Peers Park

(180 reviews)

2.0 mi

This is a wonderful place to make happy memories and try new activities!…read more Tucked away, this park is situated close to the tennis courts (look for the signs). My family had a very happy time, and we will return for sure. Next time, I'll bring some cardboard for my child to use as a "sleigh". That and the musical laser were the highlights for our family. Note: it gets very crowded, so arrive early!

We are temporarily staying in the area for medical care and this park was recommended by hospital…read morestaff. It is very nice. Clean bathrooms, nice shaded picnic area, and I like that there's locked gates for all the entrances. They have a variety of play options with lots of seating and shade. The tot area is very small with limited items to play on. They have a small water area that was a total hit for a hot day. We have visited two days in a row and there has been a small vendor selling ice-cream, chips etc which was a nice treat.

Water area

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View from the top

Nealon Park

(44 reviews)

2.1 mi

I love parks like that--so nice when there's a toddler area and a separate section for the older…read morekiddos. Plenty of space to run around too! There are swings for the smaller kids and the older kids, plus that cool swing ride for the bigger kids. And I love when they have lots of slides and different ways to climb--keeps them entertained forever!

Ohh Nealon Park, how I love you. Let me count the ways:…read more 1. You are a fully accessible park with activities for everyone. 2. You have room for your small and large friends alike, including parents, which makes my achy back and knees so happy. 3. You're well-maintained with plenty of parking, manicured landscaping, and all park equipment in good working condition. 4. You're fully fenced in so I don't need to worry about my child running into traffic or straying too far. 5. You're close to coffee and food shops. 6. You're great for birthday parties, with tons of space and tables! Whether you're a parent of a human child or a dog child, this park is fantastic. Fenced in playground, large open grass area, and plenty of shade. Wonderful little gem that we're lucky to have in the area!

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Gamble Garden

(184 reviews)

0.6 mi

Gamble Garden is a lovely and quiet respite in Palo Alto. Whenever I'm in the area and have some…read moretime, I stop by for a stroll around the garden to see what's in bloom. There are benches to sit and gather. I've seen a wedding in their outdoor area and I believe you can rent the house for events. They have classes and you can volunteer in the garden too. At one time, it was also a location for photo shoots. One of my lifestyle photos was shot here. A space of beauty and peace. I appreciate that it's free for anyone.

This is a nice place to go checkout. I was originally turned onto this place by my neighbor who has…read moreworked her and volunteered for years. Several times I came out here just to check it out, I was amazed to say the least. For some reason, perhaps the setting or just the ambiance and the whole flowers her reminded me of other parks, even San Jose rosegarden, which is located in an upscale part of San Jose and preludes a very nice neighborhood of homes behind, reminicent of downtown Palo Alto. I have come out here on two occassions with friends of mine that are my neighbors that like to frequent this location. If you are looking to pass some time and enjoy looking at gardens...you have arrived. Thanks Gamble Garden!

Wedding Day | By 1985Luke Photography

So fancy | 2025

Rainy Day 2025

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Mitchell Park

(104 reviews)

1.9 mi

I love Mitchell's park (and my kids love it) with a passion!!! so many great things here's quick…read morelist 1. has playground for the little ones and a fun area where they can get wet in the summer time 2. playground for the big kids that's almost always empty 3. playground further back near picnic table (it's simple but allows parents to sit down and have a table to put their stuff in or enjoy a nice picnic with family ) 4. included the Magical Bridge Playground -- would literally pay to go here! 5. bathrooms in the middle of the park (these could be kept cleaner but still) 6. lots of parking spaces near play areas 7. Same area as Mitchell's park library 8. I love that they have events here like the Chili Cook Off would I recommend? yes!

Pickleball Scene:…read more MAIN COURTS: 37.4207480,-122.1125647 * Learning Links Palo Alto * 3864 Middlefield Rd Palo Alto, CA 94303 * Parking in the back lot or street parking by the curb TWO SIDE COURTS: * Mitchell Park Tennis Courts * 600 E Meadow Dr Palo Alto, CA 94303 Bathrooms are in the red barn after you cross the blue "magical bridge" Water fountain around the corner of the courts Generally a mix of beginners, intermediates, and occasional 4.0's on the far inner courts.

15 pickleball courts. 13 in one area and 2 in another area.

