Nature 101 - Gardens

Are you looking to spend more time in nature but feel intimidated by trail maps, poison oak warnings, and no cell service?

Many people feel more comfortable exploring nature with some of the creature comforts of civilization nearby.  Luckily, even in urban environments, there are plenty of opportunities to interact with the local flora and fauna and get a healthy dose of nature.

For example, in the Bay Area, we have several wild spaces and cultivated gardens that are great options to explore as a family.

Villa Montalvo - Saratoga, CA

As many of my readers know, Villa Montalvo is one of my favorite places in the Bay Area.  The combination of wild trails, sweeping vistas, cultivated gardens, art sculpture, and historical landmarks is hard to beat.

Villa Montalvo is free to the public and open 7 days a week.













Japanese Friendship Garden - San Jose, CA



Located in Kelley Park, near Happy Hollow, the Japanese Friendship Garden is a living symbol of the “Sister City” relationship between Okayama, Japan and San Jose.  The Gardens feature picturesque Japanese bridges, waterfalls and golden Koi fish. A year-round brook flows the length of the garden, pausing now and again to calm itself in one of several lovely ponds.










There is no entrance fee for the Japanese Friendship Garden, but I recommend bringing some quarters for buying geese/duck food.  Parking is $6 per vehicle in the lot south of the Gardens.  If you park north of the Gardens, in the Happy Hollow lot, parking is $10.










Overfelt Gardens Park/Chinese Cultural Gardens - San Jose, CA

A 32-acre park in the middle of San Jose, Overfelt Gardens park features a native garden, ponds, historical buidlings, and most importantly - The Chinese Cultural Garden.  The Chinese Cultural Garden was inspired in 1971 by Frank and Pauline Lowe and is composed of several pagodas and pavillions through t

A fence surrounds one of the once-lovely buildings
in the Chinese Cultural Garden.

Updated 1/31/16 - We visited Overfelt Gardens and were very disappointed by their state of disrepair.  The ponds and fountains were all bone-dry.  There were fences around some of the pagodas and buildings in the Chinese Cultural Garden.  There was a locked gate blocking the path to the amphitheater.   That's not to say that the Gardens are not worth visiting at all.  The wide, paved paths that meander around the park would make for an excellent stroller walk or run.  I would just recommend doing it during in a group in broad daylight as there seems to be a crime element that loiters in the park.  It's close proximity (shared parking lot) with the Educational Branch of the San Jose Library does make for a fun afternoon outing of walking the Gardens then enjoying the relaxing atmosphere (and bathrooms) at the Library.


Ulistac Natural Area - Santa Clara, CA



Lil' H found another favorite spot in the Bay Area - Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara. Ulistac Natural Area is the only dedicated natural open space in the City of Santa Clara, and a regional and cultural resource for all of us. People from all over the region come to enjoy the diverse California native plant habitats and the ecosystems they support while walking, jogging, taking photographs, bicycling, bird watching, and just finding a serene respite from their busy lives.

Admission is free and in addition to the trails, there is a Butterfly Garden featuring many native species of plants, trees, and of course, butterflies. Our favorite was the California Coffee Berry tree - it smells better than Starbucks!

Note: There are no bathrooms in the Natural Area, but there are some just across the street.


Municipal Rose Garden - San Jose, CA

more information coming soon

Hakone Estates - Saratoga, CA

more information coming soon