The most beautiful temple on top of a mountain! It'll make you forget you were in California. Parking lot is small, but the wait isn't long. At the entrance, there's a sign that said Stairway to Heaven, so you already know what you're getting yourself into. There are stairs and paths everywhere to explore. Come prepared with water and cover yourself up, since some parts may not have shade. After the initial ascent of stairs, the main area is lush with trees, succulents, and covered with fake lawn. There are statues of gods, demi-gods, and important figures lined up along the edge of the mountain. Jesus Christ also had its own praying areas. I loved that this temple was all-inclusive to believers. The paths are beautifully landscaped and felt so zen with the sounds of windchimes and coolness of the mountain breeze. Everywhere you go was a path to explore. There's incense and a lighter at each statue, but you can also get a bundle from the main house to the right. They don't take any donations, which is so generous. All they ask for donation is water for those who forgot to bring water. You can also light your incense with the candle, but remember to blow it out when you're done to not waste it. To the back right there are bathrooms also - 3 stalls for the women's. Not sure about the men's and I don't think I should know anyway haha. If you continue up the steep mountain, you can make it to various overlooks and to the final house with all the Buddhas on a platform held up by poles. Along the paths, you can see tons of birds, lizards, and squirrels. Looks like they are still building more paths and platforms. It would be interesting to come back and see the progress. Considering no donations, the entire place has really good upkeep. We were able to relax and have lunch at one of their many cute stone tables. We left feeling refreshed and cleansed of the daily stresses of daily life. read more

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Beautiful spot that I've been meaning to come to since COVID. It was closed then, but is now finally open. It's a long and steep walk to the top, but worth it. You get some good quality exercise and then get some serenity and nature when you reach the top. This is a great experience and one of the best views in the area as well. Overall, I want to go back already. read more

Nice relaxing place despite the number of people visiting. The first dirt parking lot we saw was actually an overflow parking. The signs in that lot were quite confusing. The signs point toward the hill like you can drive up the unpaved path but don't. The actual entrance actually has the Dragon Mountain sign with a paved parking lot further down the narrow road marked "private property." There's a blue boat in the parking lot. Two ways to get up to the monastery: hike up the long driveway or stairs next to it OR drive up the winding road. There's very limited parking at the top. Stairs have some steep sections. Free incense to light at any of the incense stations in front of the diety statues. They had free water bottles. No food ro purchase so bring snacks if you plan to stay long but don't litter. There were a couple of areas away from the main lot that are great for meditation. You can hike up higher, above the Mother Earth temple. Very clean. They have a public restroom. read more

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A place that exudes peace. Clean and fresh. To get to the top you have to climb about 1,000 steps but it's worth the effort. read more

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What a great place to do a sunset hike! The total trail is about 4.6miles and we finished it in a bit over an hour. We arrived at the parking lot around 6pm, no fees needed. The first part is all stairs, after reaching the end of maybe about 200 flights, we arrived at a lawn patch with some big Chinese gods statues and a panel about Jesus. There's one man there burning the incense to pay respect but mostly it was just visitors checking out the place like visiting a museum than worshipping gods. This spot also has a restroom. Then there're more stairs up, and soon transitions to uphill trails with big patches of grass growing along sides. No cows or other animals insight. To our left is the beautiful valley and a dropping sun. When the wind blows, it was beautiful and magical. As we continued the climb and reached the top where there are a lot of smaller porcelain statues displayed on top of poles. It was super windy up there so we didn't linger. Going down was much quicker. There's a portion of the trail where it was slippery with gravel, fortunately, next to it there's a flight of stairs for easier walking and the steps are not that high. By the time we got down to the first gods lawn, there's a security car probably clearing out the place. A car just arrived and was told to turn back because they were closing. We were all very satisfied with this hike. read more

