Discover Santa Clara

Santa Clara offers several distinct points of interest for planning a trip: mission history, art, interactive learning, an amusement park, and nature.

Mission Santa Clara de Asís and Its History

Mission Santa Clara de Asís was first founded on January 12, 1777, on the banks of the Guadalupe River. It is the eighth in a series of 21 missions founded by Franciscans. The founding date and its place in the series provide two specific historical points of reference. The mission is open to visitors daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are planning a visit for a specific time, it is a good idea to check visiting hours in advance.

Amusement and Water Park

Santa Clara is home to California’s Great America. Admission to the amusement park includes the South Bay Shores water park. If you plan to visit both attractions, this inclusion may help you choose your itinerary.

Art and Interactive Learning

The Triton Museum of Art offers accessible exhibition and educational programs that promote a broad range of contemporary California art. At the same time, the museum collects and exhibits contemporary and historical works, with a focus on artists from the Greater Bay Area. This means its program focus on contemporary California art differs from its broader collection spanning both contemporary and historical works. The Intel Museum takes a different approach: it is a 10,000-square-foot interactive learning environment for children and adults. The distinction is clear when choosing between the two: one puts art, exhibitions, and collections at the forefront, while the other focuses on interactive learning.

Nature at Ulistac Natural Area

Ulistac Natural Area is a 40-acre open space encompassing seven distinct natural habitats. The area is open to the public via Lick Mill Boulevard and a creekside trail along the Guadalupe River. Along the trails, interpretive signs explain the area's natural history. A visit therefore combines landscape and information: you can experience the different habitats as defining features of the area while learning about its natural history along the trails. The two access points also provide specific reference points for planning your visit.

Different Highlights for Your Stay

You can sum up the differences to help you decide: the mission represents mission history, Triton represents art, Intel represents interactive learning, Great America with South Bay Shores represents recreation, and Ulistac represents habitats and natural history. This allows you to plan your trip and search for a hotel in Santa Clara around the themes that matter most to you.

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