Spanning a 50-mile stretch from San Francisco's southern city limits to the northern reaches of Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Peninsula encompasses San Mateo County and the neighboring city of Palo Alto. The region packs scenic beauty, rugged coastline, outdoor pursuits, cultural draws, exciting cities, and charming small towns among its many lures. Local group facilities and accommodations span the full spectrum, making the area a standout for meeting planners seeking an alternative to bustling San Francisco.
"One way or another, we have it all," says Anne LeClair, president and CEO of the San Mateo County CVB. "[San Francisco International Airport] is located here, and visitors can quickly and easily reach San Francisco by mass transit. We have a wonderful climate, water on both sides, all kinds of parks, golf courses, and great shopping and dining."
Even better, planners can expect to wheel and deal a lot more than they might have been able to just a year or two ago.
"Since the dot-com industry slacked off, hotels have been courting more groups and offering incredible rates," LeClair adds.
The county boasts three major public meeting facilities and more than 140 properties ranging from intimate inns to full-service convention hotels. The largest concentration of hotels lies within minutes of San Francisco International Airport, which recently debuted a massive new international terminal. Conference facilities are available at more than 30 properties.
"We're in the enviable position of having airport properties that are like resorts," LeClair says. "Almost all of the airport properties are on the [San Francisco] Bay or within a half mile of the water, and most of the [nearby cities] have nice downtown areas with shopping and dining."
Further removed from the airport, the county offers plenty of retreat-like settings.
"On the coast side, we have several B&Bs and smaller motels, but there are also upscale properties and gorgeous lodges that are great for smaller corporate groups who want to be isolated and have a team-building experience," LeClair says.
Traveling throughout the Peninsula and into San Francisco is a breeze for groups thanks to a comprehensive public transportation network that includes Caltrain, which spans the Peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which travels between San Francisco, northern San Mateo County and the East Bay, and SamTrans bus service, which covers the entire Peninsula and offers service into San Francisco.
Two new developments are aimed at making the public transportation system even more efficient. Caltrain will launch service of a new "Baby Bullet" express train between San Francisco and San Jose in 2003, and BART is extending its track in northern San Mateo County with four new stations set to open this year.
Groups will likely want to venture into San Francisco, but the Peninsula supplies its own endless array of options for off-time diversions. Cities such as Palo Alto and San Mateo offer vibrant downtown districts with excellent restaurants and numerous shops, while quaint oceanfront towns such as Half Moon Bay provide a welcome respite.
Airport AreaThe region immediately surrounding San Francisco International Airport encompasses five main cities: Daly City, South San Francisco, Burlingame, Millbrae, and San Bruno. In addition to more than 60 properties covering every category, Daly City is home to the Cow Palace, a 300,000-square-foot event and exposition facility. South San Francisco features the South San Francisco Conference Center, a slick, technologically advanced facility with 16,500 square feet of meeting space and 6,500 square feet of lobby and pre-function space.
Airport-area cities provide numerous diversions for delegates. Downtown Burlingame is lined with restaurants, breweries, coffee houses, art galleries, and charming shops. The city also is home to the historic Burlingame Railroad Station; the Museum of Pez Memorabilia; and the Kohl Mansion, which is available for corporate functions and events. South San Francisco attractions include Oyster Point Marina, a recreational area offering boat services, a fishing pier, and a 33-acre park with a walking trail, picnic facilities and a beach.
Greater San Mateo CountyThe most popular cities for groups in the greater San Mateo County region include San Mateo, Foster City, Redwood City, Belmont, and San Carlos, all of which are a short drive from the airport. Nearly 50 properties are available, many of which situated on the bay. The San Mateo County Expo Center, located in the city of San Mateo, features a campus-like setting with more than 200,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, a new pavilion with 6,500 square feet of meeting space and an outdoor exhibit area.
