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Tech-Related Things to Do in Mountain View, CA

Abe Rahey, a Google employee, lists his best suggestions for things to do in his hometown.

Home to the Google headquarters, Mountain View, California, is in some ways like Disneyworld for tech enthusiasts. Although you won’t find any tech-themed rollercoasters here, there are plenty of tech-related things to do in Silicon Valley.

Explore Googleplex

Googleplex is the official name for Google’s corporate headquarters, and tech fans will be delighted to discover that it is open to the public. For such an all-encompassing established business, one would think they would be closed off from the public. However, the techie space allows for self-guided tours. There are no official tours conducted here unless you are personally invited by a Google escort. But this also allows for you to explore the campus at your own pace. Just don’t expect to make use of the many amenities offered solely for Google employees’ usage.

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Visit the Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum collects and preserves computer-related artifacts, displaying them for guests to learn about. The museum highlights the exciting details and developments made throughout history in regard to computers and information technology. Visitors can learn about the history of the devices they use each day as well as the impact these innovations had on society as a whole. The museum has an impressive collection of computer artifacts, exhibits and software displays to fawn over.

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Experience an Aircraft Simulator

Technology doesn’t just appear in the form of computers and coding languages, but it also translates over to general ways of living, such as transportation methods. If you want to try your hand at the inner technologies of aircraft, you can do so by trying out a flight simulator at the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum. This museum is a great place to learn about aviation and gain a firsthand look at related artifacts, some even coming from the World War II period.

Check Out the Allen Telescope Array

Mountain View, California, is home to a field of state-of-the-art telescopes titled the Allen Telescope Array. These telescopes were built to assist scientists with their goal of finding intelligent life on other planets and have since been involved with countless research projects. Visitors can take a self-guided tour at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory to learn more about this technology and the work they do.

While there is much more to Mountain View, California than these tech-related activities, it is worth checking them out if you are in the area. Besides the aforementioned items, there are countless restaurants, shops and hiking trails to take advantage of.

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