Santa Clara (California)

Santa Clara is a small city of big contrasts. If any city can claim to be "the center of Silicon Valley," it is this town of just over 100,000. Intel, AMD, WebEx, NVIDIA, and National Semiconductor all have headquarters here. At the same time, Santa Clara is one of the oldest settlements (by Europeans) in Northern California. The Mission Santa Clara de Asís was established in 1777, and the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University, founded in 1851, is the oldest university in California. Dozens of 19th-century homes are well-maintained by their 21st-century owners in the "old quad," the earliest residential area, adjacent to the university.

Yet another contrast is the diversity of the local population, driven by the tech boom of the 1970s-1990s. Visitors from Asia and Europe frequently overhear strangers speaking their native languages. Specialty markets offer native ingredients from around the world, and the Indian and East Asian restaurants are some of the best in the Bay Area. But many of the best places in Santa Clara are not visible at first glance. You could drive right through this town and see nothing of any interest, or you could take the time to learn where to look, explore, and enjoy.

Light rail and bus. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offers light rail in Santa Clara on the Mountain View-Alum Rock and Old Ironsides-Winchester lines. VTA also offers bus service within and around Santa Clara. Consult the VTA website for schedules, fares, and trip planning.

Rental car. Numerous national car rental chains serve Santa Clara and surrounding cities. Most people living in the area prefer automobiles as their primary means of transportation, and it is likely to be the fastest, although area freeways do get congested during commute hours. Rental cars are available both at the San Jose Airport and at various locations in the city. Throughout most of Santa Clara, public parking is ample and free.

Bicycle. Many city streets are wide and bicycle-friendly with painted bicycle lanes; expressways permit bicycles but have high-speed, heavy traffic that may be uncomfortable, especially for inexperienced riders. Stop by City Hall for a copy of the Santa Clara bicycle map showing recommended bicycle routes. Bicycles should ride on the right side of the road, going the same direction as traffic. Take care when crossing expressway exits and right turn lanes in traffic. Caltrain, Amtrak Capital Corridor, and VTA (both light rail and buses) are all equipped with bicycle racks. If you plan to take a bicycle on area public transit, consult the website of the system(s) you will use for information on locating and using the bicycle racks.

• 🌍 Intel Museum, 2200 Mission College Blvd (off Montague expressway, just north of 101). M-F 9AM-6PM; Sa 10AM-5PM. Learn a bit of local and technological history, and see what it takes to enter a cleanroom. Allow 1–2 hours. Free. 
• 🌍 Mission Santa Clara de Asís, 500 El Camino Real (on the Santa Clara University campus), ☏ +1 408 554-4023, fax: +1 408 551-7166. 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. Free. (updated Jan 2016)
• 🌍 Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 408 554-4000. If driving, be aware of campus parking restrictions. 
• 🌍 de Saisset Museum, 500 El Camino Real (on the Santa Clara University grounds near Palm and Alviso streets). Tu-Su 11AM - 4PM. 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. 
• 🌍 Agnews Developmental Center, 4030-4070 Lafayette St (just off the Montague Expressway). 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. 
• 🌍 Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton. Tu-Su. The museum offers a variety of rotating exhibits. Classes and special events may require a fee. Free. 
• Harriss-Lass Historic Museum, 1889 Market St. Sa Su only noon-4PM. 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. 
• KoreaTown. 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. 
• 🌍 South Bay Historical Railroad Society, 1005 Railroad Ave, ☏ +1 408-243-3969. Tu 5-8PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. 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. Free. (updated Aug 2016)
• 🌍 Santa Clara City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave. 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. (updated Feb 2022)
• Old Quad. 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. 
• Agnews Historic Cemetery and Museum, 1250 Hope Dr, ☏ +1 408 615-3790. Phone for appointment. 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. 
• 🌍 Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine, 2800 Mission College Blvd, ☏ +1 408-988-4585. 24 hrs. (updated Dec 2019)

