What to do and see in San Jose, California (CA): The Best Things to do

March 19, 2022 Karren Gelb

Welcome to bustling San Jose, where Silicon Valley meets Spanish history and modern edifices sit alongside meticulously restored 19th-century buildings. Such is the contrast of this city rich in tradition and, thanks to the tech industry, just plain rich. Five star-hotels and fine restaurants line the streets of the restored downtown area, and the cultural scene is thriving with museums, theater and art to rival any world-class hub. Don't miss the Tech Museum of Innovation, an exploration of Silicon Valley and its impact on the area. History buffs will relish the old mansions and can delve into the city's past at the History Museum of San Jose. Save time for a round of golf or the locals' other favorite pastime, sipping coffee and people-watching at a crowded cafe.
Restaurants in San Jose

1. Los Gatos Creek Trail

San Jose, CA http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=2872
Excellent
56%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 259 reviews

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Paved trail great for running: cuts through parks, ponds, and downtown Los Gatos.

Reviewed By GlobalViajer0 - Sacramento, United States

Pleasant walk with much foot traffic, feels safe with sporadic shade. Loop around the reserve is about 1.5 miles. Bring water if you plan to stick around for a bit, parking nearby.

2. Children's Discovery Museum

180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110-2780 +1 408-221-3814 [email protected] http://www.cdm.org/
Excellent
64%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 453 reviews

Children's Discovery Museum

Since opening in 1990, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose has become one of largest and most respected museums of its kind in the nation. With interactive exhibits and programs encompassing science, humanities, performing arts, and health and physical fitness, the award-winning Museum offers new exhibits each year that respond to children's diverse educational needs. With the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, hands-on exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations.

Reviewed By B4Travel2 - San Jose, United States

If you live in the area, this is a great place to bring young kids or toddlers! It would not be a place that you travel to see, but if staying within an hour's distance, and have an active toddler that you want to run off some steam, and give them a creative outlet, or any kids, probably best for 8 years or younger, this is a wonderful place to give them new things to explore. We met up with some family here (mainly adults & 1 two-year-old), and it was a nice way to catch up, while giving the toddler plenty of things to experiment with. There is a Mammoth exhibit, showing where they were in the San Jose area, that is interesting for all ages, a book nook, some crafty projects, a bubble room, where you can make very large bubbles, many little exhibits that show how gravity works, or various interactive displays, an ambulance & fire truck that kids can climb through, etc. There are 2 stories to the building, and many different rooms with various things to do, so you can easily spend several hours here. It is $15/person, so if a local, it is probably worth getting an annual pass, to be able to come back and get best value. Also a great place to go, if it's a rainy day, and your kids are restless.

3. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

1660 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126-2126 +1 408-947-3635 http://www.rosicrucianegyptianmuseum.org
Excellent
58%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 914 reviews

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

Architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, it houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America, including objects from pre dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era.

Reviewed By 12jerald

Came into the museum with the intention of killing time. The museum offered many detailed explanations about the history of Egypt, along with various cool and interesting artifacts and depictions.

4. Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

80 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113-2303 +1 408-283-8100 http://www.stjosephcathedral.org/
Excellent
68%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 307 reviews

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

Built in 1876, this church serves the oldest parish in San Jose.

Reviewed By 202colml

An amazing piece of art history and well worth a visit. Beautiful paintings and art inside this old cathedral and the original high altar and tabernacle is still there, just look behind the 'modern' bishops chair.

5. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112-2520 +1 408-794-6400 [email protected] http://www.hhpz.org
Excellent
52%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 484 reviews

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose has been a part of Bay Area families since it opened its’ gates in 1961. It’s a unique combination of family rides, amusements, a Puppet Theater, play areas and an accredited Zoo with over 140 animals, from endangered lemurs to miniature horses. Year round classes are offered for ages 12 months to adults as well as special events for all seasons. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo offers yearly Memberships for families and individuals.

Reviewed By stephaniewoolsey - San Jose, United States

This is more than a zoo! Carousel, play areas for different ages, and plenty of room for kids to move around in addition to the many animals at the park. The Danny the dragon train ride is a local favorite, and recently new parking has been added. Family friendly adventures!

6. SAP Center

525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113-1520 +1 408-287-7070 http://www.sapcenter.com/
Excellent
50%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 712 reviews

SAP Center

Reviewed By JRWac - Sebastopol, United States

Great venue with super friendly people. Enjoyed a sharks game and lots of fun, even though they lost. Will do it again.

