Almaden Valley Landmarks
Almaden Quicksilver County Park21785 Almaden Rd. The Almaden Quicksilver Park is a 4,150+ acres wide park and a landmark of the Almaden Valley not be missed by hikers and wildflowers enthusiasts. The park is located in New Almaden and can be accessed through Almaden Road, Wood Road and the town of New Almaden. The park is open year round from 8am until sunset. Historically known for its large mining operations (extraction of mercury aka quicksilver) back in the days of the California Gold Rush, the area was converted into a County Park in 1976. Remnants of mining structure and housing are still visible throughout the park. The Casa Grande Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum is currently closed but should reopen to the public in the fall of 2010. Highlights of the Almaden Quicksilver County Park include over 34 miles of hiking trails on hilly grounds, including 23 miles of equestrian trails and 10 miles of bikes trails, a great variety of wildflowers, amazing views of the Almaden Valley and many picnic areas throughout the park. Ranger guided nature and history walks are also available. Almaden Lake Park15652 Almaden Expressway The Almaden Lake Park is the only park in San Jose with a sand beach and a swim area supervised by lifeguards. The 65 acres park is actually divided in 2 areas: The West side where the beach and swim area are located (towards Almaden Expressway) and the East side (towards Winfield Boulevard) more popular among joggers and dog walkers. The Almaden Lake Park is connected on its North end to the Los Alamitos Creek Trail which leads to the Santa Teresa County Park and on its South end to the Guadalupe River Park Trail. The Almaden Lake Park is a popular destination for families with children who can enjoy a variety of water activities, ranging from boating, swimming and fishing. The Almaden Lake Park is open all year round from 8am to sunset. Old Almaden Winery (Almaden Winery Park)1530 Blossom Hill Rd The Old Almaden Winery, located off Blossom Hill Road, between Camden and Meridian Avenue, is the historical site of the Almaden Vineyards Winery, currently located in Madera, CA. The winery is no longer in operation and the ground has been converted into a public park with playgrounds and picnic tables. The only remnant of the past times is a Pepper Tree which grows on the former grounds of the Almaden Winery estate. Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC)5400 Camden Ave. The Almaden Valley Athletic Club® (AVAC), co-founded by two families, opened its doors in June 1976. Located on the site of a former walnut grove, the 6 1/2-acre facility began as a racquetball and tennis club and grew to become one of Almaden’s leading family sports and wellness destinations. Along with its position as the largest indoor swim school in the US, AVAC offers all activities you could possibly expect from a top athletic club. These include a Poolside Café, Fitness Center, 11 championship tennis courts, Pilates Studio, pools and spas. Whether you are looking to get back in shape, introduce your children to tennis (or rediscover the game yourself), recover from an injury or just mingle with the Almaden Community and make new friends, AVAC is the place. You can follow AVAC news & updates through @AVAC_Life on Twitter. Almaden Golf and Country Club6663 Hampton Dr. The Almaden Golf and Country Club, built in the 1960s, includes a 18-holes golf course, a clubhouse with a restaurant, tennis courts and a swimming pool. The Almaden Golf course, which has hosted many LPGA tournaments, is open year round. The Almaden Golf and Country Club offers 3 types of membership: Social (dining & swimming), Swim and Racquet (with access to tennis court) and Proprietary (access to all facilities of the Club). The Club House facility can be booked for wedding and private events. In July 2010, the Almaden Golf and Country Club hosted the California Women’s State Golf Championship. |
