Unique things to do in Santa Clara County
AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

Unique things to do in Santa Clara County

Book unforgettable activities hosted by locals on Airbnb.

Top-rated activities

Intimately experience a biodiverse farm
We'll start by foraging through the farm to make a diverse "goat salad." We'll walk through the garden, stop to admire the beehives, and then feed and pet our mini horses, adorable Babydoll sheep, and silly goats. Once our animals have had their salads, The Farmhouse Kitchen at The Nest Box (MEHKO permit #PT0501239) will treat you to a light seasonal farm picnic. Following your fresh farm treats, we'll step in with the chickens and ducks. We'll feed them organic hen scratch and farm greens, if available. We'll watch them happily scratch around and quack and coo, and you can hold and pet them if you’d like too. While they’re scratching around, we’ll step into the coops to check for eggs, then we'll visit with our rambunctious pigs and Harper, our sweet Jersey cow. We'll finish our experience with a calm and relaxing visit with our bunnies and guinea pigs. We'll feed and pet these sweet and soft fur balls. All along the experience, you will learn fun facts about our diverse plant and animal family, and you’ll leave with a seasonal farm gift. Other things to note: Wear comfortable closed-toed walking shoes and clothes you don't mind possibly getting a bit dirty. Boots and long pants are ideal. *Great for teams and team-building too!
Be A Beekeeper
*** SAT & SUN TOURS ARE MARCH 15th to OCTOBER 31st *** Hives are closed in cold weather to help the bees survive, then reopen in warmer months. Our "Make Honey Wine" class will hopefully be available soon. Give us a buzz @ 925. 852 and 9900 with questions :) Times are based on when bees are the happiest (when the field bees are out gathering nectar & pollen). We visit happy bees when it's above 60 deg with little wind. If forecast shows rain or high winds, we'll need to reschedule to a warmer day. TO BOOK: Enter the # of Adults & Children that may be coming. Please note our base rate is $250, which covers up to 2 adults & 1 child (3-12 years old). To receive a lower rate, bring more friends or family and your individual ticket price drops. Since we’re a 501c3 non-profit your ticket is tax write off! All funds help grow the local bee population :) DETAILS: This is a fun opportunity to get to inspect a busy beehive! First, we’ll suit up in protective gear. Then we’ll head to the Apiary where you'll learn about the art of beekeeping & the various tools used. Now it's time to inspect a hive. Hold a frame covered with 100's of bees ... a great photo opp! Press your finger into the comb and taste the freshest honey ever! When all done it's now time to be a "Chef" and do a honey & food pairing. This is such a sweet experience for all :)
Make Japanese mochi with an instructor
In this fun class, you will learn how to make three different mochi dishes. First we will make fresh mochi with a choice of fillings: sweet red bean and fresh strawberries, peanut butter and chocolate mini cups, nutella, and others. Second, we will make the popular ice cream mochi with mini-scooped ice cream balls. Your choice of ice cream. I like green tea ice cream. Third, we will bake mochi donuts and then glaze them beautifully with vanilla, clear, or chocolate glaze. You and other guests will enjoy making and shaping the mochi dough, filling it with delicious fillings, and eating them with others. You will get to enjoy fresh and tasty mochi, and best of all you will know how to make delicious mochi dishes far into the future. Other things to note: Please feel free to bring any additional ingredients you would like to fill your mochi with (peanut butter, mango, etc...)
Beginner Surf Lesson - Santa Cruz
Beginner Surfing l is our popular 2.5-hour group surf clinic. So what will you be learning? This clinic was designed with the beginner in mind – we welcome complete newbies as well as people who have tried surfing on their own for a while and still need help. We will walk you through all the basics to get you started and catching waves! There will be a short land-lesson to start, and after that we'll head out to catch some waves. You'll get approximately 1:30-2 hours of "water time" in the 2.5-hour class. Maximum ratio of 4 students per instructor. FAQ: Why are some of these class times SOOO early?! Answer: When it comes to surfing, mother nature sets a lot of the rules - that's what makes it such a unique sport. If we don't go on the right tide, we won't get any waves! While those early morning sessions might be hard to wake up for, they are also truly magical. Great surf conditions, no wind, no crowds - it is about as epic as it gets. If you make the commitment go early, we can promise you'll be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime!
