Sunnyvale sits on the edge of South Bay just before it turns into the peninsula. Spread out between Mountain View and Santa Clara, it is a quaint, sunny place full of history.
Sunnyvale was originally the City of Murphy, named after one of Sunnyvale’s first residents. Martin Murphy was a wheat farmer who had an enormous hand in shaping the area’s growth. He helped bring the railroad to town, establish several higher education institutions, and found several other towns in the area. Sunnyvale was once ripe with orchards, and though most of them have been developed, the city established Orchard Heritage Park to remember its past.
Sunnyvale has gorgeous single-family homes in the neighborhoods and condos in the downtown area. There’s been a lot of development here, and with the recently approved CityLine Sunnyvale development underway, Sunnyvale residents will soon have their pick of new retail and luxury housing Downtown.
Sunnyvale is one of the largest cities in Silicon Valley, but it is bursting with quaint small-town charm. There’s a more urban feel in Downtown, which filters into a pleasant suburban landscape in the neighborhoods. Families and young professionals thrive in Sunnyvale because the city has a long list of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, amazing companies to work for, and access to both the peninsula and the South Bay.
Sunnyvale has a diverse array when it comes to dining and shopping. There are lots of family-owned shops and a delightful variety of international cuisines.
Sunnyvale Downtown is one of the best places to shop in the city. Interspersed with dining and entertainment and located along historic Murphy Avenue, this shopping center is full of high-end shops and boutiques. Sunnyvale also has incredible ethnic grocery stores, such as Western Pacific Filipino Grocery, New Wing Yuan Market, and Chavez Supermarket.
With numerous ethnic restaurants, Downtown Sunnyvale is a perfect spot to find something interesting and delicious for dinner. Try Dishdash for home-cooked Middle Eastern fare in a warm environment. Ramen Seas (Japanese), Meyhouse (Turkish), and The Oxford Kitchen & Gastropub (British) are among the sought-after dining spots. Also, visit Coffee & More for cafe fare and Tap’t Beer & Kitchen for pub fare.
The small-town feel really shows up in the community offerings of Sunnyvale. With everything from music nights to city-sponsored events to impeccably maintained outdoor spaces, there is something for everyone.
Murphy Avenue Music & Dining Nights let patrons enjoy live music and great weather in Downtown Sunnyvale on Wednesday and Thursday nights all summer long. The Sunnyvale Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday on Murphy Street. Sunnyvale Public Library hosts amazing book clubs, cultural events, and science and art classes for the kids.
Sunnyvale is beloved by its residents for its many outdoor areas. Ortega Park is 18 acres of beautiful space with lots of amenities, including basketball courts and a cricket pitch. Ponderosa Park and Lakewood Park are both smaller but still have plenty of amenities and space to enjoy the outdoors. Seven Seas Park is a great place for kids, featuring a nautical theme and a playground that resembles a pirate ship.
Sunnyvale is served by three different elementary school districts: Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara. They’re all excellent, and the variety means there is something for everyone! Top public schools in these districts include:
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