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Three simple reasons why Palo Alto, California is like Reston, Virginia
Business travel often takes you to places you normally wouldn't visit. I'd never plan a vacation to Peapack, New Jersey, for example, and London, Ontario is another that surely won't make anyone's "bucket list." The upside, however, is that you get to see places you'd never visit otherwise. And, you remember that "off the beaten path" – the goal very committed traveler – isn't necessarily sexy. This is what I'm seeing right now as I sit in Palo Alto. The conference I attended is behind me, and I'm killing some time before catching a flight home.What I can't shake, a feeling that's been with me since I arrived in town on Tuesday, is that I've been somewhere like this before. I spent a couple of months in Reston, Virginia on business back in 2003, and the parallels stood out immediately.
Are Palo Alto and Reston brothers from another mother? I think so, and here are three simple reasons why:
1. They are immaculate: when I was in Reston, I was blown away by the absence of litter ... and the absence of dirt. The place is frighteningly clean (in a creepy, Monaco-esque way), and I wouldn't be shocked if you could do surgery on the street with no fear of infection. Palo Alto is no different. I feel like I should take my shoes off before crossing University Avenue.
2. Planning is crucial: Both Reston and Palo Alto carry the ethos of a planned city. The seductive curves of Boston's narrow streets are not to be found, and centuries of mismatched architecture – of the sort you'd see in Manhattan – have no home in Palo Alto or Reston.
3. These cities are purpose-driven: Reston, of course, arose as something of an enclave for employees of the federal government. There are some businesses in town, and they have effectively become part of the purpose. For Palo Alto, subtract "government" and add "Stanford."
It's eerie, right?! A country separates these twin towns, but the connection, if only spiritual, will never be severed!
[photo by richardmasoner via Flickr]
2. Planning is crucial: Both Reston and Palo Alto carry the ethos of a planned city. The seductive curves of Boston's narrow streets are not to be found, and centuries of mismatched architecture – of the sort you'd see in Manhattan – have no home in Palo Alto or Reston.
3. These cities are purpose-driven: Reston, of course, arose as something of an enclave for employees of the federal government. There are some businesses in town, and they have effectively become part of the purpose. For Palo Alto, subtract "government" and add "Stanford."
It's eerie, right?! A country separates these twin towns, but the connection, if only spiritual, will never be severed!
[photo by richardmasoner via Flickr]
Filed under: North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Mar 19th 2011 12:46PM
Actually, that's a pretty high tech sector area as well. Major IT companies who have contracts with the Federal Government line that area. You also forgot, ridiculously expensive to live as well. Otherwise spot on!
Richard Masoner Mar 21st 2011 1:38PM
Glad you like my photo.
I'm curious where your conference was at. I haven't really though of Palo Alto as an immaculate city, but then I ride my bike down the crumbling pavement on University and other local streets all the time, so my perspective is maybe a little different.