---
title: Travels in Silicon Valley - facebook and Google
description: "Out & About with Wi-Fi, Travels in Silicon Valley: Visiting facebook and Google"
image: https://blog.iptel.com.au/hubfs/Blogs/Travels%20in%20Silicon%20Valley/Travels%20In%20Silicon%20Valley%20(Instagram).gif
---

[![IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500 (1)](https://blog.iptel.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500%20(1).png?width=200&height=59&name=IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500%20(1).png "IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500 (1)")](https://iptel.com.au)

- [Home](https://iptel.com.au/)
- [Solutions](https://iptel.com.au/solutions)

   Technologies 
  
    - [Cisco Access Manager](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-access-manager)
    - [Cisco Catalyst Centre](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-catalyst-center)
    - [Cisco Meraki](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-meraki)
    - [Cisco SDA Fabric](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-sda-fabric)
    - [Cisco Spaces](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-spaces)
    - [Everpure Storage](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/everpure-storage)
    - [Industrial IoT](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/industrial-iot)
    - [LAN](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/lan)
    - [Security and Cisco ISE](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/security-and-cisco-ise)
    - [Thousand Eyes](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/thousandeyes)
    - [Virtualisation](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/virtualisation)
    - [Wi-Fi](https://iptel.com.au/services/wi-fi-surveys)

   Services 
  
    - [Backup Assure](https://iptel.com.au/services/backup-assure)
    - [Cisco URWB](https://iptel.com.au/services/cisco-urb)
    - [Cisco Webex Calling](https://iptel.com.au/services/cisco-webex-calling)
    - [Eco-Friendly Network Refresh](https://iptel.com.au/services/eco-friendly-network-refresh)
    - [Network Equipment Supply](https://iptel.com.au/services/network-equipment-supply)
    - [Splunk](https://iptel.com.au/services/splunk)
    - [Wi-Fi Assurance Review](https://iptel.com.au/services/wi-fi-assurance-review)
    - [Wi-Fi Surveys](https://iptel.com.au/services/wi-fi-surveys)
- [Industries](https://iptel.com.au/industries)

   Education and Healthcare 
  
    - [Education and Campuses](https://iptel.com.au/industries/education)
    - [Healthcare and Clinical](https://iptel.com.au/industries/healthcare)
    - [Aged Care](https://iptel.com.au/industries/aged-care)

   Enterprise 
  
    - [Enterprise Networks](https://iptel.com.au/industries/enterprise)

   Industrial 
  
    - [Mining and Camps](https://iptel.com.au/industries/mines)
    - [Utilities](https://iptel.com.au/industries/utilities)

   Retail & Warehousing 
  
    - [Retail](https://iptel.com.au/industries/retail-and-stores)
    - [Warehousing](https://iptel.com.au/industries/warehousing)

   Entertainment 
  
    - [Stadiums](https://iptel.com.au/industries/stadiums)
    - [Hospitality](https://iptel.com.au/hospitality-and-hotels)
- [MSP](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services)

   Meraki MSP 
  
    - [Meraki Access and Security](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services/meraki-access-and-security)
    - [Meraki SD Wan](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services/meraki-sd-wan)

   Cisco MSP 
  
    - [Cisco Secure Access](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services/cisco-secure-access)
    - [Security Service Edge](https://iptel.com.au/manged-services/security-service-edge)

   FSO MSP 
  
    - [Full Stack Observability](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services/full-stack-observability)

   Meeting Rooms MSP 
  
    - [Meeting Rooms as a Service](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services/meeting-rooms-as-a-service)
- [Equipment](https://iptel.com.au/services/network-equipment-supply)

   Equipment Supply 
  
    - [Network Equipment Supply](https://iptel.com.au/services/network-equipment-supply)
    - [Buy Cisco Equipment](https://iptel.com.au/services/cisco-equipment-supply)
    - [Buy Meraki Equipment](https://iptel.com.au/services/meraki-equipment-supply)

   Get Pricing 
  
    - [Get a Hardware Quote](https://iptel.com.au/services/network-equipment-supply#hardware-quote)
    - [Wi-Fi AP Estimator](https://iptel.com.au/resources/wifi-access-point-estimator)
- [Blog](https://blog.iptel.com.au)
- [Resources](https://iptel.com.au/resources)

   Free Resources 
  
    - [Top Wi-Fi Secrets](https://iptel.com.au/top-8-wi-fi-secrets)
    - [Cisco SDA Fabric](https://iptel.com.au/the-cios-guide-to-sda-fabric)
    - [Catalyst Center Enablement](https://iptel.com.au/cisco-catalyst-center-enablement)

   Assessments 
  
    - [Cloud AI Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/cloud-ai-assessment)
    - [Collaboration Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/collaboration-assessment)
    - [Network Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/network-assessment)
    - [Security Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/security-assessment)
    - [Splunk Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/splunk-assessment)

