Gilroy
, the "Garlic Capital of the World," is located in Santa Clara County south of San Francisco, a few miles inland from the Central Coast and just a short drive from Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. The town has an interesting agricultural heritage that began following the Gold Rush years when pioneers flooded the fertile farmlands. The early settlers concentrated on raising stock and grain, but by the 1870s, Gilroy was home to the largest cigar factory in the world and thus became known as the tobacco capital of the United States. Dairy and cheese followed; then prunes and other crops like apples, apricots, peaches and pears. Finally, around the time of World War I, garlic was grown in the Gilroy area for the commercial market in large quantities. In 1979, the first Gilroy Garlic Festival was started and now it has become an annual event with an attendance of over 130,000 visitors. This well-known festival features all kinds of "garlicky" foods including garlic ice cream. About eight miles northeast of the town is the famous Victorian resort Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, which is a California Historical Landmark. Gilroy is also becoming well known for its shopping opportunities, home to a huge shopping mall that consists entirely of outlet stores. The mild Mediterranean type climate is great for outdoor activities and attractions include the Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Christmas Hill Park, Bonfante Gardens and the new Gilroy Sports Park.
Surrounding areas: Castro Valley, California (4.1 mi), San Juan Bautista, California (11.3 mi), Watsonville, California (12.4 mi), Corralitos, California (13.2 mi), Hollister, California (14.1 mi), La Selva Beach, California (17.1 mi), Rio del Mar, California (18.5 mi)
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Gilroy Vacation Rentals
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Gilroy Weather & Climate
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East of Monterey Bay, inland just a few miles, is an area of rolling farmland and giant oaks that is blessed with a mild, temperate climate. Located approximately 40 miles from the coast, the cool ocean air regulates the area's temperatures, keeping it warm, but not hot, in summer and mild in winter. It rarely snows here, except occasionally in the surrounding foothills. Winters, however, are damp with an average rainfall of 14 inches, which occurs during winter and early spring. Low clouds or fog is sometimes present in the summertime, although not as prevalent as right along the coastline, and temperatures are generally just a few degrees warmer than nearby Monterey and Carmel.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
59°F |
39°F |
4.30 in. |
54°F |
| February |
64°F |
42°F |
4.10 in. |
54°F |
| March |
67°F |
44°F |
3.64 in. |
54°F |
| April |
73°F |
46°F |
1.16 in. |
54°F |
| May |
78°F |
50°F |
0.41 in. |
55°F |
| June |
84°F |
54°F |
0.10 in. |
57°F |
| July |
88°F |
55°F |
0.06 in. |
59°F |
| August |
87°F |
55°F |
0.05 in. |
60°F |
| September |
85°F |
54°F |
0.33 in. |
59°F |
| October |
79°F |
49°F |
0.93 in. |
59°F |
| November |
67°F |
43°F |
2.52 in. |
56°F |
| December |
60°F |
38°F |
3.00 in. |
54°F |
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Gilroy Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Hollister Municipal airport (3O7) located about 11 miles southeast of Gilroy in Hollister, California, the Salinas Municipal airport (SNS) located approximately 23 miles south of Gilroy in Salinas, California, the Norman Y Mineta San Jose International airport (SJC) located roughly 31 miles northwest of Gilroy in San Jose, California, the Monterey Peninsula airport (MRY) located around 32 miles southwest of Gilroy in Monterey, California, and finally the Castle airport (MER) located about 60 miles east of Gilroy in Merced, California.
