there! The people at the observatory and very gentle and funny, and finally... from the top of Mt. Hamilton you can enjoy the best sunset in the entire Bay Area. Trust me, I've seen it from every other place. read more

Ever since I was a kid, I Ioved looking up at the mountain from East San Jose. At night I would sit and see if I could see the lights from cars going or coming down from the mountain. One truly cool thing about being at the top is that on a super clear day, if you look east you can see the Sierra Nevada and Half Dome in Yosemite. Truly spectacular. AND if you have the time and the gas, go down the other side of Mt. Hamilton into the San Antonio Valley. Drive slowly and enjoy the landscape. You will end up in Livermore. Take food and have a picnic. It's hard to believe that there is such a beautiful, rugged, isolated spot so near San Jose. Just went up there again, 12/29/06. The gift shop has really been expanded from the last time I was there. Tee-shirts, astronomy goodies, lots of prints to buy, some astronomy jewelry. Still no food, but a soda and candy machine next to the post office in the main building. Enjoy the mountain. read more

I agree with Rob, viewed from anywhere around the Southbay, it would appear that this series of little white dots atop Mount Hamilton should be easy to get to, but its actually quite remote and the very rugged drive is difficult. Once you finally do make it up to the tippy top and see the little white dots up close, its an amazing experience. There is like a whole little astronomy community perched up here atop some very steep and narrow peaks. There are sleeping dorms, a little post office, several observatories, labs, offices, a little museum. Really neat and the 360 degree view is breathtaking. read more

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Billy Zane chased me down Mt. Hamilton from the observatory one night and nearly ran me right off the edge of it. He had the devil's expression on his face and his head was as bald and lustrous as I have ever seen it. I had no idea what was going on, but it was terrifying. That being said, don't let the threat of being chased by Billy Zane deter you from making a trip up to the Lick Observatory. The drive up is like a tour of Elysium. If you roll your windows down you can hear the murmur of souls drifting through the tall golden grass. Dead gladiators and the such. There's also the view of the entire valley, which is glorious or whatever. But perhaps the views are best appreciated for the adventure it takes to find them. Driving up that shotgun-shell littered road will be a treat for those of you who enjoy a good 'ol fashioned aimless joyride through scenic territory like myself. The observatory itself will offer you a pretty vanilla museum experience, and I hear they have music, lectures, and other programs but I've never attended any of them so I can't speak for those. In the end I guess my review is more of the experience of trekking all the way up there than of the observatory itself. Whatever the case, it's an adventure whether you take the observatory up on its various programs or not. read more

There's not too much to do up here, and the windy drive up to the observatory is long, but the view from up here is pretty nice. The observatory is small and there are actually two sections you can explore. Both are a short walk from each other. While you're at the observatory at the top of the hill, they do presentations on the telescope every so often. So you can look out for that. It's a the end of the hallway. Turn right as you walk in. There is plenty of parking up here, and there's cute things you can get in the gift store. BTW, come here in the afternoon, they are not open at night :) Unless you're a VIP member or something like that and they're holding an event for their members. read more

The drive is well WORTH what you will see on top of Mount Hamilton. Lick Observatory has gorgeous grounds, beautiful scenery and the whole observatory is well preserved. It's such a cool place to explore. Definitely a San Jose gem that's tucked away in the mountains. Its well worth trekking up the mountain for Lick Observatory. I can't wait to go back. read more

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The bf & I loved this place. The view going & up there is amaze-ballssssss. The drive going up there consists of tons and of right & left turns & ups & downs. So warning to those people who gets motion sickness. This might be your worst nightmare :)) The observatory was pretty neat. The ginormous telescope which really is the star of the show, the mini museum they have going on, the cute gift shop was great also. Free parking. Free admission. Educational. And did I mention the amazing view?!?!?! read more

