While famous for being home to thousands of start-up tech firms and the headquarters of many large high-tech companies such as Apple, Google, Intel, and others, Silicon Valley is so much more than a hub for technological innovation.
Visitors will find plenty of exciting, educational, and fun things to do here, from sampling the wines at the local vineyards to hiking scenic trails and riding the roller coasters at one of the theme parks.
There is also a huge selection of outlets, malls, and city downtowns where you can shop ‘till you drop, visit art galleries and museums, or enjoy a sparkling cocktail over dinner.
So, whether you’re here seeking thrills or a chance to get away from it all, Silicon Valley has something for everyone!
Keep reading for a list of everything else the region has to offer, so you can start planning your trip!
The 97 Most Popular Things To Do In Silicon Valley, California
97. Bair Island
4.1 (10 reviews)
96. Flight Deck
4.9 (13 reviews)
Credit: Kevin Hicks, Google Maps
Location: 4701 Great America Pkwy Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 988 1776
Web Address: https://cagreatamerica.com/rides-experiences/flight-deck
95. Hanna House
4.7 (29 reviews)
Location: 737 Frenchmans Road Streetanford CA
Tel: 650 725 8352
Web Address: https://hannahousetours.stanford.edu/
94. RailBlazer
4.7 (37 reviews)
Location: 4701 Great America Pkwy Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 988 1776
Web Address: https://cagreatamerica.com/play/rides/railblazer
93. De Saisset Museum
4.4 (51 reviews)
Credit: Tịnh Quán Tâm, Google Maps
Location: 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 554 4528
Web Address: http://scu.edu/deSaisset/
92. New Museum Los Gatos + Art Studio
4.4 (57 reviews)
Credit: New Museum Los Gatos + Art Studio, Google Maps
Location: 106 E Main Street Los Gatos CA
Tel: 408 354 2646
Web Address: http://numulosgatos.org/
91. Anderson Collection at Stanford University
4.7 (61 reviews)
Credit: Anderson Collection at Stanford University, Google Maps
Location: 314 Lomita Dr Streetanford CA
Tel: 650 721 6055
Web Address: http://anderson.stanford.edu/
90. Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose
4.6 (82 reviews)
Credit: Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose, Google Maps
Location: 560 S 1st Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 283 8155
Web Address: http://icasanjose.org/
89. History San José
4.4 (119 reviews)
Credit: History San Jose, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pacific Hotel Building 1650 Senter Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 287 2290
Web Address: https://historysanjose.org/plan-your-visit/history-park/
88. Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms
4.5 (119 reviews)
Credit: Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms, Google Maps
Location: 22645 Garrod Road Saratoga CA
Tel: 408 867 7116
Web Address: http://garrodfarms.com/
87. Japanese American Museum of San Jose
4.7 (136 reviews)
Credit: Vanessa Mach, Google Maps
Location: 535 N 5th Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 294 3138
Web Address: http://jamsj.org/
86. Mission San José Park
4.3 (149 reviews)
Credit: Will Buckner, License, Flickr
Location: 41403 Mission Blvd Fremont CA
Tel: 510 790 5520
85. Gold Striker
4.7 (151 reviews)
Credit: Chef Bored, Google Maps
Location: 4701 Great America Pkwy Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 988 1776
Web Address: https://cagreatamerica.com/rides-experiences/gold-striker
84. San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
4.6 (159 reviews)
Credit: San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Google Maps
Location: 520 S First Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 971 0323
Web Address: http://sjquiltmuseum.org/
83. Los Altos History Museum
4.6 (172 reviews)
Location: 51 S San Antonio Road Los Altos CA
Tel: 650 948 9427
Web Address: http://losaltoshistory.org/
82. Dumbarton Bridge
3.8 (175 reviews)
