How to Enjoy the Outdoors in Los Altos

​​
Los Altos is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Due to its proximity to an abundance of local parks, trails, redwood forests, and nature preserves, Los Altos residents have seemingly endless options between hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing, and simply enjoying daily life outdoors. The Mediterranean climate of the San Francisco Peninsula provides a mellow change of seasons while remaining a comfortable temperature throughout the year.

 

Below are a few ways you can enjoy the outdoors near Los Altos Homes for Sale.

Los Altos has the trails and pathways to support any outdoor lifestyle. If you’re ambitious, try the trail at Black Mountain via Rhus Ridge for a challenging route with major scenic payoff. Registering at just under 10 miles, the path is popular for hiking or trail running and for the panoramic view of Silicon Valley. If a more casual outing is fitting, the multipurpose Los Altos Hills Pathway System winds through the rural beauty of the Los Altos Hills and is accessible by foot, bike, or horseback. Conveniently, the Westwind Community Barn connects with the pathway system, making it easy to take your horse from the barn to the trails and back.

 

Another popular trail system, Cupertino’s Rancho San Antonio, has 23 miles of hiking, running, biking trails and separate paths for horseback riding. The preserve includes an equestrian staging area and troughs for thirsty thoroughbreds.

Heading to the park is a daily occurrence for Silicon Valley families; luckily, the options are plentiful near Los Altos real estate. Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is a quintessential NorCal hangout—a six-acre Redwood forest with a boardwalk, observation decks, and a rose garden. Pack a picnic lunch for your hike through the majestic trees, or observe nature in a meditative moment away from the demands of everyday life. Shoup Park is a woodsy, dog-friendly park in downtown Los Altos with room for kids to roam and play on the playground. Adobe Creek runs alongside the park's perimeter, perfect for skipping rocks or splashing around.

 

Another excellent option for families is Byrne Park. The open green space has trails of varying difficulty, spanning 25 acres. Look for native vegetation and wildlife like great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and migrating warblers.

 

“Pop-up parks” are having a moment nationwide, and downtown Los Altos eagerly takes advantage of the concept with Third Street Green. Essentially a temporary park, Third Street Green hosts outdoor movie nights, an outdoor reading room, a specific area for teens, live music, and a wine and beer event. The project is designed to appeal to Los Altos real estate residents and visitors of all ages.

 

If a morning on the greens is more your speed, it doesn’t get much better than Los Altos Golf and Country Club. One of Northern California’s finest, this private club opened in 1923 and provides members with access to its tennis courts, gym, aquatic center, spa, restaurant, wine cellar, and outdoor fire pits.

 

Fremont Hills Country Club is another private, full-service, family-friendly club near Los Altos luxury real estate. Grab your racquet and book one of the nine available tennis courts, or try your hand at pickleball. Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing activities in the country. It’s a combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton—and it has a home in Los Altos as the city debuts a pickleball pilot program. With outdoor and indoor courts throughout the city, pickleball can be played year-round and is easier on the body than tennis.

 

The Olympic-sized swimming pool was host to the National Swimming and Diving Championships in 1959 and remains one of NorCal’s best aquatic centers. The horseback riding facility contains two indoor arenas for riders of all skill levels.

Removed from commercialism and big box stores, Los Altos residents love to head to the Downtown Farmers Market. There’s always fresh, local produce, including the locally infamous stone fruit, greens, and berries. The market serves Silicon Valley residents from May to October. Head to Mountain View for their massive market, featuring 80 vendors who sell everything from produce to houseplants. With a number of markets in the Santa Clara Valley, fresh, artisan goods are never far away.

Los Altos has a celebrated public arts program, with more than 25 works of art that can be viewed throughout town. The public sculptures are on display for all to enjoy, either owned by the city or on loan from the owner/artist. See if you can spot them all. The city’s Public Arts Commission has also developed Art Without Walls, with 35 pieces exhibited in business districts, parks, and green spaces. The outdoor gallery is open throughout the year, and pieces can be viewed anytime, rain or shine.

Luckily, the festival season in Los Altos is year-round. The downtown area hosts a jam-packed schedule of events and community gatherings.

 

A summer favorite, the Arts & Wine Festival in July, showcases the best of the Bay Area’s artistry, local wine, and a diverse menu. Free concerts and kid zones make it an ideal family outing. In the fall, A Boo-tiful Downtown Halloween kicks off the spooky season with crafts for kids and an epic trick or treating mission. After Thanksgiving, downtown Los Altos transforms for the holidays with a full slate of seasonal events. Residents can enjoy the Festival of Lights Parade (celebrated in Los Altos since 1977), the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony in Veterans Community Plaza, and the Holiday Market, where residents shop for holiday decor.

Contact The Campi Group. Our dedicated and top-producing family team has been selling Real Estate in the Bay Area since the 1980s. Our knowledge of Silicon Valley real estate spans multiple generations and we are here to help. The Campi Group is unsurpassed in our ability to help clients achieve their real estate goals. If you’re ready to begin your hunt for Los Altos luxury homes for sale, contact the Campi Group today!