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Sharon Park

4.5

(43 reviews)

3.4 mi

Sharon Park is such a lovely little park! I've had this place bookmarked for a few months now, and…read moreI finally visited it this past Saturday with my doggie buddy. There's a parking lot with good amount of spots. I think when I was there about 9am, there was about 3 cars. More people came later when we were leaving. There's a playground that's gated/fenced in so that's good for the families who has little kids. There's a cute little pond with lots of pretty flowers surrounding it. There's also some benches and picnic tables. There are also some grassy areas. We saw lots of cute other cute doggies here. It's a very dog friendly park. Someone didn't pick up their doggie's doo doo. Shame shame shame. Make sure be respectful and pick up after your doggies! We need to keep this beautiful little park clean. This spot will be added to my list of fave places to bring a doggie for a outing! :D

This is a beautiful dog-friendly park with a paved trail around a man-made, nicely landscaped pond,…read moreas well as a trail through a hilly area. We took our dog, Zoey, on both trails and spotted an egret, mallard ducks, and several deer. It's not a big enough park for a real hike, but it's a lovely place for a stroll/short walk with your kids or dogs.

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Redwood Grove Nature Preserve

(118 reviews)

4.3 mi

If I need a place to get away and pray and meditate or just quiet my mind, take a walk or be in…read moreamazement at nature, this is one of my escapes. Let nature speak to your soul.

A small and cozy redwood forest in the middle of the Los Altos neighborhood area, it's a little…read moregem, the park features a short boardwalk, creek (winter to early spring, dry out in summer) and shaded short trail about 1 mile loop. No public parking lot, have to park on street at University Ave, or park at Shoup Park nearby. There is no public restroom, the closer one is located at the Shoup Park, a short trail connected to Shoup Park.

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Cornelis Bol Park

(60 reviews)

1.5 mi

I love coming to this park with my dog. It's a wonderful 13.8 mi park. Bol park was named after…read moreStanford physicist Cornelis Bol. Bol Park opened to the public in April 1974. There are two donkeys that live there. They are named April and Buddy. You can see them walking the park with their care takers from time to time. You can meet the donkeys for a walk on Sundays from 10-11 a.m. There use to be three donkeys. The third was named Perry and he passed this year, 2025. Perry was the donkey that Disney's- Shrek's donkey was based off of. They are gentle and sweet and friendly to visitors. You can donate to the donkeys at https://barronparkdonkeys.org. My dog and I love walking the pathways and hanging out around the grass fields and trees. It's a great place for kids because of the cute playground, picnic tables and water fountains.

Cute mini-donkeys live here!…read more So this is a little park with a childrens playground, vast green meadows and little gardens. It connects with a paved walkway both left to right. So the donkey pen is toward the left of the greenery. Walk about 8 minutes and one can see these little cuties! No dogs, feeding, petting or trespassing by the pen. I did not see any restrooms or water fountains. Location is in a residential area. If the little side parking lot is full, lots of shady residential parking spots to borrow.

Cute place to visit.

Nom nom.

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Heritage Park

4.4

(25 reviews)

1.0 mi

My dog liked to come here, so I thought it would be nice to bury him here. Apparently that is…read moreillegal. So I didn't do it. Lovely park.

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

May Fete 2025

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Big cute park.

Arizona Garden

(74 reviews)

1.3 mi

This is beautiful little spot on Stanford Campus. A true gem of cacti of all kinds. I've been here…read moreabout 3-4xs times now, and it's always lovely to just walk around. It's definitely a beautiful greenery backdrop for photos as I did a photoshoot for a client here a few months ago. We took a bunch of photos here, and then we walked over to the Quad for an outfit change and a change of scenery. We saw *the* Robert Downey Jr. at the Quad that day! That was awesome! :D I usually come here on a Saturday or Sunday and just park at the medical clinic, which is basically right next to this spot.

This review is long overdue from 2020; I for visited this spot in 2016 or so and loved it so I…read morebrought my husband here during the Covid shut down in 2020 and we took a nice walk, it was awesome to check it out, explore the vacations cacti and spend some time in nature. Parking can be difficult. Overall a great and well kept garden e

Family portraits by 1985Luke Photography

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Family portraits by 1985Luke Photography

Shoreline Parklands At Mountain View

(26 reviews)

3.3 mi

Shoreline Parklands is one of the best "easy outdoor" spots in Mountain View. It's a big regional…read morepark by the Bay with a ton of space and different things to do. What I like: Free entry, huge free parking lot, and bathrooms. You can keep it simple with a walk or bike ride on the trails, or make it more of an activity day with the lake. The lake is manmade and they have a boathouse where you can rent equipment. Sailing, paddle boating, that kind of vibe. I've also seen the boathouse area used for group events, so it's good for a casual outing or even something organized. A few practical notes: It's mostly flat, which is great, but there's very little shade, so if it's sunny bring water and plan accordingly. Weekends can get crowded, especially when the weather is good. Overall, it's a clean, convenient park with enough variety that you can keep coming back and not get bored.

