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Cupertino is a city in Santa Clara County at the western edge of Silicon Valley, about 45 miles south of San Francisco, set against the oak-covered foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For much of its history the area was farmland, known for its prune and apricot orchards and its hillside vineyards; the name comes from Arroyo San José de Cupertino, the creek named by Spanish explorers in the 1770s. The city incorporated in 1955, just as the electronics industry began transforming the valley.
Today Cupertino is a city of around 60,000 people best known around the world as the home of Apple. The company's original Infinite Loop campus still stands near Interstate 280, and its ring-shaped Apple Park headquarters, opened in 2017, is one of the most recognizable corporate buildings anywhere. Visitors cannot tour the ring itself, but the Apple Park Visitor Center has a store, a cafe and a rooftop terrace overlooking the campus.
Beyond tech, Cupertino has a quieter side worth exploring. Stevens Creek County Park and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve offer trails through oak woodland and foothill meadows, and the historic Ridge Vineyards on Monte Bello Ridge pours celebrated Cabernet and Zinfandel with sweeping valley views. De Anza College preserves Le Petit Trianon, an 1890s country house modeled on Versailles, while Main Street Cupertino gathers restaurants and cafes around a central green.
The Apple Park Visitor Center sits across from Apple's ring-shaped headquarters, with an Apple Store, a cafe, an augmented reality model of the campus and a rooftop terrace overlooking the grounds. It is the only part of the campus open to the public. Entry is free, and parking is in the visitor garage.
Apple Park is Apple's huge circular headquarters, opened in 2017, while Infinite Loop is the company's older campus a short drive away, where it was based for decades. Neither campus offers public tours. You can see Apple Park from the visitor center terrace and drive past Infinite Loop for a quick photo.
The Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge is a cable-stayed bridge that carries pedestrians and cyclists over Interstate 280 in Cupertino, linking neighborhoods and schools to the north and south. It is a local landmark with a single tall mast. Walk or bike across it as part of a ride to nearby parks.
Stevens Creek County Park lies in a canyon in the hills above Cupertino around Stevens Creek Reservoir, with hiking, mountain biking and horse trails, picnic areas and boating on the reservoir. It is a cool, shady escape in summer. A vehicle day-use fee applies, and water levels vary by season.
Rancho San Antonio Preserve is one of the most popular open spaces in the South Bay, on the edge of Cupertino and Los Altos, with miles of trails through oak woodland and grassland, including the steep climb to Black Mountain. Parking lots fill early on weekends, so arrive before 8 am or come on weekdays.
Deer Hollow Farm is a working educational farm inside Rancho San Antonio Preserve, with goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and gardens set in a historic ranch. Children love seeing the animals up close. It is about a mile walk from the nearest parking lot, and it keeps limited open hours, so check before you go.
Fremont Older Open Space Preserve covers grassy hills between Cupertino and Saratoga, with trails through orchards and oak woodland. A short climb to Hunters Point gives wide views over Silicon Valley. Trails are mostly exposed, so hike in the morning, bring water and share paths with bikes and horses.
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is a famous winery high on Monte Bello Ridge above Cupertino, known for its Cabernet blends and Zinfandels that won fame at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Its tasting room has sweeping valley views. The road up is narrow and winding, so drive carefully and reserve a tasting.
Picchetti Winery is a historic winery founded by Italian immigrants in the 1800s on Monte Bello Road above Cupertino. Old brick and wooden buildings, vineyards and resident peacocks set the scene for tastings and picnics. It sits on open space land, and weekend afternoons often bring live music.
Le Petit Trianon is a 1890s mansion modeled on the French palace of the same name, now on the campus of De Anza College in Cupertino. It was moved and restored and houses the California History Center, with exhibits and archives about the valley's past. Check the center's hours before visiting.
The Euphrat Museum of Art at De Anza College in Cupertino shows changing exhibitions of contemporary art, often focused on community, social themes and Bay Area artists. Admission is free. Its hours follow the college calendar, so check the schedule, and pay for parking in the campus lots.
Main Street Cupertino is a modern open-air shopping and dining district on Stevens Creek Boulevard, with restaurants, bubble tea shops, a market, a hotel and a central green. It is a busy evening hangout in the city. Free parking is available in the garages, and weekend evenings are the liveliest time.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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