• 🌍 California's Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, ☏ +1 408 988-1776. 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. (updated Dec 2019)
• San Francisco 49ers (public transit: Great America Amtrak/ACE station or Great America VTA Light Rail station). 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. 
• Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy - Santa Clara Branch, 5155 Stevens Creek Blvd, ☏ +1 408 916 4919. (updated Mar 2024)
• San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail. 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. 
• Santa Clara Vanguard. Drum and Bugle Corps, cadet corps, and winter color guard. Shows are seasonal, and the group tours across the country during the summer. 
• Santa Clara Aquamaids. Synchronized swimming. The group boasts numerous Olympic team members among its alumni. 
• Santa Clara Players, 1511 Warburton Ave. This local, volunteer drama group stages three to four shows per year. Consult their website for shows, dates, and times. $10–18. 

• Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate curricula in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Education and Counseling Psychology, Business, Engineering, Theology, and Law. Summer school classes are open to visitors and students.
• Mission College, phone +1 408 988-2200, 3000 Mission College Boulevard. This community college offers academic, vocational, and other classes, including associate degrees and certificates.
• UCSC offers accredited curricula and courses through their Silicon Valley Extension, with a Santa Clara location.
• Santa Clara Adult Education, a division of the Santa Clara Unified School District, offers selected technical, academic, and recreational classes. Students must be at least 18 years of age.
• The Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes, largely recreational, listed in their Recreation Activities guide. Classes are open to non-residents, but city residents pay lower fees.
• The Santa Clara City Library offers numerous programs, lectures, presentations, and classes. Visit their program schedule on their website for current details.

• 🌍 Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, ☏ +1-408-248-4450. 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. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Santana Row. 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. 
• Farmer's Market. 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. 
• The Train Shop, 1829 Pruneridge Ave (at Winchester), ☏ +1 408-296-1050. M 9:30AM-4PM, Tu-Sa 9:30AM-6PM. If you are a railroad or model railroad or model train buff, you will enjoy their selection of model trains and railroad books. 

Area restaurants feature foods from cultures all over the world, reflecting the area's diversity. There is no need to eat in the same restaurant, or even the same kind of restaurant, twice.

• Delta Hotels by Marriott Santa Clara Silicon Valley, 2151 Laurelwood Rd, ☏ +1 408-988-8411. Pet friendly rooms, meeting facilities, wireless internet. 
• 🌍 Driftwood Inn, 3477 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 408 984-3364. Affordable lodging in San Jose/Silicon Valley location. Near Bay Area attractions and destinations. (updated Aug 2020)
• Holiday Inn Express Santa Clara, 1700 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 408 554-9200. 
• Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Parkway, ☏ +1 408 200-1234. 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. 
• Best Western University Inn Santa Clara, 1655 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 408 244-8313. 
• Hyatt Centric Santa Clara Silicon Valley, 3100 Lakeside Dr, ☏ +1 408 748-9800, fax: +1 408 986-1417. This is a very good hotel. 
• Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd, ☏ +1 408 988-1500, fax: +1 408 352-4353. 
• Hyatt House Santa Clara, 3915 Rivermark Plaza, ☏ +1 408 486-0800. (updated Aug 2020)
• Woodcrest Hotel, 5415 Stevens Creek Blvd, ☏ +1 408 446-9636. 
• 🌍 Embassy Suites Hotel Santa Clara, 2885 Lakeside Dr, ☏ +1 408 496-6400. Silicon Valley hotel near Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America, and San Jose Airport. 2-room suites, free breakfast and complimentary cocktails. 

• The Santa Clara City Library, 2635 Homestead Road, was rebuilt completely in 2004. The library has a number of Internet terminals and a cafe. If you want to use one of the terminals, arrive when the library opens, or try a weekday when the kids are in school. The library has free Wi-Fi access if you have a library card. Out of town visitors may inquire at the information desk on the first floor near the main entrance for a temporary library card allowing Internet access without checkout privileges. While there, walk around the library to see the artwork in the building, and continue out into Central Park. The smaller Mission branch of the public library (not open weekends) is located at 1098 Lexington Street, near Santa Clara University. It also offers wifi and a limited number of Internet terminals.
• Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy. Parking is free and usually ample, depending on the conventions in town.