Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Life

Student Life

Off-Campus Housing
Where do most law students find housing off-campus?
Where can I find online apartment listings?

Arts and Leisure
What cultural events and artistic exhibits are nearby?
What movie theaters are nearby?
What music and nightlife attractions are there in the San Jose and San Francisco area?
Where can I find a coffee house?

Sports and Recreation
What local sporting events can I attend?
What local recreational opportunities are available for Santa Clara Law Students?

Shopping
Where are the local shopping areas?

Weekend and Day Trips
Are there any local attractions that can be visited on a weekend or day trip?

Transportation
How do I get to local attractions or Bay Area attractions? How do I get around without a car? What about Air Travel?

Off-Campus Emergency Resources
Who do I contact when I have a police, fire, or medical emergency?


Off-Campus Housing

Where do most law students find housing off-campus?
A majority of our law students live in apartments in the city of Santa Clara or surrounding communities such as San Jose, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Los Altos, Mountain View or Cupertino

We are located 45 minutes south of San Francisco in Santa Clara County, often referred to as the South Bay or Silicon Valley.

Where can I find online apartment listings?
Popular online apartment and home listings include Apartmentguide.com, Craigslist, San Jose Mercury ClassifiedsBay4Rent, and ABODO. Additional listings are located on the undergraduate Student Life and Leadership website. The username and password are both “housing”.

Off-Campus Housing Listings

The undergraduate Office of Student Life maintains listings of available off-campus housing opportunities for Santa Clara University students and a listing of nearby apartments.
Rental Listings

Additional Local Apartment Listing (Partial Listing)

Apartment Information

Distance from SCU

Apartment Information

Distance from SCU

Apartment Information

Distance from SCU

Alderwood
900 Pepper Tree Lane
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408-241-2410

2.6 miles

Marina Cove Apartments
3480 Granada Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-984-2331

3 miles

Saratoga Loire
1395 Saratoga Avenue
San Jose, 95129
408-257-8200

4.5 miles

   

Marina Playa
3500 Granada Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-247-2469

3.1 miles

Summerwood
444 Saratoga Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-241-1445

1.8 miles

Bella Vista
Vista Club Circle
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-496-6300

3.5 miles

Mansion Grove
502 Mansion Park Dr.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-980-0502

3.4 miles

Tamarack Apartments
1255 Lincoln
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-246-6343

.9 mile

Boardwalk
3770 Flora Vista
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-248-1454

3.1 miles

Normandy House Apts.
48 and 50 Washington St.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-244-1616

.8 mile

Tanglewood Apartments
970 Meridian Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
408-294-1407

3.3 miles

Briarwood Gardens
3440 Warburton
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-248-5766

2.9 miles

Orchard Glen
101 Saratoga Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-246-1226

2.4 miles

Taxco Apartments
1324 S. Winchester Blvd
San Jose, CA 95128
408-866-7117

3.6 miles

Central Park Apartments
1750 Stokes Street
San Jose, CA 95050
408-998-0300

3.6 miles

Pacific Terrace West
498 Boynton Avenue
San Jose, CA 95050
408-244-3388

2.8 miles

The Clairmont
1555 Homestead Rd.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-241-4395

1 mile

Creekside Apartments
1800 Stokes Street
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-289-8080

3.6 miles

   

Avalon at River Oaks
373 River Oaks Circle
San Jose, CA 95134
408-944-0544

3.6 miles

Elan Apartments
345 Village Center Dr.
San Jose, CA 95134
408-428-9200

1.3 miles

Park Central Apartments
1050 Benton Street
Santa Clara, CA 95050

.5 miles

The Willow Glen
995 Meridian Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
408-287-8789

3.3 miles

Family Tree Apartments
1000 Kiely Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408-247-6228

2.3 miles

Reed Square
1070 Reed Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408-246-2772

3.7 miles

Timberleaf Apartments
2147 Newhall
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-248-2808

1 mile

Greenpoint
1559 Warburton
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-248-7128

1.1 miles

Regency Square
1315 Eden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117
408-378-1970

3.6 miles

Village Green
3333 Cabrillo
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-247-8020

2.9 miles

 

Hidden Lake
3375 Homestead Rd.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-984-0244

3 miles

Royal Ambassador
3450 Granada Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-246-9850

3 miles

West Park Apartments
3200 Payne Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117
408-378-8600

3.6 miles

Montecito Apts
3765 Tamarack Lane
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-247-1353

3.4 miles

Sandlewood Apartments
1371 Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95126
408-286-3555

3.8 miles

Willow Lake
1331 Lakeshore Circle
San Jose, CA 95131
408-453-7272

3.2 miles

Additional Resources
Guide to Living Off Campus – Brought to you by the undergraduate Office of Student Life and ASSCU
Department of Consumer Affairs – Landlord/Tenant resources

When selecting a home off campus keep in mind the distance to the University and the available transportation options. The major freeways such as 101, 280, 880 and 17 that are near the University can get congested during rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon. If you plan on driving to school you will need a parking permit to park on campus as there is limited or restricted parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. It is recommended that you use public transportation whenever possible. There is a Caltrain station directly across campus that also has a VTA bus transportation depot.