Shoreline Parklands is located in North Mountain View. This is a large regional park along the…read moreshores of the SF bay. There is a parking lot, as well as bathrooms here. There are many recreational activities to do here with a golf course, a lake for sailing, fields / open spaces for kite flying and other sports, restaurants, the historic Rengstorff House (a restored historic Victorian mansion), trails for biking and walking, and more. Unfortunately, the Rengstorff House just closed when we arrived. We were able to walk around and check out the lake and some of the other areas though.

Shoreline Parklands At Mountain View

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Shoreline Parklands

Rinconada Pool

3.9

(102 reviews)

0.9 mi

I can't speak for the main pool, but the children's pool was perfect for our little one who is…read morelearning to swim. It is an X shaped design with shallow entries on all arms of the pool and no spot deeper than two feet throughout. The fountain can be turned on which also made for a fun experience for the kids and adults. Highly recommend giving this place a shot if you are looking for a summer swim for kids under five years old.

Easy to check in as an out of towner, beautiful space, clean locker room and showers!read more

Big pool with 2 diving boards

View to the right

View to the left

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The Dish - Stanford Foothills

(521 reviews)

1.5 mi

Not much more to say that wasn't already written. This is a great place to hike. Note that no bikes…read moreare allowed which makes for a safe and comfortable hiking environment (coming from someone who enjoys cycling). They do have a lot of bike rack parking at the base of the hill, and there is often a ranger or someone at the booth, which is nice as this means someone can keep an eye on your bicycle. I really like that it's paved in a nice circular path, with ample room for people to pass each other on the path. Also, the hike has a nice mix of undulating hills and incredible views, so there's a variety along your hike. I always spot wildlife when I'm hiding, so just keep your eyes open. There is one large portable bathroom at the base of the hill, but otherwise, no other facilities (I believe no access to drinking water on the path either). As other reviewers have mentioned, parking can be quite difficult to find, even if you're willing to walk. The best thing is to get there early!

Nice place to get a decent workout in with gorgeous views of Palo Alto…read more Have to park but of a ways down from the entrance which could be street parking if you're lucky or parking at the high school. Can take various trails around the dish. It's not a very shaded hike, so should have hats/visors/sunnies ready. If you're lucky, may even see some adorable wildlife. Good majority is paved.

The Stanford Dish

The famous Stanford Dish

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Monte Bello Open Space Preserve

4.4

(56 reviews)

4.7 mi

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!…read more PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone! Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up. Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles! Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours. We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps. Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike: If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight. Start early and enjoy! =)

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area…read more Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known. To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars. Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all. Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT. I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.

Ahhhhh, sweet tranquility

Sunset

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Camp Unalayee

4.5

(17 reviews)

2.4 mi

Camp Unalayee is the most amazing summer camp EVER to exist!…read more The summer program at Unalayee is so amazing, not only because of the location (which is absolutely breathtaking) but also because the staff, returning and new campers each year create an amazing community. My parents brought me up to Camp Unalayee when I was six years old and from then on I was hooked. I've made life long friends and skills. I highly recommend this camp to any person young and mature.

I realize it's unexpected that I would give 2 stars as my experience at Camo Unalayee was traumatic…read morehowever I do recognize that the vast majority of people have a wonderful experience and I think most everyone involved in the camp have great passion for their good work. however, years and years ago, I was molested by a camp counselor at this camp- at the time, I told my other co-lead what had happened. At the time, it was suggested multiple times that I was "confused," there was no further exploration as to what happened, and my parents were never told. I myself did not tell them as I was so ashamed after speaking up and having it dismissed. years later, I wrote the adult woman I had told about my experience trying to understand why nothing was done- she told me that she had brought up the issue with the director (and I think founder?) as well as other staff and it never went further than that. I wrote the director, and he said he has no knowledge of it? As a woman and mother now, I recognize the counselor who molested me was practiced and I do fear there were other campers who went through what I did :( I really, really just wish they had spoke to my family about what had happened so that there would have been accountability and hopefully it would have never happened to someone else at the least if it had, we (I) wouldn't have felt so alone. it took my years to enjoy backpacking and the outdoors again- it was so very hard to have such an experience in the most beautiful of places