One of the best things about Santa Clara is its location. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is surrounded by numerous corporate giants including Apple and Google. However, that’s not all that Santa Clara has to offer. In addition to all these flashy companies, our beautiful campus is surrounded by some of the best vacation spots on the West Coast. So grab some friends, a car, and a bunch of snacks because its road trip time!
1. Santa Cruz (45 min. drive S)
Located just south of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. In addition to hitting up the world-famous boardwalk, Santa Cruz has tons of beautiful beaches for you to relax on. Make sure to checkout Natural Bridges State Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park, and Panther Beach! Sit back & relax, you deserve a little R&R.
2. Monterey & Carmel (1 ½ hr. drive S)
Another beautiful beach town, Monterey is just 45 min. south of Santa Cruz and offers some amazing sights for your long weekend. Some great spots include Cannery Row, a beachfront street filled with delicious restaurants and cute boutiques, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Fifteen minutes south of Monterey is Carmel-by-the Sea, a small town that is home to some of the best scenery on the coast. Point Lobos, Carmel River State Beach, and Mission San Carlos Borroméo are all must-sees!
3. Napa (1 hr. 45 min. drive N)
Also known as wine country, Napa is the quintessential picture of northern California. With sprawling vineyards and numerous historic sights, Napa is the wine lovers dream. When you go (and if you’re of legal drinking age) make sure to check out Napa’s famous Wine Train and some of the best vineyards in the country. If you’re not yet 21, don’t worry—there are still plenty of things for you to do, including hiking in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park or renting some bikes and touring the valley.
4. Pismo Beach (3 hr. drive S)
Even though it’s technically not in the Bay Area, Pismo Beach is worth the drive. In addition to beautiful coastal scenery, Pismo offers some great outdoor activities including ATVing in the dunes, paddle boarding, and kayaking. If the outdoors isn’t exactly your thing, Pismo Beach boasts great shopping malls and amazing beaches for soaking up the sun.
5. Lake Tahoe (3 hr. 45 min. drive NE)
If the adventurer in you really wants to get away from Santa Clara, Tahoe is the perfect place to go. If you’re a snow bunny, then you are definitely going to want to go during the winter and hit the slopes at one of Tahoe’s numerous resorts. Don’t worry, even if you prefer the sand to the snow, there are still numerous activities for you, including camping and hiking in one of the many state parks. Adventure awaits!