Explore Santa Clara

• Attractions in Santa Clara & San Jose
• Nearby Attractions
• Sports & Recreation
• Wineries

Attractions in Santa Clara

Agnews Historic Cemetery and Museum

Museum housing artifacts from the Agnews Developmental Center which for 120 years housed people with mental and physical disabilities. Tours are free, but by appointment only.

Artsopolis

Silicon Valley's ultimate online guide to Arts and Culture providing a comprehensive calendar of Arts and Cultural events.

de Saisset Museum

The museum's permanent collection includes American, European, African, and Oriental art. The California History Collection displays artifacts of the pre-mission California Indians and relics from the original Mission Santa Clara. Located at

Harris-Lass House Museum

Santa Clara's last farmstead includes a restored house, barn, summer kitchen, and tankhouse. Operated by the Historic Preservation Society.

Intel Museum

An interactive museum which introduces visitors to the micro-miniature world of computer chips. Open Monday through Saturday.

Mission Santa Clara de Asis

The eighth of 21 missions built in California, founded in 1777 by the Spanish Franciscans.

Santa Clara Historic Museum

Housed in the Headen-Inman house, the museum features historic artifacts and photos related to the history of Santa Clara.

Santa Clara Woman's Club Adobe

One of the oldest adobes in California. Built about 1790, this structure was originally part of a row of houses for married Indian couples.

Shrine of Our Lady of Peace

Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this 32- foot stainless steel sculpture is a reminder to visitors to work and pray daily for peace. Located at

South Bay Historical Railroad Society

Founded in 1985 to preserve the heritage of American railroading, the Historical Railroad Society is located in the historic Santa Clara Depot.

The Tech Museum

Hands-on, imaginative, high-tech exhibits showcase the past, present, and future of Silicon Valley. The museum is also home to a state-of-the-art IMAX Dome Theater.

Triton Museum of Art

Rotating exhibits highlight the museum's permanent collection of 19th and 20th century American art. Also permanent is Triton's sculpture garden located on the seven-acre grounds.

Winchester Mystery House

A beautiful, but bizarre 160-room Victorian mansion built by the Winchester heiress.

Nearby Attractions

Airship Ventures

Airship Ventures flies Eureka, a Zeppelin NT airship, around the SF Bay Area for daily sightseeing flights, advertising operations, corporate and event occasions and scientific missions. Based out of Moffett Field, the airship also flies out of North Oakland and Monterey!

Blue & Gold Fleet

Experience the beauty of San Francisco Bay & Beyond - the best cruise values and land tours begin from Pier 41/PIER 39.

Carmel-by-Sea

Certainly, Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the most pet-friendly towns in the United States. No one is exactly sure when it began or how, but thanks to celebrities such as Doris Day and Betty White, pets get the limelight in Carmel.

Children's Discovery Museum

One of the largest museum's of its kind in the nation, over 150 interactive exhibits lead visitors to explore, understand and enjoy the world in which they live.

Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum is the world's leading institution exploring the history of computing and its ongoing impact on society. It is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs and moving images.

Coyote Ranch

Beautiful western setting for group parties or conventions. Barbecue, dancing, and moonlit hay rides.

Deer Hollor Farm

An actual working farm that allows visitors.

Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

Moss Landing features one of the largest natural marine estuaries on the west coast, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. Pelicans, egrets, and herons are some of the thousands of species of birds that nest in and migrate through the slough. Seals and otters can be spotted frolicking in the water or basking on the banks.

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium isn’t just a museum, it’s an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception—a vast collection of online interactives, web features, activities, programs and events that feed your curiosity.

Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa Farm to the "Nearby" list as an organic farm and preserve where people can hike and also visit the animals, etc.

Hiller Aviation Museum

Lick Observatory

Located atop 4,209 foot Mount Hamilton, the observatory is 30 miles southeast of Santa Clara up winding Highway 130. Public programs are available by calling (408) 274-5061.

NASA Ames Exploration Center

Features rotating exhibits of artifacts from space missions and demonstrations of research equipment, such as the human centrifuge and flight simulator. Open Monday-Friday.

Niles Canyon Railroad

The purpose of the organization is to preserve the physical aspects and atmosphere of Pacific Coast railroading during the period from 1910 to 1960. Our mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public. The Association welcomes men and women who would like to share in our mission.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District provides a regional greenbelt system for the San Francisco Peninsula.