Credit: calwhiz, License, Flickr
Location: Newark CA
Web Address: https://mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/what-mtc/bay-area-toll-authority/dumbarton-bridge
81. Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
4.6 (178 reviews)
Credit: Prasanta Saha, Google Maps
Location: 37417 Niles Blvd Fremont CA
Tel: 510 494 1411
Web Address: http://nilesfilmmuseum.org/
80. Baylands Nature Preserve
4.7 (293 reviews)
Location: Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 617 3156
Web Address: http://cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/baylands.asp
79. San Mateo County History Museum
4.5 (294 reviews)
Credit: San Mateo County History Museum, Google Maps
Location: 2200 Broadway Redwood City CA
Tel: 650 299 0104
Web Address: https://historysmc.org/
78. Picchetti Winery
4.7 (302 reviews)
Location: 13100 Montebello Road Cupertino CA
Tel: 408 741 1310
Web Address: http://picchetti.com/
77. Palo Alto Art Center
4.7 (312 reviews)
Credit: Allie_Caulfield, License, Flickr
Location: 1313 Newell Road Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 329 2366
Web Address: https://cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/artcenter/default.asp
76. Triton Museum of Art
4.5 (321 reviews)
Credit: Triton Museum of Art, Google Maps
Location: 1505 Warburton Ave Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 247 2438
Web Address: http://tritonmuseum.org/
75. Testarossa Winery
4.6 (346 reviews)
Credit: Testarossa Winery, Google Maps
Location: 300 College Ave Los Gatos CA
Tel: 408 354 6150
Web Address: https://testarossa.com/
74. Mount Umunhum
4.8 (380 reviews)
Credit: Thomson200, License, Wikimedia commons
73. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad & W.E. “Bill” Mason Carousel
4.7 (412 reviews)
Credit: Boris Mittelberg, Google Maps
Location: 233 Blossom Hill Road Los Gatos CA
Tel: 408 395 7433
Web Address: http://bjwrr.org/
72. Mission Peak
4.8 (461 reviews)
Credit: NASA/SOFIA/E. Lopez-Rodiguez; NASA/Spitzer/J., License, Wikimedia commons
71. Martial Cottle Park
4.7 (474 reviews)
Credit: Ankur Jaiswal, Google Maps
Location: 5283 Snell Ave San Jose CA
Tel: 408 535 4060
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
70. Niles Canyon Railway
4.7 (478 reviews)
Credit: Niles Canyon Railway, Google Maps
Location: 6 Kilkare Road Sunol CA
Tel: 510 996 8420
Web Address: http://ncry.org/
69. Mission Santa Clara de Asís
4.8 (499 reviews)
Location: 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 554 4023
Web Address: https://scu.edu/missionchurch/
68. Ardenwood Historic Farm
4.6 (521 reviews)
Location: 34600 Ardenwood Blvd Fremont CA
Tel: 510 544 2797
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
67. Monte Bello Preserve
4.7 (553 reviews)
Location: 4301 Page Mill Road Los Altos CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/preserves/monte_bello
66. Aqua Adventure Water Park
4.2 (563 reviews)
Location: 40500 Paseo Padre Pkwy Fremont CA
Tel: 510 494 4426
Web Address: http://goaquaadventure.com/
65. Stanford Dish
4.7 (575 reviews)
Credit: Travis Wise, License, Flickr
Location: Stanford Dish 400 Reservoir Road Stanford CA
Tel: 650 723 2560
Web Address: http://dish.stanford.edu/
64. Hayward Regional Shoreline
4.6 (621 reviews)
Credit: John Crossley, Google Maps
Location: 3010 W Winton Ave Hayward CA
Tel: 510 783 1066
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/hayward
63. Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
4.7 (649 reviews)
Credit: Tressie Tucker, Google Maps
Location: 1431 Waverley Street Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 329 1356
Web Address: http://gamblegarden.org/
62. Mountain Winery
4.4 (670 reviews)
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Location: 14831 Pierce Road Saratoga CA
Tel: 408 741 2822
Web Address: http://mountainwinery.com/
61. Hewlett Packard Garage LLC
4.4 (711 reviews)
Credit: Scott Watson, Google Maps
Location: 367 Addison Ave Palo Alto CA
