The Real Silicon Valley Some people say that Silicon Valley is a state of mind, but the cultural trends that drive us today were actually born in a very real place-the garages and back rooms of the cities between San Francisco and San Jose, California. Geek Silicon Valley delivers Silicon Valley history, taking us from success story to failed start-up and back again as we drive the roads from Menlo Park to Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara.