Santa Clara

Santa Clara lies in the heart of Silicon Valley, between San Jose and Sunnyvale, and it is two places at once. The old part of the city grew up around Santa Clara University and Mission Santa Clara de Asis, with a small historic downtown nearby. The rest is a modern mix of chip companies, office parks, shopping centers and quiet residential streets. The north side holds Levi's Stadium and a large theme park. Most visitors come for a specific reason, such as a game, a concert or a family day, rather than to wander. It is an easy, practical stop, and the mission campus is a pleasant walk.

Levi's Stadium is the home of the San Francisco 49ers and also hosts concerts and other big events, and the 49ers Museum is inside. California's Great America is a seasonal theme park next door. For history, Mission Santa Clara de Asis stands on the Santa Clara University campus, and the Mission Gardens are open to stroll through. The de Saisset Museum on campus shows art and local history, and the Triton Museum of Art is in the city. The Intel Museum tells the story of the chip industry at the company's headquarters. Central Park offers open lawns, and the Guadalupe River Trail is good for a walk or a ride.

Food in Santa Clara is better than a suburb has any right to expect. El Camino Real has a stretch of Korean restaurants known as Koreatown, and strip malls across the city hold Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Mexican spots. Franklin Square, the historic downtown, has restaurants and cafes close to the train station. Westfield Valley Fair, on the city's southern edge, has big chain and department store options along with a busy food scene. Nightlife is quiet and tied to events, such as tailgates and concerts around the stadium. On other nights, expect early dinners and an easy evening at the hotel.

Hotels cluster near Levi's Stadium, Great America and the convention center, which makes them handy for events and for the airport. Others line El Camino Real, and Franklin Square is a good choice for a quieter, more historic base. San Jose Mineta International Airport lies right next to the city. Santa Clara has two Amtrak Capitol Corridor stops, Great America and Santa Clara University, and Caltrain, the ACE train and VTA light rail and buses also serve the city. Even so, a car is the easiest way to see everything. Parking is simple most days, but the lots around the stadium fill up on event days.

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with mild, dry days that suit the mission gardens and the parks. Summers are warm and dry, and winters are cool with some rain. The 49ers season runs from late summer into winter, and big games and concerts can make hotels scarce and traffic heavy, so book early if your trip lines up. Great America runs on a seasonal calendar, so check before you plan a visit. Most people see the mission, a museum and the stadium area in a single day. An overnight stay lets you add the theme park or a ride into San Jose.

Santa Clara is a convenient anchor on the Peninsula and South Bay side of the Bay Area. US 101, State Route 237, Interstate 880 and the Lawrence and San Tomas expressways all meet here. San Jose, with its downtown museums and restaurants, is a few minutes away, and Sunnyvale and Mountain View lie to the northwest. The Capitol Corridor train runs north to Fremont, Oakland and Sacramento, and the ACE train heads east toward the Central Valley. Drivers can reach Santa Cruz over State Route 17 from San Jose. A night here pairs well with San Francisco, the Monterey coast or a Northern California rail trip.