Convention Center and Great America Hotels

A recent report by the Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau indicates that the eight full service hotels surrounding the Santa Clara Convention Center and Great America theme park averaged 73% occupancy in 2007, the same average as 2006. The hotels included in the report included the Biltmore Hotel & Suites, Embassy Suites, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Plaza Suites, and Sierra Suites.

Given today's business and leisure travel climate, this is a substantially high occupancy rate. It's no surprise though because the hotels in the north of Bayshore "Entertainment District" of Santa Clara are very high quality. Almost all of them included in the above report spent millions on upgrades to their hotel in 2007 or are in the planning stages to do so. These are first class hotels in a safe, clean city. Pair that with the many business, convention, and leisure travelers who visit Santa Clara and you can see why the city's occupancy rate is as high as it is.

Santa Clara hotels remain the biggest bargain in the state on weekends. For example, once California's Great America theme park opens on March 16, hotel/theme park packages will be available with rates ranging from $119.00 - $159.00. That includes two admission tickets to the theme park! The mid-week rate per night alone is above the price of these outstanding hotel/theme park packages. You can book one of these packages starting in March at santaclara.org.

Year-round Farmer's Market

Every Saturday at Franklin Square near Santa Clara University (SCU) the Farmer’s Market is open from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The market is over a block long and features not only the freshest food and vegetables, but also several arts and crafts booths, and often live music. It’s a fun way to spend the first half of your Saturday in Santa Clara.
The market is “certified," meaning the participants only sell food items they have produced themselves. You can find the Farmer’s Market near SCU on Jackson Street between Benton and Homestead. After visiting the market, take a walk over to Mission Santa Clara de Asis on the SCU campus. The Mission Church and Mission Gardens are definitely worth seeing

NCAA Division 1 Basketball in Santa Clara

For sports fans visiting Santa Clara, check out a Santa Clara University (SCU) men’s or women’s basketball game. When watching a college basketball game, you never know when you might be watching one of the future NBA greats. SCU, after all, produced one of the NBA’s top talent’s in two time MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns. This year the SCU men will play host to some great West Coast Conference (WCC) division games including contests against perennial power Gonzaga and much improved Saint Mary’s. Other opponents include Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego. Games are on Monday or Saturday nights at Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara University. For ticket information, you can call 408.554.4660 or visit SCU Athletics website at santaclarabroncos.com.