Tune In to Subtle Realms of Redwoods
*Please message us if you'd prefer different hours, or a date not on our calendar* Is the Redwood Forest calling you? Would you like to know it in a new way? In this guided experience you will make a personal connection with the Subtle Realms of the Redwood Forest. And perhaps learn a little history and science in fun and unexpected ways! Kids are 1/2 price. Great for groups and team building. We will tailor our experience to suit your needs. Please message us. We will meet in Santa Cruz, and then caravan to the trailhead in the heart of Redwood country. Going into the Redwood Forest together, we will walk, pause, energize all our senses, and attune with the Subtle Realms of Nature. The gift of music will set the tone, and our loving presence will open the way. We will call on the Elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water to bring us to a new understanding of the aliveness and interconnectedness of the natural world. We will spend a few minutes writing about our experience to help you to recall how to connect with the Subtle Realms back home. We will also be sharing Redwood Forest knowledge and science in fun and hands-on ways throughout this experience! As we complete our time in the Forest together, you can choose to stay longer on your own, fully energized with a new vision of our interconnectedness.

All activities near Santa Clara County

Life With Farm Animals At Rancho Roben Rescues
We will begin at the red barn where you will learn about this 12 acre sanctuary and the stories behind the 100+ rescue farm animals living on it. From there we will explore three different pastures that include horses, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats and a goose. While you are here we are thrilled to guide you through an up-close experience with all of these amazing creatures while they roam freely. Many of these animals will walk right up to you to take a snack from your hand or allow you take a close-up photo with them! During your 90+ minute visit, you will: -meet a tiny rooster -groom a pony -give a belly rub to a pig -feed a snack to a goat -stroll through the hills where our livestock guardian dogs work -take pictures with a sheep (or any of the other animals) -explore our garden orchard -learn about composting (with worms) Throughout your experience you will hear stories about the animals and get answers to your questions about how we give the love and care required for all of these farm animals. We will finish with a discussion about how you can incorporate different aspects of farm life into your living space, be it on the balcony of a tiny apartment or in a sprawling suburban backyard. For guests who wish to make this an overnight experience, please check out our converted school bus: https://abnb.me/ISFQMIHQrb
Intimately experience a biodiverse farm
We'll start by foraging through the farm to make a diverse "goat salad." We'll walk through the garden, stop to admire the beehives, and then feed and pet our mini horses, adorable Babydoll sheep, and silly goats. Once our animals have had their salads, The Farmhouse Kitchen at The Nest Box (MEHKO permit #PT0501239) will treat you to a light seasonal farm picnic. Following your fresh farm treats, we'll step in with the chickens and ducks. We'll feed them organic hen scratch and farm greens, if available. We'll watch them happily scratch around and quack and coo, and you can hold and pet them if you’d like too. While they’re scratching around, we’ll step into the coops to check for eggs, then we'll visit with our rambunctious pigs and Harper, our sweet Jersey cow. We'll finish our experience with a calm and relaxing visit with our bunnies and guinea pigs. We'll feed and pet these sweet and soft fur balls. All along the experience, you will learn fun facts about our diverse plant and animal family, and you’ll leave with a seasonal farm gift. Other things to note: Wear comfortable closed-toed walking shoes and clothes you don't mind possibly getting a bit dirty. Boots and long pants are ideal. *Great for teams and team-building too!
