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NASA Ames Research Center

2.9 (96 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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Keiko M.

It's much smaller than I thought. They might need some new exhibitions. The gift shop has great souvenirs for NASA fans. Some funny t-shirts. Parking: Free.

The famous wind tunnel!!
Jodi H.

This place is pretty cool and in the heart of Silicon Valley! I came here once before a couple of months ago to look at the Visitor Center. Being a resident of Silicon Valley, I decided one day that I needed to visit the important locations of my town. HOWEVER, upon getting here, I was told that visitors can only walk in and explore the visitor's tent--nothing else. BOO HOO. But I recently came back during a Food Truck event that took place inSIDE the NASA Research center!!! I was able to see the famous wind tunnels for testing flights and ships! It was grand. There were tons of families also getting their educational experience on, and I was SO glad I could see inside the NASA center--or at least more than the visitor's tent. There should be more events like this, that way the public can really get to see more and learn more about NASA/space travel/government excursions!

Sam S.

I expected a lot but was disappointed. I have been to The Valley tons of times and never been here so finally was quite excited when our tour decided to take us here. Caution, don't turn up here without photo id as they will not let you past the gates. It's just a great big piece of land with buildings you cannot get into. The visitor center has some interesting displays and the shop is pretty average. Most people in our tour group were disappointed to be walking around abandoned buildings with little to see or know. The hangar is the most interesting building here and most of the land is now owned by google from what we were told by our guide. It was a waste of time in my opinion.

Michelle L.

I recently brought a tour group of twenty-something year olds here. I made a booking by filling out their reservation form which can be found online on the website. They recommended allotting 2 hours for a self-guided tour of the whole place. If there wasn't a model of the spacecraft in the middle of the center, I'd say that you could probably see everything from the front entrance so I'd plan accordingly. There aren't that many exhibits and many of them were off or out of order, including the flight simulator. I assume that the ones that were off were also out of order because we did tell them ahead of time that we were coming. Some of the displays looked like they could have been a child's art projects and others were really old and dusty. There were two saving aspects. The shuttle model was pretty cool, a lot of lights and switches you could play with. They don't really do anything but it felt good to do something hands on like at most discovery type museums. Because we had a large group, we were able to request a showing of a documentary in their auditorium. We opted for one about the exploration of Mars. Now this was a video that was actually from YouTube (and not from the official NASA channel) but I appreciate that curated it specifically for our interests and age group. Other small factors were the free admission, free and ample parking and the gift shop. The gift shop was very reasonably priced. I wouldn't plan an entire afternoon around the center but it's worth checking out.

Arriving on a weekday in May and you'll have the place to yourself unless you spot a school bus.
Marsha S.

On its own, just going to the NASA Ames Exploration Center alone may leave you with lots of time left on your hands for a family and friends' day out. But, when it's combined with going to the Computer History Museum, just a short Hi way 101 short off-ramp up, you will have 2-4 hours of kid and adult captivating activity that captures the exciting intersection of technology and space. Next to Ames Research Center is Moffett Field and thuge skeletons of a WWII blimp hangars. Airforce One frequently flew into Moffett Air Field with the previous POTUS -snarling Hiway 101 traffic for hours while his entourage hobnobbed with Tech's finest. If you can -try to go to Ames Exploration Center during the week, preferably mid day, to avoid commute traffic. After an exhausting day at Ames and then The Computer History Museum you can kick back at the Shoreline Movie Theaters, literally across the street. They have recliners instead of old movie seats. Popular movies get booked up because of assigned seats. Got another day to burn? Head over to Technology Museum in San Jose. This is worth a full day.

Skeleton of the big ridged airship hanger.
Jerry M.

Small museum of flight research and airships tucked away on Moffat Field. There is a second museum of space tech on the other side of the base. These museums have so much potential but are clearly underfunded. They could benefit from new buildings and some real infrastructure. If you want to learn about early flight research and especially all about the Navy's airship programs from the 1930's this is the place to visit. They have so much to offer on the subject of early flight and airships; adequate funding and facilities would benefit both visitors and researchers alike. The space museum is kind of sparse and considering the wealth of artifacts available to them from NASA kind of thin on exhibits.

M S.

Was pretty disappointed since it was tiny and frankly kinda lame. No tours and it was separate from the bigger facilities which were inside a gated entrance. Honestly it was mostly just a big gift shop with like 3 displays. The employees were very friendly and at least the astronaut ice cream was good - had it before and actually wanted another one. $5 for packaged dehydrated ice cream is a bit steep but it's at least worth a try once in your life. We probably spent no more than 10 minutes here before we left to get dinner. Not a ton of things nearby so need to drive maybe 10 minutes minimum to find restaurants which is an extra bummer... I don't recommend unless you're a local with not much better things to do

Does make for cool photos
Nohemy C.

