Ed R. Levin County Park

If you want to feel like you’ve left the South Bay entirely without actually driving far, this is the spot. The rolling hills genuinely do earn that “Little Switzerland” nickname — especially in spring when everything’s green and the lake is sitting there calm in the background. Trails range from easy strolls to longer climbs with solid views, so you’re not locked into one kind of visit. Bring food because the BBQ and picnic setups here are actually well-maintained and shaded, which matters when Milpitas hits its summer temps. Locals know about it, but it never feels overrun.