'''Morgan Hill''' [http://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/] is is a city in the southern end of Silicon Valley in the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area region of California. It benefited from the technology revolution and has grown rapidly in the last decade of the 20th century. Originally incorporated in 1906, the small city grew around a Southern Pacific train depot near the ranch of Morgan Hill. A prominent hill to the west is often mistakenly identified as "Morgan Hill"; it is actually known as El Toro and was supposedly named by author Bret Harte when he saw two bulls fighting on it.
Get in
Morgan Hill sits astride US 101, a major north-south highway that spans the Pacific coast from San Diego to Seattle. Commercial air service is via [http://www.sjc.org/ Mineta San Jose International Airport], approximately 20 miles to the north. Morgan Hill also is connected to San Jose and San Francisco by [http://www.caltrain.org/ Caltrain] service, but only during peak commute hours. [http://www.caltrain.org/timetable_effective_6_5_04.html Time Table]
Get around
Santa Clara Valley bus service [http://www.vta.org/schedules/schedules.html/ schedule].
See
'''Henry Coe State Park''', [http://www.coepark.org/] is the largest state park in northern California It is open year-round for hikers, mountain bikers, backpackers, equestrians, car campers, picnickers, and photographers.
'''Anderson Lake County Park''', [http://www.parkhere.org/channel/0,4770,chid%253D16353%2526sid%253D12761,00.html], 19245 Malaguerra Ave., Park office: (408) 779-3634. Lake is open for boating and fishing. Jet-ski's and float tubes are permitted. Hiking, running, biking, skating on paved trails.
Do
'''Cinelux theaters'''
Go shopping downtown or in the Cochrane area
Bowling
Aquatic center
Play soccer at the newly renovated soccer complex
Mini golfing.
''''Guglielmo Winery''', 1480 E Main Ave. ('' across from Live Oak HS''), (408) 779-2145, [http://www.guglielmowinery.com/].
'''Pedrizzetti Winery''', 1645 San Pedro Winery, 408-779-7389, [http://www.pedrizzettiwinery.com/].
'''Other wineries''', Sycamore Creek and Kirigins, are located west of Morgan Hill on Sycamore Rd. and Uvas Rd.
Buy
Eat
'''Aoi Japanese Restaurant''', 35 East Main Avenue, (408) 776-7763 - Authentic Japanese food and the service is even true Japanese style.
'''Betsy's Restaurant & Lounge''', 650 Tennant Station, (408) 779-3721 - in the bowling alley. Great food and some of the best prime rib served on weekends.
'''China Orchid''', 16715 Monterey St, (408) 776-1714. Chinese food.
'''China Star''', 233 West Main Av, (408) 778-9898. Chinese food. good food and nice atmosphere.
'''La Choza Taqueria''', 17865 Monterey St #F, at the corner of Wright St. (408) 782-7873. Mexican food.
'''El Capri''', 18625 Monterey St, (408) 778-5642. Used to be a swinging nightspot in the '60s, as you can see by the unusual architecture. Mexican food. Average food the last time I was there and a little run down. It has closed down but has a taco stand next to its original restaraunt
'''El Toro Brewery''', at the corner of Main and Monterey. Not Good beer and food. Moved in spring of 2007 from Hill St.
'''Flying Dragon''', 17340 Monterey St, (408) 779-6296. Chinese food.
'''Giancarlo's''', 16180 S Monterey Rd, (408) 776-2995. Italian.
'''Golden China (Cheapest Chinese Lunch)''', 16925 Monterey St, (408) 778-1878. Chinese food. Also includes free eggroll.
'''Golden Oak''', 16695 Condit Rd, (408) 779-8085. Upscale American cuisine.
'''Hiromi (Now called Aoi)''', 35 East Main Av, (408) 776-7763. Excellent Japanese food.
'''Izakaya (try Aoi)''', 17415 Monterey St, (408) 778-0505. Japanese.
'''Jesus Restaurant (the real McCoy, authentic & cheap)''', 95 East 3rd St, (408) 778-9446. Mexican food.
'''Le Bistro''', 207 W. Main Street, (408) 782-2505. California/continental cuisine, live music.last time I looked this had changed names.
'''Marie Callender's''', 18599 Sutter Blvd, (408) 778-7373. Restaurant & Bakery, plus they just put in a nice lounge. don't let the address throw you this place is right on Cochrane Ave.
'''Maurizio's''', 25 E. First Street, (408)782-7550. Italian, seafood.
'''Moon's Kitchen''', 16985 Monterey St, (408) 778-3883. Asian.
'''Mushrooms Grille & Bar''', 65 W. Main Av, (408) 778-2557. Burgers, sandwiches, salads. (No longer in business as of 6/2007.
'''Peking (now fancy but good)''', 92 E 2nd Street, (408) 779-0333. Chinese food.
'''Pink Elephant Bakery #2''', 16925 Monterey Street, (408) 778-9088. Sandwiches, salads, baked goods.
'''Rosy's at the Beach (Overpriced, unremarkable)''', 17320 Monterey St, (408) 778-0551. Fish tacos, but no beach.
'''Sinaloa Cafe (Replacement cafe from the old burned down one. Overpriced and lost a lot of its appeal from the old place. Popular bar.)''', 17535 Monterey Highway, (408)779-9740. Mexican food.
'''Speros Courtyard (Greek Owner, Lots of food, good)''', 16375 Monterey St, (408) 779-4461.
'''Sweet Retreat''', 17020 Condit Rd, (408)778-4299. Ice cream - more and better than Baskin-Robbins. Wonderful frozen yogurt/fruit concoctions.
'''Taqueria El Grullense''', 16760 Monterey St,, (408) 779-9063. Mexican food.
(Note: if you are looking for a place to eat, just go downtown around Main St. and Monterey Rd.)
Drink
'''Boxseat Sports Grill''', 15650 Vineyard Boulevard Suite F, (408) 778-7102
'''El Toro Brewing Co''', 17370 Hill Rd, (408) 778-2739 Moved to Main and Monterey in 2007.
'''Ernie's Bar & Grill''', 19140 Monterey St, (408) 778-0161
'''Rivera's Club''', 19140 Monterey St, (408) 778-0270
Sleep
Comfort Inn - Morgan Hill, CA . 6225 Condit Rd. -800-208-5964 . ttp://www.comfortinnmorganhill.com.
'''Courtyard San Jose South/Morgan Hill''', 18610 Madrone Parkway, ''+1 408'' 782-6034, Fax: ''+1 408'' 782-1064, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SJCMH].
'''Extended Stay America''', 605 Jarvis Drive, ''+1 408'' 779-9660, [http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/minisite/default.asp?hotelID=602=null].
'''Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites''', 17035 Condit Road, ''+1 408'' 776-7676, [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/sjcmh].
'''Residence Inn San Jose South/Morgan Hill''', 18620 Madrone Parkway, ''+1 408'' 782-8311, Fax: ''+1 408'' 782-8322, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SJCMO].
'''San Jose/Morgan Hill Microtel Inn & Suites''', 16245 Condit Rd., ''+1 408'' 782-5000, Fax: ''+1 408'' 782-6633, [http://www.morganhillhotel.com].
'''Ramada Morgan Hill''', 16115 Condit Road, [http://www.ramadamorganhill.com]. One of the best value hotels situated in the heart of Silicon Valley close to Gilroy Premium Outlets, Bonfante Gardens and the Garlic Festival.
Stay safe
Be careful to check for ticks [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_prevent.htm] after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a bulls' eye rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.
Get out