Palo Alto Real Estate | Luxury Homes for Sale in Palo Alto

Welcome to Palo Alto

The home of Stanford University and the birthplace of Silicon Valley

The city is named after the thousand-year-old coastal redwood trees discovered by the Spanish explorers who settled here. It’s nicknamed the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and is home to multi-billion-dollar technology companies. The city features a perfect blend of commercial and residential areas alongside a vibrant downtown. It also features new and old architecture with historic and contemporary buildings along Palo Alto’s tree-lined streets.

What to Love

Good year-round climate
A+ schools
Stunning outdoor lifestyle
Easy access to Silicon Valley employers
Proximity to an array of amenities and attractions

Local Lifestyle

Palo Alto’s lifestyle is defined by its excellent weather that lasts most of the year, lavish outdoor amenities, excellent education, and hip downtown. Its perpetual sunshine and warm temperature give the perfect environment for outdoor activities. It’s only in the winter months, specifically January and February, when you’ll find few outdoor activities. Otherwise, locals spend the rest of the year exploring local parks and hiking trails, biking along tree-lined streets, and trying out different foods from various restaurants.

Stanford University is Palo Alto’s cultural hub and most remarkable destination. Over 17,000 students are enrolled in this prestigious university, bringing an infusion of youth and diversity to the city. Palo Alto is every cyclist’s dream world, with abundant biking terrain backed by an ambitious plan to make it a bike-friendly community.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Palo Alto has a variety of restaurants serving unique dishes. Tamarine Restaurant & Gallery serves special Vietnamese dishes like lemongrass sea bass, shaking beef, and hoisin lamb chops. Its interior provides an exquisite aesthetic appeal from the rotating art gallery. It’s also a powerful spot to grab eccentric cocktails.

Bird Dog brings a fine French dining pedigree like no other. It has been named “one of the brightest spots on the Peninsula” due to its well-crafted menu that includes raw fish, fatty meats, and locally farmed grains and vegetables. The Palo Alto Creamery is every kid’s dream destination with its charming burgers, shakes, and damn good pies.

Palo Alto features a vibrant shopping scene with the most-sought products. Stanford Shopping Center provides elegant shopping experiences with a variety of department stores for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Apple, Janie and Jack, and the Gap. Town & Country Village is another excellent Palo Alto shopping destination, home to several specialty shops, accessories, and clothing stores. It features high-end boutiques, like Patrick James and Jarbo, Athleta, and Nano, to mention a few.

Things to Do

Palo Alto has many quirks. You can learn about Hewlett-Packard’s history at the Hewlett-Packard Garage, the birthplace of Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Valley as we know it today. Stanford University is also an excellent destination you can visit. From exploring Cantor Arts Center, taking a panoramic view of Palo Alto at the Hoover Tower, and visiting the Stanford Memorial Church, there is a long list of activities to keep your weekend busy.

If you’re looking for a place to take your kids, the Junior Museum & Zoo has exciting things to see and experience. This includes a large variety of live animals and interactive educational exhibits. The Baylands Nature Preserve provides nearly 2,000 acres of marshland where guests can uncover the true nature of the South Bay Area. It also has 15 miles of trail, great for bicycling, running, and hiking. Birders should bring their binoculars to view its abundant birdlife.

Schools

Many schools in Palo Alto are in the Palo Alto Unified School District. Some of the best schools in this school district include:

Herbert Hoover Elementary, grades K to 5 (the best elementary school in the school district)
Ellen Fletcher Middle, grades 6 to 8 (the best middle school in the school district)
Henry M. Gunn High School, grades 9 to 12 (the 22nd-best California high school)