Web Address: https://hpmuseum.org/garage/garage.htm
60. Pulgas Water Temple
4.6 (717 reviews)
Location: 56 Road Redwood City CA
Tel: 650 872 5900
Web Address: https://sfpuc.org/learning/come-visit/pulgas-water-temple
59. Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
4.7 (723 reviews)
Credit: Knarl Stuart Photography, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 80 S Market Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 283 8100
Web Address: http://stjosephcathedral.org/
58. Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
4.6 (796 reviews)
Credit: Scott Smith, Google Maps
Location: Redwood City CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/preserves/pr_pulgas_ridge.asp
57. Hoover Tower
4.5 (813 reviews)
Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 550 Jane Streetanford Way Streetanford CA
Web Address: https://hoover.org/library-archives/visit
56. Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo
4.6 (849 reviews)
Location: 1451 Middlefield Road Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 329 2111
Web Address: http://cityofpaloalto.org/jmz
55. Wunderlich County Park
4.7 (856 reviews)
Credit: Richard Wood, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4040 Woodside Road Woodside CA
Tel: 650 851 1210
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/wunderlich-park
54. Joseph D. Grant County Park
4.6 (899 reviews)
Credit: Paulo Philippidis, License, Flickr
Location: 18405 Mt Hamilton Road Mt Hamilton CA
Tel: 408 274 6121
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/joseph-d-grant-county-park
53. Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
4.6 (907 reviews)
Location: 1530 Arastradero Road Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 329 2423
Web Address: https://cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/arastradero/default.asp
52. South Bay Shores
4.5 (984 reviews)
Credit: Don Barrett, License, Flickr
Location: 4701 Great America Pkwy Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 988 1776
Web Address: https://cagreatamerica.com/play/boomerang-bay
51. Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
4.7 (1,015 reviews)
Location: Cupertino CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: https://openspace.org/preserves/fremont-older
50. Huddart Park
4.7 (1,068 reviews)
Location: 1100 Kings Mountain Road Woodside CA
Tel: 650 851 1210
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/huddart-park
49. Stevens Creek County Park
4.6 (1,079 reviews)
Location: 11401 Streetevens Canyon Road Cupertino CA
Tel: 408 867 3654
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/stevens-creek-county-park
48. Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
4.8 (1,098 reviews)
Credit: zemistor, License, Flickr
Location: Portola Valley CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: https://openspace.org/preserves/windy-hill
47. Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
4.6 (1,116 reviews)
Location: 10 Old Streetage Coach Road Redwood City CA
Tel: 650 368 6283
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/edgewood-park-natural-preserve
46. Garin Regional Park
4.6 (1,205 reviews)
Location: 1320 Garin Ave Hayward CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/garin
45. Foothills Nature Preserve
4.5 (1,213 reviews)
Credit: Josh Mazgelis, License, Flickr
Location: 11799 Page Mill Road Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 329 2423
Web Address: https://cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community-Services/Open-Space-Parks/Neighborhood-Parks/Foothills-Nature-Preserve
44. Raging Waters San Jose
4.1 (1,318 reviews)
Credit: JaGa, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2333 S White Road San Jose CA
Tel: 669 454 9000
Web Address: https://rwsplash.com/
43. Montalvo Arts Center
4.7 (1,334 reviews)
Location: 15400 Montalvo Road Saratoga CA
Tel: 408 961 5858
Web Address: http://montalvoarts.org/
42. Hiller Aviation Museum
4.6 (1,336 reviews)