Monterey County

Monterey County highlights everything that's best about California. From Monterey's hotels and seaside restaurants to the Salinas Valley's hillside vineyards, from Big Sur's redwood groves to Pebble Beach's perfectly groomed golf courses, from Salinas' old-fashioned rodeo to Carmel-by-the-Sea's elite music and art festivals, Monterey has a feast of fun just waiting to be sampled.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Kayaks

Pacific Grove

Pacific Grove has one of the largest monarch butterfly overwintering grounds in the United States and a long pedestrian bicycle trail along the coast from Asilomar State Beach, through Pacific Grove and Monterey.

Pier 39

San Francisco's Premier Bay Area Attraction with more than 100 unique shops and 13 full-service Bay view restaurants and numerous attractions including the Blue & Gold Fleet and Aquarium of the Bay. For more information, call (415) 705-5500.

Point Lobos State National Reserve

"The greatest meeting of land and water in the world", and is truly an inspiration to artists and nature lovers.

Red & White Fleet

Sail along San Francisco's waterfront, under the Golden Gate Bridge, past Angel Island and around Alcatraz on Red and White Fleet's 1-hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise with frequent daily departures from Pier 43 1/2. Audio narration in 8 languages. For more information, call (415) 673-2900.

Roaring Camp Railroads

Forty minutes west of Santa Clara, groups can take an 1880's steam train ride to the top of Bear Mountain or to the ocean at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council

Online visitor information keeps you up-to-date on Santa Cruz's year-round events for everyone.

Sanctuary Cruises

Whale watching tours depart from the Moss Landing Harbor.

Santa Cruz State Parks and Beaches

parks.ca.gov

thatsmypark.org

Año Nuevo State Park is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal. In March, some of the adult seals will remain, but mostly the pups will stay through April.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California, and is where the Sempervirens Club (now Sempervirens Fund) was founded for the preservation of nature. Hiking trails meander through groves of towering giant redwood trees and pass before waterfalls.

Castle Rock State Park has unique rock formations that are popular with rock climbers, hiking trails, and links to the Skyline to the Sea hiking trail.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open weekends in March. The Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the Looff Carousel are National Historic Landmarks. The roller coaster has been featured in movies, including "The Lost Boys". The hand-carved merry-go-round was built in 1911 and features a Ruth & Sohn band organ and brass rings to toss into a clown's mouth.

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

A 426-acre research laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, offering a guided tour, which includes a lecture, Slide presentation and a look at experiments.

Surfing, Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Coverwater

Club-Ed

Kayak Connection

Sports & Recreation

Deep Cliff Golf Course

George F. Haines International Swim Center

The world class facility has been home of many Olympic gold medal winners. The center is the setting for nationally televised sports events, including international swim meets, and synchronized swimming.

Moonlite Lanes

Bowling is fun for everyone in downtown Santa Clara.

Pruneridge Golf Club

Nine hole course.

San Jose Earthquakes

Men's Bay Area Major League Soccer (MLS) professional team. Games played at

San Jose Sabercats

Professional Arena Football League (AFL) team plays its 2011 Home Games from March 11 - July 9 at HP Pavilion. Corporate office:

San Jose Wolves

Hard hitting, bone crunching Arena Football is back. Huge discounts for "Cats" Season Tickets holders. All home games at Cow Palace in South San Francisco. For more information, call (877) 9-WOLVES.

Santa Clara County Bike Trails

17 regional parks have dedicated bike-friendly trails. Ten of those parks offer off-road bicycling opportunities from gentle and mild paved trails to hard core, wear-all-your-armor wild mountain bike trails.

Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club

The golf club features 18 championship holes, seven lighted tennis courts, and a restaurant on site. Tournaments welcome.

San Francisco 49ers Headquarters & Practice Facility

Viewing only of the 49er Super Bowl trophies in the lobby of the facility. Practices are not open to the public. No autographs allowed.

Sky High Sports

Twin Creek Sports Complex

Wineries

Byington Winery

Cinnabar Vineyards

Cinnabar Winery

J. Lohr Winery

The Mountain Winery

Thomas Fogarty Winery Winery

The VTA Light Rail station can take you to many popular destinations in the Santa Clara region. The information is accessible through their website. It includes destinations, connection information, and Light Rail routes.