By: Julia Valencia

Opinion Editor 

There is always something fun going on in Los Gatos, and there is no shortage of activities, but sometimes it is fun to go beyond Los Gatos and explore other nearby towns. Situated just a 15-minute car ride from downtown Los Gatos is downtown Saratoga, a place you should check out. 

The perfect beginning to a slow Sunday in Saratoga is grabbing a drink from Sue’s Gallery Cafe. Located at the end of Big Bason Way, you can almost always find a table to sit at, either on their outside patio or inside their gallery room. Sue’s has a lively atmosphere and friendly staff who make delicious drinks, pastries, and a notable ham, pesto, and mozzarella flatbread. 

After going to Sue’s, a stop at Book-Go-Round Used Bookstore is worthwhile. The store is entirely run by volunteers who donate the proceeds back to the Saratoga Library. The shop has varying business hours, but on Sunday, they are open from 12 PM to 5 PM. The thousands of book options are sure to keep you busy for hours. With practically new books at a fraction of their normal cost, Book-Go-Round offers a sustainable and unique shopping experience. It doesn’t matter if you are searching for a young adult fiction series, a thriller, or a cookbook, Book-Go-Round is almost guaranteed to have something for you. If you are a book lover or are shopping for someone who is, Book-Go-Round is the place to go. 

After buying your new book, grab a picnic blanket and make the short drive over to Villa Montalvo, a performing arts center and public garden. Villa Montalvo, which stretches over 170 acres in the Santa Cruz mountain foothills, is the ideal place to sit down, read your new book, and enjoy a deli sandwich from the nearby Saratoga Meat and Fish. Once you are done reading, you can either walk through the gardens that Villa Montalvo maintains or go on one of the many hikes in Saratoga. 

If hiking isn’t quite your style, you could also explore Hakone Estate and Gardens, an 18-acre Japanese Garden that has been a staple of the Saratoga area for more than 100 years. They have a small entrance fee and are open from 11 AM to 4 PM on the weekends, and 10 AM to 4 PM on weekdays. Hakone Estate and Gardens is full of history, and most definitely a worthwhile stop when in Saratoga. 

When you complete your time at Villa Montalvo or Hakone Gardens and are looking for dinner and a chill place to hang out, you should check out Big Bason Burger Bar. They offer a variety of classic American burgers along with some Asian-inspired dishes, such as Korean street tacos and steamed pork dumplings. 

To end off your night, stop by Just Creamery to get fresh gelato made from local California ingredients. If you have any extra time, walk around in the downtown area and enjoy the window shopping.