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City in California, United States
Photo: Dvortygirl, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Santa Clara is a town in the South Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California.
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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.
This 19th-century farmhouse has been restored and converted to a museum of local history, complete with many of the original furnishings. opening hours may be subject to volunteer docent availability.
Though not yet officially recognized, the area of El Camino beginning at Lawrence Expressway and extending east to San Tomas Expressway is home to many Korean-owned businesses, stores, and restaurants.
This museum occupies the historical Santa Clara railway depot building near the Santa Clara Caltrain station. It features a variety of historical railroad artifacts and elaborate model railroads at HO and N scales.
The grounds surrounding City Hall include a statue of Santa Clara, fountains, "Stroll Into the Past" plaques, other public artwork, and a set of flagpoles featuring all the flags that have flown over Santa Clara. Inside City Hall hangs a collection of historical photographs. City Hall is across the street from the Triton Museum and worth a stroll around the grounds if you are visiting the museum.
Roughly, this is the area outlined by El Camino Real, Lafayette, Market, and Lincoln streets, and it makes up the old, historical section of the city. Many 19th-century homes are well preserved. If you have time, explore this area by bicycle or on foot, and make time to visit the local historical buildings, such as the Harris-Lass museum and the Women's Club Adobe, that are in and around the Old Quad.
Opened in 2010, the museum honors people that worked and lived at the Agnews State Hospital and later Agnews Developmental Center from 1888 to 2009 with artifacts and photos and a viewing area for the restored cemetery.
Nestled among the office buildings is one of the Bay Area's largest amusement parks. Open seasonally. Yes, from their cubicles they can hear you screaming on the roller coasters.
The National Football League 49ers moved to Santa Clara in 2014, playing their home games at the Levi's Stadium, next to California's Great America.
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.
Drum and Bugle Corps, cadet corps, and winter color guard. Shows are seasonal, and the group tours across the country during the summer.
Synchronized swimming. The group boasts numerous Olympic team members among its alumni.
This local, volunteer drama group stages three to four shows per year. Consult their website for shows, dates, and times.
With a supermarket, cafes and specialty stores located along a pedestrian-friendly main street at the south border of the community. Rivermark Village is a 136,000 sq ft premier neighborhood shopping center. It features a 65,000 sq ft new generation Safeway super market. Restaurants include: Yan Can, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Jamba Juice, Red Robin, Baja Fresh, Prolific Oven, Premier Pizza, and many other shops.
A small restaurant with excellent sushi, Yuki Sushi also has specialty rolls with innovative combinations of western and Japanese ingredients. Vegetarian entrees, noodles, donburi and teishoku are also on the menu. The restaurant usually fills up fast. Take-out is available.
Offers thick, rich Chicago-style pizza.
Not open weekends. Delicious, authentic Greek food well worth the trip into what is mainly a business and industrial district. Main dishes come with salads, pita slices, bread, and dips. If you still have room for dessert after their generous portions, try the galaktoboureko, a custard dessert topped with phyllo and syrup.
Real donuts, hot and freshly made the old-fashioned way. Founded by local resident Stanford Wittmayer in 1959, Stan's is still family-owned. Stan's is popular with local residents, so it can be crowded in the mornings.
Pet friendly rooms, meeting facilities, wireless internet.
Affordable lodging in San Jose/Silicon Valley location. Near Bay Area attractions and destinations.
Luxury San Jose hotel, connected to the Convention Center and right across the street from California's Great America Theme Park. Featuring guestrooms with views of the valley, Wi-Fi & Internet access and work desks.
This is a very good hotel.
Silicon Valley hotel near Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America, and San Jose Airport. 2-room suites, free breakfast and complimentary cocktails.
Probably the largest shopping center in the area and certainly the most successful. Most of it is in San Jose, but that is because of the crazy quilt of San Jose's growth. It began as two shopping areas. One was a Macy's store with other smaller stores in an open air mall. The other was an Emporium store, two or three blocks away. The present shopping center is now one large building with multiple floors, food courts, and Nordstrom. It is more high-end than other malls in the area, with a Louis Vitton, Cartier, and niche beauty brands covering the establishment.
Across Stevens Creek Blvd in front of Valley Fair is Santana Row, a newer outdoor boutique shopping area with more restaurants, a hotel and other interesting stores (as well as Crate&Barrel, Best Buy.) Consider this the Rodeo Drive of Santa Clara/San Jose. There are 70 stores, including Tiffany's, Gucci, Oakley, Ann Taylor Loft, Ted Baker, Lucy, Urban Outfitter, Diesel and Burberry.
Located in Franklin Square (Jackson Street between Homestead and Benton), the farmer's market runs every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM. Besides fresh California fruits and vegetables, the farmer's market usually features live music and foods such as tamales and samosas. Local artists and craftspeople also offer handcrafted goods for sale.
If you are a railroad or model railroad or model train buff, you will enjoy their selection of model trains and railroad books.
As the center of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is of course home to multiple large computer stores. This one is full of interesting gadgets, all kinds of cables and accessories, and various tools and parts for building and working on computers. Helpful staff.
By train
Caltrain stops at Santa Clara Station, on the east side of Santa Clara University (1001 Railroad Avenue).
Light rail and bus. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offers light rail in Santa Clara on the Orange (Mountain View-Alum Rock) and Green (Old Ironsides-Winchester) lines.
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San Jose · International · SJC
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