Santa Clara

50 things to do in Santa Clara

Santa Clara, best know as the home of the 49ers, Great America, and the corporate headquarters of names such as Intel and Nvidia, derives its name from the Mission of Santa Clara de Asis. With a few excellent and free museums, like the Triton, a modern art museum and the Intel Museum, all about the chip, Santa Clara is worth a visit.

Here are my 50 things to do in Santa Clara, again no particular order. I welcome your comments and suggestions, either in the comment section below, or you can contact me. Everything can change from URLs to opening hours, please verify before you go.

  1. Visit the Mission Santa Clara de Asis; the first mission to be named after a woman. (
    https://www.scu.edu/media/offices/mission-church/historial-reference-materials/Self-guided-Walking-Tour.pdf, 500 El Camino Real)
    Mission Santa Clara
  2. Have fun at Great America (
    https://www.cagreatamerica.com/, 4701 Great America Pkwy)
  3. Learn about the 49er history, Levi Museum,, Friday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm, admission $15, discounts available (
    http://www.levisstadium.com/museum/, 4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way)
  4. Be inspired by art at the de Saisset Museum (
    https://www.scu.edu/desaisset/, 500 El Camino Real) [also see: Jazz in the de Saisset]
    Ohlone hut from the permanent exhibit of de Saisset at Santa Clara University
  5. If you need 50 sweet reasons, Visit Santa Clara has compiled a delicious list  (https://visitsantaclaraca.wordpress.com/)
  6. Watch some kids racing on BMX, Tues 6 pm – 7 pm, Fri 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Sun 11 am – 12 pm (
    http://santaclarapal.org/bmx/, 5401 Lafayette Street)
  7. Let your kids learn how to fish, 5 – 15 years old (https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Activities/Boating-Fishing/Pages/SouthBayFishing.aspx)
  8. Grab a brown bag lunch and absorb lessons in art at the Triton museum, various dates, 12 – 12:45 pm (http://www.tritonmuseum.org/Events.php, 1505 Warburton Ave)
    Triton Museum Santa Clara
  9. Cool down in a public pool (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/289/2654)
  10. Visit the Intel museum, Monday – Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, free (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/company-overview/intel-museum.html, 2200 Mission College Blvd) [also see: It’s all digital history to you]
    Spell you name with binary code at the Intel Museum
  11. Stroll into the past (http://santaclaraca.gov/visitors/santa-clara-history/stroll-into-the-past, at the Santa Clara Civic Center) [also see: Stroll into the past]
    Stroll into the past, Santa Clara
  12. See some interesting art at the Central Park library (http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/library/about-the-library/central-park-library, 2635 Homestead Rd)
    Challenge by Irene Pijoan - Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing
  13. Shop for local produce at the Franklin Square farmers market, Saturday 9 am-1 pm (https://uvfm.org/santa-clara-saturdays/, Jackson Street at Homestead Road)
  14. See historic photos of Santa Clara at City Hall. About 150 of the photographs are on display in the corridors of City Hall, (http://santaclaraca.gov/visitors/santa-clara-history/the-mission-city, 1500 Warburton Avenue) [also see: Stroll into the past]
    Santa Clara Brewery, 1890
  15. In wintertime go ice skating in Central Park, November – January (http://santaclaraonice.com, 969 Kiely Blvd)
  16. Splash at Boomerang bay; Great America’s water park (https://www.cagreatamerica.com/play/boomerang-bay, 4701 Great America Pkwy)
  17. Converse or just admire ‘Our lady of peace’ (http://www.olop-shrine.org, 2800 Mission College Blvd) [also see: Be blessed by Our Lady of Peace]
    Our Lady of Peace, Santa Clara
  18. Bingo! For fundraising (https://www.scvanguard.org/bingo/, 1795 Space Park Dr)
  19. See an art exhibit by SCU student at the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building, Monday – Friday, 9 am-4 pm (https://www.scu.edu/cas/art/beyond-the-classroom/student-exhibitions.html, 500 El Camino Real)
  20. Cling to art and wine, September 15th and 16th 2018 at the Art & Wine Festival (http://santaclaraca.gov/visitors/art-wine-festival-3746, Central Park)
  21. Drink some craft beer. Pick one out of 71 brews on tap from The Halford (http://www.thehalford.com, 1494 Halford Ave)
    Golden State Brewery, Santa Clara
  22. Play some trivia at Mountain Mike’s on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm (http://santaclaraca.gov/residents/events/, 1290 Franklin St), or at the Bourbon Steak & Bourbon Pub at Levi’s Stadium the last Monday of every month. (http://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/san-francisco-bay-area/bourbon-pub/)
  23. Bring the kids to watch a play, Roberta Jones Junior Theatre (http://santaclaraca.gov/residents/leisure-entertainment/roberta-jones-junior-theatre, 3250 Monroe St )
    Mission City Center for Performing Arts, Santa Clara
  24. Spot Teddy on the Christmas tree, December (http://santaclaraca.gov/visitors/santa-clara-history/teddy-s-story, Civic Center Drive and Lincoln Street)
  25. Visit the Agnews Historic Cemetery & Museum, free admission, Fridays only between 10 am and 2 pm  (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/1316/2674, 1250 Hope Drive) [also see: Uncover a museum and cemetary]
  26. Visit the Santa Clara Railroad Depot and Tower, Sat 10 am – 3 pm, Tue 6 pm – 9 pm (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/1245/2674, 1005 Railroad Avenue) [also see: Watch the trains go around]
    Santa Clara sign at the Santa Clara Railroad Depot and Museum
  27. Feast at the Silicon Valley BBQ Championships, Friday, June 22, 2018 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm and Saturday, June 23, 2018 11:00 am – 8:00 pm (https://www.svbbq.com, Central Park, 969 Kiely Boulevard)
  28. Tour the public art  (http://missioncity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=35d9e229cb2f4292be590201f75d2d18)
    Universal Child by Benny Bufano infant of the Santa Clara City Hall
  29. Listen to some music at noon, free recital, SCU or any other student performance  (http://scupresents.org/performances)
  30. Check out the Santa Clara Fire Museum, free, open Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm or by appointment. (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/1312/2674, 1900 Walsh Avenue (located behind Fire Station 2))
    Sign for the Santa Clara Fire Museum
  31. See some 4th July fireworks (http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-recreation-special-events, Central Park, 969 Kiely Boulevard)
  32. Check out the art works by local artists at Chromatic Coffee (https://www.chromaticcafe.com/, new location 460 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 10, San Jose, CA)
  33. Get scared by the best Halloween houses in the area (http://santaclaraca.gov/residents/events/halloween-homes-decorations-contest-2017, various locations)
  34. Play games or listen to some speakers  at the Hacker Dojo (https://hackerdojo.com, 3350 Thomas Rd) [also see: Hack a dojo]

