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25 Things to do in San Jose, California in 2022

25 Issues to do in San Jose, California in 2022


Few locations are as lovely as California. The state has a number of the finest seashores, cities, and hikes in all the United States. Situated in Northern California only one hour south of San Francisco, San Jose is among the finest cities on the west coast.

San Jose is a vacationer scorching spot. There are numerous issues to do in San Jose, from heritage sights to pure surroundings and mountaineering trails. It’s also identified for its cutting-edge tech motion and academic alternatives. It’s dwelling to San Jose State College, Santa Clara College, and even Silicon Valley, the house of the tech trade. 

Prime issues to do in San Jose, California

Visiting San Jose is unquestionably a kind of issues that it’s best to contemplate if you’re street tripping via this a part of the USA. The town is fast-paced and all the time maintaining with the newest traits and developments. Nonetheless, it additionally has a powerful sense of historical past and heritage. Prepare as a result of these are the twenty-five finest issues to do in San Jose, California.

You’ll discover enjoyable actions throughout this cool metropolis. No matter you select, we have now little question that you should have a good time. However be sure to take a look at our options of issues to do in San Jose to get you began.

An effective way to get round California is by automobile. This makes doing day journeys to locations like Monterey, Silicon Valley, and wineries a lot simpler to discover. Verify automobile rental costs for San Jose right here.

1. Store on Santana Row

Things to do in San Jose Santana Row
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San Jose’s Silicon Valley is fairly darn well-known. It’s identified for the biggest assortment of tech corporations and is all the time concerned within the newest and biggest initiatives. However, if you wish to choose up a brand new gadget as a memento, procuring on Santana Row is among the finest issues to do in San Jose.

Santana Row is the place you’ll be able to choose the fruits of Silicon Valley labor. It’s a business district, booming with life and flooded with eating places, outlets, and plazas. Purchasing lovers and tech fans alike will get pleasure from strolling the streets.

There is sufficient to see (and purchase) on Santana Row to maintain you occupied for not less than half a day. Nonetheless, when you embody a visit to the Santana Row cinema, permit a full day to understand the district.

2. San Jose Improv

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Fancy fun? San Jose Improv has been a dependable venue for a giggle because it opened in 2002. The venue hosts celeb comedians and newcomers, performing as a ladder for up-and-coming west coast artists and a venue for in-demand performers.

The NYC-born chain opened within the 60s and branched out to San Jose on the flip of the century. Catching a comedy present is a enjoyable technique to spend a night. We suggest checking the schedule for occasions that coincide along with your go to to San Jose.

The San Jose Improv theater is lavishly adorned, with comfy seats and each seat in the home affords good views of the stage. Don’t fear an excessive amount of about last-minute tickets having insufficient seating – in any case, sitting additional again simply means you’re much less more likely to get referred to as upon while you don’t wish to be.

3. Institute of Modern Artwork

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If you’re an artwork lover then you’ll want to spend a while in Downtown San Jose at one of many many artwork galleries. The Institute of Modern Artwork is the proper spot for looking and admiring and is break up into three completely different gallery areas. Some items are everlasting, however most are short-term, that means the San Jose Institute is all the time contemporary and thrilling.

The Institute has a large proportion of native and lesser-known artists. We’d suggest a go to to anybody who needs a thought-provoking and contemporary outlook on artwork, San Jose, and society. Some items are extra summary than others; the Institute has even introduced video video games and LED lights exhibitions.

Simply to utterly seal the deal, the Institute of Modern Artwork can also be free to enter. Attention-grabbing, budget-friendly, and appropriate to get pleasure from in all climate, the Institute is unquestionably an attraction in your itinerary.

4. California Theatre

things to do in san jose california theater
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The California Theatre is one other venue in your night itineraries. The Nineteen Twenties-built image home is gorgeous and hosts performs, live shows, and dwell occasions. It has that elegant and intimate really feel, with seats curved round a stage you’re feeling that you might virtually contact when you tried.

For a traditional theatre expertise, an evening at this venue ticks all of the packing containers. You possibly can examine the upcoming schedule to see what occasions align along with your go to dates. The theatre has hosted the West Aspect Story play, Die Fledermaus opera, and even lectures by physicists and different trade specialists.

There are occasions most nights, so there’s a excessive chance that you’ll find one thing of curiosity. For an additional deal with, you should purchase food and drinks on the venue earlier than or after the present.