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Such a gem of a place!! This is a Vietnamese temple situated atop a hill, there are steps leading all the way to the top. The views during spring time are exceptional as we see all the surrounding hillsides covered in a lush green blanket. We went over a weekend and did not get parking in the lot at the bottom, looks like cars are allowed to drive up to the half way point which has several statues. This is a great option to transfer senior citizens and young children so that they can atleast visit the statues and enjoy the views from there. It can get super hot during peak afternoon but will cool down towards sunset which is the best time as the views are amazing. It took us an hour -90mins to go up and come down. We spent a lot of time soaking in the views, this is easily the best view of the bay across all my hikes so far. The divine smell of orange blossom when we visited during spring was beyond tantalizing and just made me happy! read more

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Great place to hike especially when it's spring time, lot of greenery there. There are stairs to the hilltop, along the way there's tree shades and chairs which's nice to stop and rest and enjoy the view. It's pretty busy in the weekend and parking may be difficult. We went all the way up to the top and the views were pretty amazing read more

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As an avid gym rat that does leg workouts twice a week, these stairs actually left my calves sore that night and the next day. Nonetheless, I would still do it again - the view was so worth it and the trek was peaceful! Love that there are many picnic tables within each couple flights of stairs to rest and enjoy the green scenery and mountains. Quiet place for praying and open to the public so hope it stays this way! read more

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I've had this bookmarked since Covid when they would were closed for years and would randomly be closed. Thankfully whatever issues they had seem to be resolved and their opening hours are more predictable now. The site is a Vietnamese religious monastery though I'm not exactly sure if it's for something specific or more many-faiths. The prevailing symbol is a cross with an upside down heart on the bottom but there are also catholic imagery and statues and well as majority Vietnamese Buddhist. The drive up is VERY steep. You can also park at the bottom near the sign and "boat people" commemorative boat. If you choose this you will be taking the "stairway to heaven" stairs on the right and walking up the steep mountain. If you drive further there is a small parking lot that can fit maybe 4-5 cars. From here it is also a steep walk up to the monastery area with the statues and nice views. -The views are some of the prettiest I've seen in this area. On a nice day the sky looks amazing and immediately under the mountain is a nicely maintained gold course. -There are a lot of nice Buddhist and Vietnamese statues at the top worth checking out. There is a small temple on top of the stairs at the very peak. -It is SO peaceful and quiet. I heard a strange sound and it was a hummingbird's wings. read more

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A gem! About 30 min to get to the first clearing- where all the temple statues are. It was fairly lively when we went and fairly hot. Steep stairs! Also be careful- saw a snake on the other side of the railing on the way down. A lot of families and kids on this walk - keep them close! Beautiful views of the bay- you can continue to hike through the unpaved trails if you want. An hour to explore the place and walk around the grounds felt right for us read more

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This was a great hike that help me work out different muscles since there were so many stairs. There is much to see along the way so taking breaks is totally acceptable. They have nice resting areas that you can sit on and find shade if needed. read more

The Dragon Mountain Thien Long Son - Parks Near Me - Milpitas, California

This is a peaceful spot on the edge of Milpitas. It was a bit of a drive to get there. There's a small parking lot right in front of the main gate. Once I entered, there was a long staircase that leads up to the main area. I had to take a break midway. I'm glad there were benches along the staircase to rest at. At the top, there are amazing views looking out. I walked around and explored the space. There are statues, plants, and little details tucked around the grounds. There's also another staircase that takes you up to the peak of the mountain. It's shorter than the first one and not as much to see. Overall, it's a nice place to get some walking in and spend time in nature without having to go too far. read more

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Visited this site several wks ago and I was very impressed in how well,kept the park setting was. It's a hike up several flights of stairs to arrive at the plateau, however, it's well worth it. There are plenty of areas to sit and view the beauty of the statues and mountain valley views. read more

Very serene & calm place. Hike up mostly consists of stairs. Lot of picnic tables laid out upstairs. Must visit!! read more

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The hiking trail is not easy, but it is worth trying if you are confident about your stamina. Make sure to bring enough water (you can get one bottle for free at the library but bring extra on a hot day). read more

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First time here and it was amazing! I kind of got listed getting here because my GPS was off but I made it on a Sunday. Luckily there was parking near the temple. I didn't know what to expect when I was walking up the steps near the entrance. It was a great workout for my thighs! Made it up to the first building and it was beautiful. They had a Buddha shrine inside. Then I finally came up the stairs to the main entrance and it was stunning!!!! It's a whole courtyard with beautiful statues, tiki tables, exotic Asian plants, and breath taking views! Great place for families and friends to enjoy a picnic with peace and meditation. There's other stairways that keep going up and that leads to the furthest temple on the top, but it doesn't end there! There's also a hiking trail that you can take up the hills further. I didn't have time to take that trail but I will surely be back to do so ! Such a true hidden gym and the fact that it's free! Just treat the temple with respect and everything will be fine. This was so worth it! read more

Great place to explore and enjoy. Lots of places to reflect and meditate if you wish. The mountain behind the retreat is a good hike and the many posing buda's are great. Fantastic view. read more

IT'S OPEN!! We went on June 1st, 2025 and the gates were open! We have been waiting for this place to open back up since start of COVID. There were a bunch of cars in the parking lot and groups of people walking up the steps, so we just went for it. When talking to some people along the way, they told us they had heard through the media that they re-opened this place and only open on weekends. The little areas of statues and shrines were incredibly peaceful, and to top it all off was the BEAUTIFUL view of the parts of the Bay Area! The steps do get increasingly steep and you do brush against dry brushes, so make sure to come prepared with water and appropriate gear (hat, long pants/tops, good gym shoes). It felt amazing to complete this!! read more

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Great place to visit in the Bay Area. The road is very steep and many steps to see the awesome work someone has put into this temple complex. Take a hat and water with you. One needs to go all the way to the top to see the wonderful statues. Don't stop until you get to the top. It's about 1800 elevation and you can see most of South Bay from there. read more

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Apparently the Dragon Mountain Park reopened to the public just earlier this year (2025). It was the perfect site for a scenic hike this past weekend. The "stairway to heaven" from the lower parking lot got steeper the higher we got, with lots of poison oak on the way up, as well as shaded seating to break for rest. The halfway point to the top of the mountain features a beautiful sculpture garden with plenty to explore, a plethora of buddha statues and displays of other notable figures, including Bodhidharma, the greatest zen master, which captured my attention and curiosity. We were also greeted by the jingling sounds of wind chimes, a wishing well, and lovely views. There were numerous trees and greenery, an abundance of picnic tables and seating options, a meditation room (locked on Sunday), library, and restrooms. Higher up, you'll even find a campsite. More than enough to keep visitors of all cultures and religions enamored with the serene and inviting setting, an opportunity to admire the gorgeous statuary garden and to read and learn about buddhist teachings and the stories of legendary entities in history. read more

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"Interfaith monastery in a tranquil setting that is open to the public" sounded wonderful. I was looking forward to some wonderful zen/meditation time but it was not to be. It's actually not open to the public. When I was driving in, a lady came running to my car and said it is only open to "family". There were like 20 other cars there. How did she know I was not part of the "family"...I wonder.Very sketch. read more

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A wonderfully calm hike with stunning scenery and well-kept trails. The views easily rival Communication Hill, making it an ideal spot for anyone craving a good workout and an even better reward at the top, lots of complex and shopping. Markets nearby. And beautiful parks to bring your pups read more

We were recommended we check out Dragon Mountain by a friend. We went today and it was amazing! We went around 11 am with our teen, and our two smaller kiddos. Our 8 year old did amazing, she usually is begging us to stop and rest when we go hiking but she surprised us today. At the beginning it looks quite intimidating but you get used to the uphill climb and there are plenty or rest stops along the way. The stairs are not spacious so you have people going up and some coming down so you are shoulder to shoulder in some spots but half way to the top you get to the temple and there's a lot of historical statues and plaques to read. It's perfect for kids and the whole family. The site seeing is beautiful especially because the weather was 74 degrees with a cool breeze and clear skies and supper sunny! When you pass the temple there's more stairs to climb and it takes you to the top of a hill which then leads to more hiking but towards a park. We decided to turn back and not continue the hike past dragon mountain but we'll be sure to go back and challenge ourselves with that hike as well! All in all I give it a 10/10!! read more