San Mateo also features an historic downtown area replete with restaurants and unique shops and a large central park with elaborate Japanese tea gardens. One of the city's prime lures is Coyote Point Museum, an educational facility featuring native flora and fauna in natural habitats.
Redwood City is noted for its cobblestone shopping-and-dining district, and more than 100 historical landmarks. Several facilities serve as both tourist attractions and unique venues for groups, including the 1920s-era Fox Theatre and the San Mateo County History Museum, situated in an early 20th century architectural masterpiece that features the largest stained glass dome on the West Coast. Minutes from downtown Redwood City, the shores of the coast offer open spaces with lagoons, wetlands and an array of birds and aquatic animals.
In Foster City, visitors can paddle boats around the lagoons, bike along a bayside trail and venture into expansive parklands. Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos chronicles more than 100 years of flight; groups can rent the facility. Farther inland, the Old West town of Woodside, situated at the base of lush hills, is home to an interesting general store that also serves as a museum showcasing 19th century oddities. The region is sprinkled with miles of scenic trails and lavish mansions such as Filoli, a country estate offering tours of its magnificent gardens and Georgian Revival house. Nearby, the Thomas Fogarty Winery provides a scenic mountain setting for corporate events or wine tasting.
Coastal San Mateo CountyWith verdant rolling hills and redwood stands on one side and rugged cliffs dropping to picturesque beaches fronting the Pacific Ocean on the other, San Mateo's coastal Highway 1 offers awesome vistas and alluring towns filled with accommodations ranging from intimate inns to upscale lodges, most of which are situated in and around Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. For small groups desiring a secluded coastal retreat, several properties feature conference facilities.
Beyond the peaceful atmosphere and scenic beauty, the coast serves up an interesting mix of diversions: exploring small towns, visiting ecological attractions and historic sites; hiking; whale watching; kayaking; horseback riding; shopping, and, of course, dining on the fresh catch of the day.
Pubs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, antique stores, art galleries, and boutiques punctuate Half Moon Bay's inviting Main Street. Just north of Half Moon Bay is Princeton-by-the-Sea, another charming coastal town that is well worth a visit.
Pescadero is a picturesque town located a few minutes inland from Highway 1. Unfolding over rolling hills toward the ocean, the modest village is best known for Duarte's, a popular restaurant founded in the 1890s. Nearby, visitors will find Pescadero Marsh Natural Reserve, a favorite among birdwatchers; several parks with an extensive trail system; historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in the U.S.; and Año Nuevo State Reserve, a mating site for giant elephant seals.
Palo Alto and EnvironsThe home of Stanford University is also a prime spot on the Peninsula for small to mid-size meetings, according the Kerry Wright, program director for the Palo Alto COC.
"Palo Alto is a great place for tourists, but it's also a great place to host meetings," Wright says. "We have two hotels that can accommodate up to 600 people and a number of great hotels that host smaller groups. You can have a 40-person meeting, wow them with the hotel, then walk across the street and eat at a wonderful restaurant," she adds.
Wright believes Palo Alto sets itself apart with its ability to deliver the latest in high-tech meeting services due to its location at the head of Silicon Valley.
Located just south of San Mateo County, Palo Alto offers more than 50 properties, ranging from intimate inns to five-star, full-service hotels.
In addition to its university and Silicon Valley appeal, Palo Alto is a sophisticated city of great architecture, trendy shops, excellent restaurants, fine museums, public gardens, and historic buildings. Among the city's highlights are the garage where tech behemoth Hewlett-Packard was founded 1934, the restored 1920s-era Stanford Theatre, and a Rodin Sculpture Garden.
Next door, the small community of Menlo Park is noted for attractions such as the extensive gardens at
Sunset Magazine's headquarters and the Allied Arts Guild, a showplace for numerous artisans that is located in a landmark building designed after the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens in Grenada, Spain. (The building is currently closed for renovation until 2003.) The city is equipped to handle small meetings and functions at hotel properties as well as a handful of small conference centers.