Playground

Locals with kids in the 2-12 range know this Santa Clara spot is worth the trip — the separate play areas mean toddlers aren’t getting steamrolled by older kids, which honestly makes a huge difference. There’s a solid climbing structure, slides, swings, and a sandbox that keeps the little ones busy longer than you’d expect. The shade trees and covered seating are clutch on hot days, and the picnic tables make it easy to actually hang out instead of just standing around watching the clock. The open grass field and soccer area give bigger kids room to burn off energy while you relax. It stays cleaner than a lot of parks in the area, which is one of those things you don’t appreciate until you’ve dealt with the alternative.