Hey traveller 62-
I am a grad student at Stanford, so do all my riding around there. If you go to either www.paloaltobicycles.com or www.chainreaction.com they have some really good rides listed, lots with maps and directions. Some of my favorite rides are "the loop" which is Alpine Rd - Portola Rd - Sandhill Rd loop just west of Stanford (I leave from campus). You can add some really good hill climbing from there including the Old La Honda climb up to Skyline Blvd (the road that runs along the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains) Any of the routes along Canada Rd are also really nice, and some of the hilly routes in the hills of western Redwood City.

Enjoy your trip!