Arts and Leisure

What cultural events and artistic exhibits are nearby?
San Jose offers the following museums and performing art venues:

Concerts at the SAP Center
San Jose Museum of Art
Tech Museum
Egyptian Museum
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Cinequest Film Festival

What movie theaters are nearby?

The following movie theaters are within 7 miles of SCU:

Almaden Twin Theatre
2306 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA
408-265-7373 (4.9 miles)

Capitol Drive-In Theatre
3630 Hillcap Ave
San Jose, CA
408-226-2251 (6.9 miles)

AMC Mercado
311 Mission College Blvd
Santa Clara, CA
408-919-0248

Century Theatre
3161 Olsen Dr
San Jose, CA
408-984-5610 (2.3 miles)

Camera 3 Cinema
288 S. 2nd St
San Jose, CA
408-998-3300 (2.8 miles)

Towne Theatre
1433 The Alameda
San Jose, CA
408-287-1433 (1.5 miles)

Camera One Theater
366 S. 1st St
San Jose, CA
408-998-3005 (2.9 miles)

CineArts @ Santana Row
3088 Olsen Drive
San Jose, Ca
408-554-7000

What music and nightlife attractions are there in the San Jose and San Francisco area?
Click on the links to find out more about nightlife in San Jose and San Francisco.

Where can I find a coffee house?
Just about anywhere! Listed below is a partial listing of nearby coffee houses:

Café Aroma
3488 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA
408-985-9555 (3.0 miles)

Espresso Garden & Café
814 S. Bascom Ave
San Jose, CA
408-298-0808 (2.6 miles)

Café Nono’s
1 N. 1st St
San Jose, CA
408-288-6744 (2.4 miles)

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc.
1140 Lincoln Ave #C
San Jose, CA
408-975-9281 (3.4 miles)

Caffee Dolce
185 Park Ave #179
San Jose, CA
408-993-9433 (2.6 miles)

Second Cup
21 N. 2nd St
San Jose, CA
408-971-2287 (2.5 miles)

Caffe Siena
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA
408-248-5125 (1.9 miles)

Starbucks Coffee Co.
495 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA
408-248-7343 (0 miles)

City Lights Espresso
1171 Homestead Rd #190
Santa Clara, CA
408-296-0415 (0.7 miles)

Starlight Coffee Co.
3143 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA
408-296-0497 (2.0 miles)

Crema Coffee Roasting Company
950 The Alameda
San Jose, Ca
408-295-5690 (2.4 miles)

 

Sports and Recreation

What local sporting events can I attend?
Santa Clara Law students often attend the following professional sporting events in San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland:

San Jose

San Francisco

Oakland

Lasers (Women’s Basketball)

San Jose Earthquakes (San Francisco Bay Soccer)

San Jose Stealth(Lacrosse)

Sharks (Ice Hockey)

49ers(Football)

Giants (Baseball)

A’s Baseball)

Warriors (Basketball)

What local recreational opportunities are available for Santa Clara Law students?

Santa Clara Law is located within 40 minutes of phenomenal surfing at Santa Cruz beaches and a few hours from skiing at Lake Tahoe. There are also numerous recreation venues right in the the Santa Clara, San Jose and San Francisco area. Below is a partial listing of recreational venues. Additional information may be found under the Weekend & Day Trips page.

San Jose

San Francisco and Bay Area

Bowling:

AMF Fiesta Lanes
1523 W San Carlos
San Jose, CA
408-294-2810 (3.8 miles)

Bowler’s Paradise
1305 N Bascom Ave #I
San Jose, CA
408-248-9233 (0.8 miles)

Fourth Street Bowl
1441 N 4th St
San Jose, CA
408-435-5555 (1.7 miles)

Moonlite Lanes
2780 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA
408-296-7200 (2.1 miles)

Other Activities:

Campbell Billiards
1777 Bascom Ave
Campbell, CA
408-377-9886 (4.0 miles)

Power Play Hockey
87 S. Autumn St
San Jose, CA
408-294-2995 (2.0 miles)

Pruneridge Golf Club
400 Saratoga Ave
Santa Clara, CA
408-248-4424 (1.9 miles)

Cambrien Go Karts
2049 Woodard Rd
San Jose, CA
408-366-5278 (7.7 miles)

Biking, hiking, and walking trails
Backpacking/Hiking
Beaches
Camping
Golf Courses
Horseback Riding
Parks
Tennis Courts
Lake Tahoe


Shopping

Where are the local shopping areas?
SCU is within a few miles of Santana Row and Valley Fair Mall, and within an hour of Union Square in San Francisco. Click on the links below to find out more about these fabulous shopping venues.

