Places to See in Milpitas, California

For the longest time, Milpitas was the open landscape you drove through between Fremont and San Jose, a place with hay bales in the fields and surprised cows watching cars go by. Thanks to Silicon Valley and the expansion of San Jose, there is little left of that open space. In its place is a growing residential footprint and an outlet mall that attracts visitors from around the San Francisco Bay Area. Head towards the foothills and you’ll find the still wild bits of Milpitas, looking much as they did a mere 50 years ago.

The Great Mall

• The Great Mall is so large that it has its own exits off of Interstate 880 and the Montague Expressway. You’ll need comfortable walking shoes to make the rounds of over 200 outlet and discount stores offering everything from high-end jewelry to sporting goods. Opened in 1994, the Great Mall sits on the site of the Ford assembly plant that closed down in 1982. The Milpitas Historical Society has a display next to the food court that gives a chronological history of the area and the auto assembly plant. An iconic Ford Fairlane Skyliner takes center stage in the collection of vintage auto parts, signs and photos.

Golfland Milpitas

• Open year-round, Golfland Milpitas is an elaborate miniature golf emporium. Three golf courses are available for play, with water hazards, castle doors and other odd puzzles part of the fun. Laser tag is also available at the site, and an arcade features top of the line video games. Grab a bite at the Pizza Parlor or a sweet treat at Iceberg Shakes and Cones. Golfland is located on Jacklin Road, off Interstate 680. Junior and senior discounted rates are available.
• Ed Levin County Park

• Covering 1,451 acres, Ed Levin County Park is a remnant of the rural landscape that once was Milpitas. Fish in Sandy Wool Lake or play a round at the Spring Valley Golf Course, a public venue with some of the lowest green fees in Santa Clara County. Next to the golf course is a fishing pond reserved for children from 5 to 12 years old. Hiking, biking and equestrian trails wind through the park. On the northern end of Sandy Wool Lake is a city-managed off-leash dog park.

Big Dog Vineyards

• In the 1990s, Big Dog Vineyards planted its first cabernet sauvignon grape vines, and the first bottles went on the market in 2001. At 1,200 feet above the skyline, the guest patio at Big Dog Vineyards offers panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area. Wine tasting is offered on the first full weekend of each month. Big Dog Vineyards is south of Ed Levin County Park, off of Felter Road.

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

• Head west 12 miles and you'll find the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in neighboring Fremont. The 30,000 acre refuge gives you an idea of what San Francisco Bay was like before cities started to spring up around its edges. Marshes, ponds, mudflats and vernal pools are home to endangered birds, mammals and fish. During the spring and fall, the refuge is crowded with migratory birds stopping for food and rest. Harbor seals sometimes snooze along the shoreline. The California gray fox and the salt marsh harvest mouse, both endangered, are in residence. Roughly 30 miles of hiking and biking trails are within the refuge.