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Best Parks In The South Bay

If only there was enough time and space to cover every single park in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, there is not. So I've chosen instead to highlight the very best the South Bay has to offer:

vasona
www.sccgov.org

Vasona Lake Country Park and Los Gatos Creek Trail

333 Blossom Hill Rd.
Los Gatos, CA
Vasona Lake Country Park and Los Gatos Creek Trail

Wide open spaces for play and picnics and a waterfront themed playground, Vasona Lake Country Park and Los Gatos Creek Trail is a favorite destination among Bay Area families. Rent a paddle boat or row boat, go fishing, or cycle down the trails. There's plenty to do at this South Bay treasure.

Oak Meadow Park Photo 3_thumb
credit: www.town.los-gatos.ca.us

Oak Meadow Park

233 Blossom Hill Rd.
Los Gatos, CA
Oak Meadow Park

The gem of the Los Gatos parks, Oak Meadow Park features a wide grassy field, a large playground area with a real, decommissioned USAF T-33 Jet, bocci ball courts, BBQ and picnic facilities, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, W.E. Bill Mason Carousal, and access to Vasona County Park, and the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Cuesta Park
credit: www.ci.mtnview.ca.us

Cuesta Park

615 Cuesta Dr.
Mountain View, CA
Cuesta Park

This is a gorgeous park. It has small rolling hills, large grassy areas, a number of sports facilities, and mature trees offering plenty of shade. This park has two separate playgrounds; one geared towards little toddlers and another towards older kids.

Central Parkca
credit: santaclaraca.gov

Central Park

909 Kiely Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA
Central Park

Santa Clara's Central Park is an oasis of green. The park is divided by a deep creek bed, with bridges joining the halves of the park. There is an artificial lakes and several playgrounds. On one side of the creek, there is a tot lot adjacent to a large group picnic area covered by a tent-like chain structure. Across the creek, there is a unique playground for older kids made up of huge concrete pipes and logs. This park is also next to the Olympic-class Santa Clara International Swim Center and the Santa Clara City Library.

Las Palmas sign
credit: www.sunnyvale.ca.gov

Las Palmas

850 Russet Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA
Las Palmas

This Polynesian themed park has a large children's play area situated on a man-made island surrounded by a cool waterway and spray pool.

Rinconada Park
credit: www.cityofpaloalto.org

Rinconada Park

777 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA
Rinconada Park

Palo Alto's central park features two playgrounds and several pools, including a popular five-leaf clover toddler wading pool with slide and giant plastic duck statue. This park is also home to the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, the Children's Library, and the Palo Alto Children's Theater.

Grace Duffy is a married, mother of two living in Silicon Valley. She blogs at Formerly Gracie and Mama Manifesto.

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