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.

JJ's Blues is a restaurant and bar with a history just about as rich as the city of Santa Clara. Blues legends past and present have played at this place over the years.

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.

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 Santa Clara Convention Center is an ideal destination for those in Santa Clara on business. Many business-related functions such as conferences and meetings are held here.

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.

Santa Clara CA Theme Parks

California's Great America is the best know of the four theme parks found in the Santa Clara area. Great America is located directly in Santa Clara and features world-class rides and hosts annual events such as a yearly Halloween display and Fourth of July celebration.

The three other theme parks in the area are Six Flags Discovery Kingdom located in Vallejo, Gilroy Gardens located in Gilroy and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk located in Santa Cruz. Great America is the only one that includes a water park.