It's fun to wander around the campus of Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, which is open to the public.Visitors are more than welcome to walk around the grounds, even though most of the buildings are only open to employees.There are many popular sights, such as the company's unofficial T-Rex mascot statue, self-driving cars, and Android-themed art.You can arrange a tour of the company's offices if you know someone who works there.It's a must for anyone visiting the Bay Area to visit the Google headquarters.
Step 1: You can drive to Mountainview.
In the city of Mountain View, California, the headquarters of the search engine is located at 1600 Amphitheater Parkway.The Rengstorff Avenue exit is on the US 101 South.Continue until you reach Amphitheatre Parkway.If you are coming from a different direction, take the other road and exit to Amphitheatre parkway.You can use maps to plot out your journey.
Step 2: If you aren't driving, you can access the headquarters by train and bus.
You can take either the number 32 or 40 Mountainview city buses.You can get to Google's headquarters from San Francisco, San Jose, or South Bay with the stops close to the San Antonio Caltrain station.Purchase day passes for either transportation system to save money and time.The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority operates Mountainview city buses.Caltrain operates in the San Francisco Bay Area region.One way tickets for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority cost $2.25 while a day pass costs $7.00.A one way ticket for the Caltrain costs $3.75 while a day pass costs $7.50.
Step 3: There are lots on the north side of the campus.
The top of the campus has 5 large parking lots.You can access these lots by driving north down North Shoreline Boulevard.You can park for free in one of the lots.A, B, C, D, and E are the parking lots.
Step 4: The Amphitheatre Parkway is followed by Bill Graham Parkway.
You will have to walk for a while to get to the campus.Just west of the parking lots, you can walk down Bill Graham Parkway.You can cross this street to get to the main hub.
Step 5: You can explore the campus on foot.
You can easily explore the outside of the building if you are not an employee.There is more than a dozen acres of land on the entire campus.Track your location and where you're going with recognizable landmarks.Look for distinctive sculptures or signs as well as the addresses of different buildings.You can walk across the campus without hurting your feet if you wear comfortable shoes.
Step 6: Go to the main cluster of buildings.
You can visit the central point of the headquarters if you're an employee and your guests.The buildings are west of Charleston Park.The other buildings on the campus are more spread out and have less going on in them than these ones.There is a park in the city.This is the first stop on your tour and it is easy to get to from the parking lots.There is a cluster of buildings near the volleyball court.The buildings include the head office of the search engine.
Step 7: There is a life-sized T-Rex skeleton.
A life-size T-Rex sculpture was placed on the campus by Sergey Brin and Larry Page as a reminder not to let the company go the way of the dinosaurs.You can take a tour of this iron sculpture.There is a T-Rex in front of the main buildings.Some of the fun items that "Stan" is adorned with are pink Flamingos.
Step 8: Take pictures of the statues.
Every time a new operating system is developed, a colorful sculpture is added to the statue garden.These sculptures are fun and candy themed.The garden is located on the South East point of Landings Drive.You can take a selfies with a Jelly bean-filledAndroid robot, which commemorates the version 4.1 operating system.The garden is located in front of the building, which has a large sculpture above its entranceway.
Step 9: You should keep an eye out for the self-driving car.
One of the company's self-driving cars can be seen on the campus.There is usually at least one person riding around the campus.One of these cars will usually share a road with other cars and bike riders.The self-driving car project is called Waymo.
Step 10: You can use the outdoor volleyball courts.
When the outdoor volleyball courts are not being used by employees, they are open to the public.There are courts across the campus.The easiest place to find is in the center of the campus, across from the main building.
Step 11: You can buy souvenirs at the store.
The gift store is open to the public from Monday to Friday.The store sells mugs, sweatshirts, mouse pads, and lunch boxes.You can complete your visit during business hours.There is an online store that can be found at https://www.googlemerchandisestore.com/.
Step 12: Ask a friend or someone who works for the company to show you around.
Employees are the only people who can access most of the buildings.Sometimes exceptions are made for employees' guests.If you know a person who works at the headquarters, ask if they can give you a tour.Offer to work around their schedule to make the visit happen.
Step 13: The highlights of the offices are hidden.
You should be on the lookout for the most notable parts of the work environment if you get the chance to visit the Googleplex.Before you take pictures, ask for permission.It's a good idea to be discreet and low-key to avoid distraction at work.
Step 14: Go to the Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center showcases the history of the company.Employees and their guests only have access to this exposition of cultural and historical artifacts.Ask your tour guide to show you around the building and give you an idea of how the company has grown over the years.The visitor center may be closed in 2019.There is a statue garden near the Landings building area.
Step 15: There is a meal in the cafeteria.
A variety of high-quality restaurants can be found in the Googleplex cafeteria.Ask your tour guide if you can share a meal in the cafeteria, which is open to employees and their guests.You can choose from restaurants that are green, yellow, or red.The green is a sign of maximum healthiness.There are both healthy and bad ingredients in yellow food.The food in red is not ideal for a healthy diet.
Step 16: Checkout the sleep stations on the internet.
If you want to see one of the "nap Pods", ask your tour guide.Employees can work quietly or sleep with the enclosed reclining chairs.They have a Bose music system and a timer to wake up employees.The Naps Pods were created using NASA science.
Step 17: Ask if you can see the garden.
Many of the plant-based foods served in the cafeteria are grown on-site.This large organic garden uses a technology called Earthbox that waters plants from the bottom rather than the top.Ask if you can see this space on your tour.There are meditation spots for employees at the Garden.The learning grounds for students of a local horticulture society can be found in the garden.