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Yes, they are finally open again. The place has been closed since the pandemic. Most crowds go hiking around here on weekends, but I love the quiet weekday mornings with the sound of nature, birds/chirps, and chime bells. Free stairway to heaven for sure. You can park at Ed Levin Park and walk, or just drive all the way up which has limited parking on top. People don't really park at the front/bottom of hill by the huge boat anymore. Looks like private property, but the entrance gate is definitely open now. As usual, everything is closed by sunset around Ed Levin Park region. The walk is worth it. Start from the bottom, go up the stairs, and hike 30 minutes to the top. Coming down can be on the same route, but I prefer walking another 30 minutes downhill on the roadside where cars usually drive on instead. You can take many photos within one full hour here. There are other smaller houses/shelters to see along the way. Peaceful and very quiet. It's purely for hiking/walking, sightseeing, and observing the area. Religious site. Burning incense for the gods are normal here. Plenty of beautiful statues to see. There might be people chanting inside at the very top building. You will get clear views of the golf course while walking uphill and downhill. Dress code is enforced for entering buildings, but I don't think people care if you follow or not. Just respect their guidelines. Treehouse feeling. Gorgeous vibes for people who love to look around and walk. This one hour walk is very good for your body. The incline is amazing. Best part? It's all free! Love listening to all the morning birds chirping and chime bells ringing. Enjoy the journey. read more

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This was "fun" !!! Great work out from the bottom. If you are out of shape like me it will be rough but there are resting spots every flight of stairs so it helps And it worth getting up there it's not too bad. But definitely thought about turning around after the first flight of stairs lol There is parking at the bottom and you can even drive up to the top. We parked in the lot before it because we thought that was the actual parking but it's like an overflow lot We went on a cooler day so it was nice .... I'd probably think twice if it was warm because I was dying read more

Wow, this place has breathtaking views and so much spirituality to it. I came on a Saturday morning and there was a meditation ceremony going on. I was still able to walk around and see the beautiful gardens, meditation nooks, wishing well and so much more. I hiked to the very top to see the cross and the views were breathtaking. The hike was moderate. It's all uphill and I had worn tennis shoes so not the best but I did it. I would recommend doing this hike if you are a spiritual person. read more

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It's open now...May 2025. Beautiful place & about 500 steps from base but you can park 1/2 way or all the way up. read more

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On the top of the mountain, not too many tourists here, this place is very quiet. There are several Buddha halls and zens all the way up to the top, and the Buddha statues are decentralized, basically everywhere. There are lots of trees and flowers here. All the plants are very well maintained. Some deer are wandering around the lush plants. It's very calming and peaceful to walk around this temple. read more

Still closed to the public as of June 12, 2024. However, you can access the mountain if you know the passcode (tip: ask the friendly locals living in the gray-roof houses near the entrance). After nearly six hours of driving from LA, my family and I were about to give up when some kind locals kindly helped us out. We were so grateful! Although accessible by car, the mountain road is quite steep with some uneven surfaces. Please be extra CAREFUL. The breathtaking and tranquil scenery made all the hardships worthwhile. We arrived around 1 PM. The silence was profound, and the bronze bell's chime from the nearby temple made it feel like heaven on earth. At the main area of the mountain, we were surrounded by beautiful, white statues of various characters from Vietnamese mythology, including gods, heroes, and mythical creatures like Kỳ Lân (the Vietnamese Unicorn) and Trần Hưng Đạo (Vietnamese royal prince, statesman, and military commander). Everything is well-maintained and clean. There are bathrooms with great water flow, a kitchen, dining hall, small library, and community room. Additionally, there are several temples where you can pay your respects. At the top of the mountain is a Điện Mẫu (Mother of Earth Hall). The stairway leading to this hall is known as the Stairway to Heaven, and it is said that all your sins will be forgiven when you complete the ascent. Give it a try next time you're there! P/s: For accommodation, I recommended the Executive Inn Milpitas. It's 7 minutes driving to the mountain. It's cheap and has the basic amenities. read more