5. Almaden Quicksilver County Park

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Generally you wish to escape to nature with out having to ‘escape’ too far. Almaden Quicksilver County Park in San Jose’s finest reply to this conundrum.

The Mockingbird Hill Entrance to the nation park is only a twenty-minute drive south of San Jose Metropolis Middle. You will be transported from San Jose’s streets to a ravishing, hilly panorama in lower than half an hour. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is nice for mountaineering to scenic viewpoints and has plenty of mining historical past. You possibly can incorporate visiting previous mining infrastructure into your walks. The park is finest for individuals who need hills and historical past.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park has practically forty miles of mountaineering trails and thirty miles of bridleways. You possibly can discover the nation park on foot or arrange a path journey with native stables. Both manner, the park is well a full-day exercise. It’s best to permit not less than a morning to understand the flora and enjoyable, pure atmosphere.

6. Lexington Reservoir County Park

Talking of areas of pure magnificence, Lexington Reservoir County Park is one other glorious place to go to simply outdoors the San Jose middle.

The 950-acre park will get its namesake from the large synthetic lake in its middle. Whereas swimming is prohibited, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a stroll across the reservoir – stopping at picnic areas and fishing spots. The reservoir itself is 338 acres and absolutely stocked with trout and black bass, amongst different fish.

This county park is a superb place to spend a day by the water. Fishing lovers and households will notably recognize the lake entry. It’s also properly mixed with a go to to Testarossa Vineyard, positioned simply ten minutes up the street.

7. Tech Interactive

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You possibly can’t go to the house of Silicon Valley with out visiting the Tech Interactive Museum. Tech is an integral a part of San Jose’s historical past and future, so the place higher to be taught extra about this contemporary world we dwell in.

Tech Interactive is about within the midst of all of the Downtown San Jose motion. The museum has every little thing from experimental labs to design problem experiences – deliberate to make you assume and uncover for your self, somewhat than feeding secondhand data via boring exhibitions.

Tech Interactive is family-friendly however under no circumstances excludes adults with out kids. Company of all ages will benefit from the museum, so mark it down as a powerful choice when visiting San Jose.

The place to Keep in San Jose

Really helpful motels to get you began. If you’re questioning the place to remain in San Jose, first-timers will get pleasure from making a base downtown.

8. Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph

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The Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph is undoubtedly one of many prettiest buildings in San Jose. The Catholic cathedral is stuffed with all that attribute extravagance, lined from ground to ceiling in gorgeous architectural options and spiritual significance.

The Odell Organ is especially spectacular and was inbuilt 1886 – not that you simply’d guess that from its excellently maintained situation. The ceiling is gold-plated and options elaborate domes and ornament. Between the stained glass home windows, non secular statues, and calming ambiance, the cathedral is sufficient to impress you no matter your non secular beliefs.

A tour is one of the best ways to expertise the fantastic thing about the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph. Excursions run on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 1 pm and three pm.

9. Guadalupe River Park

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Guadalupe River Park is barely completely different from the parks we’ve lined. Guadalupe is an inner-city park positioned smack bang in the course of Downtown San Jose. Behind the treetops, you’ll be able to nonetheless see the town’s skyscrapers, and the park has a pure solace in a metropolis really feel, somewhat than feeling utterly minimize off from civilization.

Guadalupe has 2.6 miles of mountaineering and biking trails, which is ideal for these wanting a stretch of their legs. It is not uncommon to see morning joggers or professionals taking lunch breaks within the park. However, as a vacationer, it’s good to affix them.

This park is a superb place to expertise the city neighborhood and recognize internal metropolis greenspace. Because of its downtown location, it’s simply added to even essentially the most packed itineraries.

10. Blissful Hole Park and Zoo

Blissful Hole Park and Zoo wears many belts. The park is an amusement park, petting zoo, and unique zoo multi functional.

Blissful Hole Park is positioned in Kelley Park, a 250-acre inexperienced house close to the town middle. Whereas the zoo is comparatively small, it homes over 150 animals – a lot of whom are rescued or endangered members of a conservation breeding program.

Guests can become involved with dealing with animals, come face-to-face with unique animals, or let free on the amusement park rides. It’s also possible to attend particular workshops, with instructional and sensible alternatives to deepen your information of the animal kingdom.

