Saratoga

Saratoga brings together Japanese garden art, culture, local history, and landscape. If you’re looking for a hotel in Saratoga, you can plan your stay around the things that interest you most: Hakone Gardens showcases designed Japanese landscapes and cultural events, Montalvo combines a historic villa with art in a public park, and the Saratoga History Museum explores local history. Parks and trails complement these cultural attractions with outdoor experiences.

Hakone Gardens: Garden Art and Culture

At Hakone Gardens, you can stroll through a garden with a hill and koi pond, considered a living museum of traditional Japanese landscape design. The Cultural Exchange Center hosts rotating art exhibitions. It is a replica of a Kyoto teahouse; cultural programs may also take place there. Hakone Gardens hosts various cultural events throughout the year.

For a break, there is a picnic area with garden views and five standard-size tables. The City of Saratoga purchased Hakone Gardens in 1966 to turn the property into a city park. A visit therefore centers on both the designed landscape and its cultural use.

Villa Montalvo: Architecture, Art, and Trails

Montalvo is located in the foothills above Saratoga. The grounds cover more than 100 acres and include woodland hiking trails and gardens. In the public park surrounding the historic Villa Montalvo, you can discover artworks by international, multidisciplinary artists and picnic on the expansive Great Lawn.

The hillside trails behind the historic villa are leased to Santa Clara County. The county operates and maintains them as a public park. Villa Montalvo is a National Historic Landmark designed under the direction of architect William Curlett. John McLaren designed the gardens and grounds.

In 1939, Montalvo opened as a public art center, with artist residencies and a small gallery in the villa. This information provides historical context for the site’s development and should be distinguished from the park’s current offerings.

Local History in Exhibitions and Houses

The Saratoga History Museum’s exhibitions trace local history from the Muwekma Ohlone through early sawmills and plum orchards to Paul Masson’s champagne fountains. Built in 1852 and fully restored, the McWilliams House is used for educational programs for adults and children.

Parks, Trails, and Quarry History

At Saratoga Quarry Park, you can hike among the remains of the former quarry operations. An easement protects the site as a natural landscape and open space. Two quarries operated there in the early 20th century; after the properties were purchased in 1908, the limestone quarries were consolidated into a gravel quarry. The protected open space and traces of its former use thus exist side by side.

Saratoga has 14 parks and numerous trails offering a variety of activities. A self-guided bicycle tour of historic homes is available. A map is available online or at the Saratoga History Museum. The Village, Saratoga’s downtown district, offers a distinctive dining scene.

Discover more destinations: San Martin, Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Morgan Hill, Los Gatos, Coyote, Gilroy, Campbell.

For the regional travel overview: Santa Clara.