Shopping San Jose
For those who love to 'shop till you drop,' Santana Row and Westfield's Valley Fair are just the places for you! Located across the street from each other and only four miles away, the Santana Row offers the finest in boutique shopping, while Valley Fair has more than 400 stores including Nordstrom, Macy's, Banana Republic and The Gap.
Winchester Mystery House
Sarah L. Winchester, Rifle heiress began the construction of this home in 1884. Many people claim that she was haunted by the ghosts of those who were killed by the Rifle designed by her husbands company. She kept the craftsmen and carpenters busy working on this 160 room house until she died in 1922, 38 years! Staircases that lead to nowhere, windows built into floors, closets that open to blank walls, a chimney that stops short of the ceiling and trap doors are just a few of the bizarre things to see in this house.
Flashlight tours are available on each Friday the 13th and during Halloween.
www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the Western United States. Artifacts on display include Hieroglyphs carved walls, statues of Egyptian gods, fountains and lotus columns.
This ‘one of a kind’ museum, is a must see while you are in San Jose!
www.egyptianmuseum.org
Children's Discovery Museum
A great place for the whole family is The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. The museum has 150 exhibits allowing visitors to explore the world they live in through ‘hands on’ interaction and experimentation.
www.cdm.org
Theme and Water Parks (Summer Attractions)
Paramount's Great America
California's Great America is one of four amusement parks in the San Francisco Bay Area. It offers more than 20 rides and attractions to guests of all ages. Also at the park is Nickelodeon Central- a Nickelodeon themed area with rides, KidZville for the smaller thrill seekers and for a "splashin' good time" Boomerang Bay.
www.pgathrills.com
Raging Waters
This water park is Northern California’s largest, offering 23-acres of family fun and attractions. Raging Waters features attractions for thrill-seekers of all ages. Attractions include: High-speed water slides, the 350,000 gallon Wave Pool and an interactive themed water fort for kids. Raging Waters is located at Lake Cunningham Regional Park in San Jose and is easily accessible from major highways.
www.rwsplash.com
Gilroy Gardens
Previously known as Bonfante Gardens, is California's only horticultural theme park. The park is designed for families with young children and garden lovers in mind. It features 19 rides, 27 attractions and 6 majestic gardens along with the world famous Circus Trees.
www.gilroygardens.org
San Jose Events & Festivals
Everything from Christmas at the Park & Outdoor ice-skating rink under the stars, to free Music In The Park, we are not short of outdoor things to do. We have a 4th of July firework spectacle, Tapestry & Arts Festival, and one of the largest Jazz Music Festivals around. Our Veterans Day Parade is second to none with all our armed forces showing their pride.
Summer:
Music In The Park - Free Thursday night concerts
American Festival - July 3-4 including 4th of July fireworks
Gilroy Garlic Festival - July
Tapestry & Arts Festival - Labor Day Weekend
San Jose Jazz Festival - August
Santa Clara County Fair - Summer
Winter:
Christmas in the Park - A winter wonderland with Santa, animated scenes, carols and more.
Downtown Ice - Ice skate under the palm trees and stars at the outdoor ice-skating rink.
For more event and festival information click here: www.sanjose.com/festivals |