Milpitas is not a well-known tourist city in California. Is there really anything to write about in Milpitas? Imagine being surprised to find a new favorite local winery and a new favorite hike… in an area I thought I already knew.
Milpitas is a bedroom community for Silicon Valley with lots of tract housing and office parks against the Diablo Range of California’s coastal mountains. I have worked there twice since moving to Silicon Valley in 1984. To be honest, Milpitas has never been the answer to the question, “Where do you want to go today?” But sometimes, a place needs a deeper look.
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Getting Outdoors Near Milpitas
When you want to get outdoors near Milpitas there are some great and diverse places to have a walk or a hike.
Bike into the Bay at Alviso Marina County Park
In nearby Alvisa, at the southern edge of the San Francisco Bay, is an unusual county park. The first thing you should know about San Francisco Bay is that the southern end of the bay is very shallow. If you went out in a rowboat in the bay midway between the San Francisco and Oakland airports, you could get out of the boat and stand up. There are a few channels where you can bring a boat into the South Bay. By San Jose, it is pretty much just Alviso. The Guadalupe River cuts a channel into the bay at its mouth in Alviso.
The other thing you should know about the south part of San Francisco Bay is that for years, this area had miles and miles of salt ponds surrounded by levees. Those ponds are still there, but these days, they are used as a nesting area for sea birds. The levees are still there, and you can access them from Alviso Marina County Park.
Here, you can walk or bike miles into the bay. If you bike to the northern end of these levees, you can see some of the last surviving buildings in the ghost town of Drawbridge, California. If you want to go that far, I suggest a bike, as the long loop around the levees is something like 9 miles. These can be long walks, but they are completely flat and easy.
Slip Away to Coyote Creek Trail
The last time I worked in Milpitas, I would get up early to beat the traffic and get to work before anyone else. Since I did not really need to be there yet, I would slip out of the back of the parking lot of our building on McCarthy Blvd. Right there at the edge of the property was Coyote Creek Trail.
Coyote Creek runs from south to north on the west side of Highway 880 until it empties into the San Francisco Bay. Coyote Creek Trail runs all the way down past San Jose to Morgan Hill. 9 miles of the trail are in Milpitas. It’s not the prettiest trail in the area (stay tuned), but it is easily the most convenient. It turns out that it is only a block from the Sonesta Hotel, where we stayed in Milpitas.
Watch Paragliders at Ed R. Levin County Park
There are several parks on the hills above Milpitas. The first one you will see as you leave town on Calaveras Rd is Ed R. Levin County Park. This Park has a golf course, a dog park, a small lake, and over 20 miles of trails connecting with longer trails.
The Ridge Trail, which climbs to the top of the commanding Mission Peak, is for the seriously ambitious. It is a 9-mile climb there and back. As you can see from the photos and video, most of the Diablo Range is not shaded, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
One of the most memorable things about Ed R. Levin County Park is that it is popular with paragliders. Paragliders need a permit to access the road leading up the hill to a launching spot, but you will also see them packing their shute into a backpack and schlepping their gear up the hill. Even from the parking lot up the hill, some will climb further up for a longer ride down. You will also see hawks and vultures catching the same air currents down the hill in the park.
Another interesting spot near Ed R. Levin County Park is the Dragon Mountain (Thien Long Son) stairs. This is a cultural park and a private monastery built by a local businessman. It is intended to be an inter-faith place of prayer for Buddhism and Catholicism, but many people just like the hike and the view.
There are also equestrian trails in the park and a surprising number of nearby stables.
See Silicon Valley from Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
As we were looking at the hills from Ed R. Levin County Park, I wondered if it might be possible to drive up the hills to someplace with a great view. The answer is yes.
The drive up to Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve is a bit of a white-knuckle drive. The road goes up steeply from the valley. You will probably get stuck behind someone driving an underpowered Kia Soul (if the plates say CHRIS2x, then wave because it is me). Even if you are not a hiker, the views are great if you are willing to take that drive. But… I strongly encourage you to park your car at the small parking lot at Sierra Vista Point and do a bit of hiking.
