Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Sunnyvale, CA

  • Published 2022/05/19

Sunnyvale is in the heart of Silicon Valley, one of the most important technology hubs in the world.

As a result, the city has a wealth of attractions and activities that make it a great place to visit.

Whether you’re interested in exploring its history, checking out its restaurants and nightlife, or simply taking in the area’s natural beauty, there’s something for everyone in Sunnyvale.

Interested to know more about this place?

Here are the 15 best things to do in Sunnyvale, CA:

Explore Sunnyvale Heritage Park

Water fountain at Sunnyvale Heritage Park

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The Sunnyvale Heritage Park Association (SHPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 to promote and preserve the history and cultural heritage of Sunnyvale, California.

The Park is in the heart of historic downtown Sunnyvale on the former site of the Sunnyvale Town Center.

Waters of Sunnyvale Heritage Park

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The SHPA operates and maintains the Sunnyvale Heritage Park, a 15-acre park that includes a museum, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a chapel, and several restored buildings.

The SHPA also sponsors numerous special events, including the annual Heritage Festival in September.

Visit the Baylands Nature Preserve

Long boardwalk at Baylands Nature Preserve

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The Baylands Nature Preserve is a 1,500-acre nature reserve located in Sunnyvale, California.

The preserve is most famous for its extensive network of trails and bike paths that allow visitors to explore the diverse habitats found within the park.

These habitats include coastal marsh, mudflats, upland grasslands, and oak woodlands.

Marshland at Baylands Nature Preserve

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Besides trails and wildlife, the Baylands Nature Preserve is also home to the Adobe Building, and the George Lucas Education Center.

The preserve is also home to various wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds, 50 mammals, and ten species of amphibians and reptiles.

It features more than six miles of trails for hiking and biking and a nature center with interactive exhibits.

The Baylands Nature Preserve is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

A person riding a motorcycle along Baylands Nature Preserve

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Explore the Computer History Museum

Exterior of Computer History Museum

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The Computer History Museum (CHM) is a museum in Mountain View, California, dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of computing.

The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of computing artifacts, from the abacus to the ENIAC.

It also offers a wide range of public programs, including lectures, workshops, and family activities.

Gordon Bell and his wife, Lenore, founded the museum in 1996.

Interior of Computer History Museum

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They wanted to preserve the history of computing and make it available to the public.

The museum’s first home was a garage on the Bells’ property.

In 2000, the CHM moved to its current location, a former office building in Mountain View.

The museum has approximately 150,000 items in its collection.

The CHM also offers a wide range of public programs, including lectures, workshops, and family activities.

Exhibit in Computer History Museum

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Check Out the Rengstorff House

Exterior of Rengstorff House

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Rengstorff House is in the heart of Mountain View, California.

Henry Rengstorff, a prominent German immigrant who made his fortune in the mercantile business, built the house in 1849.

The National Register of Historic Places has already listed it as an important site.

Wind turbine and wooden water tower at Rengstorff House

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Today, it serves as a museum and community center.

It also served as a family home for three generations and then became a hotel, boarding house, and farmhouse.

The house underwent renovation in the 1990s and now features period furnishings and exhibits that tell the history of Mountain View.

Also, it remained under the Rengstorff family until 1967.

Dining area in Rengstorff House

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Catch a Show at the Shoreline Amphitheatre

Exterior of Shoreline Amphitheatre

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The Shoreline Amphitheatre was first established in 1986.

It was initially an outdoor venue that hosted various events in its early years.

These events included concerts, festivals, and even monster truck rallies

In 1991, the amphitheater underwent a significant renovation project.

This project added a permanent roof to the venue and new seating and stage areas.

The Shoreline Amphitheatre has become a popular destination for music lovers ever since.

Aerial view of Shoreline Amphitheatre

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The Shoreline Amphitheatre is in Mountain View, California.

Its initial name was the “Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View.”

About 22,500 people can fit inside the venue.

The amphitheater was originally a venue for the Grateful Dead, who played 32 shows there from 1987 to 1989.

In 1990, Phish played two nights at the amphitheatre, and was the first band to headline a concert there.

The amphitheatre has since hosted concerts by many other bands and artists, including Metallica.

Far view of Shoreline Amphitheatre's stage

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Visit the Lick Observatory

Exterior of Lick Observatory

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It is an astronomical observatory in California founded in 1888.

The University of California owns and operates the observatory.

The observatory is best known for its 36-inch (91 cm) diameter Lick telescope, the first large telescope permanently housed on an astronomical dome.

The shane telescope in Lick Observatory

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The telescope was commissioned in 1887 and first used in 1888.

It was the largest refracting telescope in the world at the time.

Lick Observatory is also home to the Shane Telescope, a 40-inch (102 cm) reflecting telescope, two other large telescopes, the Eastman Teaching Telescope, and the 61-inch (155 cm) Nickel telescope.

The open dome of Lick Observatory during sunset

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Spend the Day at Downtown Sunnyvale

Metal benches along Downtown Sunnyvale

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You’ll find a vibrant and lively area with many restaurants, shops, and businesses when you visit downtown Sunnyvale.

Some of the activities people can do in Downtown Sunnyvale include dining at the many restaurants, shopping at the various stores, going to the movies, and taking walks in the park.

Many events in Downtown Sunnyvale throughout the year, such as the farmers market, art walks, and the holiday parade.

The road of Downtown Sunnyvale

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Downtown Sunnyvale is also home to various businesses, including tech companies, restaurants, and stores.

