Discover Gilroy: History, Garlic, and Wine

Gilroy combines local history, garlic culture, wine tastings, and family-oriented experiences into a varied travel destination. Here, you can explore historical traces, sample regional specialties, and choose between culture, culinary discoveries, and rides depending on your itinerary. When looking for a vacation rental or holiday home, the most important factor is therefore the rhythm you want for your trip: Would you like to gather several cultural impressions, get to know wine and regional cuisine, or spend shared days with children?

Discovering Local History

The Gilroy Museum is housed in the historic 1910 Carnegie Library building. Its collection comprises more than 25,000 objects relating to the history of Gilroy and southern Santa Clara County. This gives the museum a concrete introduction to the development of the city and its surroundings.

Outside the museum, Gilroy's past can also be explored in various ways. Members of the Gilroy Historical Society lead free tours of Gilroy's historic neighborhoods on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon. There is also a map for a self-guided tour of historic sites in the historic center. In Paseo, you will find historical murals and information panels about the city's past. Those who prefer to organize their visit independently can incorporate these offerings into their own daily itinerary. GilroyPathways, a city GIS map, is available for cycling and walking routes.

Garlic, Wine, and Regional Specialties

Gilroy is closely associated with garlic. You can enjoy genuine Gilroy garlic all year round at the city's garlic shops and restaurants. Garlic ice cream is promoted as a special delicacy; it is available, among other places, at LJB Farms and Garlic World. The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a three-day event featuring flavorful food, live music, arts and crafts, cooking competitions, and family activities. It takes place annually in late July at the Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center.

The wine landscape is also part of the local selection. The family-owned vineyards in Gilroy produce wines from Italian and Rhône grape varieties. Cinnabar Winery's tasting room is located in a 12-acre vineyard on Dryden Avenue in the eastern foothills of Gilroy. Sarah's Vineyard's tasting room and outdoor terrace are open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. At Solis Winery, the tasting room is open daily from noon to 5 p.m., except on major holidays. Hecker Pass Winery offers tastings of Italian wines daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Experiences for Different Age Groups

Gilroy Gardens offers rides for all age groups, from child-friendly rides for toddlers to thrilling roller coasters. The grounds also include 19 Circus Trees, which are considered living sculptures. Depending on the children's ages, families can focus on different activities, while other travel days can place greater emphasis on the museum, local history, or wine. This mix helps you choose a vacation rental or holiday home according to your preferred daily routine, without limiting your stay to just one type of experience.

If you are planning a visit around a historical tour, the Garlic Festival, or specific tasting times, you should include the relevant dates and opening hours in your travel plans. For a more flexible stay, genuine Gilroy garlic, the museum, and the historic sites can be combined with the other experiences.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Gilroy, you will find Mountain View, Los Altos, Coyote, Los Gatos, Los Altos Hills, San Martin, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Santa Clara.