If you’re an avid Apple fan, consider paying a visit to the Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino for the ultimate Apple Store experience. The beautiful two-story building is the only part of Apple’s massive campus that’s open to the public, and it makes for an interesting peek into life for the highest echelon of Silicon Valley.
The Apple Park Visitor Center is the top dog of all Apple Stores, elevating the typical customer transaction into something that feels even more shiny and exclusive. Of course you can go shopping for Apple’s full range of products, but the rest of the space is dedicated to a full cafe serving coffee drinks and snacks, with ample seating and a pleasant roof terrace.
One of the most interesting elements is a large interactive 3-D model of the adjacent Apple Park, which is Apple’s enormous round fortress of a headquarters. Although the public cannot enter Apple Park, the model allows you to explore the era-defining building via augmented reality. It is the largest naturally ventilated building in the world and contains one of the world’s largest on-site solar energy installations. The gigantic groundscraper is a perfect circle covering approximately 64 acres, of which 80% is green space.
As for the Visitor Center itself, it’s unique for its giant carbon fiber roof which seems to float atop the substantial glass walls. In fact, the roof is only supported by the center stone clad core, meaning that there are no extraneous support beams to block the 360° view. Make sure you grab a seat on the roof terrace, which affords the best possible view of the adjacent Apple Park building from outside, as well as 9,000 drought-tolerant plants in the surrounding landscape.
The most devoted Apple fans will also have a chance to purchase exclusive Apple-branded merchandise at the Apple Store, including T-shirts, hats, playing cards, and tote bags. The Visitor Center is the only place in the world where you can buy these items.
Find the Apple Park Visitor Center at 10600 North Tantau Avenue in Cupertino, which is less than an hour drive from San Francisco. The Visitor Center is open from 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sundays.
Featured image: Apple