Destination: Villa Montalvo County Park and Montalvo Arts Center

"Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees" -- John Muir

I stumbled across this quote on a bench as Lil' H and I explored Villa Montalvo County Park and Montalvo Arts Center and found it right on point.  Our day had been rough so far - my patience had worn thin and she was acting like, well, like a two-year old.  But as soon as we stepped foot in the grounds of Villa Montalvo and took a deep breath of fresh, piney, mountain air, we were renewed!

The Historic Villa as viewed from the Italianate Garden

While Villa Montalvo was once the home of former United States Senator James D. Phelan, you may be more familiar with Villa Montalvo and the Montalvo Arts Center as a prime wedding destination.  In addition to art exhibits, theatre performances, and other events, it also has 175 acres of green space and hiking trails to be explored.  With sculptures, ponds, gardens, and more there is something for everyone here!

A new piece of art to admire around every twist and turn in the trail

There is no fee to enter the park and no fee for parking.  The park is open seven days a week, but occasionally closed for special events.  It was our first time at Montalvo, and we wanted to see everything! We started at Parking Lot #2 (you can download a map on the Montalvo Arts website).  From there, we meandered across the Great Lawn and headed towards the Mermaid Pond.  Lil' H was disappointed that we didn't find Ariel, but she did enjoy learning a new word: "statue."

An installation of birdhouses near the Mermaid Pond

Next, we toured the Italianate Garden which is filled with lovely marble statues, the Phelan Cactus Garden, and the Love Temple.

The Love Temple in the Italianate Garden

After our tour of the Italianate Gardens, we set off in search of hiking trails.  You can pick up the trails from Parking Lot 3 or 4.  Lot 4 is nice because it has restrooms.  Lot 3 connects with the trail a little higher up so you can skip the initial steep part of the hike.  Where the trail connects at Lot 3, you'll also find the beautiful Belvedere Temple, an art installation that captures the beautiful light in the area.

The Belvedere Temple

Inside the Belvedere Temple

One of the great things about Villa Montalvo is that all of the trails connect and intersect together in frequent, short intervals.  This means that you can easily make your hike shorter or longer depending on how your kiddos are doing.  I let Lil' H lead the way; whenever we came to a trail junction, I just asked if she wanted to go right or left.  We ended up doing about a half-mile on the Lookout and Nature Trails before we headed down to the Garden Theatre and Poet's Walk.

Lil' H is searching for interesting leaves and sticks on the Nature Trail

The paths near the Villa are mostly paved and accessible.  The trails in the County Park are dirt, but groomed enough that a jogging stroller could handle them (though be warned of steep stairs on the Poet's Walk).    You can download a more detailed trail map from the Santa Clara County Parks website. 

Stairs on the Poet Walk are fun for kids, but not stroller friendly

Overall, I would highly recommend Villa Montalvo for it's low commitment in terms of driving time, hiking distances, and lots of interesting artwork to hold your little hiker's attention.  We had a wonderful visit, and I can't wait to take Mr. H next time to the top of Lookout Point.

"Mama, am I in the circus?"

Note: Dogs are allowed on the upper trails in the park, but not by the Villa or gardens.  If you do bring your dog(s), please make sure to keep them leashed at all times to protect them from poison oak and mountain lions.