NEARBY SITES |
Alum Rock Park
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16240Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA95127
Tel. 408.259.5477
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A natural, rugged getaway lies just minutes from downtown San Jose in 720-acre Alum RockPark, San Jose's first and largest park. Visitors can partake of many leisure activities, including bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking or taking a scenic hike. The park, named for a giant boulder once thought to be aluminum, is nestled within the Alum RockCanyon in the foothills of the DiabloRange. Dedicated in 1872, Alum RockPark is California's oldest city park. A visitor center located in the mid-canyon provides maps, information and educational displays. Kids love playing in the stream which runs through the park or on the playground equipment, as well as visiting the Youth Science Institute, which houses a variety of live animals. There are numerous picnic areas throughout the park. For group picnic reservations call (408) 277-5561. Park Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until one-half hour after sunset. There is a charge per vehicle for parking. |
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Children's Discovery Museum
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180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Tel. 408.298.5437
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Serving the needs of children, families, and schools as a center for learning and discovery, this museum in downtown San Jose features interactive hands-on exhibits, programs, puzzles, games, classes and much more. The giant 52,000 square foot purple building sits in DiscoveryMeadowPark and also houses a museum store where kids can choose from among several toys and gifts, and a cafe where parents can grab an espresso. A fun place for the whole family, where touching the exhibits, making noise and running around is actually encouraged. If you're visiting San Jose with kids, this place is a must. Open Tuesday-Sunday. |
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Hakone Gardens
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21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA95070
Tel. 408.741.4994
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Tucked away in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains just outside of Saratoga, about 25 minutes from downtown San Jose, this is one of the few truly authentic Japanese gardens in the US. With four unique gardens created to offer beauty in all seasons, twisting gravel paths, waterfalls, a koi pond, a bamboo park and a replica of a 19th century Kyoto tea merchant's home, it makes for a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley or San Jose. The terrain is uneven, so wear low-heeled shoes. Sumptuous meals and snacks can be had a few minutes down the road in nearby Saratoga. Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat, Sun. |
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Mexican Heritage Plaza
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1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA95116
Tel. 800.MHC.VIVA |
This 55,000 square-foot cultural center includes a 500-seat state-of-the-art theater, thematic gardens, and La Galeria, a 4,000-square foot exhibition space with two art galleries celebrating the Latino legacy. The theater is a major SouthBay performance venue and the center as a whole serves as a regional resource for cultural programming and education. La Galeria will also soon be affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.
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Peralta Adobe & Fallon House |
175 West St. John Street, San Jose, CA95110
Tel. 408.287.2290
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Built in 1797, the Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, California's first settlement. The Fallon House is a 15-room VictorianMansion built by an early San Jose mayor whose legacy is surrounded by controversy to this day. Tucked around the corner from the many fine restaurants on downtown San Jose's San Pedro Square, these two little well-preserved buildings represent a slice of California history and offer a quiet respite to the hi-tech hi-rises of downtown San Jose.
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Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
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1342 Naglee Ave., San Jose CA
Tel.
408.947.3636
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Architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States--including objects from pre-dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era. Sure, it's not the BritishMuseum, but thousands of vistors flock to this place every year, mostly to see the mummies and well-displayed dioramas of ancient Egyptian civilization. The museum even offers tours of a mock Egyptian tomb. There's a gift shop and a cafe on site. The museum and its gardens are located in RosicrucianPark, which dates back 75 years and is within walking distance of San Jose's MunicipalRoseGardens. Where else in San Jose are you going to see a mummified baboon? Open Tuesday-Sunday. |
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San Jose Flea Market
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1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose, CA. 95133
Tel. 408.453.1110 |
A California tradition for over four decades, the San Jose Flea Market has grown into the biggest open-air market in the United States, featuring 8 miles of colorful alleys and treasure-laden corridors where over 2,000 vendors hawk their wares across 120 acres of land. Tires, toys, produce, beer, sunglasses, car parts, jewelry, clothing, music, and just about anything else you can imagine is on sale here somewhere. More than four million people visit each year. Open Wednesday-Sunday. |
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San Jose Golf Courses
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The San Jose area boasts a full range of top flight golf courses, including the Coyote Creek Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course, and Cinnabar Hills Golf Club voted the best golf course in Silicon Valley by Metro readers. There are also excellent 18-hole courses at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Pruneridge Golf Club, Santa Teresa Golf Club and San Jose Municipal Golf Course just down the street from Trailer Tel.