Brought my three nephews here on a Tuesday at 10:30 am. On their website it says one can be here for an hour but we were in and out in 30 minutes including gift shop. Although the center is free and parking is free, I would've expected more but hey, can't complain. The "theatre" is really just a giant projector with youtube videos playing. I think it would be awesome if they had interactive presentations with people. I would not recommend this if you are coming from far away because 101 is always a nightmare. Come here if you need a pitstop break.

Camille M.

FIRST & FOREMOST - it is FREE! No charge at all to go in. So awesome! The parking lot is quite large, we did go on a Sunday & there wasn't a lot of cars, maybe about 10-15. The tent is quite worn looking so it made me skeptical of the inside but once inside - we were greeted by people at the front desk. They have so much to see in this little place! They have displays of old astronaut suits - which is cool. They have a room that has wallpaper from ceiling to floor of being in space - GREAT FOR A PHOTO-OP! - this is the room where the lunar rock sample is. The globe towards the middle of the entire place was my favorite part - it has projected images on it that cycles through. They have a picture spot where you can put your face in the holes (you know what I'm talking about, right?) You can also go into an actual space station portion they have in there - not sure if it's actual or just a replica. I liked it but it smelled like dirty diapers in there so I couldn't stay in there that long - they had a fan in there but it wasn't working. Towards one of the exits - they have a display where it shows all the things that are possible because of NASA's research. Pretty awesome to see. They have a gift shop in there in case you want to buy souvenirs. Not a bad stop that doesn't cost a dime! Unless you visit the gift shop.

Inside the space museum.
Walter P.

Tour Date: March 16th, 2012 Thank you to our Yelp Community Manager, Abby S, and the staff of NASA AMES! I was able to visit the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS)! This was the highlight of the tour and an extreme joy because I always wanted to become a fighter pilot. Yes, I wanted to be Maverick of Top Gun. Since I wasn't a pilot in training, I wasn't able to experience the simulator in motion. But they allowed me to sit in the pilot's seat and get the visual experience. And I have to tell you - it felt like the real thing because I physically had an adrenaline rush!!! Logistics: - You have to make reservations for the private tour. Visit their website for details. You cannot walk into NASA or the Moffett Field base unannounced. They do conduct background checks (must be U.S. Citizen to get a private tour). - Visitors park at the NASA Space Museum Visitors Center (the big white tent before the front gates). - Walk over to the small building next to the front gate to obtain your visitors badge. - Our tour began at the NASA Space Museum Visitor Center where you can see actual space gear, technology, and rocks. - NASA provided an eight person shuttle inside the campus during our private tour. - Facilities visited: Vertical Motion Simulator, FutureFlight Central (Airport Tower), Supercomputing Center (the data center filled with SGI computers that make simulation possible), and finally the Kepler viewing room. Factoids: - They have a fallout shelter. So if the aliens come, this is where you want to be. - Perfect for school field trips. - If your date is a Trekkie, take her / him here. I'm sure they're appreciation it. - I saw a glimpse of the Google plane. - The big white balls on the campus are filled with water (used for cooling). No... they do not contain jet fuel. I asked. SPECIAL THANKS TO: Mr. Girish Chachad for the detailed tour and informative background on the NASA community!!!

Lotus Evora in front of the NASA Ames Administration Building
Liv K.

Fun place to learn a bit about many of NASA's missions and projects as NASA Ames is a key research facility. The visitor center is a self-guided tour. It takes about 1-2 hours to view and read all the exhibits. Missions and projects at Ames include entry systems, next-gen air transportation, airborne science, low-cost missions, lunar science, human factors, Kepler mission, SOFIA, K10 Rovers, Fruit Fly Lab, Plant Biology, Quantum computing, wind tunnels. Exhibits for *some* of these are represented at the visitor center. New hours for the visitor center (big white tent) effective 1/6/2015. The new hours will be Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and federal holidays. Badged employees (civil servants, contractors, student interns, those on research grants and fellowships) and sponsored visitors can get into NASA ARC... It's a chill place to hang out during a lunch break or with kids. It's FREE and the A/C feels so good on a hot summer day!

Claire W.