Back-to-Eden Farm & Animal Experience
We will meet at the drive-way and proceed to: 1. Visit with our adorable goats, pet, let them nibble from your hand and take them on a little walk. 2. Visit and feed the cows, be surprised by how their tongue feels when they take the hay off your hand and perhaps watch their calves nurse (seasonal) 3. Visit with our talkative geese and photoshoot with "Good Boy" our handsome male goose (depending on his mood) 4. Visit and feed our beautiful variety chickens and collect eggs. (chicks-seasonal) 5. Visit and feed the ducks, watch them swim and frolic play 6. Visit with our soft and gentle rabbits and cuddle them. 7. Visit with our adorable young and gentle alpacas We do birthday/baby shower parties...etc here as well as homestay here as well: For stay at our guest houses after the tour: https://airbnb.com/h/back-to-eden-guest-house https://airbnb.com/h/havilahland-guest-house
Be A Beekeeper
*** SAT & SUN TOURS ARE MARCH 15th to OCTOBER 31st *** Hives are closed in cold weather to help the bees survive, then reopen in warmer months. Our "Make Honey Wine" class will hopefully be available soon. Give us a buzz @ 925. 852 and 9900 with questions :) Times are based on when bees are the happiest (when the field bees are out gathering nectar & pollen). We visit happy bees when it's above 60 deg with little wind. If forecast shows rain or high winds, we'll need to reschedule to a warmer day. TO BOOK: Enter the # of Adults & Children that may be coming. Please note our base rate is $250, which covers up to 2 adults & 1 child (3-12 years old). To receive a lower rate, bring more friends or family and your individual ticket price drops. Since we’re a 501c3 non-profit your ticket is tax write off! All funds help grow the local bee population :) DETAILS: This is a fun opportunity to get to inspect a busy beehive! First, we’ll suit up in protective gear. Then we’ll head to the Apiary where you'll learn about the art of beekeeping & the various tools used. Now it's time to inspect a hive. Hold a frame covered with 100's of bees ... a great photo opp! Press your finger into the comb and taste the freshest honey ever! When all done it's now time to be a "Chef" and do a honey & food pairing. This is such a sweet experience for all :)
Make Japanese mochi with an instructor
In this fun class, you will learn how to make three different mochi dishes. First we will make fresh mochi with a choice of fillings: sweet red bean and fresh strawberries, peanut butter and chocolate mini cups, nutella, and others. Second, we will make the popular ice cream mochi with mini-scooped ice cream balls. Your choice of ice cream. I like green tea ice cream. Third, we will bake mochi donuts and then glaze them beautifully with vanilla, clear, or chocolate glaze. You and other guests will enjoy making and shaping the mochi dough, filling it with delicious fillings, and eating them with others. You will get to enjoy fresh and tasty mochi, and best of all you will know how to make delicious mochi dishes far into the future. Other things to note: Please feel free to bring any additional ingredients you would like to fill your mochi with (peanut butter, mango, etc...)
Weinberger Homestead & Animal Experience
Welcome to the Weinberger homestead, we look forward to hosting you here! We are a small private family petting zoo, all animals are rescued and there’s no wild animals. They are part of our family so we’d love to share the love of animals with the world! Here’s what you can expect from this private, unique experience: 1. You’ll learn about different animals throughout the tour, and interact with them intimately. 2. We’ll have a few stops during the tour to check out our peacocks, goats, turtle, chickens and ducks. We will also stop by our home garden to teach you how to grow vegetables, except for winter season. 3. We’ll prepare the food you can use to feed different animals, so you don’t need to bring any food. For your safety, pls wear comfortable clothes and shoes. 4. The whole tour will last 45 mins to an hour, you’ll have enough time feeding/petting different animals , ask questions and also take photos. 5. For birthday parties we provide one hour farm tour and options for additional time for birthday party with your guests. We have a beautiful outside patio area that will be decorated with birthday theme - you’ll be able to bring your own food for birthday picnic in the farm. Contact us for more details! Thank you! Best, The Weinberger Homestead
Make Ramen and Dumplings with a Japanese Chef
In this fun and very hands-on class, you will learn and get hands-on with making ramen noodles from scratch, vegetarian-friendly soy miso ramen broth from scratch, make gyoza dumpling filling from scratch, pinch and pleat your gyoza wrappers by hand. You won't miss out on any part of the cooking process, as we will prepare everything together. First, we will make the gyoza dumpling filling, and fill and pleat our gyoza dumplings. Next, you will get to mix, roll out, and cut your own ramen noodles. Finally, we will make the soup together, and enjoy our ramen with delicious seasonal toppings as well as our deliciously fresh gyoza dumplings. We love private parties and have done team building for businesses! Other things to note: The ramen broth and noodles are vegetarian-friendly—however, the gyoza contains meat and we will have a meat (chashu) and veggie toppings available for the ramen. Delicious for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, but not vegan-friendly (the ramen noodles contain eggs). Homemade ramen eggs and other toppings will be available for topping the ramen.
