The San Francisco bay area offers a rural/suburban environment with easy access to cities, beaches, and mountains. To the west is San Francisco, with the metropolitan centers of Oakland and San Jose closer still. Berkeley and its University of California campus and the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto are also nearby.

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West of San Francisco is the Pacific Ocean. The scenic Pacific Coast from Monterey and Big Sur in the south to the Mendocino coast in the north are all within about a three-hour drive from Livermore. If you head east over the hills, the Sierra Nevada mountains (with Yosemite and Lake Tahoe) offer unparalleled hiking and skiing and are about three hours away.

The Valley also offers a full range of recreational activities just a few minutes away from the Laboratory. Windsurfers cruise the windy waters at Del Valle or Shadow Cliffs regional parks provide trails for the casual stroller and serious hiker. If you swim, you'll want to try some of the nearby swimming areas. Cyclists of all levels--from the casual peddler to the serious racer--will find roads ranging from scenic flat country lanes to steep, challenging climbs in the nearby hills. Jogging and walking are also popular noontime activities.

The cultural centers of the metropolitan Bay Area are close enough to make an evening at the theater, ballet, or symphony an easy drive. The serious art enthusiast will want to explore the museums in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities.

The San Francisco Bay Area provides an exceptional range of opportunities and resources for scientists and engineers. The Laboratory's proximity to major universities and the research and development community of Silicon Valley provides a diversity of workforce resources.