Santana Row Features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants and cafes, 6 screen Century Theatre, four-star boutique Hotel Valencia, and hundreds of lofts and villas.

Valley Fair Mall Features 342 stores and 21 restaurants in the food court.

Union Square (San Francisco) Features high-end shops, many European-style bistros and botiques, as well as the nine-story San Francisco Shopping Centre with its three-level Nordstrom’s.  Union Square is also a center for exclusive couture and high fashion, with botiques dedicated to Dior, Armani, Marc Jacobs, and Yves Saint Laurent.


Weekend and Day Trips

Are there any local attractions that can be visited on a weekend or day trip?
Yes, from Napa to Carmel, there are plenty of day or weekend trips from Santa Clara Law. You will find some highlighted local attractions below with links to a variety of resources.

Locations: Attractions:

San Jose
City of San Jose Official Web site
San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau
Yahoo! Local – San Jose

Santa Cruz
City of Santa Cruz Official Web site
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council
Yahoo! Local – Santa Cruz

San Francisco
City of San Francisco Official Web site
San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
Yahoo! Local – San Francisco

Monterey
City of Monterey Official Web site
Monetery County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Yahoo! Local – Monterey

Carmel
City of Carmel-By-The-Sea Official Web site
Yahoo! Local – Carmel

Napa
City of Napa Official Web site
Napa Valley Conference and Visitors Bureau
Yahoo! Local – Napa

Beaches/Coastal Areas
Santa Cruz
Half Moon Bay
Monterey Bay

National Parks
Yosemite
Joshua Tree

Sequoia & King’s Canyon
Death Valley

Lakes
Lake Tahoe
Donner Lake
Clear Lake

Amusement
Paramount’s Great America Amusement Park
Winchester Mystery House


Transportation

How do I get to local attractions or Bay Area attractions? How do I get around without a car? What about Air Travel?
Listed below are serveral local and bay area transportation options for SCU Law students.

Ground Transportation
SCU Shuttle
Bronco Bus – acts as a shuttle for SCU students to Bay Area destinations
Bay Area Transit Info
Altamont Commuter Express – Rail service between Stockton and San Jose
BART – Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bus Paths – in Santa Clara County
Caltrain – Daily rail service between Gilroy and San Francisco – Stops in front of the University
Muni – San Francisco Municipal Railway
RIDES Online – Bay Area commuter services
SamTrans – San Mateo County Transit District
Traffic Conditions – Link to sfgate.com traffic updates
VTA – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Air Travel Information

San Jose Airport
Free shuttle service available from Santa Clara Caltrain station
San Francisco Airport
BART service connects the Millbrae Caltrain station and San Francisco Airport
Oakland Airport


Off-Campus Emergency Resources

Who do I contact when I have a police, fire, or medical emergency?
The following fire, safety, and hospital resources are available in the event of an emergency:

SAFETY

Fire
408-984-3059
http://www.sccfd.org/
The Santa Clara Fire Department provides highly trained and equipped emergency personnel to respond to incidents of fire, chemical release, medical emergency, and earthquake, flood, or other natural disasters, within minutes after notification.

Earthquake Preparedness
408-984-3062
fire@ci.santa-clara.ca.us
Information on how citizens can prepare for and survive major disasters, such as an earthquake, is available through the City’s Emergency Services Office. Please call the Fire Department at 408-984-3062 during normal business hours for information.

Police
408-615-4700
http://ci.santa-clara.ca.us/police/pol_index.html
police@ci.santa-clara.ca.us
The Santa Clara Police Department is located immediately near campus, at 601 El Camino Real. For emergency assistance, contact the police at 408-615-4700 or dial 911.

Blackout- Electric Emergency Service/
Power Outage (24 hrs)

408-615-5640

HOSPITAL/EMT

Kaiser Hospital
408-236-4400
http://www.kaisersantaclara.org/

O’Connor Hospital
408-947-2666
http://www.oconnorhospital.org

Santa Clara Valley Medical
408-885-6950
http://www.scvmed.org

URGENT CARE CENTERS

San Jose Medical Group
Urgent Care Center

408-278-3620
http://www.sanjosemed.com/SJMG/AboutUs/WillowGlen.asp

Cupertino Medical Center
Urgent Care

408-996-8656

CRISIS CENTERS

Rape Crisis Center
408-287-3000

Suicide Hotline
408-279-3312