From the parking lot, you can see hikers hiking down to a small hill nicknamed “The Spur,” which is getting in the way of your view of Silicon Valley. The hike is a bit over a mile from the parking lot, mostly down on the way there and up on the way back. You are far enough up in the hills that a breeze can bring the temperatures down by 10 degrees from whatever they are in Milpitas and San Jose.
From the Spur, Santa Clara Valley (aka Silicon Valley) is spread out before you. Bring a camera with a good zoom lens or some small but powerful binoculars. Better yet, bring a pair of binoculars that can connect to your smartphone to take pictures.
History
Alviso Adobe Park
Jose Higuera Adobe Park
José Higuera Adobe Park is a charming historical park in Milpitas. It is home to the José Higuera Adobe.
The adobe was built in the 1840s by José Higuera, a prominent landowner and rancher in the region. The Higuera family played a significant role in the area’s early development, contributing to its agricultural and cultural landscape.
The park features a picnic area, playground, and a small 50-person meeting space that can be rented out.
Wine Tasting
Big Dog Vineyards
I fell in love with Big Dog Vineyards from the parking lot. It has an amazing view of Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Bay, and Ed R. Levin County Park, where we just were. I told my wife, “If their wine is any good, I have a new favorite local winery.” The Big Dog tasting room opened in 2009, but I did not discover it until the pandemic.
Hours:
- Sunset Fridays, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – on the front lawn
- Back Patio Tasting Room, Saturdays & Sundays, 12:00 – 5:00 pm
They do 3 different tastings with 4 wines each: Classic Mix $25, All White Wines $30, All Red Wines $35.
Reservations are recommended, but groups of 8 or more must call ahead to make a reservation. A minimum of 1 (one) bottle per three guests purchase is required for groups of over 8, or an additional service charge will be added to the reservation.
They often have live music on the weekends, so check out their calendar of events.
While their front lawn appears to be a great spot for a picnic, outside food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
Big Dog Vineyards tends to produce single varietals. Its estate vineyard is at the top of the hill and buys grapes from several other AVAs. We enjoyed its wines, especially some of the reds, and we have already talked friends into trying Big Dog as well.
Shopping
Great Mall
For years, especially when my daughter was in middle school, she and I would do our Christmas shopping at the Great Mall in Milpitas. It is a very large mall with over 200 stores, many of which offer the fashions she loved. It is not an outlet mall, but there are a number of outlet stores. From our house, we drove by half a dozen different malls to get to the Great Mall.
Where to Stay in Milpitas
Sonesta Silicon Valley
This trip was instigated by the Sonesta Hotel in Milpitas, which hosted me. The Sonesta is located just off Montague Expressway and Highway 880, so it is easy to get from there to anywhere in the area. For those familiar with the Milpitas Area, you may have had your prom there, as it used to be the old Beverly Heritage Hotel and Brandon’s Restaurant & Bar. In addition to its 238 rooms, they have an event space.
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We stayed in a suite with a separate living room area with a fold-out couch. The room would make a great space for an extended stay business trip or for a couple like my wife and I, who are on very different schedules. I was able to get up early and work on a blog post while she slept in.
There are large flat-screen TVs in both locations, complete with Google Chromecast, so you can connect them to your personal devices if you cannot watch the normal cable channels. Some of the apps on my iPad are compatible with Chromecast, like Amazon Prime and Netflix.
The hotel serves both dinner and breakfast.
When to Come to Milpitas
Milpitas, California, enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, with most annual rainfall occurring from December to February. The city’s proximity to the San Francisco Bay moderates temperatures and prevents extreme variations, making Milpitas an attractive place for outdoor activities year-round.
Sponsorship Disclosure: As mentioned at the top of the article, we were invited to stay at the Sonesta on their dime. Big Dog Vineyards also paid for our tasting. All opinions expressed are my own.
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by Chris Christensen
Chris Christensen is the creator of the Amateur Traveler blog and podcast. He has been a travel creator since 2005 and has won numerous awards including being named the "Best Independent Travel Journalist" by Travel+Leisure Magazine. He move to California in 1964.Leave a Reply
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