    Inside the Hacker Dojo
    Image courtesy of Hacker Dojo.
  35. Kids Rock at the Walter E. Schmidt Youth Activity Center (YAC), grades K – 5, on select Friday nights from 6 pm to 8:30 pm (http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/youth-activity-center-yac/yac-special-events, 2450 Cabrillo Avenue)

    Walter E. Schmidt Youth Activity Center (YAC),, Santa Clara
    Image courtesy of the Hacker Dojo.
  36. Get a chance to check out the Choreographer’s Gallery (http://scupresents.org/performances/dance-choreographers’-gallery)
  37. See the Silicon Valley Roller Girls in action (http://svrollergirls.com, City Beach Volleyball Club, 2911 Mead Ave)
  38. The Berryessa Adobe is the oldest residential structure in Santa Clara (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/121/2674, 373 Jefferson Street)
  39. Get into synchronized swimming with the Aquamaids at the International Swim Center (https://aquamaids.org/, 2625 Patricia Dr)
    Aquamaids sign, Santa Clara
  40. Get a tour of the Harris-Lass Historic Museum, the last farm site in Santa Clara, on selected Saturdays and Sundays 1 pm and 3 pm (http://www.harrislass.org, 1889 Market St)
    Harris-Lass Historic Museum, Santa Clara
  41. Walk through seven distinct habitats at the Ulistac Natural Area (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/290/2654, 4901 Lick Mill Blvd)
    Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara
  42. Take a walk through historic Santa Clara (http://missioncity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=c3261a39356546e38ec3445f953fbe1b)
  43. Play a round of board games, at the Illusive Comics & Games (https://www.illusivecomics.com/, 5245 Stevens Creek Blvd) or at Game Kastle (http://santaclara.gamekastle.com, 1350 Coleman Ave)
    Collection of dice at the Isle of Gamers
  44. Watch a play by the Santa Clara Players (http://www.scplayers.org, 1511 Warburton Ave)
  45. Try some coffee cocktails at Voyager craft coffee (http://www.voyagercc.com/, 3985 Stevens Creek Blvd)
    Voyager craft coffee and sandwich, Santa Clara
  46. See the charming Headen-Inman House, free, open most Sundays, from 1 pm to 4 pm (http://santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/119/2674, 1509 Warburton Avenue)
  47. Volunteer at SCU Forge Garden, Wednesday 10 am – 1 pm, Friday 9 am – 11 pm, or buy something from their farmstand, Friday  11:30 am – 1:30 pm  (https://www.scu.edu/map/location/212, 500 El Camino) [also see: Help in the garden]
  48. Check out the new Nvidia Endeavor building. It features triangles symbolizing the triangles used in 3D graphics (http://endeavor.nvidia.com/, 2788 San Tomas Expressway)
    Nvidia Endeavor building
  49. Celebrate the Holiday Tree Lightning, December 7th, 2018 (http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-recreation-special-events, Central Park, 969 Kiely Boulevard)
  50. Tour Historic Homes, December (http://www.sc-hometour.com)

until suburbia! was named a local expert of
Santa Clara, on Redfin. Check out the article
we were featured in: 10 Fun Things to Do in
Santa Clara, CA | Redfin

As always no affiliations with the mentioned businesses unless otherwise noted. Dates are for 2018. Please let me know of any changes or mistakes. All images are mine, unless otherwise noted. Please don’t use without permission. © 2018.

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