Page 70 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

GILROY
Foodie and family destination
EAT, PLAY,
WINE-TASTE,
HIKE
GILROY VISITOR
INFORMATION
visitgilroy.com
This city in California’s Santa Clara
County is well known for its signature
spice: garlic. But just like a garlic bulb
with many cloves, Gilroy has plenty of
attractions—including a wealth of wineries
and an amusement park full of gardens and
agricultural mastery—that appeal to a
variety of tastes.
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, above;
Dorcich Family Vineyards, below.
Come Play at Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Cali-
fornia’s only horticultural theme park,
features majestic gardens and waterfalls, as
well as more than 40 rides and attractions.
Also scattered throughout the park are the
world-famous Circus Trees, living sculp-
tures originally grafted and shaped by Axel
Erlandson in the 1920s, including the iconic
Basket Tree and others like the Arch Tree
and the Four-Legged Giant. The popular
Water Oasis play area features twisty slides,
a giant tipping bucket, and gentle flower
showers for little ones as well as colorful
cabanas and comfortable chairs for
lounging and soaking up the summer sun.
Take a Wine Tasting Tour
Gilroy is part of one of California’s oldest
68 2022-23 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
B Y J I L L K . R O B I N S O N
wine-growing regions and is home to more
than 30 family-owned wineries and tasting
rooms. The wayfinding signs along the
Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail help
oenophiles and first-time tasters discover
award-winning wines, beautiful vineyard
views, and a casual atmosphere that makes
wine tasting fun. Download the Wine Trail
Map to plan your own personal tasting tour
(visitgilroy.com/wineries).
Explore the Road to Garlic
Dedicated garlic lovers come to Gilroy to get
a taste of the best from the Garlic Capital of
the World. Grab the Road to Garlic map and
go on a tasty treasure hunt to find all the
best garlic shops, restaurants and experi-
ences (including garlic ice cream). Breath
mints are optional!
Discover Outdoor Adventures
Gilroy has plenty of wide-open spaces to
explore, from great hiking and biking trails to
championship golf courses, farmstands, and
the Gilroy Ostrich Farm, where kids can get
up close to the world’s biggest birds as well as
friendly goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, emus,
alpacas, chickens, rabbits, and more.
VISIT GILROY