A few of us from the building wanted to check out the Mountain View Farmers Market, using our newest resident amenity – Caltrain Go Passes, which include unlimited rides on the Caltrain, across all zones for ALL of 2025!
What started as a casual suggestion among a few of us turned into one of those perfect Bay Area Sundays.
Getting There
We met up in our lobby at 10:30, and walked over to the Caltrain Lawrence Station for our 10:38am train.
It takes about 2 minutes to walk over, and you need to simply tap your Clipper card to board the train.
The usual weekend morning crowd was there – cyclists with their bikes, families heading to the city, and us with our empty tote bags and big plans.
One of the best things about having these Go Passes is not thinking twice about hopping on the train for a morning trip. No fare calculations, no zones to figure out – just show up and go.
As we waited for the train, we ran into more neighbors from The Balmoral. What started as three of us turned into five by the time we boarded. Funny how that happens here.
The Market Scene
The Mountain View Farmers Market is one of those Bay Area institutions you always mean to check out but somehow never do. It’s tucked away at 600 West Evelyn Avenue, running every Sunday from 9 to 1, with over 80 vendors setting up shop each week.
When we arrived, the market was already bustling. The morning fog had burned off, leaving behind one of those clear spring days that make you grateful to live here. Some of us made straight for the fruit stands, while others wandered off in search of other local delicacies, including honey, coffee and pastries.
The vendors really know their stuff. We spent a good hour just exploring – trying different varieties of bread, sampling strawberries that actually taste like strawberries, and discovering fresh produce from local farms. The orange vendors handed out samples of varieties you never see in stores.
Our group kept splitting up and reconnecting throughout the morning, sharing finds and comparing notes. Someone found a bread vendor making sourdough that rivaled anything in San Francisco. Another discovered a stall selling local flowers that looked like they belonged in a magazine.
The Journey Home
By noon, we were loaded down with probably more produce than any of us needed. The train ride back was short – the Mountain View stop is about a 8-minute train ride.
Back in Santa Clara, we weren’t quite ready to call it a day. Coffeebar, right next to The Balmoral, has this great indoor seating area that’s perfect for cold, lazy Sundays.
We grabbed a few seasonal lattes to share among the group. The baristas there do something different every few weeks – this time they had Tiramisu Lattes, Maple Pecan Lattes, and a few other varieties.
Community Matters
Living in the Bay Area can sometimes feel transient, like everyone’s just passing through on their way somewhere else. But there’s something about The Balmoral that’s different. Maybe it’s the mix of people, or maybe it’s little perks like the Go Passes that make it easy to get out and explore together.
Whatever it is, days like this remind us why we chose to live here.
Join Us
If you’re looking for a place in Santa Clara where neighbors become friends, come check out The Balmoral. We can’t guarantee you’ll end up with neighbors who share your exact interests, but we can promise you’ll find people who are down for random weekend adventures.
The next market trip is probably happening soon. Just remember to bring a sturdy bag – trust us, you’ll need it!