To be honest there's really not very much to see or do in San Jose... (Bruce Steinbeck)
Not a beautiful place, I don't think, but if you like to wander and come across interesting bits of city that have one kind of character or another, I suppose it's as good as any. If you like things that are actually interesting and nice, try to arrange to get up early in the morning and scoot on down to Monterey. (Donl Mathis)
There's not much to do here in San Jose / Silicon Valley, but there's plenty to do in the surrounding areas. Saratoga is a neighboring city, about 5-10miles from downtown to downtown. (eric)
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Alviso Harbor
At the bay-end of 1st St in San Jose. Old, abandoned boats sitting on mud flats. About as much character as you're going to get. (James Bahn)
Children's Discovery Museum.
It's best if you have a convenient four year old to borrow, but go alone if you must. How can you not go to a museum that's completely purple? They went around asking kids what the best color for a museum would be and the overwhelming choice was purple. If you go alone, you can just vicariously enjoy the kids enjoying the place. However, it was the first time I've ever gotten to turn on an ambulance siren. Then walk over to the intersection of 1st and San Carlos and have lunch at Original Joe's. Perfect day. (Wayne Hathaway)
Flea Market
San Jose Flea market, bring a telephoto, lots of local character(s) (James Bahn)
Mirassou Winery
East San Jose. As close to a pretty old winery as you're going to get. Grape vines might have leaves left on, not sure. (James Bahn)
Kelley Park
Home of the San Jose Historical Museum (or whatever their name is). They've actually got a small town out there, Victorian-vintage, complete with running streetcar on weekends. there's also a group of people out there restoring old streetcars in a warehouse, and you can watch them and talk to them. (James D. Jones)
Rosicrucian Museum
The San Jose Rosicrucian Museum is at the corner of Park and Naglee. I like the Rosicrucian museum in Santa Clara - a little on the campy side, but they've got some really interesting Egyptian stuff. (Lee Jones) (Diane Durbeck)
Tech Museum
Downtown San Jose. Excellent (and fun) museum of technology. (James D. Jones)
The Tech Museum is downtown and fun to roam through, lots of hands-on gizmos. (Anne)
It's the story of the Silicon Valley. I have not been there yet, but it has received rave reviews. It supposedly provides lots of hands-on activities to get everyone involved. It is downtown, directly across from the Convention Center. (Wayne Hathaway)
Villa Montalvo
Off highway 9 in Saratoga. Old white mansion, odd trees, free, huge lawn, classic arches for portraits, etc. (Jammes Bahn)
Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House: a _very_ peculiar, rambling house built by the widow of the guy who invited the Winchester Rifle, or something like that. Full of staircases that go nowhere, odd rooms, things like that. (James D Jones)
The day her husband died, Sarah Winchester was told by a mystic that she would die unless she always heard the sounds of construction on her house. For many years, she added rooms, stairwells, gables, porches, etc. etc. She did indeed die one stormy day when the carpenters finally decided not to show.... (Larry Hunter)
I've never done the Winchester Mystery House (in 9 years of residence in San Jose!) because I hear it's way overrated. (Lee Jones)
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Gombei. Jackson Street.
Go to Gombei in Japantown. It's a japanese "home-style" restaurant, serving katsu-don, curry, smoked fish, etc. Great food and cheap prices. [This is on Jackson Street, but apparently a second one has opened up in Milipitas.] There are several others in J-town that are good too (Kazoo, Minato and Okayama). (?, Gary L Dare)
Good Earth Restaurant
If you don't mind a specific dish - go to the Good Earth restaurant on the Alameda (near Santa Clara U) and ask for their Guatamelan chicken with the skin on. This is great stuff - makes my mouth water just thinking of it. (Gary L Dare)
House of Genji. 1335 North 1st Street. Right across the street from the LeBaron Hotel is a nice Japanese restaurant called The House of Genji. The address is 1335 N. 1st street. If you like good Japanese food than I think you'll enjoy it. [There was a place right next to it, sorta like the Ichi-Ban Steak House chain if you're familiar with it; not my cup of sake' -- gld] (Gary L Dare)
House of Pizza
If you like pizza, I strongly recommend the House of Pizza. It is easily accessed from Interstate 280 (Vine/Almaden exit, left under the freeway, and it's immediately on the right). I don't know what style pizza it is, but it is thin crust, they cut it in squares rather than wedges, and they put the cheese on top of the meats. Also they have jalapenos as one of the toppings, which I LOVE. However, if you try them I would recommend only a HALF order; gotta have SOME non-hot pizza to give the mouth a rest! They also have a full bar, as well as very friendly people. Plus lots of TVs, for one of the best sports-watching places around. (Wayne Hathaway)
La Casa. North First Street.
A good Mexican restaurant... This is not a chain - the food is always good as long as i've gone there (Gary L Dare)
La Taqueria. Off 2nd street.
A good "hole in the wall" Mexican food place. It looks kinda cheesy, but the food is GOOD and cheap.
Mexico Lindo. North 4th Street near Holiday Inn. I don't want every hacker in the south bay trying to get lunch at my favorite Mexican place - "Mexico Lindo" on 4th street in San Jose. The clientele is about 1/2 Spanish-speaking and half Gringos, prices are right, and the food satisfies. (Gary L Dare)
Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant. North First Street at Taylor. This has great decor and the food is very authentic and - um - different. (like molten fire ;-) ?) although you get a choice in the amount of 'fire'. The 'authentic' bit comes from having lived 4 years in Ethiopia nearly 20 years ago.
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In the south first street area (SOFA) are 2 comedy clubs, both called The Last Laugh. Next door to the LL on San Carlos is DB Coopers, which is a popular bar with college age types. Close to the Fairmont Hotel (and the other Last Laugh) is Gorden Biersch, a very popular brew pub with the San Jose yuppie crowd. Also in the area is F/X which caters to a more artsy crowd, and Paradise Beach which is more young jock, surfer types, and The Oasis which I've never been to, and haven't heard much about except that it is a popular club. (Gary L Dare)
If you're into brewpubs (where the beer is brewed on-premises) go to Gorden Beirsch. Excellent beer and very good California cuisine. Located in downtown SJ. (Jay Marshall)
If you're staying downtown and enjoy beer, try and stop by the Tied House and/or Gorden Biersch, they are both microbrewerys and I know Tied House has good beer. I think there are still a couple comedy clubs downtown too, along with the usual bar scene that I know exists but don't frequent. (Anne)
JJ's. 3439 Stevens Creek Blvd. 408-243-6441 Its performers are different from the one in Mountain View. The one in Mountain View has diverse artists and it's a little bigger too. Don't believe people when they say that JJ's is a dive. Blues clubs can be more attractive for exactly what they are. (Gary L Dare)
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