Some of the well-known tech companies in downtown Sunnyvale include Yahoo, AMD, and Juniper Networks.

You can dine at many famous restaurants in the area, such as the Cheesecake Factory and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.

For shoppers, there are several popular stores in Downtown Sunnyvale, such as Nordstrom Rack and Bed Bath & Beyond.

People at Downtown Sunnyvale during a festival

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Play Golf at Sunnyvale Golf Course

The Sunnyvale Golf Course is a municipal golf course located in Sunnyvale, California.

The course offers a challenging experience for all players and is open every day of the week.

Besides golf, the course has a clubhouse that serves food and a pro shop that sells equipment and apparel.

Robert Muir Graves designed the course, which opened in 1961.

It is an 18-hole, par 72 course, measuring 6,521 yards from the back tees.

Sunnyvale Golf Course is one of the most famous golf courses in Sunnyvale, CA.

The course offers an excellent experience for golfers of all skill levels, and the staff is always friendly and helpful.

Here are some of the things you can expect when you visit Sunnyvale Golf Course.

You’ll find a well-maintained course that is perfect for golfers of all skill levels, with friendly and helpful staff who will make sure you have a great experience, and opportunities to improve your game through lessons.

Visit Coyote Point Park

Nature trail at Coyote Point Park

Sandip Bhattacharya from San Jose, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coyote Point Park is a stunning piece of land in Sunnyvale, California.

The park teems with wildlife and offers stunning views of the Bay Area.

What makes Coyote Point Park so unique is its proximity to Silicon Valley and all of the major tech companies.

Tall trees at Coyote Point Park

David Broad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The park is a popular spot for hiking, biking, and bird watching.

It’s also home to a nature center, playgrounds, and a large picnic area.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities at Coyote Point Park or relax and take in the area’s natural beauty.

Watch a Game at Levi’s Stadium

Exterior of Levi's Stadium

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Levi’s Stadium is a sports stadium in Sunnyvale, California.

It is the home of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL), and it hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

The City of Santa Clara owns the stadium, and they leased it to the 49ers.

Levi’s Stadium is the first open-air stadium in the NFL since 2002.

The field of Levi's Stadium

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HOK Sport Venue Event designed the stadium, and Turner Construction oversaw its construction.

The project features a seating capacity of 68,500, expandable to 75,000 for special events, and is expandable to 83,000 if the stadium’s two end-zone horseshoe suites are sold out.

It opened on July 17, 2014.

People waiting in line to enter the Levi's Stadium

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Join the Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

People at the Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

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Sunnyvale is bordered by the cities of Mountain View and Santa Clara.

The Art & Wine Festival is an event every year in Sunnyvale.

It is an excellent opportunity for people to enjoy some delicious food, listen to music, and admire the works of local artists.

People at Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

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What makes this event special is that it brings the community together.

People from all walks of life enjoy a fun day out with their friends and family.

There is something for everyone at the Art & Wine Festival, so check it out.

Daytime at Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

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See the Animals at the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

Exterior of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

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Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is special for a lot of reasons.

It’s an excellent place for families to come and spend time together, and it’s also an ideal place for kids to learn about the world around them.

One of the things that makes Happy Hollow Park & Zoo so unique is that it’s home to a wide variety of animals.

Sculpture in front of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo's entrance

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Kids can come and see everything from lions and tigers to penguins and pandas.

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is also home to many different rides and attractions.

There’s something for everyone at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.

Walk Down the Historic Murphy Avenue

Entryway of Murphy Avenue

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Murphy Avenue is a historic district and home to many unique businesses and historical landmarks.

The city initially built the avenue in the 1920s, and many of the original buildings still stand today.

Shops along Murphy Avenue

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Some of the most popular businesses on Murphy Avenue include the Murphy Street Grill, which is a local favorite for burgers and fries.

Likewise, the Sunnyvale Theater is a historic theater that has screened movies since 1922.

The avenue is also home to several historical landmarks, including the Murphy Windmill and the Sunnyvale Armory.

Buildings along Murphy Avenue

Vadim Manuylov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Enjoy the Outdoors at the Memorial Park

Memorial Park is a special place in Sunnyvale because it’s the only park with a lake in the city.

The lake is an excellent spot for fishing, and there are also several playgrounds, a basketball court, and a picnic area.

Memorial Park is also home to the Sunnyvale Senior Center, which offers a variety of programs and activities for seniors.

The Memorial Park is also home to the Sunnyvale Historical Museum.

It is open on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Explore the Moffett District

Exterior of microsoft building at Moffett District

Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com

Moffett is special for many reasons.

For one, it is the home of many high-tech companies, such as Google, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

These companies have brought many jobs to the area and helped make Moffett prosperous.

Amazon at Moffett District

Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com

In addition, Moffett, Sunnyvale, CA, is home to several beautiful parks, including Baylands Park and Shoreline Park.

These parks offer residents and visitors plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature and get some exercise.

Finally, Moffett has several excellent schools.

The public schools in this area are among the best in the state, and they offer students a variety of educational opportunities.

Nature trail at Moffett District

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Final Thoughts

There is no shortage of things to do in Sunnyvale, CA.

This city has something for everyone, from museums and parks to theaters and shopping.

Some of the best things to do in Sunnyvale include visiting the Computer History Museum, exploring Baylands Nature Preserve, watching a show at the Sunnyvale Theatre, and many more.

These are just a few of the great options available in Sunnyvale, so explore all that this city has to offer!

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