A few weekends ago my family unexpectedly stumbled upon an unscheduled Saturday. What a treasure! I love unscheduled days; they are a breath of fresh air. My husband suggested we hit up the free football exhibit at Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara. He had me at "free," and it did not disappoint! The kids loved it, and so did we. We kicked field goals, played referee (reviewing plays and making calls), tried on pads and helmets, and learned about the early days of the sport. The exhibit continues until April 3.

As we drove away, I requested a spontaneous stop at Mission Santa Clara. I didn’t realize what a genius idea this was until we arrived: Santa Clara University is the forgotten gem of Silicon Valley! We explored the mission; wandered the picturesque campus replete with grassy quads, fountains, sunning students, and manicured gardens; and ended our visit by taking in the exhibits at the de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University’s own art museum that has (you guessed it) free admission. 

A great way to simplify your life in this expensive region is to seek out free outings. The only money we spent for this double-header family outing was on gas. I hope you take advantage of the two above–you won’t be disappointed. I plan to return to SCU sometime soon, spread out a blanket on the grass, close my eyes, and pretend I’m back at college with far fewer wrinkles and responsibilities.