Page 84 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

SANTA CLARA
NFL and theme park fun, history and high-tech in Silicon Valley city
B Y L A U R A D E L R O S S O
»DINE, SHOP,
TOUR A
MUSEUM
Santa Clara Visitor
Information
santaclara.org
LEVI’S STADIUM, home of the San
Francisco 49ers, above; fun at the Intel
Museum, below.
SANTA CLARA lies in the heart of tech capital
Silicon Valley, an area firmly focused on the
future, but with a long history that stretches
back to the beginnings of California.
The city recently dedicated funds to revive
its historic downtown next to Santa Clara
University, which was founded in 1851 and is
the oldest college in the state. That’s not the
only development on tap in Santa Clara. Plans
have been approved for City Place, a massive
project near Levi’s Stadium expected to
transform the area into a lively destination
filled with hotels, dining and nightlife.
It was the opening of Levi’s Stadium in
2014 that put Santa Clara in the national
spotlight. The 69,900-seat stadium is home
to the San Francisco 49ers and contains the
49ers Museum, which is open year-round
and celebrates the team in 11 galleries and
interactive exhibits that trace NFL history
and Super Bowl championships. Levi’s is
also a venue for major sporting events and
concerts, including the Rolling Stones
scheduled to rock the park on May 15.
the air and then drops them into a 360-
degree loop.
When visiting Santa Clara, you can’t
miss learning about Silicon Valley. At the
Intel Museum, fascinating exhibits trace
the computer industry and how the valley’s
brilliant engineers dramatically changed
society.
Theme Park Fun
Nearby, California’s Great America, a 100-
acre combination theme and water park,
offers a delightful Peanuts-inspired area for
children and hair-raising experiences for
thrill-seekers. Among the rides is Patriot, a
roller coaster that whips riders 91 feet into
A Sense of History
For a longer historical perspective, stroll the
gardens on the lovely campus at Santa Clara
University, whose mission was founded in
1777. The current church was built in 1925
but holds vestiges from the past, including
a life-size crucifix brought from Mexico in
1802. Also on campus, the university’s de
Saisset Art Museum houses a significant
California history collection and art by
Chagall and Picasso.
For more local history, check out the
South Bay Historical Society housed in an
1863 train station, the Santa Clara Historic
Museum and the Harris-Lass House
Museum, both located in charming 19th
-
century buildings.
When it’s time to kick back, you’ll find a
range of restaurants and high-end
boutiques such as Versace, Cartier and
Armani at the Westfield Valley Fair, home
to some of Silicon Valley’s most enticing
upscale shopping.
82 2019 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
SANTACLARA.ORG