Things to Do in San Jose California
If you appreciate art, San Jose Museum of Art should be on your must-visit list. Here, you will find world-class paintings as well as special exhibitions throughout the year.
Kids of all ages will love Great America Amusement Park’s thrilling rides and family activities, especially Planet Snoopy where they can meet some of their favorite Peanuts characters!
San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose Museum of Art is an essential stop for art enthusiasts. Boasting an unparalleled collection of modern and contemporary works dating back to 1892, this world-class museum presents something special.
Visit San Jose’s Children’s Discovery Museum with your kids for a fun and educational visit, which features unique features like its giant Idea Tree and interactive exhibits.
Mount Hermon Adventures provides an unforgettable outdoor park experience, famed for its zip lining and other activities in the forest canopy. They offer fun-filled activities for people of all ages – great for taking the whole family along! Booking tickets online may also help save money.
Montalvo Arts Center
Montalvo Arts Center is an essential stop for art enthusiasts. Boasting an impressive collection, as well as educational programming geared toward children and adults (such as BioSITE’s environmental responsibility program for kids), the Montalvo Arts Center features rides, shows and playgrounds seasonally; be sure to plan accordingly!
Visit Park Station Hashery for an enjoyable dining experience; this local diner features delicious pancakes!
Intel fans will appreciate a visit to the Intel Museum in San Jose. Here you’ll find exhibits spanning from early semiconductor chips through modern processor technology – not to mention an incredible art and sculpture collection that stands alone as the only world-class free museum in Silicon Valley! Plus it’s completely free!
Alum Rock Park
The Winchester Mystery House is a world-renowned haunted residence owned by Sarah Winchester, widow of the inventor of Winchester Repeating Arms. Believing herself cursed by their creations, Sarah spent millions building this incredible mansion filled with creepy rooms and secret passageways leading nowhere – one of San Jose’s premier attractions for history enthusiasts.
Intel Museum is an invaluable source for anyone hoping to understand Silicon Valley history, from early semiconductor chips and processor technology through modern displays. Additionally, admission is free and open to the public.
Santana Row in West San Jose is a shopping, dining and residential district featuring upscale shops and restaurants inspired by European neighborhoods. Additionally, this area hosts live music performances and public events; perfect for enjoying some extraordinary cocktails or gourmet fare!
Children’s Discovery Museum
Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose is an ideal destination if you have young ones in your family. Packed full of interactive exhibits that teach children about science, technology, engineering and more; this must-see attraction should not be missed!
San Jose is home to one of the city’s top tourist spots: the Winchester Mystery House. Built by Sarah Winchester – widow of Winchester Rifle Company founder William Winchester – over 38 years, believing she was being haunted by victims killed by her husband’s rifle, it features mysterious features such as stairways that lead nowhere and doors that open onto nothing.
Visit San Jose’s Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum – an unmissable experience filled with fascinating ancient artifacts! Additionally, visit SAP Center to catch a hockey game or any other event taking place there.
Mount Hermon Adventures
San Jose offers no shortage of activities. Start the day right by going on a self-guided street art walking tour or visit Montalvo Arts Center for picnicking, tours of beautiful gardens and temporary and permanent outdoor artworks.
Visit Mount Hermon Adventures Sequoia Aerial Adventure for an exhilarating aerial adventure among giant redwood trees! This attraction is well known for team building courses, but also provides a fun way to get outside and discover local scenery.
Santana Row offers shopping and dining, plus it provides access to HP Pavilion games! Don’t leave without sampling some of Kukar’s House of Pizza’s famous pizza – or checking out San Jose Sonic Runway, an audio-reactive public art piece consisting of 554 addressable LEDs which depict sound waves traveling at speed.
Big Foot Research Project
If art isn’t your thing, check out the Intel Museum which houses everything related to nanotechnology and technology imaginable. It’s truly incredible and truly worth exploring.
The Winchester Mystery House is another must-visit location during your time in San Jose. As California’s only house of its kind, taking a tour provides an exciting insight into its mysterious history and offers visitors an intriguing peek.
Santana Row offers the ideal combination of outdoor mall and self-sufficient planned community, perfect for shopping. Spend an enjoyable afternoon perusing its shops and eating at one of its restaurants before exploring more with an art walking tour or street art tour!
SAP Center
The SAP Center hosts various events and is an enjoyable venue for watching an NHL game or concert, trade shows and other special occasions. Conveniently located near several hotels – including Arena Hotel which is an affordable accommodation option close by – The arena also serves as an ideal backdrop for trade shows and other special events.
HP Pavilion, the city’s main stadium, is also within walking distance of SAP Center. With plenty of restaurants and bars close by – offering local craft beer at local breweries or providing fast food trucks – finding something to eat before or after a game couldn’t be simpler!
Visit the Intel Museum if you want to gain more insight into Silicon Valley history, as this exhibition showcases Intel’s technological progress from semiconductor chips to computer processors.
San Jose City Hall Plaza
San Jose City Hall Plaza offers much to see and do, from historic edifices to Sonic Runway: an interactive light-art installation containing 554 addressable LED lights that visually illustrate sound waves traveling at different speeds.
People curious about Silicon Valley history should visit the Intel Museum. Here they can experience how Intel grew from manufacturing semiconductor chips into one of the leading computer processor manufacturers globally.
Other unique attractions in San Jose include the Winchester Mystery House, which was constructed by Sarah Winchester – widow of Winchester Repeating Arms magnate William Winchester. Built during the 1880s, this intriguing residence is known for its quirky rooms and creepy ghosts.
San Jose provides families with fun opportunities such as the Children’s Discovery Museum, large parks and mild weather. If thrills are what you crave then California’s Great America amusement park provides rides to suit every taste.
San Jose Sonic Runway
San Jose Sonic Runway is an audio-reactive light installation that illustrates the speed of sound. Comprised of 25 arches with 554 LEDs that respond to electronic music, this installation presents visual representation of soundwave velocity.
Rob Jensen and Warren Trezevant led a team of artists in creating this piece which made its San Jose debut as part of Playa to Paseo initiative late 2017. Visitors flocked to City Hall Plaza at nighttime for musical performances, fashion shows, selfie opportunities with visitors gathering around it – providing visitors with plenty of photo-ops at nightfall! The installation served as the backdrop for musical performances, fashion shows and selfie opportunities during night time at City Hall Plaza.
San Jose Brew Bike tours offer visitors an enjoyable way to see this breathtaking attraction and find their ideal view spot: The Municipal Rose Garden! Open year-round, it hosts various events. Or stroll through its lovely park or visit Olla Cocina for lunch: it has great horchata, chorizo mac and cheese as well as other delectable options – an excellent stop before hitting up downtown bars on their tour!