11. Plaza de Cesar Chavez

things to do in san jose cesar chavez
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Did we point out how superb Downtown San Jose is? Simply to reiterate, Downtown San Jose is among the finest locations to discover within the metropolis. And, if you’d like a selected spot to understand this space of San Jose, Plaza de Cesar Chavez is our prime advice.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is among the hottest out of doors areas within the metropolis. Within the middle is a statue of the Mayan god Quetzalcoatl and an space of water jets that spurt up from floor degree in a fairly show.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is a must-visit when you go to San Jose in summer time or close to Christmas. In summer time, the water fountains and greenspace make the park a stunning, cool house to loosen up outside. Close to Christmas, the entire space is decked out with festive pop-up buildings and actions. Be careful for the ice skating rink, a spotlight attraction of the 12 months.

12. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

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The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is unbelievable; there isn’t any denying that. The museum is devoted to historical Egypt, displaying the biggest assortment on historical Egyptian artifacts in Western North America. It consists of exhibitions on burial processes and different notable traditions.

Among the most respected artifacts are mummies, together with a mummy from Usermontu’s coffin. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum isn’t one for the squeamish or dying averse, because it dives straight into all of the gory, sensible particulars about burials.

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a captivating exercise when you like historical historical past. Nonetheless, it is an interesting sufficient museum to maintain the typical customer as properly. Even Rosicrucian Park, the place the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is about, is adorned in Egyptian fashion, with Egyptian buildings and palm bushes to set the scene.

13. San Jose Museum of Artwork

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Are modern paintings shows not your factor? Or do you simply want a bigger venue than that of San Jose’s Institute? The San Jose Museum of Artwork is a perfect place to indulge additional in your love of artwork.

The San Jose Museum of Artwork has every little thing, from modern to fashionable artwork. It has over 2,500 items in its everlasting assortment and extra short-term exhibitions which might be continuously shifting and altering. It’s well-worth permitting not less than a number of hours to see all of it, plus longer if you wish to take it in as an fanatic or skilled.

The San Jose Museum of Artwork is a superb wet day exercise or only a place to broaden your inventive consciousness and information. It has one of many largest collections of artwork within the metropolis, and it’s one in all our prime suggestions on issues to do in San Jose.

14. Japanese Friendship Backyard

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The Japanese Friendship Backyard is a small, walled, six-acre backyard in Kelley Park. In case you haven’t visited a conventional Japanese backyard earlier than, you actually ought to. The Japanese Friendship Backyard in Kelley Park is an ideal instance, with streams, bridges, and ponds interconnected in a meticulous backyard.

The backyard is designed to represent peace and friendship, and it has a particular ambiance of serenity. The little bridges are good to stroll in firm or alone, deep in thought. The Japanese Friendship Backyard is a superb choice if you’d like a calming factor to do in San Jose.

San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Backyard is so lovely that it’s typically used for out of doors wedding ceremony ceremonies. Take a stroll via and recognize it your self – you solely want a spare hour.

15. A day journey to the Santa Cruz Mountains

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A day within the mountains is difficult to withstand. The Santa Cruz Mountains break up Santa Clara Valley from San Francisco Bay and are solely an hour’s drive from San Jose Middle.

The mountain vary is coastal, and plenty of of its mountaineering trails have ocean views overlooking San Francisco Bay. The Santa Cruz Mountains are additionally well-known for his or her redwood bushes – the tallest tree species on the planet. Whereas Santa Cruz doesn’t have any redwoods of record-breaking top, they’re nonetheless imposing.

You could possibly hike the tallest mountain, Loma Prieta. You could possibly go mountain biking via steep forest trails. Or, you might loosen up and spend a day wine tasting in one of many area’s many wineries – simply be sure you’ve obtained a secure journey again to the town.

This South Bay Wineries Tour takes you on a VIP journey to 4 wineries from San Francisco together with within the foothills of the San Cruz Mountains together with Cupertino and Saratoga. Find out about wine making course of and pattern one of the best wines within the San Francisco Bay space. It features a picnic lunch. Particulars right here.

16. Japanese American Museum

The Japanese Friendship Gardens are fairly. However the Japanese American Museum is a wonderful place to be taught extra about Japanese American tradition and historical past.

The museum follows the story of Japanese immigration – from the preferred early roles taken in American society to the impression of World Warfare Two on the neighborhood. The Japanese American Museum tackles heavy subjects like discrimination whereas questioning the essence of the American id.

Add this museum to your itinerary for a thought-provoking and insightful factor to do in San Jose.

17. Alum Rock Park

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Alum Rock Park is an oldie however goldie. The general public park is the oldest municipal park in California and a well-liked afternoon journey from San Jose.

