Santa Clara: Culture, Nature and Family Experiences

Santa Clara combines Californian history, art, nature and a variety of experiences for different kinds of holiday days. Those planning a trip with children or wanting to combine cultural discoveries with time outdoors will find several distinct highlights here: the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís, museums offering different perspectives, open natural spaces and an amusement park with an adjoining water park.

History and Art in Santa Clara

Mission Santa Clara de Asís was first founded on January 12, 1777, on the banks of the Guadalupe River. It is the eighth mission in a series of 21 missions founded by Franciscans. It is open to visitors daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This makes it possible to include the history of the mission in a day's itinerary without tying the visit to a specific event program.

The Triton Museum of Art offers a different cultural perspective. It provides accessible exhibition and educational programs and promotes a broad range of contemporary Californian art. At the same time, the museum collects and displays contemporary and historical works, with a focus on artists from the Greater Bay Area. This also makes Santa Clara appealing to travelers who do not want to structure their stay around leisure activities alone.

The Intel Museum complements this cultural focus with technology and hands-on learning. The 10,000-square-foot interactive learning environment is aimed at children and adults. Families can therefore choose a museum visit that focuses more strongly on technical topics and independent discovery.

Amusement Park and Shared Experiences

Santa Clara is home to the California’s Great America amusement park. Admission also includes the South Bay Shores water park. Those looking for an action-packed day with rides and water attractions can take both components into account when planning. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house, the desired mix of activities is therefore particularly important: should the focus be on culture, nature, technology or an extended day at the amusement park?

The Magical Bridge Playground is designed as a socially inclusive, safe and accessible outdoor play area for people of all ages. It complements the larger attractions with a different way to spend time together outdoors. Its description as a play area for people of all ages makes it a special destination for travel groups bringing together different age groups.

Nature and Quieter Hours

Ulistac Natural Area is a 40-acre open space with seven different natural habitats. The area is publicly accessible via Lick Mill Boulevard and a creekside trail along the Guadalupe River. The trails feature information boards about the area's natural history. Those wanting to include a natural space between museum visits and larger attractions have an opportunity here to experience the landscape more consciously.

Central Park also includes a picturesque lake, adding another distinctive feature to the cityscape. Together with Ulistac Natural Area, the park expands the range of options to include stays where not every hour has to follow a fixed itinerary.

Choosing the Right Base

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Santa Clara, it is worth first defining your personal holiday priorities. Those interested in culture can place the mission and museums at the center of their plans, while nature lovers can take Ulistac Natural Area and Central Park into account. For varied days with children, California’s Great America, South Bay Shores, the Intel Museum and the Magical Bridge Playground are additional options.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

If you would also like to compare other places for your travel planning, you can find more destinations here: Palo Alto, Gilroy, San José, Campbell, Saratoga, Coyote, Los Gatos and Cupertino.

To the main travel overview: Santa Clara.