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Gilroy Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Bonfante Gardens | Gilroy | CA | | | | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Santa Cruz | CA | 25.6 mi. | | | Paramount's Great America | Santa Clara | CA | 32.2 mi. | | | Oakland Zoo | Oakland | CA | 67.4 mi. | | | Pixieland Park | Concord | CA | 71.9 mi. | | | Funderwoods | Lodi | CA | 79.5 mi. | | | Six Flags Marine World | Vallejo | CA | 84.8 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| Raging Waters | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | | | Big Bear Park | Waterford | CA | 62.5 mi. | | | Waterworld USA | Concord | CA | 71.9 mi. | | | The Island Waterpark and Family Fun Village | Fresno | CA | 101.0 mi. | | | Wild Water Adventures | Clovis | CA | 103.9 mi. | | | Waterworld USA | Sacramento | CA | 109.1 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Eagle Ridge Golf Club | Gilroy | CA | | | | Gavilan Golf Course | Gilroy | CA | | | | Gilroy Golf Course | Gilroy | CA | | | | Casserly Par3 Golf Course | Watsonville | CA | 12.4 mi. | | | Spring Hills Golf Course | Watsonville | CA | 12.4 mi. | | | San Juan Oaks Golf Club | Hollister | CA | 12.9 mi. | | | Seascape Golf Club | Aptos | CA | 18.9 mi. | | | Bolado Park Golf Club | Tres Pinos | CA | 20.2 mi. | | | Salinas Fairways Golf Course | Salinas | CA | 23.5 mi. | | | De Laveaga Golf Course | Santa Cruz | CA | 23.7 mi. | | | Twin Creeks Golf Course | Salinas | CA | 23.7 mi. | | | Valley Gardens Golf Course | Scotts Valley | CA | 24.6 mi. | | | Pasatiempo Golf Club | Santa Cruz | CA | 25.5 mi. | | | Pleasant Hills Golf Course | San Jose | CA | 26.3 mi. | | | Cinnabar Hills Golf Club | San Jose | CA | 26.6 mi. | | | Los Lagos Golf Course | San Jose | CA | 26.6 mi. | | | Santa Teresa Golf Club | San Jose | CA | 26.6 mi. | | | The Ranch Golf Club | San Jose | CA | 26.6 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Henry Willard Coe State Park | | CA | 13.3 mi. | | | Fremont Peak State Park | | CA | 17.4 mi. | | | Zmudowski Beach State Park | | CA | 17.7 mi. | | | Marina State Park | | CA | 25.4 mi. | | | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park | | CA | 26.7 mi. | | | Wilder Ranch State Park | | CA | 29.0 mi. | | | Castle Rock State Park | | CA | 33.7 mi. | | | Loghry State Park | | CA | 34.0 mi. | | | Big Basin Redwoods State Park | | CA | 38.0 mi. | | | Portola State Park | | CA | 38.8 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| California Antique Aircraft Museum | San Martin | CA | 5.9 mi. | (Technology) | | Capitola Historical Museum | Capitola | CA | 21.4 mi. | (History) | | Ecology Hall of Fame | Santa Cruz | CA | 25.6 mi. | (Science) | | Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Company | Los Gatos | CA | 27.1 mi. | (Technology) | | History Museums of San Jose | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (History) | | Japanese American Museum of San Jose | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (History) | | Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (History) | | Ableza's Native American Virtual Cultural Center | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (Miscellaneous) | | Captain Kazooz Kazoo Museum | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (Miscellaneous) | | San Jose Museum of Art | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (Art) | | Children's Discovery Museum | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | (Children's) | | San Juan Bautista Mission | Seaside | CA | 31.5 mi. | (History) | | Arnisto Gallery | Santa Clara | CA | 32.2 mi. | (Miscellaneous) | | Intel Museum | Santa Clara | CA | 32.2 mi. | (Technology) | | Stowitts Museum and Library | Pacific Grove | CA | 33.1 mi. | (Miscellaneous) | | California Views Historical Photo Collection | Monterey | CA | 33.4 mi. | (History) | | Niles Canyon Railway Museum | Fremont | CA | 44.1 mi. | (Technology) | | Niles Depot | Fremont | CA | 44.1 mi. | (Technology) | | Hiller Aviation Museum | San Carlos | CA | 51.5 mi. | (Technology) | | Silicon Valley Art Museum | Belmont | CA | 52.8 mi. | (Art) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Happy Hollow Park and Zoo | San Jose | CA | 29.3 mi. | | | Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey | CA | 33.4 mi. | | | The Oakland Zoo | Oakland | CA | 67.4 mi. | | | San Francisco Zoological Gardens | San Francisco | CA | 70.8 mi. | | | Steinhart Aquarium | San Francisco | CA | 70.8 mi. | | | Micke Grove Zoo | Lodi | CA | 79.5 mi. | | | Six Flags Marine World | Vallejo | CA | 84.8 mi. | | | Chaffee Zoological Gardens | Fresno | CA | 101.0 mi. | | | Sacramento Zoo | Sacramento | CA | 109.1 mi. | | | Charles Paddock Zoo | Atascadero | CA | 116.2 mi. | |
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