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I enjoy coming up here during their Summer series of stargazing when the observatory is offer tours. The drive is quite an adventure. You can see the observatory for miles and feel like you're getting closer with each turn, but it is elusive. It takes a good 30 minutes to get to the observatory from the valley floor of the East foothills. Upon arriving you are greeted by the parking assistants, directing you towards the available parking which is quite limited. In many cases you may be parked directly behind another vehicle and cannot leave until they do. If you arrive before the sunset you can have a small picnic or tailgate from your vehicle. On a nice evening it's fun to look out and try to pinpoint all the landmarks below, and can see all the way to up to the bay and down to Morgan Hill. On blustery evenings I can be so cold and windy up there, you'll be immediately headed inside buying a cup of hot chocolate and huddling for warmth. As the sun begins to set, so begins the lecture on astronomy. The viewing through the two telescopes begins shortly after the 45 minute presentation. You are given a number that dictates the order of viewing. While waiting to look through the two large telescopes many amateur astronomers out back have their own telescopes pointed towards the sky and are more than happy to give you a peek. The larger 120" telescope is absolutely massive. You enter the telescope through a small opening onto a platform that raises and lowers, depending on telescopes viewing angle. The smaller 36" telescope is much more intimate yet reveals some great views. The drive back down the hill after dark can be a bit daunting, but getting behind someone that wants to go about the similar speed as you makes it a whole lot easier. read more

I only use this place to go pee after biking up hamilton. i peeked inside and its huge and museum like. neat? =) read more

Lick Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Mount Hamilton, California

I decided to check this place out since it has so many good reviews. First, the drive. It's definitely something everyone mentions, and I will mention as well: It was horrible. Yes, it has nice views, but it's through extremely windy roads. I didn't think it'd be so bad, since a lot of people mention how it's beautiful on the way there, but it's more like terrifying. The roads are very narrow and there are no guard rails. On top of that, there are a lot of cyclists, so you have to be extremely careful to give them enough room, while also making sure there are no cars coming on the opposite direction, or else you will definitely collide with either a cyclist, or a car, if you don't fall off the cliff that is. I honestly did not think the drive was worth it. The tour was a nice story, but it was very short. And the views were spectacular, but you can also get nice views elsewhere. I did not think the horrible drive was worth it, and I never plan on going back. I recommend going elsewhere. Too much time wasted getting there and back for just a few pictures. I'd rather go to other observatories that are 100 times easier to get to, have more attractions, and have equally beautiful views, even if there's an entrance fee. read more

Went here with my daughter and met one of the presenters. She was very warm and welcomed a little girls interest in the stars. I would highly recommend visiting. The drive is long but worth it in my opinion. read more

A wonderful site sponsored by the generosity of Mr. Lick and run by the University of California. To get here, come through San Jose. Do not take Mines Road through Livermore, which is narrow to being "one lane" at times (for cars going in both directions), and quite dangerous and deserted. You can also bicycle here, and there are plenty of restrooms and some vending machines for snacks. The view up here is really great, of course. The free historical talk is interesting too. It's a nice place to get away and feel on top of the world, though sometimes you deal with the noises of motorcycles. It's not really an educational observatory, but a working one. So you'll learn a few things but there isn't a ton of exhibits. Free admission, and a nice little gift shop with stunning photos of the observatory in different seasons and with the moon as a backdrop. I heard a lot of people disbelieving that the photos were real. read more

The drive reminded me of the Initial-D video game. There are so many twisted turns here, and interesting obstacles to watch out for. On a spring day, if you are not the driver, the ride is pretty wild and fill with nice green scenery. I only got the chance to visit the main observatory where the shop was. Every half an hour, there is a tour of the telescope. The tour guide doubles as the shop keeper and is very friendly to visitors. After talking to the tour guide, Lick Observatory has a program that allow public to view the telescope (the one in the main observatory with the 360 refactoring len telescope). I haven't try this, but plan to try the lottery process this year. Also, I was told there's a self-guided tour of the 120 refactoring len telescope. I didn't walk there this time. It might also be cool to bring your own telescope or binocular to this place on a clear day to check our the surrounding from Mt. Hamilton. I was told that one can see Half Dome with a Binocular on a clear day. A highly educational place to visit for you and your family. read more

It can take an hour (or slightly more) to get from East San Jose up to Lick Observatory, but it's worth it in the end. Plenty of scenic views of the entire South Bay from both the front and back parking lots. Nice thing is that it is free, but if you easily get motion sickness or can't stand the narrow two-way roads that constantly meander and wind around the corner, this may not be a drive for you. Overall, good educatonal location that is free (it's run by UC Santa Cruz). read more

