Page 89 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

The Great Outdoors
Wherever you are in Silicon Valley, beau-
tiful open space is not far away. In
downtown San Jose, Guadalupe River Park
is a convenient greenbelt. Nearby Alum
Rock Park offers 720 acres filled with tree-
lined walking paths.
The valley’s park system continues to
grow with the latest addition, Martial
Cottle Park, which features a working
organic farm that dates from 1864 and
covers 180 acres, showcasing farming tech-
niques and tracing the valley’s long
agricultural history.
Miles of roads in the Santa Cruz Moun-
tains lead to a diverse collection of county
and state parks and open space preserves in
redwood forests ideal for camping, hiking,
mountain biking or a simple picnic.
Family Fun
For fascinating local lore, head to the Win-
chester Mystery House, the 160-room
Victorian estate built by Sara Winchester,
the heiress of Winchester Rifles. The huge
house is creepy but beautiful at the same
time, with its weird “Stairs to the Ceiling”
that lead to nowhere, séance chambers and
fine woodwork.
California’s Great America theme park
offers the most thrill rides in Northern Cali-
fornia and includes the massive Great Barrier
Reef wave pool. Additional fun is found at 23-
acre Raging Waters in San Jose, which bills
itself as the region’s largest water park. San
Jose’s Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and Los
Gatos’ Vasona Lake County Park, a lovely
oasis with a train and 1915 carousel, are two
other parks that kids love.
TESLA MOTORS showroom, opposite right;
downtown San Jose, opposite left; Roger
Berry’s sculpture Perspective, a.k.a. The
Infinite Loop, in Cupertino, top right; San
Jose Obon Festival, below.
DRIVE
»
TOUR
PALO ALTO
SAN JOSE
SARATOGA
LOS
GATOS
CASTLE ROCK
STATE PARK
Starting in PALO ALTO, take in
vibrant University Avenue and
drive the leafy lanes of the
STANFORD CAMPUS, stopping
to see the mosaics in
Memorial Church and the
MAIN QUAD. Head west on
Sand Hill Road to Highway 280
south to revitalized downtown
SAN JOSE for a visit to the
striking Tech Museum of Innovation. Take Highway 17 west to LOS
GATOS, stopping to enjoy the village-like downtown and its shady
plaza, then head south on Highway 9 to the equally charming hamlet
of SARATOGA, nestled at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Continue on Highway 9 up into the mountains to Skyline Boulevard
(Highway 35), the crest of the range. Here you’ll find uncrowded
wineries, pristine forests and many open space preserves and parks,
including CASTLE ROCK STATE PARK, the most spectacular. Follow
Skyline Boulevard south and rejoin Highway 17 east, which leads back
to San Jose and the heart of Silicon Valley.
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 87