7. Municipal Rose Garden

Naglee Avenue & Dana Ave, San Jose, CA 95216 +1 408-794-7274 http://www.sanjoseca.gov/facilities/Facility/Details/74
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 599 reviews

Municipal Rose Garden

Reviewed By Geminican - San Jose, United States

The bay area has many attractions so it took me a long while before discovering this hidden gem in San Jose. Beautiful garden with wide variety of roses, a great collection. And it's free!

8. Santana Row

377 Santana Row Suite 1005, San Jose, CA 95128-2053 +1 408-551-4611 [email protected] http://www.santanarow.com/
Excellent
55%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 579 reviews

Santana Row

Santana Row is Silicon Valley's premier outdoor destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, parks and plazas, Santana Row features over 50 shops, 30 restaurants, the boutique Hotel Valencia and a six-screen movie theatre. Santana Row hosts a variety of events ranging from fashion shows to live music, outdoor yoga classes to the annual tree lighting ceremony. In addition to the dynamic shopping & dining options, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 690,000+ square feet of Class A office space.

Reviewed By normanr302 - San Jose, United States

Stroll down Santana Row. Lots of great restaurants to chose from including outdoor seating; great shopping; lots of convenient parking; oftentimes outdoor music; movie theater at one end.

9. The Tech Interactive

201 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113-2008 +1 408-294-8324 [email protected] http://www.thetech.org/
Excellent
52%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 964 reviews

The Tech Interactive

*The Tech Interactive is closed through Tuesday, March 31. For more information about our response to COVID-19 please visit thetech.org/covid-19. The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly hands-on science and technology center located in the heart of downtown San Jose, California. It has become a landmark for visitors seeking a glimpse of the most inventive place on Earth — Silicon Valley. The Tech is dedicated to inspiring the innovator in everyone. With 132,000 square feet of fun, hands-on experiences and one of-a-kind floor programs, The Tech unleashes your creative sparks. Enjoy the largest IMAX dome screen in the West —and the first in the world with a 4K laser projector. You'll see amazing documentaries come to life on an eight-story-high screen and digital surround-sound system.

Reviewed By udaykumarh2015 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India

San Jose Tech Interactive – A Place of Learning I visited the admired Tech Museum on 15 September (Sunday). The facility of advance booking is available. After reaching, we took the ticket for the show, “Volcano” in IMAX. The show was thrilling. The Tech is a science and technology center in San Jose, California, in Silicon Valley. It is located adjacent to a famous Plaza in Downtown San Jose. The Tech mentions that it is a world leader in the creation of immersive STEAM education resources to develop the next generation of problem-solvers locally, nationally and globally. The Tech further believes that everyone is born as an innovator who can change the world for the better. The Tech Museum, in 2015, was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honour a United States museum, science center or cultural institution can achieve. As on date, The Tech Interactive welcomes half a million visitors each year. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge, its annual team design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as “The Tech for Global Good”, which honours people doing work to benefit humankind. Furthermore, The Tech celebrates the present and encourages the development of innovative technology for a more promising future. In my iPhone, I took some photos which I am posting with brief description.

10. Winchester Mystery House

525 S Winchester Blvd North San Jose, San Jose, CA 95128-2588 +1 408-247-2000 [email protected] http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/
Excellent
39%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
6%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 3,038 reviews

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is the beautiful but bizarre mansion of Sarah Winchester, heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Construction began in 1884, and didn't stop for 38 years. Haunted by the spirits of Winchester rifle victims, Mrs. Winchester built the Victorian mansion with many odd and mysterious features. The Winchester Mystery House is an architectural wonder and historic landmark in San Jose, CA. Self-guided garden tours are available.

Reviewed By annettek341 - Boise, United States

After visiting several years ago and taking a hard hat tour, we decided it was time for another visit. We were right! The entry area has been redone and very open a bright, the Winchester Rifle Museum is still open and interesting to walk through as we wait for our paid house tour. The court yard is very welcoming. A couple of new additions: a shooting gallery, which we didn’t think Sarah Winchester would be too happy about and the green screen for photos taken while holding rifles. This house is so unique and there is so much to appreciate that the photos and shooting gallery cheapen a great experience. No more photos in the home but a fantastic tour given by Adam! We even were able to see rooms we have not yet visited! It was a great 1 hr 10 min tour. The tiffany windows are still beautiful the stories about Sarah still interesting and the early ideas and inventions of Sarah Winchester still exciting! Because we did not get enough in the first hour we opted for the Extended house tour for $10 more for each ticket. This was great, all new areas to us to investigate. Our guide Bennett was also very knowledgeable and gave a great tour! Would love to spend the night someday. Go visit this beautiful Victorian!

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