The park sits on the foothills of the Diablo Mountains and is roughly 720 acres in dimension. There are mountaineering, biking, horseback using trails, and mineral springs to wash in. The park is lengthy established as a pure well being spa getaway and an incredible spot to go wild swimming.

In brief, this park is incredible. You possibly can spot wildlife like red-tailed hawks and inexperienced herons. You will get lively on foot or on a motorcycle. Or you’ll be able to simply loosen up and funky off in pure mineral water – which is all the time refreshing in Californian summers.

18. Yosemite Nationwide Park

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A vacation in San Jose doesn’t imply limiting your self to spending the entire time within the San Jose space. The town is ideally positioned to discover California’s nationwide parks – so why not spend the day additional afield? You possibly can simply lease a automobile in San Jose or buy a guided tour like this on GetYourGuide.

Tunnel View, Olmsted Level, Washburn Level, and Vernal Falls are viewpoints it’s best to prioritize on a flying go to to the nationwide park. In case you spend quite a lot of hours in Yosemite, you might additionally deal with one of many shorter trails like Prepare dinner Meadow’s Loop, Sentinel Dome, or Mirror Lake.

Yosemite Nationwide Park is among the most well-known parks in the USA, by no means thoughts simply California. The park is a four-hour drive away, so that you’ll must set off early within the morning and should want to have a number of drivers to make driving the gap in sooner or later possible. Alternatively, simply keep in Yosemite in a single day and add on the journey as a detour from San Jose.

You possibly can e-book day excursions from San Jose to Yosemite Nationwide Park. This extremely rated tour

19. SAP Middle

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The SAP Middle is a large area within the middle of San Jose. The sector incessantly hosts worldwide artists and is thought for its larger-than-life occasions. It has a capability of over 17,000 individuals and, on a great day, you’ll be able to wager that it fills it. When visiting it’s best to positively preserve an eye fixed out for San Jose Shark video games on the SAP Middle.

The San Jose Sharks are the town’s ice hockey crew, and the SAP Middle is their revered dwelling floor. The SAP middle even has the nickname ‘the shark tank’. You’ll be rewarded with an electrical ambiance and an excellent area expertise when you can catch a house sport. The thrill is infectious even when you haven’t watched ice hockey earlier than.

You possibly can examine the schedule on the San Jose Shark’s and SAP Middle’s web sites. It’s finest to e-book tickets upfront to keep away from disappointment, as loyal followers rapidly snatch up out there tickets.

20. Vasona Lake County Park

things to do in san jose vasona lake park
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Vasona Lake Nation Park is the cherry on the highest of San Jose’s nation parks. The park is positioned within the residential space of Los Gatos. It spans a scenic 45 acres of trails, picnic areas, and inexperienced house.

Within the middle of the park, very similar to Lexington Park, there’s a massive reservoir that’s appropriate and stocked for fishing. The reservoir is recognizable by many distinctive options, together with Goose Island (a tiny pure island on the lake) and the Vasona Lake Dam. Strolling the lake perimeter is a ravishing technique to recognize the park and the good outside.

Whereas Vasona Lake Nation Park is far smaller than Lexington Nation Park, it’s your best option if you’d like a brief lakeside expertise. A go to to Vasona simply matches into half a day, and you might see one of the best components in simply a few hours. If you’re brief on time, it’s a incredible choice to get pleasure from suburban nature.

21. Winchester Thriller Home

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Visiting Winchester Thriller Home is among the most weird and creepy issues in San Jose. And if that isn’t sufficient to tempt you in for a go to, hearken to this. E book this Winchester Thriller Tour

Winchester Mansion belonged to Sarah Winchester, a rich heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms. Along with her fortune, Sarah commissioned the development of Winchester Mansion. Nonetheless, the method was suffering from supernatural incidents. It quickly turned obvious that Winchester rifle victims have been haunting the home.

The development course of took a grand complete of 38 years. Even for a 160-room mansion, you’d be proper to assume that this timescale was on the excessively lengthy aspect. Your go to will make it extra comprehensible although, as Sarah commissioned many weird options to discourage the hauntings. The mansion is sort of a real-life maze – with color-coded rooms and misleading routes like staircases main nowhere.

We suggest reserving a tour as, whereas a bit of costly, you’ll get essentially the most informative expertise this manner. Winchester Thriller Home is partly a San Jose heritage attraction and considerably a supernatural expertise. Both manner, although, it is among the finest issues to do within the metropolis.