Credit: WoooOdy Amadeus, Google Maps
Location: 601 Skyway Road San Carlos CA
Tel: 650 654 0200
Web Address: http://hiller.org/
41. Alameda Creek Regional Trail
4.6 (1,386 reviews)
Credit: Saro Saravanan, Google Maps
Location: 2250 Isherwood Way Fremont CA
Tel: 510 544 3137
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/trails/alameda_creek
40. Santa Teresa County Park
4.6 (1,428 reviews)
Credit: tq2cute, License, Flickr
Location: Bernal Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 225 0225
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/santa-teresa-county-park
39. Hakone Estate and Gardens
4.4 (1,514 reviews)
Credit: Kevin Lau, License, Flickr
Location: 21000 Big Basin Way Saratoga CA
Tel: 408 741 4994
Web Address: http://hakone.com/
38. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
4.7 (1,574 reviews)
Location: Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods
37. Magical Bridge Playground
4.8 (1,586 reviews)
Location: 3700 Middlefield Road Palo Alto CA
Tel: 650 380 1557
Web Address: http://magicalbridge.org/
36. Japanese Friendship Garden
4.2 (1,587 reviews)
Location: 1300 Senter Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 794 7275
Web Address: https://sanjose.org/listings/japanese-friendship-garden
35. Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
4.6 (1,682 reviews)
Location: 2100 Isherwood Way Fremont CA
Tel: 510 544 3130
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/quarry_lakes
34. Almaden Quicksilver County Park
4.7 (1,694 reviews)
Location: 21785 Almaden Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 268 3883
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/node/2876
33. Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
4.5 (1,754 reviews)
Credit: Don Barrett, License, Flickr
Location: 2 Marshlands Road Fremont CA
Tel: 510 792 0222
Web Address: https://fws.gov/refuge/don-edwards-san-francisco-bay
32. Sunol Regional Wilderness
4.7 (1,827 reviews)
Credit: Josh Mazgelis, License, Flickr
Location: 1895 Geary Road Sunol CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/sunol
31. Sanborn County Park
4.7 (1,909 reviews)
Credit: Ray Krebs, License, Flickr
Location: 16055 Sanborn Road Saratoga CA
Tel: 408 867 9959
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/sanborn-county-park
30. Baylands Park
4.5 (1,928 reviews)
Credit: joiseyshowaa, License, Flickr
Location: 999 E Caribbean Dr Sunnyvale CA
Tel: 408 730 7506
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/sunnyvale-baylands-park
29. Emma Prusch Farm Park
4.6 (1,995 reviews)
Credit: Grey3k, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 647 S King Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 794 6262
Web Address: https://sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2180/
28. Ed R. Levin County Park
4.6 (2,199 reviews)
Credit: US Air Force, License, Flickr
Location: 3100 Calaveras Road Milpitas CA
Tel: 408 262 6980
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/ed-r-levin-county-park
27. Castle Rock State Park
4.8 (2,350 reviews)
Location: 15451 CA 35 Los Gatos CA
Tel: 408 868 9540
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
26. Kelley Park
4.4 (2,353 reviews)
Credit: Hina Vinocha, Google Maps
Location: 1300 Senter Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 794 7275
Web Address: https://sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2245/2028
25. Shoreline Lake Events
4.7 (2,376 reviews)
Credit: Lars Ling, License, Flickr
Location: 3160 N Shoreline Blvd Mountain View CA
Tel: 650 965 3779
Web Address: https://shorelinelake.com/catering-events.html
24. Almaden Lake Park
4.5 (2,391 reviews)
Credit: Dave Jenson, License, Flickr
Location: 6099 Winfield Blvd San Jose CA
Tel: 408 277 5130
Web Address: https://sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2082/2028
23. Hellyer County Park
4.6 (2,440 reviews)
Location: 985 Hellyer Ave San Jose CA
Tel: 408 225 0225
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/hellyer-county-park
