What’s around SCU? More than we can possibly list here, but we’ve come up with some special spots you might want to check out.
Levi’s Stadium: Only 5 miles from campus, Levi’s Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers. The stadium (and Santa Clara) will host the 50th Super Bowl in 2016, drawing fans from around the nation.
California's Great America: Great America is one of the top amusement parks in California. Whether you like your rollercoasters made of wood (Gold Striker, the Grizzly) or steel (Flight Deck, Vortex)—Great America has you covered. Don’t wear flip-flops!
Winchester Mystery House: One of the great oddities of American architecture, the Winchester Mystery House—once the home of Sarah Winchester, widow of gun magnate William Winchester—is a haunted maze of strange rooms and doors to nowhere.
Tech Interactive: The Tech Interactive is a technology and science museum with numerous hands-on and interactive exhibits, celebrating the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley. Whether you’re interested in genetics, alternative energy, virtual design, or microchips, it’s worth the trip.
Santana Row: Santana Row is an upscale shopping, residential, dining, and entertainment complex in nearby San Jose. It’s also a hotspot for nightlife in Silicon Valley.
Computer History Museum: This museum is home to the largest collection of computing artifacts in the world. Located in nearby Mountain View, the museum encompasses everything from a functioning re-creation of the first 150-year-old mechanical computer to a display of classic video game consoles.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium: Located on the site of a former sardine cannery, The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a great place to see the diversity and majesty of the ocean. The aquarium is home to thousands of plants and animals, representing 623 species, and draws 1.8 million visitors every year.
Big Sur: Whether you want to spend the night in a luxury hotel or on a rustic campsite, the coastline of Big Sur is an outdoor paradise. Blooming wildflowers, California Condors and sea otters are just some examples of the natural wonder that make Big Sur a spectacular place to visit.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Often called simply Carmel, it's known for its natural scenery, gorgeous 17-Mile Drive, and rich artistic history. The rocky outcroppings and ghostly cypress trees of the coastline combine with the manicured green slopes of the famed Pebble Beach golf course to make Carmel a unique California community.
Golden Gate Bridge: Drawing more than 10 million visitors annually, the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to California's northern counties. Known for its 746-foot tall towers, sweeping main cables, signature color—International Orange—and Art Deco styling, the Golden Gate is an engineering and artistic feat.
Muir Woods: The giant redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument create a towering, natural cathedral on the Pacific coast north of San Francisco. Visitors can easily hike through the grove and see trees that have stood for more than 1,200 years and have grown to more than 250 feet tall.
Napa Valley: No place in the United States is more associated with wine than Napa Valley. Whether you have a picnic lunch or enjoy some of the best restaurants in the country, a day spent touring Napa’s hundreds of wineries is a wonderful way to relax, have fun and taste some of finest wines in the world.