26 miles (41.8 km) south of San Francisco is the unassuming town of Redwood City, California. In the heart of the Silicon Valley, serious tech people work hard to launch the latest version of the iPhone and create computer software for more efficient businesses. But Redwood City isn’t all work and no play. Read on, to discover how residents have fun and so will tourists, with these 10 best things to do in Redwood City, CA.
1. Pulgas Water Temple: A sliver of serenity
Designed by William G. Merchant, a prominent San Francisco Bay Area architect, the Pulgas Water Temple is a great spot to relax. This small, columned stone structure is enhanced by a line of tall cypress trees and a wonderful rectangular-shaped reflecting pool. Pulgas Water Temple, with its delicate and detailed design and picturesque surroundings, not only offers tranquility but also is a popular place for photo opportunities, from formal wedding portraits to casual fun selfies.
Pulgas Water Temple
Address: 56 Cañada Road, Redwood City, CA 94062
Website: Pulgas Water Temple
2. San Mateo County History Museum: Culture in a courthouse venue
Want an enriching experience? Then, head over to San Mateo County History Museum. The museum spotlights the rich history of San Mateo County and the surrounding area. A true benefit of the San Mateo County History Museum is that it resides in the former San Mateo County Courthouse. A beautifully ornate structure, built in 1910, the San Mateo County History Museum is as interesting to view as many of the exhibits it houses.
A key feature of the building is the dazzling stained-glass dome in the rotunda. There’s also an original courtroom, from the courthouse’s early beginnings, left untouched by time, and a great bookstore in the basement. The County Square, an outdoor area in front of the museum, hosts many fun events, like the Magic Lantern 3D Light Show and Scare on the Square, a Halloween-themed gathering.
San Mateo County History Museum
Address: 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Website: San Mateo County History Museum
3. Pairing good German grub with great German beer: Gourmet Haus Staudt!
Stepping into Gourmet Haus Staudt is like stepping into a shop in Bavaria. A family-run operation, in business for over 30 years, Gourmet Haus Staudt owners are from Germany. So, this German specialty store and beer garden is a one-of-a-kind establishment, where you can be sure the beer and bratwurst are authentic.
The front portion of the store is a German grocery and gift store with food, spices and Germanic knickknacks, like gnomes and nutcrackers. The beer garden in back offers a selection of 10 German beers on tap and a tasty menu that features sandwiches, sauerkraut, and German potato salad, just to name a few. A visit to Gourmet Haus Staudt is definitely wunderbar!
Gourmet Haus Staudt
Address: 2615 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Website: Gourmet Haus Staudt
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4. Lively vibes in a grand setting: Fox Theater
Situated across the street from a beautiful European-style plaza, the historic Fox Theater is a grand and opulent space for live entertainment. Opened in 1929, the Fox Theater was originally a movie house. Its owner, while touring Europe, collected all of his fave architectural details from a variety of venues to establish a Moorish-style interior and a Gothic appearance for the exterior.
The Fox Theater underwent a renovation in the 1950s and re-opened as a classy locale for live shows and performances. Inducted to the National Register of Historic Place in 1993, the Fox Theater has been instrumental in jump-starting the renaissance of downtown Redwood City.
Fox Theater
Address: 2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
Website: Fox Theater
5. Mourning the loss of LPs? The Record Man will have you cheering!
Opened in 1988, the Record Man is the ultimate place to get “stacks of wax”. Stuffed with over a million LPs, 45s and 78s, the Record Man is sure to have that obscure David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust album you’ve been hunting for years to find. The Record Man has mainstream categories like rock, country and jazz, but they also boast more eclectic genres, such as punk, alternative, and reggae.
The Record Man also sells collectibles, jewelry, and books. With nearly three-stories of records packed tightly onto shelves, you could easily spend days browsing the wares here.
