San Martin does not have a downtown strip or a city council. It is an unincorporated community of about 7,000 people tucked between Morgan Hill and Gilroy, surrounded by vineyards, horse ranches, and open hillsides. Most people drive through it on 101 without realizing what they are passing. That is a mistake.

We live in the South Valley and spend a lot of time in San Martin. Here is what is actually worth doing here, whether you are a local looking for a weekend plan or a visitor passing through wine country.

San Martin sits at the southern end of the Santa Clara Valley wine region, and the tasting rooms here are nothing like Napa. No crowds, no $50 pours, no velvet ropes. You pull up to a small family winery, sit outside with a glass, and watch the hills turn gold in the afternoon.

Clos LaChance Winery
1 Hummingbird Ln, San Martin, CA 95046 | (408) 686-1050
Open Wed-Sun, 11 AM - 4 PM

Clos LaChance sits on 100 acres of vineyards with views that stop you mid-sentence. The tasting room pours their estate wines, and you can bring a picnic, play bocce, or just sit on the patio. They also host events, including the Garlic Festival's songwriter night. This is the winery people think of when they think of San Martin.

Lion Ranch Vineyards & Winery
645 W San Martin Ave, San Martin, CA 95046 | (408) 713-8501
Open Fri-Sun, 11 AM - 4 PM

Lion Ranch is a husband-and-wife operation. They grow Rhone and Provence varietals and make everything in small lots. The tasting room is cozy, the outdoor seating is dog-friendly, and the owners are usually the ones pouring. Reservations are encouraged, especially on weekends.

If you want to visit both in one afternoon, they are about a 5-minute drive apart.

This surprises people, but San Martin is home to one of the Bay Area's top skydiving operations.

Silicon Valley Skydiving
13030 Murphy Ave, San Martin, CA 95046 | (800) 386-5867
Open Mon, Wed-Sun, 9 AM - 5 PM (closed Tuesdays)

They have been jumping out of planes here for over 25 years, right at the San Martin Airport. First-time tandem jumps are their specialty. On a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean, Monterey Bay, and the Sierra foothills all at once. They offer video packages so you have proof you actually did it.

San Martin's agricultural roots run deep. Several working farms welcome visitors for picking, petting zoos, and seasonal events.

Windsor Family Farm
2005 Giampaoli Dr, San Martin, CA 95046

Windsor is a small family-run farm with organic produce, farm animals, and summer farm camps for kids. Their Farm Camp 2026 runs in June, and registration fills up. It is the kind of place where your kids can get dirt under their fingernails and feed a goat.

U Pick Orchards
10850 Monterey Rd (near the San Martin border)

Seasonal cherry picking is the big draw here. When the fruit comes in (usually May-June), you grab a bucket and pick your own. The orchard is right off Monterey Road, and you will see the signs.

Back-to-Eden Ranch
Near San Martin

Pick pomegranates and Fuyu persimmons in season, hang out with farm animals, and buy fresh produce. It is a small operation run by people who care about the land.

Wings of History Air Museum
12777 Murphy Ave, San Martin, CA 95046 | (408) 683-2290
Open Tuesdays 10 AM - 3 PM and Saturdays 11 AM - 4 PM
Admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors/teens, $5 kids 6-12, free under 5

This is a volunteer-run museum at the San Martin Airport dedicated to preserving vintage and antique aircraft. It is small but well-curated, with restored planes, engines, and aviation memorabilia. Aviation families love it. Active military get in free.

CordeValle
One CordeValle Club Dr, San Martin, CA 95046 | (408) 695-4500

CordeValle is a world-class resort with an 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. It hosted the 2016 U.S. Women's Open. The course is ranked #7 on Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play list. Green fees are not cheap, but the setting is ridiculous: the course wraps through oak-studded foothills at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Beyond golf, the resort has a spa, pool, tennis and pickleball courts, hiking trails, and a fitness center. You can visit for the day without being a hotel guest if you book a tee time or spa appointment.

San Martin does not have its own trail system, but several great hikes are a short drive away.

Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve (10 minutes north)
The 4-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail winds past serpentine rock outcrops, through oak groves, and along seasonal creeks. Views of Mount Hamilton and Mount Umunhum from the ridge are worth the climb. Open 7 AM to sunset for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Henry Coe State Park (20 minutes east)
One of the largest state parks in California with over 200 miles of trails. Day hikes to China Hole or Frog Lake are popular. Backpackers come for multi-day trips through the backcountry. Bring plenty of water; there is little shade in summer.

Uvas Canyon County Park (15 minutes west)
Waterfalls in winter and spring, shaded creekside trails year-round. The Waterfall Loop trail hits multiple falls in under 4 miles. Good for families.

San Martin does not have a restaurant row, but it borders both Morgan Hill and Gilroy, which means you are 10 minutes from hundreds of options. A few spots worth calling out:

The tasting rooms at Clos LaChance and Lion Ranch both allow picnics, so you can grab food in town and eat surrounded by vineyards. CordeValle's restaurant serves upscale California cuisine if you want to make it a full day.

For tacos, Gilroy's Taco Trail is right down 101 (we wrote a whole guide to it). For sit-down dining, downtown Morgan Hill is 10 minutes north (here is our restaurant guide).

San Martin is along Highway 101 between Morgan Hill and Gilroy, about 30 minutes south of San Jose. Take the San Martin Ave exit or the Monterey Road exit depending on where you are headed. There is no Caltrain stop in San Martin itself, but the Morgan Hill and Gilroy stations are each about 10 minutes away. Parking is free everywhere.

Want to know what is happening in the South Valley every week? Subscribe to South Valley Spotlight -- the free weekly newsletter for Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Martin. We cover the openings, the closings, the events, and the stories that matter to the people who live here.

Check out our South Valley Business Directory for local businesses, our guide to San Martin wineries and wine tasting, or our Things to Do in Morgan Hill guide.