San Jose's Offering
San Jose Offers to You...
Most visitors to the San Fransisco Bay Area will spend most of their time exclusively in San Fransisco, although there is so much more to see in the region. Tourists should see more than just the city by the bay.
When visiting the Bay Area, San Jose, the biggest city in the Bay Area, is a place that must be visited. The city of San Jose is home to about 1 million people making it the 11th biggest city in the U.S. And while San Jose does not offer the same physical and topographical beauty that San Fransisco does, there is still much to do, much to see, and much fun to be had:
The Winchester Mystery House: Sarah L. Winchester fianced the construction of this Victorian mansion in 1884, although 35 years later, it was still being built. In 1922, Sarah Winchester died, and the construction on the mansion immediately stopped. The structure became known as the Winchester Mystery House because of it's many oddities, and the report of it being haunted. Some of the irregularities include a chimney that extends four floors, many spiraling staircases that lead nowhere, and a window built into the floor. Today, the house is a national historic monument and is a museum, where guided tours take place everyday. The Mansion is not only a spectacle in architectural design, but walking around inside is an adventure. Seeing all the interesting features of the house and feeling the history makes a tour inside the Winchester Myster House a memorable and fun experience.
Santana Row: Opened in 2004, Santana Row features some of the finest shopping and dining options not only in San Jose, but the entire Bay Area. The row looks like a city block similar to those in New York, although here at Santana Row, there is just beauty. The buildings which include shops and condos are physically pleasing, and the surrounding area with palm trees and tasteful outdoor seating provide for a wonderful, warm and welcoming atmosphere. One could spend a day wondering the row, which also features live music in a courtyard area where there is grass to sit on as well as nice tables and benches. The shops range from Gucci to H&M to Starbucks, and while the area is upscale, you do not need a lot of money to enjoy Santana Row.
Tech Museum of Innovation: Full of hands on exhibits, the Tech Museum is a wonderful place for both adults and children. Opened in 1990 and remodeled in 1998, the museum focuses on how technology has and continues to change the way we live. From astronomy to medicine, there are many exhibits that portray the different ways technology is growing. In addition, the museum offers a great cafe as well as an IMAX theater. The Tech Museum is a must see in the Bay Area.
HP Pavilion (Shark Tank): The HP Pavilion is one of the biggest entertainment arenas in California. Home to the NHL San Jose Sharks, the arena is situated only a few miles from downtown. Whether one goes for a rock show or a hockey game, an outing in HP is an extremely fun and exciting experience. Rockers from Aerosmith to Bruce Springsteen, pop artists from Prince to Celine Dion, shows from Disney on Ice to High School Musical, and sporting events from tennis matches to Harlem Globetrotters basketball all take place here. The arena is accessable with a prominant bus route from the city to HP and lots of parking available. Tickets are on sale either at the arena, online, or at many ticketmaster locations around the city.
Alum Rock Park: Founded in 1872, the Alum Rock Park offers 13 miles of hiking trails as well as mountian biking trails and picnic spots. Natural beauty such as majestic redwood trees to vast views of the Bay Area are just a few of the attractions in this nature reserve park. Even if one is not a big fan of hiking, the park is a great place to have a picnic, or to just get away from the city and enjoy the simplicity and slendor of nature. Rabbits, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and on very rare occasions mountain lions have been spotted in the park, so an opportunity to see some wildlife is another appeal of Alum Rock Park.
yea Rune I do, I'm going to write another article on the night life. Downtown San Jose has a really great night life; lots of clubs, bars, and restaurants open late that are very good.
Do you have any recommendations for night life in San Jose?
Great tips for San Jose!