Their Open House today as part of the 75th Anniversary celebration attracted huge crowds. There was no parking at the compound so we took VTA in San Jose to the NASA station and then walked in there. Even though me and my photographer friends did enjoy photographing the cool historical aircraft as well as appreciating the distinct aerodynamic architecture of the famous Hangar One, I felt like we were in Disney World with long lines of people for any demo/interactive thingy that was interesting, but without the "fast pass" lane. You are probably better off sitting in the comfort of your own home accessing their website on line to find out more about their research projects; unless of course you do enjoy rubbing shoulders with strangers or walking for a few hours in what felt like 100 degrees heat only to see the outside of a few buildings. To be fair, this was the first time I was here and if not for their Open House event I would not have come here and learned a little bit about the history of Moffett Field and the NASA research center. They have a space shuttle museum, which would be cool to visit with your science minded friends or bring your kids for an educational tour. But you can always come at other times when there is no crowd and the place does not feel like a zoo. So I might not be back any time soon....

Each wooden blade weighs over 800 lbs
Allen C.

Came here for the wind tunnel tour this time. The facility is a little dated but still amazing. The docents are experts in their field. Listening to them talk about their projects and research, I felt like a kid engrossed in a fairy tale. I hope they continue to do research and testing there. There is still so much out there for us to explore.

Original Gemini(?) spacesuit

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Great easy fun for kids, museum can kill an hour with memorabilia, old planes and gear, and hosts just happy someone is there to talk to

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Ask the Community - NASA Ames Research Center

Review Highlights - NASA Ames Research Center

Great place to teach the kids about our great country's Space exploration and all the great history and gadgets throughout the years.

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Google Visitor Experience - Huddle community event space at Google Visitor Experience.

Google Visitor Experience

3.4(26 reviews)
0.5 mi

I am surprised there isn't more reviews for the Google Visitor Experience on here. It is a great…read moreplace to take friends, family and visitors to see a slice of Silicon Valley. Technically, you cannot go into the offices but you can check out the Google store, gift shop, cafe, big art plaza, and workshops. There is free parking at the garage nearby which is a piece of art itself. You can either take the shuttle which arrives every 15 minutes or walk about 7-10 minutes to the Google canopy. Once you arrive, you'll see the different parts that you can explore. My favorite 2 things to do there is the cafe which has so many inexpensive food and drink options and also the big artwork along the plaza. Even on crowded days, the big artwork is easy to check out and take pictures. I love the big white orb which is a massive twisted, metal sculpture that looks futuristic and very cool inside and outside. The bear is cute also because it is made completely out of pennies! You won't be disappointed by the big, fun, whimsical and spectacular big art at Google. It's like a free outdoor museum. My other favorite part of the experience is the cafe. Ordering is simple and the menu changes often. The cafe uses ingredients from a lot of local farms and bakeries. It keeps the menu quite cheap as most items are under $15 and even under $10! That is unheard of nowadays. Try the potato soup and you'll thank me. It is creamy, addictive and do yourself a favor and get the big bowl. The sandwiches are top notch and they use Acme bread which is already an awesome treat. After the art, the store, the cafe; you can easily take a hike to Shoreline and check out the amazing views from the top of the hill as well. So check out the Google Visitor Experience and it has much more to offer than other Silicon Valley experiences.

Didn't know what to expect, but I'll say Google Visitor Experience by far the one of the best…read more They have two areas you can park at: Lot C which is the Shoreline Amphitheater parking lot and it's a 3 minute walk to the Visitor Center or there's Alta Garage which is about a 8 minute walk. At Alta Garage there's a shuttle that runs from 10am to 7pm 7 days a week that takes you to the Visitor Center every 15 minutes.The parking and shuttle are also free. There's podium with greeters in green that can give a run a down on the visitor experience and they also have QR codes that gives you all the information you need as well about the Visitor experience. The Google store is cool with branded swag to the right and all the devices to the left of the store. The Cafe has really great food and they are locally sourced from local farms. Then theres the pop up shop that sells products from local businesses inside of the Huddle which is one of coolest places. It's a mixture of a library slash Dave n busters with all the games, board games that's there. The patio area outside is spacious and has tons of umbrellas which you can relax and enjoy a meal. Last but not least all burning man art pieces they have on campus that are exclusive to Google are really cool. If you have family or friends visiting from out of town take them to the Visitor Experience and spend the whole day here.

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Apple Park Visitor Center - Exclusive to apple campus store

Apple Park Visitor Center

4.1(301 reviews)
7.4 mi
$$$

This is my favorite place to work remotely from when I need to hammer out a bunch of tasks. It's…read morethe perfect amount of distraction and people watching when I need to decompress between tasks and context switch. When the clouds look threatening, this is my go to spot since the upstairs area isn't fully covered from the elements. So there won't be too many people sitting and staying other than the occasional tourist taking a selfie with the view. And there's a coffee bar downstairs! I got a dry cappuccino, extra hot. I don't believe they charge for alt milk so love that. I heard they will do Apple art in the foam but I didn't get it this time, so I'll have to come back again. There's a lot of people downstairs since it's the most accessible so staff was pretty busy with back to back orders. They kept the coffee bar area clean and orderly. Other side is an Apple Store where you can purchase products, test things out, and sometimes they hold classes and workshops in the open concept space. They have additional items you might not find in the average Apple Store. They seem fairly priced for branded items not found normally. This location is free to visit with free parking. Pro tip: there's a garage downstairs with even more parking. This is one of the spots I always take visitors to the Bay Area to!

