Things To Do in Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara, CA incorporated on July 5, 1852, is a dynamic city of 127,647 residents nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. Founded alongside Mission Santa Clara de Asís, it combines deep historical roots with world‑leading innovation hubs like Intel, NVIDIA, and Applied Materials. The city boasts tree‑lined streets and a Mediterranean climate that enhances its 52 acres of Central Park and over 600 acres of bayfront and foothill open‑space preserves. Santa Clara University—the oldest operating institution of higher education west of the Rockies—anchors the city’s academic and cultural life. Civic amenities such as the Convention Center, Sunday farmers’ market, and outdoor concert series foster community engagement, while cutting‑edge venues like Levi’s Stadium and California’s Great America draw regional visitors.
California’s Great America
4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, California’s Great America is Northern California’s flagship amusement park, sprawling across 112 acres of thrill rides, family attractions, and the seasonal South Bay Shores waterpark. Since opening in 1976, the park has introduced generations of visitors to its record‑breaking roller coasters—such as Gold Striker’s wooden thrills and the multi‑launch excitement of RailBlazer—and immersive themed zones that bring stories to life. Young adventurers delight in Planet Snoopy’s whimsical play areas, while wave pools, raft slides, and a lazy river in South Bay Shores offer splashy reprieves under the summer sun.
Levi’s Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, Levi’s® Stadium is a cutting‑edge sports and entertainment venue and home to the San Francisco 49ers. Since its 2014 debut, the stadium has redefined the live‑event experience with a seating capacity of 68,500—expandable for major events—and a striking green roof that blends architecture with sustainability. Solar panels generate a significant portion of the venue’s energy needs, while on‑site water treatment systems irrigate the playing field and landscaping. Fans navigate seamlessly thanks to stadium‑wide high‑speed Wi‑Fi, a dedicated mobile app for seat upgrades and concessions ordering, and clear wayfinding.
Intel Museum
2200 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the Intel Museum invites visitors to trace the evolution of computing through interactive exhibits and historic artifacts. Housed within Intel’s global headquarters, this free museum showcases a hands‑on timeline—from the world’s first microprocessor to today’s multi‑core chips. Guests assemble logic gates, experiment with semiconductor fabrication concepts, and marvel at original Intel 4004 and 8080 prototypes. Dynamic displays reveal how Moore’s Law and transistor scaling fueled Silicon Valley’s growth, while rotating special exhibits explore cutting‑edge topics like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and global connectivity.
Mission Santa Clara de Asís
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, Mission Santa Clara de Asís is a living link to California’s Spanish colonial past. Established in 1777, it is the eighth of 21 missions founded by Father Junípero Serra and stands on its fourth, earthquake‑resilient site within today’s Santa Clara University campus. The mission’s adobe walls and red‑tile roofs house a richly adorned interior with carved wooden altars, hand‑painted beams, and tile‑inlay floors, all reflecting 18th‑century craftsmanship. A centuries‑old California pepper tree graces the courtyard, symbolizing the mission’s agrarian heritage and enduring legacy.
Triton Museum of Art
1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the Triton Museum of Art champions contemporary visual arts and arts education within a mid‑century modernist building. Founded in 1965, the museum’s galleries rotate three to four exhibitions annually, showcasing painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and mixed‑media works by regional, national, and international artists. Signature programs—like the “Variations on Form” retrospective and installation‑based “Portals & Passages” series—encourage deep exploration of creative processes and thematic narratives. Interactive digital kiosks and printmaking demonstrations in the Education Studio invite hands‑on engagement.
Ulistac Natural Area
4901 Lick Mill Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, Ulistac Natural Area conserves 40 acres of seven distinct native habitats—coastal prairie, oak woodland, riparian forest, and freshwater marshes—along a former ranch corridor. Community volunteers and ecological experts spearheaded its transformation, removing invasive species and replanting thousands of native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. A looped trail and boardwalks guide visitors through seasonal swaths of California poppies, lupines, and shooting stars, while interpretive signage recounts Ohlone heritage and local watershed functions.
Santa Clara University Campus Tourt
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the Santa Clara University Campus Tour immerses visitors in the nation’s oldest operating higher‑education institution west of the Rockies. Tours commence at the Leavey Admission Center and wind through the Mission Church plaza, where adobe walls and rose gardens evoke California’s mission era. Guests meander past the Benson Memorial Center for Performing Arts—home to theater, dance, and music performances—then ascend the Argue Pavilion’s terraces for panoramic Bay views. Student ambassadors highlight residential quads, academic halls, and cutting‑edge research labs in engineering, business, and the sciences.
Santa Clara Convention Center
5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the Santa Clara Convention Center is Silicon Valley’s flagship meeting and exhibition venue, offering over 200,000 square feet of flexible space. Its column‑free exhibit halls accommodate large trade shows and tech expos, while three divisible ballrooms host corporate galas and community events. Twenty‑five meeting rooms feature integrated audiovisual systems and high‑speed internet. The adjacent outdoor plaza—framed by palms and public art—serves as a versatile space for receptions, food‑truck gatherings, and open‑air activations. On‑site catering emphasizes Bay Area flavors and farm‑to‑table menus, and sustainability initiatives include zero‑waste goals, local sourcing, and LED lighting.
Santa Clara Farmers Market
950 Jackson St, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the Santa Clara Farmers Market transforms Central Park into a lively marketplace every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. since 1992. Over 40 local growers and artisans offer seasonal fruits—such as summer stone fruits and winter citrus—alongside heirloom vegetables, pasture‑raised eggs, raw honey, fresh‑baked breads, artisanal cheeses, and sustainably sourced seafood. Live acoustic musicians provide ambiance, while cooking demonstrations spotlight market‑fresh recipes.
George F. Haines International Swim Center
Central Park, 2625 Patricia Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95051, United States
Located in Santa Clara, CA, the George F. Haines International Swim Center is an Olympic‑size aquatic facility renowned for hosting elite swim meets, water‑polo tournaments, and community swim programs. Its centerpiece is a 50‑meter by 25‑yard competition pool with ten lanes, complemented by adjacent dive wells equipped with 1‑, 3‑, 5‑, 7½‑, and 10‑meter diving platforms. Spectator bleachers accommodate up to 1,000 viewers, providing ideal vantage points for high‑school and age‑group championships. Year‑round programming includes lap‑swim hours, adult and youth swim lessons, synchronized swimming classes, and masters‑swim groups.