Day Trip: Marketplace makes mark in Menlo Park

By Karen Aiello
kaiello@modbee.com

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

MENLO PARK -- With a population of a little more than 30,000 and located between the technology of Silicon Valley and the high-rises of San Francisco, the city of Menlo Park is an inviting escape to enjoy the beauty of nature and the quaintness of community.

Menlo Park received its name when two Irishmen settled on what is now the El Camino Real and, to mark the shared entrance to their properties, hung a wooden gate with tall arches and labeled the entrance "Menlo Park."

In 1863, when the railroad came through, one railroad official noticed the gate marking and decided that the name would fit the new train depot.

WHERE: Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park
WHEN:Connoisseurs' Marketplace festival, July 18-19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday evening concert, 5 to 7 p.m.
ADMISSION: Free
GETTING THERE: From the Central Valley, take Interstate 580 (Altamont Pass) to the East Bay. In Castro Valley, take the Interstate 238 connector to Interstate 880. Go south on I-880 toward San Jose. In Hayward, take Highway 92 to the San Mateo Bridge. Cross the bridge and take Highway 101 south. Take the Marsh Road Exit West; follow Marsh Road until it dead-ends at Middlefield Avenue. Turn left on Middlefield and follow along until the stoplight at Oak Grove Avenue. Turn right onto Oak Grove and follow it past the railroad tracks. First left after railroad tracks is Merrill Street. Follow Merrill to Santa Cruz Avenue.
DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 34 minutes (MapQuest)
MORE INFO: Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, 650-325-2818 or online at www.menloparkchamber.

The railroad station, which was constructed in 1866 and was used as a home base for railroad executives Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins, is the oldest in continuous operation in California.

For one weekend each summer, the main downtown street of Menlo Park, Santa Cruz Avenue, becomes a stage for both art and music.

On July 18-19, the annual Connoisseurs' Marketplace, a free open-air festival, will take over downtown Menlo Park and offer visitors a variety of music, including jazz, R&B and rock 'n' roll, as well as exhibits and displays of both contemporary and modern art.

Festive food and vendor booths will dot the tree-lined street and live music will fill the air as the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 23rd year of hosting the event.

Young visitors to the festival will be delighted with the rides, art and theatrical events planned to take place in the action-packed Kids' Fun Zone.

If a trip to Menlo Park seems more inviting when the festival crowd has departed, take the opportunity to stroll Santa Cruz Avenue and browse in its unique and inviting shops.

Or just stop by and take a tour of the grounds of Sunset Magazine headquarters, where more than 300 different shrubs, trees and plants provide a scenic wonderland. Menlo Park is a real delight.

Bee assistant librarian Karen Aiello can be reached at kaiello@modbee.com or 578-2392.