22. San Jose Flea Market

San Jose Flea Market is as a lot a cultural spot as it’s a market. Sure, you’ll discover all of the stalls with a various vary of products to purchase. However you’ll additionally discover free dance classes, trivia occasions, and a beer backyard.

The town’s flea market has been in full swing because it opened its doorways within the Sixties. You’ll discover over 800 sellers attending each weekend. Nonetheless, there are additionally designated weekday market days, so don’t fret if you’re visiting San Jose throughout the week.

San Jose Flea Market has every little thing – even dwell music. The market has a stage that native performers can select to carry out to consumers on, and, most of the time, this stage attracts a bit of gathering. Visiting the market is a enjoyable factor to do in San Jose, whether or not you wish to store or simply benefit from the ambiance.

23. San Pedro Sq. Market

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San Pedro Sq. market has a barely completely different vibe. This market makes a speciality of meals and appears like an off-the-cuff meals court docket.

You could possibly be sampling a banh mi from On A Roll, a craft beer from Market Beer Co., or tucking into hand-rolled sushi at Hyland Home of Sushi. San Pedro Sq. Market has one of the best multi-cultural delicacies in all of San Jose, which is saying one thing, as San Jose has numerous scrumptious meals.

We suggest visiting San Pedro Marketplace for lunch. Loads of the meals is kind of snack-like somewhat than sit-down meal dishes. Plus, you’ll be able to all the time come again for dinner when you can’t resolve between two choices.

24. Los Gatos Creek Path

Do you like a health problem? It’s best to contemplate strolling Los Gatos Creek Path. The 11.2-mile path begins in Downtown San Jose and ends simply previous Lexington Reservoir. You’ll go Los Gatos County Park and Vasona Lake County Park – combining visiting a number of parks in sooner or later.

After mountaineering in distant, pure areas, it’s good to combine issues up and take a suburban stroll. The trailhead can also be remarkably straightforward to entry, which is useful if you’re brief on time or not hiring a automobile in San Jose.

As you will have guessed, Los Gatos Creek Path follows Los Gatos Creek, a small river operating south of San Jose. The path itself is tarmacked and bike-friendly, so you’ll be able to all the time cycle it if you wish to full the route faster. In any other case, permit as much as 5 hours to finish Los Gatos Creek Path on foot.

25. Kids’s Discovery Museum

If you’re touring with younger companions, the Kids’s Discovery Museum is a incredible, age-appropriate factor to do in San Jose.

The Kids’s Discovery Museum goals to supply simply that, with Montessori-style studying alternatives and specialised instructional areas. The museum is designed so dad and mom can take the backseat and let their kids direct the household across the exhibitions. There are interactive theater performances, a water play zone, and a mammoth discovery exhibit.

Find out how to Get to San Jose

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The simplest technique to get to San Jose is to fly. San Jose Airport is simply 3 miles from Downtown San Jose, so it’s fast and handy to switch from the airport to the town middle.

In fact, if you’re street tripping the west coast or one other widespread American street journey route, chances are you’ll want to drive to San Jose. Driving to San Jose is an efficient choice if you wish to cease at locations en route, as the town is surrounded by sights and pure surroundings. Guarantee that your lodging affords parking; in any other case, parking will be problematic within the metropolis.

Getting Round

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San Jose is extraordinarily well-connected by the VTA Gentle Rail and Bus system. Whereas there isn’t a subway system, you don’t discover it and most positively aren’t inconvenienced with out one. The sunshine rail or bus is the best choice for a low-cost technique to get round San Jose.

In case you keep centrally, you’ll have the ability to discover many widespread sights on foot. In Downtown San Jose, there are vacationer sights virtually in your lodge’s doorstep.

Driving is sweet for day journeys and reaching sights on the town outskirts. Keep away from driving within the metropolis middle although, as site visitors is terrible and generally strolling will be faster than driving.

Greatest Time to Go to

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In brief, spring or fall are one of the best instances to go to San Jose. Summer season is heat however far too busy, and in winter, you miss out on having fun with the out of doors actions. Spring and fall are one of the best of each worlds – not too busy however nonetheless well-suited to being outside.

To slim it down additional, Might and October are the shoulder seasons and least expensive months to go to San Jose. General, Might is a bit of hotter, so we suggest visiting then when you can.

To Conclude

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San Jose is stuffed with unbelievable issues to do and see. The town is among the finest locations in Northern California. It is a wonderful various to the well-trodden streets of San Francisco.

You’ll be overwhelmed with leisure choices from the second you permit San Jose Airport – which, we predict, is essentially the most thrilling place to be in.

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