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Maple Tree Inn Blog

Adventures In Silicon Valley, California


Exploring Stevens Creek County Park

Steven Creek County Park Reservoir
Steven Creek County Park Reservoir – By Wizz4prep [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

When most people think of Silicon Valley, technology, venture capital, and the corporate headquarters of thousands of technology business like Google and Apple come to mind, but the Peninsula is also home to a diverse set of public recreational amenities like Stevens Creek County Park. This 1,063-acre park includes an 82-acre non-power boating reservoir, historic Villa Maria orchard, shoreline picnic facilities, over 9 miles of trails, and a 28 station roving archery course and range. The park is between Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve and is located in the foothills between Saratoga and Cupertino.

Visit the Murphy House in Sunnyvale, CA

Historic Murphy House - Sunnyvale, CA
Historic Murphy House Sunnyvale, CA
The Murphys played a very important part in early California history. Martin Murphy, Jr. is credited with founding Sunnyvale, bringing the railroad through his property and helping to establish the Convent of Notre Dame and Santa Clara College. These were the first institutions of higher learning in the area. His son was the first student enrolled and is the only layman interred in the Mission Chapel.

Winchester Mystery House Movie – Scenes Filmed Near Maple Tree Inn

Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, California
By Www78 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0

Located a mere 20 minutes away from Maple Tree Inn is one of Silicon Valley’s most famous & historic attractions, The Winchester Mystery House. The incredible mansion was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, an heiress to a massive fortune from her husband’s family (The Winchesters) who manufactured and marketed the famous Winchester Repeating Rifle.

Apple Park, Apple’s New “Spaceship” Campus

Apple Park, Apple’s New Spaceship Campus
Click To Watch Video On YouTube About Apple Park

Nearly eight years in the making, Apple’s new 2.8-million-square-foot main building is nearing completion and is beginning to welcome employees. The new $5 billion dollar campus was born out of Steve Job’s vision to create a “park-like” work environment for collaboration, innovation, inspiration and creativity.

Mineta San Jose International Airport – An Extraordinary Architectural Experience

San Jose International Airport Terminal B
By Aries Liang (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Located a mere 8 miles east of Maple Tree Inn is the newly renovated and very high tech Mineta San Jose International Airport. This cutting edge architectural feat hosts 11 million visitors annually and is the largest U.S. design-build airport project. The 2, 600,000 square foot airport was completed in 2010 and was modeled after Silicon Valley’s “high tech” reputation.

Levi’s Stadium Transportation

Levi’s Stadium

Taking public transit to Levi’s Stadium is the way to go. Travel by Caltrain down the peninsula to the Mountain View Transit Center if you are coming from the north. Once there you can hop on one of the buses waiting or just ride the VTA Light Rail for about 30 minutes and you will be dropped off right outside. (Upon leaving the Stadium, just return to where you were dropped off). Waiting lines and destinations are clearly marked and the VTA light rail trains run every 15 minutes during game day, so the wait is minimal. Buses get there a little faster with fewer stops but do not leave until they are full.

Wineries in Silicon Valley?

Wineries Of Santa Clara Valley“Silicon Valley” – it’s easy to forget this area’s role as California’s first premium wine production region – the Santa Clara Valley. Native Americans named it “the Valley of the Heart’s Delight.” French and Italian immigrants who settled here during the Gold Rush era recognized the rich soils and Mediterranean climate as the perfect New World home for their European grape varietals.