In Santa Clara there is almost too much to do as you look for activities for family or outings with friends. There are kid-friendly destinations and also places that are only appropriate for adults.  In Santa Clara, if you ask people for suggestions of things to do, the most popular places you’ll be told to visit are probably California's Great America theme park, the Intel Museum and Mission Santa Clara. If you enjoy going to events there’s the annual Art and Wine Festival  and a more casual weekly gathering at Santa Clara Farmer's Market. However, to truly enjoy all that the Silicon Valley area has to offer, you’ll  need to know more about what people living in the area like to do. We’ve put together a list of all the fun, unusual and enjoyable places to visit and experiences to try.

A must for any visitor to Santa Clara is the Mission Santa Clara de Asis located on the campus of Santa Clara University. The mission is one of 21 such missions built in what would become Northern California from the late 1700s through the early 1800s. The historic mission includes beautifully kept grounds and gardens.

Santa Clara University is the oldest private instruction of higher learning in California. The university has an extensive collective of architecture and art, most of it open to the public.

The Statue of Saint Clare, located on El Camino Real and Lincoln Street in Santa Clara, was sculpted by Ann Van Kleeck. Saint Clare was an Italian saint who spent her life as one of the early followers of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Central Park, home to the International Swim Center where many Olympic athletes have trained, is one of the city's most popular destinations. Free concerts are a big draw in the summer along with bike trails and walk ways and plenty of room for softball games and picnics.