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Best place to meditate. Whether you have your own religion or you don't have a religion, this place is a sacred place filled with peace & nature. Everything about Dragon Mountain is simple but amazing. When you feel your material world so stressful, you should come here to relax & recharge new positive energy. The park is still closed due to unknown reasons. Thiên members & friends & families can visit. read more

The Dragon Mountain Thien Long Son - Parks Near Me - Milpitas, California

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We went hiking with a few of my wife's coworkers and friends. Luckily we got there early on the weekend to get a parking space. The hike had different routes that are steeper than others. You will come across steep hills and stairs so better wear comfortable hiking shoes. The hike is fairly easy so you can bring your children and dogs. While hiking, there are many buildings, statues, etc to take nice pictures. On a slow pace, we probably complete the hike in an hour. Those minutes included talking and taking pictures. When we got near the top, there was actually people doing tai chi so you are welcome to join! My legs and calves got a good exercise. A nice enjoyable hike I wouldn't mind coming back again. read more

The Dragon Mountain Thien Long Son - Parks Near Me - Milpitas, California

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On a hunt for something serene, quiet, possibly a little getaway to clear your mind and be at one with your thoughts?? How about a nice hike accompanied by a great view?? If you answered yes to either one of those, look no further than The Dragon Mountain Temple [Thien Long Son]. This beautiful temple overlooking the city, is an absolute hidden gem and is opened to the public. Dragon Mountain comes equipped with scattered scenic seating and an abundance of hammocks to be taken advantage of. This is a great place to take a stroll, hone in on your photography skills, take a load off and relax, or simply say a few prays. 5/5 in my eyes. I look forward to coming back and exploring other areas that I have yet to stumble across. read more

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I seem to be the first person to give this place a 4....but hear me out! SO to Ivonnie for showing us this hidden gem! The drive here was a bit winded (roads are windy), and parking didn't have clear lines (but still lots of spots). However, I liked how simple the hike was, and that there were some clear rest stops. Pro tip: come on Sundays! The free lunch is at noon, and the folks here welcome everyone to join. The hike had a great view, despite all the dry grass. I'm sure it would look amazing during the spring! read more

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I didn't know what to expect from this place as I'm not a religious person, but I'm so glad I decided to come check it out. This is such a beautiful area of Milpitas and truly a hidden gem. It's a wonderful place to get away from the bustle of every day life and enjoy a hike. Location-wise It's just past Ed Levin park in the hills. There is free parking but it can get filled up, mostly on Sundays when they serve the free lunch. The Spring Valley golf course is nearby and once you climb the stairs you get a wonderful view of Milpitas as well as the golf course and sun reflecting off the water. It really is quite beautiful, especially now that there's more greenery and sunlight. Around the actual temple area there are always a ton of people hanging out and hiking. If you're coming to hike, the first set of stairs takes about 10-15 minutes to the main area, and then there's another 10-15 minutes of stairs to the little yellow building. Past that is a dirt/gravel trail that gets quite steep and leads to the 2 crosses. To get to the very top cross there's a relatively steep incline so be careful, especially when you start going back down. That takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend trekking poles to be safe. It also gets very chilly and breezy so wear layers! There are also cows and therefore cow poop (& mud) so watch where you step. Honestly the whole hike is really meditative and restoring. There are a lot of people, but near the top it's much emptier and it's a great place to just enjoy time alone and reflect. And then you can head back down and grab some vegetarian food at 12:30! They also had milk thistle the last time we were there. I can definitely see this place being a Sunday tradition. I would definitely recommend everyone come out at least once and just experience it. You don't have to be Asian! Everyone is very welcoming and friendly. read more