Come Unwind and Deep Relax with Sound Bath Meditation
Are you dealing with stress, insomnia, anxiety or depression? Wish to experience DEEP RELAXATION without medications? Certain frequencies resonate with us, inducing a deep state of relaxation. Accelerate your inward journey with a Sound Bath, an unforgettable experience that can help rebalance your mind and body. In this meditation session, immerse yourself in relaxing sounds produced by handmade Himalayan singing bowls, and find yourself in a dreamlike trance. Take this time to check in with yourself about life’s biggest questions. Or, simply let life’s troubles melt away in mesmerizing overtones, echoes, and other resonant sounds. Ahh, rejuvenation. Let’s try something different and special for once. I believe that you will love it!!! Please arrive 10 min early to park, and to settle in to your space. The door will be closed at 5pm. *Please bring (Please let me know if you don't have them) -a yoga mat (thick padded mat work best), -a pillow, -a blanket, -an eye mask, -a water bottle, -and anything that will make you feel more comfortable while lying down for 50 minutes.
Beginner Surf Lesson - Santa Cruz
Beginner Surfing l is our popular 2.5-hour group surf clinic. So what will you be learning? This clinic was designed with the beginner in mind – we welcome complete newbies as well as people who have tried surfing on their own for a while and still need help. We will walk you through all the basics to get you started and catching waves! There will be a short land-lesson to start, and after that we'll head out to catch some waves. You'll get approximately 1:30-2 hours of "water time" in the 2.5-hour class. Maximum ratio of 4 students per instructor. FAQ: Why are some of these class times SOOO early?! Answer: When it comes to surfing, mother nature sets a lot of the rules - that's what makes it such a unique sport. If we don't go on the right tide, we won't get any waves! While those early morning sessions might be hard to wake up for, they are also truly magical. Great surf conditions, no wind, no crowds - it is about as epic as it gets. If you make the commitment go early, we can promise you'll be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime!
Beads in the Forest by a Creek under amazing Giant Redwoods
Make your own jewelry on my outdoor deck, above a creek and under amazing Giant Redwoods! The deck has a treehouse-like vibe, and it's one of my favorite places to make art and work with beads. I have a fantastic rainbow of beads in different materials and fun shapes, plus all the tools you'll need to make your own jewelry in any color and theme. We'll talk about designing lightweight and balanced jewelry, arranging beads, and creating patterns. I'll have examples you can follow too. Make as many pieces as you like! I'll demonstrate working with pins and rings, focusing on fun easy techniques for making glamorous boho-luxe Chandelier Earrings and Link Jewelry. I have clip-on and non-pierced styles as well as classic stainless steel ear hooks. If you are feeling like you want to do something easier, I also have easy-to-use large beads and stretchy elastic cord. I also have a few other materials for advanced levels, like hemp cord and nylon thread, so please ask if you are looking for a challenge! I'm in a typical mountain neighborhood, and the deck is down 3 flights of stairs and a short rough trail, so please wear sturdy shoes. In case of weather, you can work in my indoor studio. All are welcome! 7-minute walk to Mountain Store Bus Stop: Santa Cruz Metro, Route 35, Stop 1678. 9-minute walk to Garrahan Park and SawMill Restaurant. 15-minute walk to Miller Property Park.
Yoga class on the beach with sound healing
Join me on the beautiful New Brighton beach for a yoga practice. Enjoy an all-levels yoga class as we listen to the waves of the ocean. Great for families, teams, couples, and solo travelers. The yoga class will include Hatha-Vinyasa and Restorative Yoga. The focus will be on alignment and breath. We will move mindfully in nature and our breath will be connected to every movement. A Tibetan singing bowl will be used during class for a meditative experience. Yoga is a powerful tool to balance your mind, release tension, and feel better in your body. You’ll enjoy the benefits of yoga as you work through short flows including sun salutations, seated stretches, core work, balances, and backbends. We will be practicing on the sand, please bring a beach towel or yoga mat. For additional dates and times, please contact me to request. ​I look forward to hosting you on this amazing experience.
