The laid-back city of Los Altos is located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Compared to its neighbors, who have bustling streets and busy areas, Los Altos is a low-key setting perfect for those who want to enjoy a serene environment without driving too far away from California.
This city in Santa Clara County was incorporated in 1952 and consisted of seven small retail districts.
Despite its size, tourists and visitors can still enjoy dozens of activities in this beautiful city.
Check out the best things to do in Los Altos, California.
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Get away from the hustle and bustle of city life when you spend a much-needed family day at Shoup Park.
Located along University Avenue, Los Altos’ Shoup Park offers visitors the perfect getaway after a long day.
Spend family day at this breathtaking park by enjoying a simple picnic in the vast, grassy field, or have a barbecue party with your closest friends.
Shoup Park also has its own playground that your kids will surely enjoy, as well as a couple of walking trails you can explore.
Also inside this Los Altos park is the Garden House, an intimate space for small gatherings and receptions.
There are many places in Los Altos where you can clear your headspace, and if you happen to be along University Avenue, make sure to swing by Lincoln Park.
This Los Altos park covers 4.44 acres of land, giving you plenty of space to roam around and drown yourself in the quiet surrounding.
Plug in your earphones to listen to your favorite music, or sit at the gazebo to read your book in peace.
Lincoln Park also has some sculptures you might want to check out, including the Imagine That sculpture by Tony Williams, donated to the park in 1992.
You’ll also find the Space Dance for Peace sculpture by Mircea Paul Goreniuc and the Musical Gambol piece by Robert Clements.
There’s nothing quite like roaming the city streets to get a feel of what it’s like to be a Los Altos resident.
Loyola Corners, near Fremont Avenue, offers tourists a glimpse of the city’s bustling business and commercial district.
Loyola Corners is one of the many places in Los Altos where you can find almost every shop and service.
Plus, it’s also considered a historic space in the city.
From retail stores and restaurants to skincare and liquor stores, everything you need is in Loyola Corners.
Because it’s a busy city, you’ll get the hang of the Los Altos culture and meet many locals.
You can’t possibly leave the wonderful city of Los Altos without spending a few hours or days exploring its downtown streets.
Like most cities, Los Altos’ downtown area is where all the activities occur, which is perfect for those who want a dynamic atmosphere.
The six-block downtown triangle has at least 150 shops you can check out while touring the streets.
Feel free to order a drink from the local coffee shop, buy some fine jewelry, or even go for a quick grocery run.
Downtown Los Altos is also the go-to spot for city-wide events, including easter egg hunts, live entertainment, festivals, and other celebrations.
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History buffs will surely get a kick out of the Los Altos History Museum, located along San Antonio Road.
As you roam the museum halls, you’ll find over 16,000 objects, archives, and other collections that will help you learn about the local history.
Learn about Los Altos’ diverse culture and the people that helped form the community by checking out hundreds and thousands of displays.
The Los Altos History Museum also houses several rotating exhibits each year, which means there’s always something new to see in this attraction.
You’ll also find a permanent collection inside the facility featuring artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, documents, and oral histories.
Indulge in crafty creations and spirits when you swing by the Los Altos Tasting Room on Main Street.
This Los Altos attraction is a contemporary tasting room by Byington Vineyard and Winery with a high-tech vibe.
Their fine art accompanies their wines, creating an irresistible atmosphere you’ll want to imbibe.
If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur, you wouldn’t want to miss sipping their wines, given that they’re official entries to the largest competition of North American wines.
While you’re there, take your pick from award-winning Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay wines.
If you’re a theater fan, you must watch a show by the Los Altos Stage Company.
This Los Altos acting guild produces musicals, comedies, and dramas touching American culture and what society stands for.
The stage company’s theater is situated along Hillview Avenue, an intimate space with about 99 seats.
Check out their website to view the season schedules, and watch out for your favorite classic plays.
Sing along, laugh, and cry at the fantastic performances coming from these talented artists.
If the performances moved you well enough, you might even want to check out workshops and classes headed by the stage company.
San Andreas, California, is best known for being the epicenter of some of the strongest earthquakes in history.
If you want to explore the area, you can do so while in Los Altos.
