Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the city of Sunnyvale is home to some of the world's biggest and most influential companies. Lockheed, Yahoo!, Juniper Networks, and other international business giants help build the foundation of Sunnyvale's economy. With so many people coming and going into Sunnyvale for work, visitors are bound to ask, "What's there to do around here?"
The short answer? Everything! If you don't find it in Sunnyvale's 22 square miles, then there's plenty to do in the neighboring cities, as well as the big cities of San Jose and San Francisco. When you visit Sunnyvale, you put yourself in the center of the Bay Area with easy access to just about everything.
But before we venture past the city limits, let's look at what you can do in Sunnyvale.
Dining: Sunnyvale has many different delectable delights to sample, from high-end restaurants to authentic Mexican taquerias. Murphy Street is the main downtown strip, and it hosts some of Sunnyvale's most well-known restaurants, such as DishDash (Mediterranean), Gumba's (Italian), and Tumeric (Indian). However, it doesn't stop there; Sunnyvale's restaurants reach far outside of Murphy Street. In fact, just driving down Lawrence Expressway or El Camino Real will bring you to a wide variety of places to eat, from the simple and fast (In n' Out Burger on El Camino -- an absolute must-visit for non-Californians) to the exotic (House of Kabobs off Sunnyvale Avenue). Of course, for a complete list of where to get your grub on, visit our dining guide.
Nightlife: Murphy Street is the focus of Sunnyvale's nightlife. From pubs and clubs to billiards and sports bars, Murphy Street is a great place to have a drink after work or to meet that special someone for late-night cocktail. Depending on the time of year, there are Wednesday night outdoor concerts right off Murphy Street, and there's also the annual art and wine festival. For those that want to indulge in the arts, Sunnyvale Theatre features the best local actors and directors; on the other end of the spectrum, Rooster T. Feathers comedy club features nationally known comedians as well as an open mic for up-and-comers. Sit down, have a drink and have a laugh.
Family fun: Sunnyvale isn't just tech companies and Murphy Street, families have plenty to do too. In addition to the parks and recreation provided by the city (see below), families can play mini-golf at Golfland off El Camino Real. For the bookworms in the family, there's the Sunnyvale library, and for the more dramatic in the family, Sunnyvale's California Theatre Center puts on regular productions aimed at younger audiences. And the weekly downtown Farmer's Market can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.
Sports & recreation: Parks, parks, and parks -- Sunnyvale features 476 acres of parks, some big and some small, some for a leisurely stroll and some for the more adventurous. You'll always find something to do outdoors in Sunnyvale, and the weather is usually beautifully accommodating. Of course, there's also Sunnyvale's two golf courses (Sunnyvale Golf Course and Sunken Gardens Golf Course) or the Sunnyvale Tennis Center, where you can find leagues, open courts, and lessons. Swimming is also available at parks and schools all over the city, so no matter where you're located, you'll be able to take a dip.
Shopping: Sunnyvale's downtown area, including Mathilda Avenue and the Murphy Street area, is the primary focus of shopping. Here, you'll find the massive downtown renovation project, along with shops of all different types. Of course, Sunnyvale is in the heart of Silicon Valley, and there's the massive Fry's Electronics off Arques for the techie in all of us. In addition, El Camino Real has stores and strip malls of many different types, from bookstores to salons to gifts.
All of that is just in Sunnyvale. What's outside of it? Within a 30 minute drive, you can go to an amusement park like the world-famous Great America, or you can visit the many museums in San Jose and beyond. Sports fans can take in pro teams in all four major sports around the Bay Area, and there are local legends like the Winchester Mystery House. That’s why we call Sunnyvale the heart of Silicon Valley – it’s all within reach here.