The Record Man
Address: 1322 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94063
Facebook: The Record Man
6. Creativity set free at Unleashed Art Gallery
Located among the hustle and bustle of downtown Redwood City, Unleashed Art Gallery is a space primarily focused on fine art, including figurative and abstract. However, photography and other art mediums have also been displayed, from time to time. Unleashed Art Gallery’s goal is to target new and emerging talent in the San Mateo County area. A highlight of the gallery is the owner’s Custom Adirondack creations - a typical Adirondack outdoor lounge chair is splattered with a variety of paint colors to create an entirely different look. The custom Adirondack chairs can be ordered online, through the Unleashed Art Gallery website.
Unleashed Art Gallery
Address: 2744 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94062
Website: Unleashed Art Gallery
7. Edgewood Park & Nature Preserve shines spotlight on nature's beauty
The woodlands and grasslands of Edgewood Park & Nature Preserve should be every nature-lovers’ top destination. Encompassing 467 acres (189 hectares), the gently meandering grasslands are known for producing a spectacular array of wildflowers every spring, while the woodlands offer a prime space for exploration. Both areas heighten the San Francisco Bay Area’s lovely, naturalistic setting.
Edgewood Park & Preserve’s love of nature and its staff’s eagerness to share that enthusiasm is apparent, with docent-led nature and bird walks. The nature walk is comprised of three miles (4.8 km) over three hours, set at a leisurely pace, and is perfect for young families and seniors. The bird walk is a bit more challenging, covering 3 to 4 miles (4.8 to 6.4 km) and roams over various sloping hills.
Edgewood Park & Nature Preserve
Address: 10 Old Stagecoach Road, Redwood City, CA 94062
Website: Edgewood Park & Nature Preserve
8. Downtown Redwood City gets the party started
The pulse of Redwood City beats in its downtown, the town’s entertainment hub. Along with cultural and tourist attractions like the San Mateo County History Museum, downtown Redwood is an excellent gathering spot, that boasts a generous variety of eateries, from upscale dining and charming pubs to aromatic coffee shops and tasty wine bars - there’s even a tea room.
Shopping is an event downtown, with retailers that run the gamut from eclectic clothing and jewelry boutiques to family-run grocery stores and hobby shops. For a nice leisurely evening on the town, the only direction to head is towards downtown Redwood City.
Downtown Redwood City
Website: Downtown Redwood City
9. Bair Island: Nature's gem of Northern California
Bair Island is a 3,000 acre (1,214 hectare) series of wetlands and marshes along the bay’s shoreline of Redwood City. Referred to as the “crown jewel”, Bair Island is where 150 species of bird and wildlife reside, including some harbor seals, who nurse their pups on the Island. Walk the trail and you may catch glimpses of great blue herons, egrets, terns, and Canada geese.
Part of the more expansive Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Bair Island is the largest remaining piece of undeveloped bay wetlands and an ecologically important refuge. Bair Island’s beauty really shines through during high tide and at sunrise or sunset and it also has wonderful views of the San Francisco Bay and wetlands.
Bair Island
Website: Bair Island
10. It's the Silicon Valley, so yeah there's a Computer History Museum!
It’s no surprise to find the Computer History Museum in the center of the Silicon Valley. Located in Mountain View, California, a 19-minute drive from Redwood City, the Computer History Museum is devoted to presenting and preserving stories and artifacts of the information age. The museum also explores the computer revolution and its profound impact on society.
With opportunities to sit in a self-driving car, have a go at computer coding, or learn Photoshop from a pro, the Computer History Museum is a great place to explore, whether you’re a techno-geek or a computer novice. The museum also hosts fun community events, like Eat Drink and Be Techie and the Silicon Valley Science Fiction Short Film Festival.
Computer History Museum
Address: 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043
Website: Computer History Museum
Between motherboards and Mother Nature lies Redwood City
Just because Redwood City sits at the center of the computer revolution doesn’t mean that’s all there is to this charming town. With a rich history that includes historic buildings, museums, nature preserves, beautiful hiking trails and lively entertainment plazas, Redwood City is a fine destination to visit and explore a part of Northern California that transforms the lives of many, through more ways than one.