22. Intel Museum
4.4 (2,497 reviews)
Credit: Takashi Hososhima, License, Flickr
Location: 2200 Mission College Blvd Santa Clara CA
Tel: 408 765 5050
Web Address: http://intel.com/museum/
21. Alviso Marina County Park
4.4 (2,554 reviews)
Location: 1195 Hope Street Alviso CA
Tel: 408 262 6980
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/alvison-marina-county-park
20. Coyote Hills Regional Park
4.7 (2,562 reviews)
Location: 8000 Patterson Ranch Road Fremont CA
Tel: 510 544 3220
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/coyote-hills
19. Plaza de Cesar Chavez
4.4 (2,587 reviews)
Location: 1 Paseo de San Antonio San Jose CA
Tel: 408 535 3570
Web Address: http://sjparks.org/
18. Alum Rock Park
4.7 (3,006 reviews)
Credit: calwhiz, License, Flickr
Location: 15350 Penitencia Creek Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 259 5477
Web Address: https://sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2088/2028
17. Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve
4.7 (3,771 reviews)
Location: Cupertino CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/preserves/rancho-san-antonio
16. Filoli Historic House & Garden
4.7 (3,824 reviews)
Location: 86 Road Woodside CA
Tel: 650 364 8300
Web Address: https://filoli.org/
15. Mission Peak Regional Preserve
4.7 (4,156 reviews)
Credit: Travis Wise, License, Flickr
Location: 43600 Mission Blvd Fremont CA
Tel: 510 544 3246
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/mission/
14. Vasona Lake County Park
4.7 (4,819 reviews)
Location: 333 Blossom Hill Road Los Gatos CA
Tel: 408 356 2729
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/vasona-lake-and-los-gatos-creek-county-parks
13. Central Park
4.6 (5,529 reviews)
Location: 40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy Fremont CA
Tel: 510 790 5541
12. Municipal Rose Garden
4.7 (5,604 reviews)
Location: 1649 Naglee Ave San Jose CA
Tel: 408 794 7275
Web Address: https://sanjose.org/listings/municipal-rose-garden
11. Shoreline Amphitheatre
4.4 (8,342 reviews)
Location: One Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA
Tel: 650 967 4040
Web Address: https://mountainviewamphitheater.com/
10. Googleplex
4.2 (10,373 reviews)
Credit: Ardo191, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA
Tel: 650 253 0000
Web Address: https://about.google/locations/
Our Top picks
9. San Jose Museum of Art
4.2 (1,143 reviews)
Credit: Ed Schipul, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 110 S Market Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 271 6840
Web Address: http://sjmusart.org/
8. Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
4.7 (1,597 reviews)
Credit: Allie_Caulfield, License, Flickr
Location: 328 Lomita Dr Streetanford CA
Tel: 650 723 4177
Web Address: https://museum.stanford.edu/
7. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
4.6 (2,574 reviews)
Location: 1660 Park Ave San Jose CA
Tel: 408 947 3635
Web Address: http://egyptianmuseum.org/
6. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
4.6 (3,299 reviews)
Credit: Jovan Nesbit, Google Maps
Location: 180 Woz Way San Jose CA
Tel: 408 298 5437
Web Address: https://cdm.org/
5. The Tech Interactive
4.4 (3,935 reviews)
Location: 201 S Market Street San Jose CA
Tel: 408 294 8324
Web Address: http://thetech.org/
4. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
4.5 (3,943 reviews)
Credit: 蛋姐EGG, Google Maps
Location: 748 Streetory Road San Jose CA
Tel: 408 794 6400
Web Address: https://happyhollow.org/
3. Computer History Museum
4.7 (6,547 reviews)
Credit: Jitze Couperus, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1401 N Shoreline Blvd Mountain View CA
Tel: 650 810 1010
Web Address: http://computerhistory.org/
2. Winchester Mystery House
4.5 (11,431 reviews)
Location: 525 S Winchester Blvd San Jose CA
Tel: 408 247 2000
Web Address: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
1. California’s Great America
4.4 (12,878 reviews)
