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About one in five Palo Alto residents is 65 or older, according to Census survey data. The city is a comfortable place to spend those years. It is flat, walkable and full of free culture, with a university next door that welcomes older learners. Many of the best activities here are social, from a lawn bowling club that has been rolling since the 1930s to a monthly book sale that draws a crowd before the doors open.
This guide is for local older adults and for families looking for ideas with a visiting parent. Prices and hours come from each organization's own page in late October and early November 2026. For services such as rides, meals and care, see our senior resources guide.
Classes and learning
1. Avenidas at 450 Bryant Street
Avenidas has served older adults in Palo Alto since 1969. Its classes meet at 450 Bryant Street downtown unless a listing says otherwise, under its Health and Wellness and Learning and Leisure programs. Members can register early. The events calendar mixes practical talks with lectures, such as a November 18, 2026 talk on AI in medicine by Jonathan H. Chen, MD. Avenidas also offers one-on-one tech tutoring. The center closes on November 26 and 27 and December 25 and 31.
2. Stanford Continuing Studies
Stanford's adult education program listed more than 130 courses for fall 2026, online and on campus, in the liberal arts and sciences, creative writing and professional development. There is no application. Adults with a high school diploma or equivalent can enroll by paying a $35 registration fee once per quarter plus tuition. Winter 2027 registration opens November 30, 2026. Our Continuing Studies guide explains the details.
3. Palo Alto Adult School
The district's adult school, founded in 1921, runs classes out of the Paly Tower Building at 50 Embarcadero Road. State-supported ESL and citizenship classes are free. Call (650) 329-3752 for the current catalog.
Staying active
4. Lawn bowling at Bowling Green Park
The green at 474 Embarcadero Road opened on March 10, 1935 and the club behind it dates to 1933. The Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club offers free lessons. Drop in at noon on a scheduled practice day and a coach will show you the basics, with loaner bowls. Regular membership costs $180 a year. The club says it has members bowling into their 80s and 90s. See our lawn bowling guide.
5. Pickleball at Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park at 600 East Meadow Drive is the city's pickleball hub, with eight dedicated courts and seven shared with tennis, as the city reported in 2025. The Palo Alto Pickleball Club organizes regular play and helps newcomers learn the open-play customs. Expect waits at peak times.
6. Swimming at Rinconada Pool
The city's pool at 777 Embarcadero Road is open year-round. The 25-yard lap pool is kept at about 81°F. In fall 2026 a drop-in cost $9 for residents and $10 for nonresidents, with lower prices for seniors. Lap swimming runs seven days a week. See our swimming pools guide.
7. Easy walks
Gamble Garden at 1431 Waverley Street is free and open daily during daylight hours, with level paths and benches. The Baylands Duck Pond loop is about 0.7 mile and flat. Our accessible trails guide lists paved walks with gentle grades.
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Culture on a budget
8. Classic films at the Stanford Theatre
The 1925 movie palace at 221 University Avenue shows Hollywood classics from the silent era to about 1970. Its site lists tickets at $7 for adults and $5 for seniors 65 and over. The Mighty Wurlitzer plays during intermissions. Tickets are sold at the box office on the day of the show.
9. Free museums at Stanford
The Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection are free. The Cantor says its galleries, gardens, restrooms and cafe are wheelchair accessible and that wheelchairs are available to borrow. The Cantor is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Weekday mornings are the quietest time.
10. Free readings and talks
Stanford's Lane Lecture Series has brought visiting writers to campus since 1981 and is free. The next reading listed is Martín Espada on November 18, 2026. The Stegner Fellows also give free readings during the academic year. See our literary events guide.
11. The Friends of the Library book sale
The Friends of the Palo Alto Library hold a used book sale most months at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, with main, bargain and children's rooms. Prices are low and the proceeds support the library.
Meals, clubs and giving back
12. La Comida lunches
La Comida serves sit-down weekday lunches for people 60 and older at Stevenson House on East Charleston Road and at the Bryant Street center, for a suggested donation rather than a set price. It is as much about company as food.
13. Volunteering
Many retirees here volunteer as museum docents, garden helpers or library aides. Gamble Garden, the Stanford museums and the city library all take volunteers. Our volunteering guide lists where to start.
Easy day trips
14. A garden or museum outing by train
Caltrain makes low-stress outings possible without driving. The San Mateo Japanese Tea Garden in Central Park is about half a mile from San Mateo station and charges no fee. It opens weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum near Civic Center runs Free First Sundays, with the next on December 6, 2026. Our free museum days guide lists more.
15. Gardens by car
Hakone Gardens in Saratoga charges $12 for seniors 65 and over and has winter hours through March 15, 2027 of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Filoli in Woodside sells timed tickets in advance. Its paths include bricks, gravel and grass. It does not lend wheelchairs, so bring your own if you need one. Filoli's holiday lights run from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027.
Getting around
Seniors pay roughly half fare on Caltrain with a Regional Transit Connection card, a Medicare card or a DMV placard ID. VTA lists a $1.25 single ride for seniors. The Stanford Marguerite shuttle is free and wheelchair accessible but runs its main lines on weekdays only. Avenidas runs rides for people 65 and older within Palo Alto and Stanford. The city's Palo Alto Link on-demand service ended on October 30, 2026, so plan around it.
Good to know
- Carry ID showing your age for senior prices at theaters, pools and transit.
- Avenidas members get early class registration, so join before a busy quarter.
- Weekday mornings are the calmest time at museums and parks.
- For a parent visiting from afar, our guide to visiting with older travelers has low-walk itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
Does Palo Alto have a senior center?
Yes. Avenidas, a nonprofit founded in 1969, runs the senior center at 450 Bryant Street downtown, where most of its classes meet. It also runs a Chinese Community Center at Cubberley and lists events such as health and finance talks on its website. Members can register for classes before nonmembers.
Is there free lawn bowling in Palo Alto?
Yes. The Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club at Bowling Green Park, 474 Embarcadero Road, offers free introductions at noon on scheduled practice days. Wear flat-soled shoes and the club lends you bowls. Regular membership costs $180 a year.
Do seniors get discounts at the Stanford Theatre?
Yes. The Stanford Theatre at 221 University Avenue lists tickets at $7 for adults and $5 for seniors 65 and over. Tickets are sold at the box office on the day of the show.
Can seniors take classes at Stanford?
Yes. Stanford Continuing Studies is open to adults with a high school diploma or equivalent, with no application. It charges a $35 registration fee once per quarter plus course tuition. Winter 2027 registration opens November 30, 2026.
Where can seniors play pickleball in Palo Alto?
Mitchell Park at 600 East Meadow Drive is the main public site. The city reported eight dedicated pickleball courts and seven courts shared with tennis there by 2025. The Palo Alto Pickleball Club organizes regular games.