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Silicon Valley Audio Tour: Self-Guided Tech Journey
3.9
18 Ratings
Menlo Park
Embark on a self-guided audio tour through Silicon Valley, exploring the headquarters of tech giants and learning about the visionaries who shaped the world of technology.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Meta Headquarters - Formerly the Facebook HQ, now the Meta HQ, this imposing complex is home to the company that drove much of the social media revolution. As you circle the campus, you’ll learn about the origins of Facebook, eccentric CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the many controversies which have surrounded the company for years.
NOTE: This 42+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Silicon Valley in 2-3 hours.
- SJC18 Amazon - Though humble on the outside, this building is the brain behind the most important part of Amazon’s business model: Amazon Web Services. Here, workers manage the globe-spanning cloud computing service which gives Amazon dominance not only over the retail scene but over huge swaths of the internet itself.
- Google Android Lawn Statues - Google’s Android Garden is filled with strangely charming foam sculptures of lollipops, marshmallows, cupcakes, and tons of other sweets. Each represents a different software update to the Android operating system.
- Google B40 - The Googleplex is the headquarters of Google, the search giant known for its catchphrase “Don’t be evil.” As you drive by this enormous complex, you’ll get the full story behind the company’s creation and its braniac founders.
- Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus - Microsoft might not have been founded in Silicon Valley, but you can’t talk about tech without it. Here at their California HQ, you’ll hear the whole history of this influential company, from Bill Gates to its ongoing feud with Apple.
- Computer History Museum - The Computer History Museum houses the largest collection of computing artifacts in the world. The collection comprises nearly 90,000 objects and photos, 4,000 feet of cataloged documentation, and hundreds of gigabytes of software. If you’re a major techie, this place will be right up your alley.
- Apple Infinite Loop - Apple has three separate campuses in Silicon Valley, but this one is the original. As you drive around the loop, you’ll hear how Apple became the company it is today, and how they continue to shape the future of technology around the world.
- Apple Park Visitor Center - If you’d like to take a break and check out the latest Apple tech, this Apple store is the place for you. There’s also a cafe here if you need a snack.
- Tesla HQ - Up until the end of 2021, this building was the headquarters of Tesla, the electric car company famous for stirring up the automotive industry for better or for worse. As you drive, you’ll hear plenty more about its divisive leader, Elon Musk, as well as his other ventures, such as SpaceX.
What's Included
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
- Foods & Drinks
Additional Information
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Explore the birthplace of tech with a self-guided audio tour! Drive through Silicon Valley while checking out the headquarters of tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, Tesla, and more. Learn about the visionaries who’ve shaped the world around us, from the feud between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to the controversies around Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos to the eccentricities of Elon Musk.
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
- How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
- Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
- Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
- Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
- Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
- Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
1401 Marsh Rd
Marsh Road
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.9
(18 Ratings)
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Helenmt5780qk
Aug 28, 2024
Excellent overview tour of main tech sites in Silicon Valley - Followed this tour as a family with 2 older teenage sons. We all very much enjoyed the commentary and it definitely enhanced the experience of driving all round Silicon Valley. Much better than the alternative, which would have been working out our own itinerary and plotting our own route. Took us around 4 hours with a coffee/cake stop at Google (thoroughly recommend - better option than food/drink at Apple) and a stop at Apple visitor centre. Had already visited Stanford so didn’t stop there or the computer museum. Directions were easy to follow. App crashed a couple of times but was easy to restart and return to where we left off. All in all, would very much recommend this app.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
820vikasc
May 20, 2024
Self guided Silicon Valley tour - Highly recommended for those who have limited time and would like a feel of the tech company campuses in the valley. Covered companies include Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon (AWS), etc. The app is convenient. The only small issue is that it does not redirect to the guided tour so we had to repeat some loops, thought it is not inconvenient.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garetht2
Sep 23, 2023
Really good and easy to follow - This was really good, insightful, easy to follow and well planned. Took us to loads of really interesting places on Silicon Valley whilst giving us some good history including some interesting scandal! Really good!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret
May 24, 2023
Hot spots of Silicon Valley - It’s was nice learning about different Silicon Valley companies. You didn’t have to worry about finding the next stop. Enjoyed the tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Revathyuthaiahc
Apr 29, 2024
Excellent tour to enlighten kids and interested adults about the history of technology development and progress - The tour was simply amazing for a tech-inspired family like ours with young kids. We are not from the area, hence, driving (not to miss the exits) and listening to the details was a bit hard. We had the navigation map on another phone so that we could listen and drive at the same time. Having a list of various stops by email will be more convenient. But we enjoyed the tour overall and learned a lot of details and some unique stories (liked seeing Steve Jobs Garage). We also figured later that we could play each of the numbers again and listened to the details when not driving. We got off to walk around Google campus (Google Visitor Center, Google store, the sculptures, the Droids, Google Cafe etc) as well as the Apple campus. In the Apple Visitor Center, we went to the balcony and took pictures of the Apple space building. The model of the building and the 3D view on the iPAD was a treat for the kids. And so were the demos for the new iPhone and other gadgets. Apple Cafe was lovely. We enjoyed the tour very much.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Khogeveen
Mar 4, 2024
Great experience listening and driving - We enjoyed this experience. Very interesting facts and stories about the big tech giants.
Only suggestion; the start needs to tell you which way to turn. (Left out of the park where we started). After that the instructions were great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madelon_g
Mar 1, 2023
Great rainy day adventure with my 15 year old son. - We enjoyed the commentary along the route. Perfect activity for a rainy day. Best part was visiting the apple park activity center, although it was near, but not on the route. We could get out of the car and see the augmented reality display of the park and visit a big apple store and cafe, as no visitors are permitted inside any of these tech headquarters. But we enjoyed seeing their locations and listening to the history and commentary of the quide.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer47242888501
Jul 21, 2023
Nice concept, but there're rooms for improvement. - The route on the trip and the picture of each point of interest are not updated. We encountered a dead-end street or place you can't go through. The app is also lagged in the direction. We ended up missing turn or exit. I wish you had the options to skip some of the points you don't want to see and also should provide a pfd map for printouts of all the points of interest. Overall there're rooms for improvement.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W1731nrbryanb
Jan 28, 2023
Found the app to be a little confusing - The app was a little confusing. We had a hard time following along. Would be nice to hook up to the car gps. Tour a little long.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Armand_c
Apr 18, 2023
Drive instructions - Drive instructions were too late on crossings. too late to move to the correct lanes. That made us very insecure while driving.
I think that if give route in a different way like a route in Google/ Apple Maps would be much nicer.
Review provided by Viator
