Today, I made my first journey to the Googleplex (Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA). I’ve read about it as much as the next person who covers tech for a living, but I have to say: It was even more impressive in real life.

Sure, I understand the point of it is to surround employees with as many amenities as possible so they won’t ever have to leave (and presumably can work all the time), but something about it is like Disneyland for geeks.

Everywhere you turn: What’s that? Oh a dinosaur skeleton. What’s that? Oh a spaceship. What’s that? Oh a giant solar panel array. Swimming pools. Giant white boards. Volleyball courts. Barber shops. Massage parlors. Free food galore. They had me at free $4 protein shakes.

I’m sure working there can get old just like everywhere else, and perhaps I’m too easily amused, but to me the Googleplex seemed awfully conducive to imaginative thinking. It just had a good atmosphere – especially for a place of work. Actually it reminded me a lot of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. I want to go back.

Tomorrow I’ll be at Facebook, where many Googlers are leaving to go to.