Oh my friggin' god. I had such an entertaining adventure with my aunt and cousin driving up to here back in March 2010. I won't lie, my relatives and I got scared s**tless driving up and down the roads lol (they lived in Fremont for a while & yet they never drive in this kind of area). My eyes felt like it was going to pop out when we ascended higher on each path. I did like looking at the scenery while we drove. When we finally got to the top, it was very foggy. I'm not sure how much has changed now compared to this time, but we almost missed the signs for going to certain parts of the observatory. We were able to walk into one, and got to look at the huge telescope. I must say it's pretty cool...what isn't cool is how we manage to miss an obvious big sign pointing to visitor's information and gift shop when we left (too overwhelmed by our newfound fear of heights). The signs were not well-cared for (rusted down...maybe from the effects of the weather at such a high altitude?), so I think that's the only thing needed improvement. Did I mention on the way back down from Lick Observatory to San Jose, there was a Porta-Potty truck speeding down at 40 mph??? We had to move out of the way and I don't think I would want to imagine a scenario if that truck crashed into another car!!! https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/20266_511132850132_6008964_n.jpg (proof of Porta-Potty chase) If I have plenty of time in my hands, I'll try to come back here! read more

I'm giving the view five stars. The observatory itself is somewhat small and doesn't have much to look at inside. I guess there are telescopes somewhere, but we didn't see those. We just stared off into the mountains and wondered where we were looking at. It was mesmerizing, even with the smog, and let me just tell you, you have no idea how bad the smog in Silicon Valley is until you're on top of it. Gross. The ride up is the only reason I'll NEVER go back. Beyond terrifying. Even my husband, he of the lead footed, thrill seeking variety, was scared. GOOD LAWD. Can't y'all install some guardrails and at least give us the illusion of safety? The view up there is worth more than a lot of things, but not my life. read more

What's better than the long, scary drive up 4,200 ft ? Having Chinese Dim Sum up there with my mom and kids. Then help a senior unlock his car ! Dude swears he'll mount the stick on his mantel read more

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The Lick Observatory sits atop Mount Hamilton, and is definitely worth a stop, even if just for 15 minutes. Inside, there are space photos and videos, as well as various Richter Scale readings, and interesting tidbits of information written throughout the long hallway. There is a souvenir shop for those inclined to bring home a knick knack or poster. And, the building is nice and warm! It gets so cold outside at the top of the mountain, that the large old fashioned heaters are a definite bonus. Oh, and let's not forget that you can take a look up at one of the longest telescopes in the world! The view right outside the observatory is pretty awesome, and if you walk around the whole building, you get a nearly 360 degree breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and valleys. read more

A friend was kind enough to bring me here during one of the observatory's music/lecture nights. The view was absolutely amazing from the observatory, and we both enjoyed the lecture on big bang theory. The jazz band was great too, but not quite our cup of tea, so we went outside and amused ourselves looking through other patron's personal telescopes. The people were all very friendly, and informative. The best part was getting an opportunity to look through both telescopes--one an ancient relic that stands as a testament to human ingenuity, the other a modern marvel that the nerds at UCSC employ regularly. The impression I got from the whole night was very very positive. I would recommend anyone who is able to try and buy a ticket to one of the observatory's music/lecture nights. If you can't do that, make a trip here on a regular day during visiting hours at the very least. You won't regret watching the sun set form that peak, or taking the time to mosey around the interior of the observatory. read more

Drove up here with a couple of friends. Beautiful view of San Jose. Takes about an hour to get up because of all the curve but quite an exhilarating and enjoyable drive for the first few times around. The observatory is also a sight to see in itself. The only annoying thing is that you have wannabe race car drivers who think this public road is their own personal race track. For some reason, the majority of these drive own a BMW Nazi sport car and will tailgate you. I really hope these drivers have an accident up here because not only is it stupid to take hairpin curves at 30 mph, it's also stupid to put other drivers at risk. read more

Changed my oil, filled up my fluids, cleaned out my air flow sensor, and hopped into the car for a drive to the Lick Observatory. I came to the Lick Observatory because I love amateur astronomy and wanted to see the great views and scientific instruments of the Bay Area. The drive up had lots of twists and turns so keep your eyes on the road. Once there, be sure to check out: - 3 Meter (120 inch) aperture reflecting telescope. By comparison, the 8 inch reflector on my to-buy list costs $350! - 36 inch (915 mm) aperture refracting telescope. This blows my measly 60mm refractor out of the water! I was in awe of these telescopes. Be sure to take the free tour that starts every 30 minutes and take in the nature air. This was something that was fun but will not drive up for again :). read more