   Tools 
  
    - [Automating Meraki](https://www.automatingmeraki.com)
    - [MAC Address Converter](https://iptel.com.au/resources/mac-address-converter)
    - [MSP Assessment Tool](https://score.iptel.com.au/cisco-managed-services)
    - [Thousand Eyes Option Tool](https://score.iptel.com.au/thousandeyes)
    - [Wi-Fi AP Estimator](https://iptel.com.au/resources/wifi-access-point-estimator)

   Demos and Design 
  
    - [Request a Meraki Demo](https://iptel.com.au/free-meraki-demo)
    - [FREE Meeting Room Design](https://iptel.com.au/schedule-meeting-room-design-session)
    - [Catalyst Center Enablement](https://iptel.com.au/cisco-catalyst-center-enablement)
- [About](https://iptel.com.au/about-us)

   IPTel Solutions 
  
    - [About us](https://iptel.com.au/about-us)
    - [Job Applications](https://careers.iptel.com.au/job-application)
    - [Privacy Policy](https://iptel.com.au/privacy-policy)
    - [Careers Blog](https://careers.iptel.com.au)

   Contact Us 
  
    - [Contact Us Form](https://iptel.com.au/contact-us)
    - [Email Us](mailto:sales@iptel.com.au)

   Customer 
  
    - [Customer Feedback](https://iptel.com.au/customer-feedback)
    - [Customer Referral](https://iptel.com.au/customer-referral)
    - [Terms and Conditions](https://iptel.com.au/terms-and-conditions)

   News Stories 
  
    - [IPTel partners for monitoring for Meeting Rooms as a Service](https://www.commsbusiness.co.uk/content/news/highlight-partners-with-iptel-solutions)
    - [Webex Monitoring with Highlight](https://itbrief.co.uk/story/highlight-iptel-add-webex-monitoring-for-meeting-rooms)
    - [ITBrief with Meeting Room Monitoring](https://itbrief.com.au/story/highlight-iptel-add-webex-monitoring-for-meeting-rooms)
    - [Cisco Webex Meeting Rooms Monitoring](https://telconews.co.uk/story/highlight-iptel-add-webex-monitoring-for-meeting-rooms)
    - [IPTel adopts Highlight](https://itbrief.com.au/story/iptel-adopts-highlight-to-enhance-managed-services)
    - [Highlight MSP Upgrade](https://datacentre.solutions/news/71753/iptel-solutions-upgrade-with-highlights-service-platform)
    - [Cisco 360](https://www.crn.com.au/news/2026/networking/aussie-partners-react-cisco-360)
    - [DP World Transformation](https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/about/case-studies-customer-stories/dp-world.html)
    - [Cisco Managed Services](https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1251771/how-partners-can-take-a-leap-of-faith-with-managed-services.html)
    - [Project Delivery Excellence](https://channellife.com.au/story/cisco-honours-top-nz-partners-cisco-live)
    - [Great Place to Work](https://greatplacetowork.com.au/companies/iptel-solutions/)
    - [Wi-Fi Doesn't have to be Unreliable](https://www.techpartner.news/feature/iptel-wi-fi-doesnt-have-to-be-unreliable-494069)

   Buying from IPTel 
  
    - [Buying Panels](https://iptel.com.au/professional-supply-panels)
    - [IPTel Store](https://store.iptel.com.au)
    - [Request a Quote](https://iptel.com.au/request-a-quote)
    - [Managed Services](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services-enquiry)

   Case Studies 
  
    - [DP World Video](https://blog.iptel.com.au/hubfs/Case%20Studies/DP%20World_Case_Study.mp4)
    - [DP World](https://blog.iptel.com.au/dp-world-case-study)
    - [Backup Assure](https://blog.iptel.com.au/backup-assure-a-disaster-recovery-case-study)

[Contact Us](https://iptel.com.au/contact-us)

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

## Travels in Silicon Valley - facebook and Google

 Aug 8, 2025

I paid homage to the tech companies in Silicon Valley while on holiday (geeky I know).

Having worked with Cisco technologies for over twenty five years now, I just wanted to take a look at the Cisco campus and see for myself what it looked like - might as well throw in a few other tech companies while I was at it, I thought.

![Travels In Silicon Valley](https://blog.iptel.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Travels%20in%20Silicon%20Valley/Travels%20In%20Silicon%20Valley.gif?width=1440&name=Travels%20In%20Silicon%20Valley.gif)

This trip was a couple of years ago now, so the content was correct at the time of writing. We are all looking forward to being able to undertake some international travel again, so hopefully the quick run through below is of interest.

---

## facebook

![facebook Sign](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173651im_/https://www.iptel.com.au/images/articles/silicon_valley/facebook%20_sign.JPG "facebook Sign")

Starting off at facebook, I asked onsite, but there's no tour, or visitor centre.

The place is pretty big though - maybe twenty 4 or 5 story buildings painted in an array of colours.

 We were allowed to take a picture though in front of the main sign. It's a weird note, but on the back of the sign it had the Sun Microsystems logo - rusting away. Looks like they just turned the sign around.

