Saratoga, California

An oasis of serenity in the heart of Saratoga, California, Hakone Gardens is one of the oldest Japanese gardens in the West. A timeless traditional Japanese-style estate has a range of unique gardens with their own atmosphere: A koi pond, moon bridge, dry landscape, lush bamboo grove, and more. A strolling garden consists of a grassy hill and a pond, and a traditional tea house offers hot cups of green tea. The Cultural Exchange Center is located in a faithful reproduction of a 19th century home and shop of a Kyoto tea merchant. The estate sprawls across 18 acres on the Saratoga hills, overlooking Silicon Valley. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

There are three key ingredients to every bottle of wine created at Cinnebar Winery: soul, science, and just a dash of nature’s magic. At the Cinnabar Winery Tasting Room, patrons can sample the fine wines made with the distinct alchemy of excellence. The tasting room is situated in the heart of historic Saratoga Village and invites visitors to sip on stunning handcrafted wines while enjoying the sunshine and fresh air on the tasting room’s patio or deck. Cinnebar offers a variety of red, white, and dessert -wines, all of which age gracefully and are handcrafted by Alejandro Aldama, the alchemist of Cinnebar.

14612 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, California 95070; Phone: 408-867-1012

The Montalvo Arts Center is a center for the arts in Saratoga, California, snuggled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It includes an art and cultural center, a park with hiking trails, and the historic Villa Montalvo. The villa is a Mediterranean revival mansion built in 1914 for California businessman James Duval Phelan. After Phelan died, the entire estate was donated to the State of California to be used as a park and later as a cultural and arts center. The villa and the arts center sit on 175 acres with several large buildings surrounded by gardens and natural areas. The center has two theaters, an art gallery, and an artist residency complex. Besides hosting art exhibitions, the mansion also hosts many weddings and other celebrations.

15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, CA 95071

Recommended Activities for Families

Hugging the steep sides of a canyon on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Sanborn Park spreads over 3,453 acres next to Castle Rock State Park. The park is densely forested with towering redwoods, coast live oak, big leaf maple, Pacific madrone, and tanbark oak. The trees provide pleasant shade year round, making the park very popular with hikers from nearby Saratoga. The first part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail passes through the park. The trail extends along the high ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains and eventually becomes the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, which continues to the Pacific Ocean. The entire Bay Area Ridge Trail is 500 miles long and circles the entire Bay Area. The Lake Ranch Reservoir, a tiny mountain lake, is also part of the park. It can be reached using a steep canyon trail at the end of Sanborn Road.

16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070, Phone: 408-867-9959

Fremont Older Open Space Preserve is a 739-acre park in Santa Clara County, California. The park has 14.7 miles of hiking trails, almost all of them open to horseback riders and bikers. Previously owned by San Francisco newspaper editor Fremont Older, the property was purchased by the district in 1975. Older's house, known as Woodhills, is a private property but allows guided tours. It has an interesting architecture, combining the shingle style and modern movement. Some of the most interesting spots in the park are a 900-foot bald hilltop called Hunter's Point, famous for spectacular views of the south Bay Area, Maisie's Peak, the highest point in the park, and Garrod Farms.

Cupertino, CA 95014

Attractions for Couples

Mount Eden Vineyards is a small wine estate about 50 miles south of San Francisco, located at 2,000 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains and overlooking Silicon Valley. The winery was founded in 1945 and is one of the original California “boutique” wineries. They focus on small lots of pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. Mount Eden’s low-yielding estate vineyards are planted in austere, infertile shale on a cool and exposed mountaintop, and they have produced high-class wines for more than half a century. Mount Eden does not have a tasting room, but it does offer weekday tours of the upper wine cellar that include a tasting of three of their wines, as well as a seated tasting two Saturdays a month.

22020 Mt Eden Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070, Phone: 408-867-5832

Historic Saratoga Village is Saratoga's historic downtown district, located on Big Basin Way just off Highway 9. The village is great place to explore walking, with quaint stores, unique shops, cafés, and restaurants. The main street, Big Basin Way, has a number of excellent cafés and upscale restaurants, fashion boutiques, and other small businesses. As you leave the main street, you will come to a creek, a nice park, and small, quiet residential streets perfect for walking. There are a few thrift shops that work for local charities as well as some great ice cream and coffee venues. It is a pleasant oasis to escape the noise of busy Silicon Valley.

Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

The Skyline to the Sea Trail is a popular 29.5-mile hiking trail that runs down the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It passes through two large parks: Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest state park in California. The trail passes by a number of beautiful waterfalls and through some of the oldest, largest, and tallest redwood forests left in the world. The trail starts on the ridge at Saratoga Gap, at the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and SR 9. Many hikers prefer to start at Castle Rock. Most hikers take three days to complete the entire trail, going from the ridge to the ocean. There is a 31-mile ultra-running race on this trail a couple times a year. A detour to Berry Creek Trail to see the waterfalls or to stay at the camp at Sunset Trail Camp adds 2.7 miles to the hike, but it is well worth it.

An elegant restaurant located in a small bungalow in downtown Saratoga is a favorite for the Silicon Valley elite when they have a special occasion. The large dining room with white tablecloths, fiber-optic chandeliers hanging from vaulted ceiling, and a huge glass-fronted wine cellar create the vibe of classic luxury in a 21st century setting. The open kitchen at The Plumed Horse produces a show for the dimers and sends out pieces of edible art. The menu is California at its best, with imaginative combinations of ingredients and unexpected treats such as South Texas antelope with blueberry sauce served with parsnip and Brussels sprouts. The best deal is chef’s tasting menu. Pair it with some of their impressive wine selection and a white chocolate mousse for dessert and you will be in a gourmet heaven.

14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070, Phone: 408-867-4711

House Family Vineyards winery is located on 73-acre family compound above Saratoga, California. The House Family Estate wines are mostly made from grapes grown in their own Old Oak Vineyard on the estate, but they also use grapes from several carefully selected California vineyards that have complimentary terroir and are farmed in the same high-touch style. House Family Vineyards winery is known for the award winning merlot, chardonnay, Syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and Petit Verdot made from grapes grown on their estate. They also make sauvignon blanc, zinfandel and pinot noir using grapes from other vineyards. Their Vineyard Point Tasting Room is open on weekends and offers panoramic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Silicon Valley.

13336 Old Oak Way, Saratoga, CA 95070, Phone: 800-975-7191