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San Jose Museum of Art
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110 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Tel. 408.271-6840 |
The Richardson Romanesque portion of this building in downtown San Jose (right next to the Fairmont Hotel) dates back to the late nineteenth century, when it served as the post office of San Jose. The other half, a modern addition of golden-hued sandstone, was built about ten years ago. A splendid combination of new and old, the museum employs state of the art temperature and humidity controls that allow it to share exhibits with New York's Whitney Museum and others. The museum focuses on twentieth and twenty-first century artworks, with an emphasis on West Coast artists. There's something new going on at the San Jose Museum of Art almost every day, whether it's lectures, poetry readings, events for children, classes, or concerts. Docent tours are available and the collection is constantly changing. Best of all, it's centrally located in downtown San Jose and it's free. Open Tuesday-Sunday.
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Santa ClaraValley Vineyards |
The Santa Clara Valley is the oldest continuing producing wine region in California. Local wineries include: J. Lohr Winery, Mirassou Vineyards, Sarah's Vineyard, Solis Winery, Sycamore Creek Vineyards, Thomas Kruse Winery and Troquato Vineyards. The region produces excellent Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, among others. Many of the wineries offer tours, picnic grounds, tastings and on-site purchases.
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Santa CruzBeach Boardwalk |
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA95060
Tel. 831.423.5590
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California's oldest amusement park is about as original--and memorable--as boardwalks come. The only major seaside amusement park on the PacificCoast, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk blends old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. You can buy a bag of salt-water taffy, get your fortune told in the old-style arcade, take a road rage-releasing ride on the bumper cars, or test your mettle on the giant wood-framed roller coaster, The Big Dipper, whose unforgettable dips rival any extreme adventure in new theme parks. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a carousel and little cars and airplanes for the kiddies as well. Bring a swimsuit and a towel, as you'll be steps from a sandy, swimmable Santa Cruz beach. The Boardwalk is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends fall through spring.
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The Tech Museum of Innovation |
201 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Tel. 408.294.TECH |
Chock-full of unique hands-on exhibits, this cosmopolitan museum in the heart of downtown San Jose singularly focuses on how technology functions and is changing every aspect of the way we work, live, play and learn. The exhibits explore every possible application of technology: science, medicine, astronomy and much more. Definitely check out the spectacular IMAX theatre or attend some of the educational workshops, snack at the café, or drop in on the bookstore, which features several volumes related to Silicon Valley culture. With a park across the street, The Tech Museum of Innovation is a great place for kids and adults. |
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Winchester Mystery House |
525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, CA
Tel. 408.247.2000
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By far San Jose's most famous tourist attraction, this beautiful but bizarre 160-room Victorian mansion was built and constantly added on to by rifle heiress Sarah Winchester over a period of four decades. An architectural marvel, this place is so bizarre, you just have to check it out. Windows are built into the floor, staircases lead to nowhere, a chimney rises four floors, and doors open onto blank walls. With 4 stories, 47 fireplaces, 17 chimneys, and 950 doors, the guided tours can be quite head-scratching. Definitely worth the visit. And for after the tour, there's a theatre complex and restaurant next door. |
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Willow Glen |
Once a city in its own right, Willow Glen is located about 3 miles southwest of downtown San Jose, and includes all of the original town (founded in 1927 and annexed by the city of San Jose in 1936), along with many adjacent areas that have developed since then. The traditional boundaries of Willow Glen are the GuadalupeRiver, Los Gatos Creek, and Coe and Curtner Avenues. Founded and built by the city's Italian immigrant community, Willow Glen consisted of blocks of quaint bungalows and lush flower and vegetable gardens in its early days. Now, Willow Glen is regarded as one of San Jose's most walkable neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and well-kept homes. At its heart is its own main street, Lincoln Avenue, home to shops and a variety of restaurants--from old-style diners and delis to coffeehouses to modern Mediterranean trattorias. Neighboring streets make for perfect strolling, including a walk to BramhallPark, with its mature trees, picnic tables, tennis courts and playground.
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