I don't get to the top of Hoover Tower all too often, but when I do, I never regret it. As a student, it's the highlight of my unofficial tour that I give to all of my visitors. I’ll never forget my first time up.

To be honest, from the ground the tower didn’t seem that high, but after a short, informational elevator ride to the observation deck I was pleasantly surprised by the tremendous view. Not only could I see all of the Stanford campus from a new perspective, but I also caught a great glimpse of the surrounding Bay Area. It was a very clear April day, and as I strolled around the deck looking out I could see just about all of the notable landmarks that the tour guide had told us about: Moffett Field, the Dumbarton Bridge, etc. It was spectacular!

Since then I’ve been up many times. The experience on low visibility days isn’t as great, but just to see the Stanford campus from so high is worth the trip. It amazes me that such a great view is only a five-minute walk from my bed!