I went for a class and hung out for over 2 total hours before and after class. The class was for…read morephotography on iPhone. I felt I learned a lot and wanted to try some of it out on the property. Action photos with the visitor center were perfect. I will go back and take family when they visit. A must. The Glass exhibit next to center was super cool. Thanks Apple.

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Dumbarton Pier - On the pier

Dumbarton Pier

4.1(19 reviews)
6.5 mi

A nice little trek-away with a great view of the bay and easy access the natural beauty of our…read morelocal salt marshes. Just to the side of Dumbarton bridge, the pier is frequented by many locals biking or hiking out to catch a glimpse of the remarkable calmness of the bay and wildlife basking in the crisp morning breeze. You'll also see many folks hoping to catch something to bring home as pier fishing seems to be a growing hobby. It's easy to get here via a dedicated road just a block from the bridge entrance. Be aware that the road isn't maintained too well as there may be uneven surfaces and minor potholes. Once you turn in, follow the road all the way down until you reach the end where cars are no longer allowed. You'll find a few parking spots to the side of the pier entryway as well as a pretty big lot just across the street (great for those who bigger vehicles or trailers). As you walk onto the pier, you'll notice the many benches and portable restrooms - welcome conveniences for those looking to stick out here for a while. We brought our own foldable chairs for more comfort but the benches are clean enough and plenty spacious for two people to sit. For the fishing folk looking to try their luck, the railings are a bit worn but have plenty of notches to rest your pole. It's recommended to head all the way down to the deepest end for best results but if you're just looking to cast a couple lines with the family, anywhere between the middle to the end is just fine. There's plenty of space! There isn't much sun protection, however, so you may want to consider bringing your own shade. This area is great for outdoor enthusiasts as you'll observe a good variety of birds between the pier and the regional park, Coyote Hills. Bring your binoculars, cameras, or nature journals to capture your findings. Overall, the Dumbarton Pier is a great find for locals in the area looking for an outing to enjoy the bay with some light pier fishing or nature observations without having to travel out further to larger bodies of water. You'll get a nice view and it's just a drive from the East Bay Regional Park trails if you're looking for a hike. The road leading up to the pier is also the entryway to travel by foot or bike across the bridge to the peninsula. As a local, I'm glad to have access to this and hope more resources will be spent to upkeep this hidden gem!

Parking was easy right in front this past Friday, but quite a walk on the pier, at least half a…read moremile long, and just a bunch of people fishing at the end with little to no shade. There are a couple of porta potties along the pier, as well as benches where I was able to relax and have a snack. There are also picnic tables near the entrance to the pier. I enjoyed a bit of birdwatching too, in the quiet and laid-back atmosphere. Otherwise, nothing too exciting about my time here. This area connects to several trails for jogging/hiking, but I'll have to save that till next time. Beware, it's a rough drive in, with LOTS of potholes.

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Dumbarton Pier
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End of the pier

Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso Marina County Park

Alviso Marina County Park

4.4(236 reviews)
6.0 mi

Honestly? Alviso Marina County Park isn't really bad after all. The first time I went was a few…read moreyears ago when I visited after a rainy day and that the trails are very muddy. Rarely any people came here. However from this visit, I came in the right time. It was sunny during the day and many people came here for a reason. Keep in mind that it's not a regional park but rather a wetland. When you look at the water, it's colored slightly red from its edges. Also, the trails are light since there is no elevation here. It's really good for jogging and biking. I've seen people do that here. The trails are very long which is why I selected a stop so I can turn back to where I started. Ideally, you want to come here in earlier in the morning so that you can hike longer and end sometime in the early afternoon. It was hot outside and I prefer not to hike longer. Basically, I powered walk from halfway. It's not necessary to bring hiking shoes due to light trails but you should use them if it's muddy. Perhaps, I should come here way earlier so that I can maybe hike longer.

Mostly dog friendly location in Santa Clara. There are a few decks that dogs are not allowed but…read moreit's like 1% of the whole thing. The views are jaw dropping! You can see the mountains in the background. Very clean and well maintained. I love seeing the wildlife. I've seen so many different bird species, plants species and I've even seen a seal once. Super special place indeed.

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Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso Marina County Park

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NASA Ames Research Center - visitorcenters - Updated May 2026

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