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This bicycle and pedestrian trail extends as far south as the intersection of Cabrillo and San Tomas Expressway. The trail follows the San Tomas Aquino Creek north, roughly parallel to San Tomas Expressway, all the way to the bay. It connects to other trails and Sunnyvale's Baylands Park.
Learn a bit of local and technological history, and see what it takes to enter a cleanroom. Allow 1–2 hours.
The eighth Franciscan California mission, founded by Father Serra. It was built nearer to the Guadalupe River, moved to its present location in 1828, and restored in 1929. It is the only mission on a university campus. In front of the church, see the hitching ring and step for dismounting from a carriage; peer through the fence into the rose garden on the north side of the church; measure the life-sized statue of Fr. Serra, stroll along the walkway covered with gnarled wisteria vines, into the Mission Gardens with the giant sago palm, Sacred Heart Statue, adobe wall (with a hole for cooking), grinding stone.
If driving, be aware of campus parking restrictions.
The museum combines rotating exhibitions with a permanent collection of works by Ernest de Saisset, a 19th-century Santa Clara student who studied painting in Paris. The museum is often closed between exhibitions, so call ahead or check the website for open dates.
The Agnews Historic Park preserves three buildings from the old California Hospital for the Chronic Insane. Founded in 1889, the facility's original buildings collapsed in the "San Francisco Earthquake" of 1906, killing 117 people. The new buildings, including the still-standing auditorium, clock tower and superintendent's residence, are good examples of early twentieth century Mediterranean Revival architecture, heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts style. The new buildings represented a more modern attitude toward the mentally ill. The smaller buildings with larger windows were designed to comfort and stimulate the mentally ill, rather than imprison them. The state of California moved the last few hundred residents out in the mid 1990s, and sold the campus to Sun Microsystems, who promised to preserve the grounds and buildings, and make the auditorium and executive mansion available for public events. Unfortunately, you cannot get inside to see the very impressive interiors of the buildings, unless you've got a Sun employee badge or are lucky enough to slip in during a meeting or public event. Neither tours nor docents seem to be available. You can visit a small shelter that has public restrooms, as well as historic photographs and information about the hospital. As of July 2020, the property is owned by Oracle, that bought Sun Microsystems.
The museum offers a variety of rotating exhibits. Classes and special events may require a fee.