 The address is 1 Hacker Way - I am guessing that's an intentional amusing joke?

Related reading

- [Teamwork: Network Installation](https://blog.iptel.com.au/teamwork-network-installation)

It was a bit disappointing not being able to find a visitor centre there for such a large company - but as it turns out that's pretty standard amongst the tech companies I visited.

---

## Google

Next up was a visit to Google's campus.

As a side note, the museum of computing is nearby - and a massive shame it was closed on Mondays as they have such as brilliant array of historic - and not so historic - computing. Don't miss it if you're in the area.

Google has a 'beta' visitor centre (at the time of writing) - only open if you have a member of google staff show you round - a disappointment to the people milling around hoping for a glimpse of what the visitor centre had to offer.

![Googles Multicoloured Bike](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173651im_/https://www.iptel.com.au/images/articles/silicon_valley/google.jpg "Googles Multicoloured Bike")

Instead content to take pictures with the street mapping car and the multi-coloured google bike.

Google's Multi-coloured Bike

There were people genuinely commuting around the place on these bikes.

The campus is sprawling - the area the visitor centre is located in though, has wholly unremarkable buildings, brownish in colour and a few stories high. 

It looks a little like a university campus.

 

Related reading

- [Travels with Wi-Fi: In-flight Wi-Fi](https://blog.iptel.com.au/in-flight-wifi)

---

The visitor centre has a sign directing you towards the Android garden, so off we went for a look.

![Android Jelly Bean](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173651im_/https://www.iptel.com.au/images/articles/silicon_valley/android_jellybean.JPG "Android Jelly Bean")

There's a bunch of polystyrene Android figures, which are a bit of fun to pose with the giant Kit Kat Android figure and others.

Android Jelly Bean Kat

They've a little sad to see, stood out in the car park - would be great to see these housed properly in an in house museum.

 

 

 

 

 

We're in California of course, so you'd expect to see some charging stations and the campus doesn't disappoint.

![Google Charging Station](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173651im_/https://www.iptel.com.au/images/articles/silicon_valley/google_charging.JPG "Google Charging Station")

...And if you drive to Google there's an electric charging station!

Google Charging Station

 

 

 

Related reading

- [5 Tips for Managers](https://blog.iptel.com.au/lessons-on-management)
- [Wi-Fi Travels in Canada](https://blog.iptel.com.au/wifi-travels-in-canada)

---

## Travels in Silicon Valley: Summary

Quick summary of visit opportunities to Facebook and Google:

- **facebook** – you can get a tour if you have approval from a facebook employee
- **Google** – you can access the visitor centre with a google employee – or view the Android garden without

While there's a certain amount of interest in visiting the campuses of the big tech firms, from a visitor point of view, there's a not a lot to bring visitors in.

Steve Jobs famously wanted the museum removed at Apple's headquarters, so he didn't have to look backwards at old technology, and it seems this might be a theme in Silicon Valley.

If you know someone at any of the tech firms, you'd be wise to call ahead and see if they can accommodate you - you'll get to see some technology then.

The other parting note, is the size and scale - there must be an awful lot of development occurring across all these sites, so clearly this is a hotbed of new technology development!

 

Related reading

- [Human Factors in Network Deployment](https://blog.iptel.com.au/human-factors-in-network-deployment)
- [Travel: Uros Islands](https://blog.iptel.com.au/travels-uros-islands)
- [Japan: Land of (mostly) High Technology](https://blog.iptel.com.au/japan-land-of-mostly-high-technology)
- [Wi-Fi Travels in Canada](https://blog.iptel.com.au/wifi-travels-in-canada)

#### Related Articles

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-customer-experience-centre>

###### [Exploring the Cisco Customer Experience Centre](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-customer-experience-centre)

 Oct 2, 2026

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-customer-experience-centre>

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/wifi-travels-in-canada>

###### [Wi-Fi Travels in Canada](https://blog.iptel.com.au/wifi-travels-in-canada)

 July 24, 2026

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/wifi-travels-in-canada>

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/japan-land-of-mostly-high-technology>

###### [Japan Land of (mostly) High Technology](https://blog.iptel.com.au/japan-land-of-mostly-high-technology)

 July 24, 2026

<https://blog.iptel.com.au/japan-land-of-mostly-high-technology>

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "IPTel Solutions",
    "url" : "https://blog.iptel.com.au/author/iptel-solutions"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-08-08T01:55:07.224Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-08-08T01:55:07.000Z",
  "headline" : "Travels in Silicon Valley - facebook and Google",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.iptel.com.au/hubfs/Blogs/Travels%20in%20Silicon%20Valley/Travels%20In%20Silicon%20Valley%20(Instagram).gif" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.iptel.com.au/travels-in-silicon-valley-facebook-and-google",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.iptel.com.au/hubfs/IPTel_Solutions_February2020%20-%20Header%20SiteMap/Images/IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2.png"
    },
    "name" : "IPTel Solutions Pty Ltd"
  }
}
```