The San Andreas Fault Trail is generally an easy trail to explore, and it’ll take you to a secluded area that covers Los Altos and some of its neighbors.
You won’t see evidence of earthquakes, but the attraction is riddled with flora and fauna you won’t find anywhere else.
The San Andreas fault is a 2.3-km loop trail and kid-friendly route that will take you less than 40 minutes to complete.
Those who have visited the trail also said that the area is something you’ll only dream about with its beautiful canopies of trees and green spaces decorated with wildflowers.
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There’s nothing quite like nature’s embrace.
If you’re looking for the perfect spot in Los Altos to be with plants, trees, and chirping birds, visit the Redwood Grove Nature Preserve.
Located along University Avenue, Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is a 6.12-acre facility ideal for those seeking solitude and peace after a tiring day.
The towering trees make for a great photography subject as the sunlight seeps in from the cracks.
Inside this Los Altos preserve is a well-maintained boardwalk leading to Adobe Creek, and a Hillside Trail is nearby.
Redwood Grove Nature Preserve also has a few picnic areas to relax for the day.
Art lovers will enjoy walking around Viewpoints Gallery along State Street.
Since 1972, Los Altos’ Viewpoints Gallery has provided visitors with fine art you won’t find anywhere else.
The gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, producing several shows that shed light on renowned artists.
The gallery is owned and operated by local artists specializing in oils, pastels, jewelry, watercolor, and more.
There are also some shows in the gallery with artist demonstrations, which can help you understand various techniques when handling different media.
Gallery 9 is the oldest fine arts gallery in the city of Los Altos, and it’s a place worth visiting for dedicated art lovers.
Established in 1970, Los Altos’ Gallery 9 showcases the works of various artists each month, offering something new for every season.
If you plan to catch the artist live at the gallery, visit for the reception during the first week of the month.
Gallery 9 also welcomes new artists into their guild, so if you have magic hands and a creative mind, don’t hesitate to join the organization.
Gallery 9 was born after the nine artists who formed the organization, hence the name.
Situated along State Street, Linden Tree Bookstore is a family-run business that caters to a wide range of genres.
Although most of the books in this Los Altos bookstore are generally for children, there is also a great selection intended for parents and adults.
Find the best picture book for your toddler, or shop for a couple of young adult and non-fiction books to add to your collection.
Linden Tree Bookstore has been in Los Altos for over 40 years and hosts some activities like book clubs.
You’ll also find several classics in this vintage bookstore if you want to add a few more to your library.
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If you plan to visit Los Altos sometime in July, you might want to swing by the downtown area and enjoy the Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival.
This annual celebration is one of the most famous street festivals in the area, which is all the more reason why you should go.
Enjoy a day filled with paintings, jewelry, pottery, and more artwork, and meet the craftspeople behind them.
To add even more buzz to the exciting day, the festival also showcases vintage concoctions from local wineries that you can taste.
To cap it all off, the festival will also welcome musical artists for live entertainment on two stages, allowing you to dance and sing along to the tunes.
Enjoy a night out in Los Altos with your closest friends by playing classic games at HyperSpace Los Altos.
Located on 1st Street, Hyper Space Los Altos takes visitors on an exciting journey in the form of fun activities.
Sing your hearts out at the facility’s karaoke lounge, and take your pick from over 47,000 songs in the songbook.
HyperSpace Los Altos has four VR rooms to book and play games like Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds, SynthRiders, and more.
If you want to play a couple of video games, book a slot in the gaming lounge or swing by the arcade to play some classic games.
Animal lovers visiting Los Altos might want to see the annual Kiwanis Pet Parade date in May.
The Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade is usually celebrated the week after Mother’s Day.
The parade is a community tradition celebrated since 1948, filling the downtown streets with various animals and their companions.
From cats and dogs to birds, turtles, and more, the Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade is an event that even your friends from the animal kingdom will enjoy.
So if you plan to join the celebration, register beforehand.
If not, you could always catch the show from a spot downtown.
Make the most of your vacation by sticking to this list of the best things to do in Los Altos, California.
Aside from nature parks and art galleries, there are also other facilities you can enjoy, as well as many family-friendly events.
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