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Saratoga is a leafy city of about 30,000 people in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains on the western edge of Silicon Valley. It began in the 1840s and 1850s as a lumber and mill town at the mouth of Saratoga Creek canyon, and was renamed in 1865 after Saratoga Springs, New York, because of the mineral springs found in the hills above.
Today the town is known for its gardens, estates and vineyards. Hakone Estate and Gardens is one of the oldest Japanese-style residential gardens in the Western Hemisphere, Montalvo Arts Center occupies the hillside villa of Senator James Phelan, and the Mountain Winery, founded by Paul Masson, hosts a summer concert series with views across the valley.
The compact Saratoga Village along Big Basin Way has restaurants, wine tasting rooms, the small history museum and the 1919 Memorial Arch. Above town, Sanborn County Park and the roads up to Skyline Boulevard and Castle Rock State Park lead into redwood forest, and Los Gatos and San Jose are a short drive away.
An 18-acre Japanese garden and estate created from 1915 by Oliver and Isabel Stine and owned by the city since 1966. Paths wind past a koi pond, waterfall, moon bridge, bamboo garden and traditional houses. It is one of the oldest Japanese-style residential gardens in the Western Hemisphere; buy timed tickets online.
The Mediterranean-style villa built in 1912 for Senator James D. Phelan, now an arts center with concerts, an artist residency and formal gardens. Hiking trails climb through the oak and redwood woods of the 175-acre grounds. The gardens and trails are free to visit; check the calendar for outdoor shows.
Paul Masson's historic hilltop winery, founded in the early 1900s, now hosts a popular summer concert series in an intimate outdoor amphitheater with views over Santa Clara Valley. Arrive early for dinner or wine on the terrace before the show, and plan for the steep, winding drive up Pierce Road.
The town's small historic center along Big Basin Way, lined with restaurants, cafes, wine tasting rooms, galleries and boutiques beneath the hills. It is a pleasant place for lunch or dinner after visiting Hakone or Montalvo. Street parking is limited on weekend evenings, so try the public lots behind the shops.
A stone arch at the entrance to Saratoga Village built as a memorial to local men who served in World War I. It stands in Blaney Plaza at the junction of Big Basin Way and Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, a natural starting point for a stroll through the village and a popular spot for photos.
A shingled Arts and Crafts clubhouse designed by architect Julia Morgan and completed in 1915 for a local women's club. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still hosts club meetings and events. View it from Park Place, a short walk from Big Basin Way.
A small museum in Saratoga Village run by the Saratoga Historical Foundation, with exhibits on the town's lumber mills, mineral springs, orchards and early families, plus the restored McWilliams House next door. Hours are limited, usually weekend afternoons, and admission is free.
A large county park on the forested slopes above Saratoga with redwood groves, walk-in campsites and trails that climb toward Skyline Boulevard. The Lake Ranch Reservoir trail is a favorite moderate hike. There is a parking fee, and summer mornings are the coolest time to hike.
A family-run winery on Mount Eden Road on land the Garrod family has farmed since the 1890s, pouring estate wines with sweeping views of the valley. The neighboring Garrod Farms riding stables offer trail rides into the hills. Book tastings ahead on weekends.
A rugged state park along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga, known for its wind-carved sandstone outcrops, rock climbing and the Saratoga Gap Trail with views toward Monterey Bay. Parking at the main lot on Skyline Boulevard fills early on weekends; pay at the kiosk.
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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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Photo: Eugene Zelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eugene Zelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eugene Zelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eugene Zelenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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