I had seen reviews about this place while looking for activities to do in San Jose. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon after going to the farmers market we decided to make the trip. The long trip was well worth it the view was spectacular. We got there just in time to see the free tour. I really would like to be there at night but I don't think I would be brave enough to make that drive at night. My only complaint is that being that we decided on a whim to make the drive after the long 45-60 min drive I really wished they had some type of Cafe. Maybe even like a sandwich vending machine. Other than that everything was amazing. read more

I literally live minutes away from here, but it seriously took us 2hours to drive up here. This is a fun place to learn. The drive up here is dangerous but worth it. Came here with a bunch of friends and luckily we made it to the last tour. We also had dinner and played basketball across the street.. FUN FUN.. read more

The Observatory is easily worth the long drive it takes to get to the top of Mt. Hamilton, especially if you have any interest in science. I was pleasantly surprised at how tourist friendly the Observatory is. The visitor center is lined with pictures and plaques like a museum, retelling the story of James Lick, and the building the 36" and then the 120" telescopes. I didn't realize that the Observatory was that old and historic, dating from the 1880s. Even in the entrance hall they display an original seismograph from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Every half hour, there is a free tour of the 36" telescope with a guide. The size of it is impressive along with the fact that the dome rotates and the floor raises and sinks. To see the 120" telescope you need to go down the road to another dome where you can look it over while a old timie science class projector video runs in the background. The views at the top are amazing. It was foggy/smoggy when I was up there so I could only make out San Jose and parts of the bay, but on a clear day you would be able to see to San Francisco and Oakland. The drive up and down can be a lot of fun and it is a nice trek through nature but be warned, the windy road and altitude change may make you car sick. Also, it can be chilly at the top, so bring a jacket. read more

If you ride a motorcycle...you won't get sick....BUT your ass will hurt ;) My husband and I took a bike ride up here and it was the most stressful bike ride of my life. I felt like I was hanging on for dear life! But that is besides the point....this place is pretty amazing. I met a guy in Jury Duty who lives up here so he gave us a private tour and I learned a lot about the history of the Observatory. The view is incredible on both sides. The huge telescope is really cool too. read more

Never actually went in not sure why me and a friend even went up there I guess we was bored but I remember the ride there felt a bit uneasy when getting closer to it because it was so high up and super narrow. Was kinda scary. I even seen bits of snow? (it wasn't even cold) lol. read more

I totally agree with Rob and Noodle. I and my wife went there couple of years ago, and we had so much fun driving up there. Well, I had fun driving (my Mustang), while my wife was nauseaus. But, it's some place you definately wanna go once. read more

I was lucky enough to recently attend one of the summer concerts, lectures and telescope viewings and my inner astronomy nerd LOVED it. There's nothing like starting at the night sky and hearing about the search for new planets to give you a little perspective and overwhelming sense of awe. Placed atop Mt. Hamilton, the drive is not for the faint of heart or stomach. I definitely recommend making the drive on an empty stomach with a picnic in tow to enjoy at the top. The history of this place is amazing (imagine looking through the very telescope that discovered the 5th moon of Jupiter in 1892). This is a functioning research facility so access to the telescopes is much more limited than Chabot in the Oakland hills (no public nighttime viewing unless you are a part of the SVP or the summer concert series). It's something you should experience at least once, and if you get sick on the way up/down it makes for a great story. read more

Driving up to Mount Hamilton is definitely keeping me awake. It is a 1 hr drive and has lots of hairpin turn and quite challenging and fun. There are many blind spots, so be careful if you drive at night or rain. I actually have a nice time driving up there in the nice sunny morning, as there are lots of sports cars racing their way down, not to mention the breathtaking nature views. The person sitting on the passenger seat has to be able to stand the sharp and dizzy turns, or you'll need to drive slow which means 1+ hr. Join the free guided tour about the history of the observatory, and explore the area at the end of the tour. Don't forget to bring a camera. read more