There is something for everyone at San Jose Museum of Art: contemporary art, lectures, concerts, tours, book signings, special events and even programs for children. The museum has been host to many outstanding traveling shows and has been a champion of local artists. The museum bookstore offers a nice selection of usual museum merchandise, such as books, tote bags and greeting cards. The museum cafe offers a wonderful rotating menu of seasonal delights.
The only place in North America dedicated solely to the works of Ludwig himself, this museum contains a wealth of material, including the much-heralded lock of Beethoven's hair. Original manuscripts, books, recordings, autographed materials, masks, sculptures, stamps, films and all sorts of things are here. The center sponsors many concerts and lectures throughout the year and several things are for sale, like coffee mugs, scores and a bibliography database. This is an excellent place for scholarly research.
With over 200 interactive, hi-tech exhibits, The Tech Museum of Innovation is unlike any other museum in the country. It is housed in a huge complex that stands out from all the other buildings in the heart of Downtown San Jose. Its unique Silicon Valley location is fitting given its technological nature and hands-on displays. Learn about communication networks, new frontiers in science, lasers, Silicon Valley inventions, biotechnology, and other cutting edge technologies that influence the world. The museum also includes a 360-degree IMAX theater.
Children's Discovery Museum has two floors worth of exhibits and activities, including a history of bubbles, face painting and all sorts of things to keep children busy and thinking. The museum is a giant structure straddling the Guadalupe River Park, so picnics are common for visitors. It is located right on the light rail station, which makes public transportation a snap. The museum offers facilities for birthday parties and special events for all sizes of groups, from small gatherings of 10 to large groups of 1000.
The Los Gatos Creek Trail meanders along the Los Gatos Creek, starting from Downtown San Jose, traversing San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood and the city of Campbell and terminating at Downtown Los Gatos. This 9.7 mile (15.61-kilometer) trail passes through bouts of woods and wilderness, and important landmarks like the Los Gatos Creek County Park and the Vasona Lake County Park. It provides a connecting link between three cities and is always filled with cyclists, walkers, joggers and bikers enjoying its lush natural beauty. Do not miss this must-visit attraction in San Jose, whether you seek to exercise amidst nature or walk hand in hand with your loved one.
Tombs, mummies and all sorts of ancient Egyptian artifacts await you at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium, one of the tourist favorites of San Jose. This place is located in the beautiful Rosicrucian Park, with palm trees and Egyptian-style buildings everywhere. The museum itself contains an extensive array of artifacts, jewelry and displays of Egyptian antiquity. The tour in the cavernous tomb below the museum is especially replete with information and entertainment. Through the displays, you will get an in-depth look at the nature of life in ancient Egypt.
Thousands visit this park each year to view the beautiful varieties of roses in a profusion of colors and types. A resplendent sight to behold, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden also includes a few fountains and a reflecting pool, making it a great spot for a quiet stroll even if you aren't a rose aficionado. Take a look at the map of the place, which lists the names of all the varieties of roses, some of which are rare kinds.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is located in East San Jose's Kelley Park, near the Japanese Friendship Garden. Happy Hollow is a perfect place to take the kids for a day out as it includes a zoo with all kinds of animals like jaguars, capybaras and monkeys. Happy Hollow is not just a zoo; it also features a park with rides like a carousel and a roller coaster, a petting zoo, shopping, and play structures. Happy Hollow also has a puppet theater, an animal hospital, and offers classes, programs and summer camps for kids.
This urban farm covers an impressive 47 acres (19.02 hectares). It has school tours, orchards, a barnyard, picnic areas and places to fly kites. It is a great place to bring kids, especially if they like animals as there are numerous breeds of rabbits, chickens, geese and ducks for them to befriend. The property was originally given to the city of San Jose with the intent that it be used as an agricultural learning center, and in this respect, it succeeds admirably. Admission is free.
Santana Row is an urban district, a magnet for shopping, dining, entertainment and accommodations in North San Jose. There is something for the entire family: 14 full service restaurants; twice-weekly farmers market; WiFi Internet access zones; Hotel Valencia, a world-class boutique hotel; outdoor cafes, public parks, gardens, plazas and courtyards; and a six screen CineArts complex. Developed by Federal Realty Investment Trust, Santana Row is a project that successfully combines the best elements of an urban plaza with the convenience and variety of a mall. It is a place like no other.
Sarah Winchester was heir to the Winchester repeating rifle fortune, and she was convinced that the spirits of all those killed with that gun were haunting her. So she moved from New Haven, Connecticut to San Jose to construct her dream home. To confuse the restless spirits, she constructed one of the oddest houses ever built and kept construction in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year until the day of her death. The Victorian-style labyrinth that resulted features a door on the second floor that opens onto thin air, and others that open onto walls and stairs and corridors that lead to dead ends. It features 160 rooms but only 110 can be explored. Don't miss this intriguing attraction when in town.
This San Jose theme park has one of the Bay Area's best collections of water rides. On hot summer days it is a place where the whole family can splash, play and picnic. A sample of the attractions include a wave pool, a pirate-inspired play structure with water cannons, waterfalls, a speed slide, thrill slides and a slow river for inner tubing. Careen your way down the long Barracuda Blaster or take an inner-tube ride down the Great White Shark. For infants and children, there is also a variety of kiddie pools and play areas.