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Truly a gem of a spot right in our backyard. Was deciding if I should share this spot or keep it to myself ;) The Dragon Mountain is much more than a temple. It brings together many different beliefs and you can use this spot as quiet contemplation for meditation. You can park at the bottom and hike up the stairs to get your workout in. Took us about 15-20 mins to get up and ~10 mins on the way down. We brought some snacks and had a picnic in the shade near the hammocks. There is also a trail to go all the way to the peak. Be sure to bring sunscreen and water as there's no shade near the top. It is strenuous, but much shorter than Mission Peak. This spot is maintained very well by volunteers. They even offer a shuttle service to go up and down the mountain. On top of that, we learned that there is lunch served Sundays from 12-2 PM. We had Vietnamese style banh canh noodle soup, fruits, tea, and dessert. Today we had pho. It was great and tasted like homemade food. There's also the option to drive up all the way to the top. They do not accept cash donations, but they do accept certain supplies. read more

You can come every day cost nothing a lot of views things to see interesting things to learn and very important they provide free restroom

I've been to many temples throughout Northern California, and this one definitely makes it to the top three in terms of beauty and tranquility. It's so close to San Jose and I have never even been up until today. It's just past Ed Levin County Park, and the drive is very scenic as to be expected since it's on elevated ground. Sometimes, it's nice to pause and step away from the chaotic city life to enjoy the 'stillness' of nature, and this place offers that. When you arrive, there is a small parking lot to the immediate left in which you can park. There's parking up the mountain also but I imagine it gets filled up quickly. There is a nice Vietnamese man (an affiliate of the temple) that drives up and down the mountain in a miniature red Jeep-looking cart to shuttle visitors up to the temple. Of course, you can walk but the be prepared for a hardcore hike because those steps are steep! When you get to the top, the view of the Valley is exceptional. You can see the Sierra and Foothills with the sun tucked behind the fluffy clouds. Photos attached to this review. There is a Catholic side of the park which is super beautiful. The Buddha statues are scattered all over the space for visitors to enjoy. Most of the statues also have short scriptures next to them describing the history of the Buddha. You can pray, meditate, or simply take a nap under one of the trees (there are hammocks and lounge chairs of all kinds underneath the bigger trees). On Sundays, the temple offers visitors a vegetarian lunch. They had vegetarian Pho today, and rice with a vegetable stir fry. I'm told that monks do not reside on the premises so the temple is pretty much operated and maintained by volunteers and community groups. I just found my go-to spot when I'm in need of spiritual healing. I enjoyed my experience and will definitely make it a point to be more of a frequent visitor. read more

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We made it there but it was closed! With prayers and our determination, Father and Mother blessed and gave us the permission to find a way to crawl through the gateThank you so much Father and Mother of Heaven read more

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** 9.20.20 TEMPLE AND HIKE ARE BOTH CLOSED ** Couldn't go in but looked like a good hike/walk from the car read more

The Dragon Mountain Thien Long Son - Parks Near Me - Milpitas, California

Wonderful multi-religion, historic park of the Vietnamese cultural heritage. This is not only another 'Buddhist monastery', this is an inter-faith amazing place to meditate, wonder, pray, have a picnic with family and friends, read a book in the red hammock or even do an exhausting workout climbing stairs made of cement and rooted to the mountain, stairs that seem to bring you directly to heaven. I love "my" Dragon Mountain, just 20 minutes away from where I live! After a pretty steep and curvy road, you will have plenty of parking spaces to choose from, depending on what 'station' do you prefer to start your micro-adventure. I was surprised to see what I will call the "Madonna of Milpitas" or the "Virgin Mary of Milpitas" in an area dedicated to the Christian faith. It is very peaceful and I will recommend as an alternative of a church because you get the extra side of the views and the smell of trees (plus the always burning incense). I enjoyed everything: that hammock! and the picnic tables made of carved stones and tree trunks, all polished and neat. There is a lot of construction going on, so this park is going to grow and be even more magnificent. The vistas to the golf course down hill could not be better. Bring your picnic basket, you won't regret. Bring your tennis shoes. You will regret if don't (you won't want to skip the stairs peregrination). Each statue is made either of nice stones (like white marble) or wood (like that majestic one, literally a man out of a tree, amazing). A big thanks to the generosity of the Vietnamese donor of this land and creator of the Dragon Mountain, what an spiritual, unselfish gift for the 'semi-souless Silicon Valley'. The views, the atmosphere, the good vibes, just wow. read more

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