Party with the animals at Bluebird Farm
At Bluebird Farm we offer an intimate family-friendly experience for all ages. When you arrive we will say hello, go over the farm rules, give a quick tour of the property and amenities then the fun begins. There's no strict timeline, you can enjoy the 3 hours at your own pace. You can meet all the animals like our alpaca, Scottish Highland cows and calf, horses, goats, mini horses and mini donkeys. We have a small critter corner where you can hang with a bunny, ducks, a tortoise, guinea pigs and chickens. Mini horse rides are available for kids (75lb weight limit) and a hayride is available for everyone! ***mini horse rides and hay ride NOT included on discounted weekday tours*** Kids can roam and use their imagination at the outdoor play area. There's a mini farmers market, play house, flower shop, garage with power wheels, mini garden, mud kitchen, sandbox and swings. Make sure to bring your own lunch and snacks. Between the activities you can sit down at the picnic tables and enjoy your lunch under the oak trees. There's an outdoor hand washing station and bathroom available. We ask you please wash your hands before and after petting and feeding the animals.
Woodworking - Create a Pen Using a Lathe
Have you ever been interested in woodworking but never had the tools to try it out? In this 2.5 hour workshop, you will learn how to make a pen from a block of wood, by turning it on a wood lathe. The class will start out by reviewing basic safety for working with the machines and the tools. I will demonstrate each step in great detail before giving you the opportunity to try it out on your own. Wood, a pen kit, and finishing materials will be provided to each participant to make one slim-style pen. Absolutely no prior experience is required and is suitable for ages 10+. You will leave this experience with a hand-made treasure that will last you a lifetime!
Create a flower sculpture centerpiece
Each guest will create a floral sculptural centerpiece arranged with fresh flowers, many of which have been grown in my garden or sourced locally. I will guide you with your design, use of color and texture incorporating lots of blooms, and fragrant greens, like eucalyptus and herbs. First you'll use pliers (provided), to bend and perfect a wire structure that fits inside the vase you choose, to support an abundance of flowers of various heights. Super reusable, this "frog" will make all your future arrangements so much easier to make. Then you will begin to zero in on your sculpture, closest to the vase lip, weaving foliage into layers. You'll continue with blooms of all sizes (from buckets of conditioned, hydrated flowers) and finish with colors that might be growing in front of you. From color choices to height and shape, I will help you learn some techniques to build an arrangement that makes you proud and happy with your effort! The final flourish captures what you have made in my professional portrait studio and I share the files with you. Over the past four years, this experience has been enjoyed with friends celebrating a birthday, sisters celebrating a Mother's Day, team building workshops, and couples having a lovely art and floral DIY morning together. Learning a few tricks for arranging your flowers is so satisfying.
Tune In to Subtle Realms of Redwoods
*Please message us if you'd prefer different hours, or a date not on our calendar* Is the Redwood Forest calling you? Would you like to know it in a new way? In this guided experience you will make a personal connection with the Subtle Realms of the Redwood Forest. And perhaps learn a little history and science in fun and unexpected ways! Kids are 1/2 price. Great for groups and team building. We will tailor our experience to suit your needs. Please message us. We will meet in Santa Cruz, and then caravan to the trailhead in the heart of Redwood country. Going into the Redwood Forest together, we will walk, pause, energize all our senses, and attune with the Subtle Realms of Nature. The gift of music will set the tone, and our loving presence will open the way. We will call on the Elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water to bring us to a new understanding of the aliveness and interconnectedness of the natural world. We will spend a few minutes writing about our experience to help you to recall how to connect with the Subtle Realms back home. We will also be sharing Redwood Forest knowledge and science in fun and hands-on ways throughout this experience! As we complete our time in the Forest together, you can choose to stay longer on your own, fully energized with a new vision of our interconnectedness.