There’s more to California’s oldest Spanish settlement and third largest city than silicon and wiz kids. Book your last minute vacation package to San Jose and save!

The real deal: Innovation, the Internet, the human body, and exploration are permanent galleries at the Tech Museum of Innovation. Find out how hot you really are when you take your “picture” with the Thermocamera.

Place we love, even if it’s touristy: The Winchester Rifle heiress kept construction going on the 160-room Winchester Mystery Mansion from 1884 until her death 38 years later. The house is an architectural marvel with exquisite details like Tiffany glass windows and mysterious features like stairs that lead to a ceiling.

Chill-out spot: Hike part of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail in Big Basin Redwoods State Park–California’s oldest state park–and meander past grand redwood groves and sparkling waterfalls.

Where to blow a paycheck: Changing the way people think about malls, Santana Row strives to incorporate condos, a farmers market, and savvy restaurants with fountains, pedestrian walkways, and of course, upscale mall classics like Gucci.

The place to wine and dine: The Russi husband-and-wife team brings a bit of Tuscany to Willow Glen at Vin Santo, which features an extensive wine list along with Northern Italian favorites like antipasti, capellini pomodoro, and osso buco.

Did we mention it’s free? See what home life was like back in 1797 when the Peralta Adobe was built. It is the oldest remaining structure from El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe.

History lesson: Mission Santa Clara de Asis, established in 1777, is the eighth oldest of 21 missions in California. Now it is a landmark at the campus of the University of Santa Clara.

Get out of dodge: A quick 15-minute drive away from San Jose takes you to the Mountain Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. If you’re there between June and September, you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy their popular Summer Concert series.

More Information and Booking Options

Recommendations & Suggestions

Paramount’s Great America Theme Park
Great America Parkway (between Hwy. 101 and Hwy. 237)
Phone: 408.988.1776

Northern California’s largest amusement park sits in the heart of Silicon Valley in downtown Santa Clara. This 100-acre park features rides and attractions which make for an exhilirating family outing. For the roller coaster lover there are thrill rides galore, such as Top Gun or the rattling old Grizzly. There is also an entire town called Kidsville, which is dedicated to younger children and offers great rides such as Nicklelodeon’s Splat City. General admission tickets to the park are $42.99 for adults and $32.99 for children (ages 3-6).

Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

Nestled on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains just east of Half Moon Bay is the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. The 2,519- acre park offers a variety of mountain biking and hiking trails through a spectacular redwood forest. Trails wind through Redwoods, Douglas firs, and grassy meadows with ample views of the Pacific and the lower coastal hills. Pick up a map at the preserve’s main parking lot and choose between a quiver of awesome treks. To get to the the preserve from Redwood City, take 280 North to Highway 92. From 92, take the Highway 25/ Skyline Boulevard turn-off, which comes up quickly. The preserve’s main entrance and parking lot is on Skyline, 4.5 miles south of 92.

Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market St

Is there a more suitable location than the heart of Silicon Valley for arguably the best tech-focused musuem in the country? With over 250 hands-on exhibits on three levels covering 112,000 square feet, the Tech has fast become a San Jose icon. The hands on atmosphere where you can pilot a robotic submarine vehicle or solve a murder with the latest DNA forensic techniques appeals to both youngsters and adults alike. Hop aboard the bobsled simulator in the Life Tech Gallery which the US Bobsled team uses to train for the Olympics. The Tech also boast a 295-seat IMAX dome theatre with movies in constant rotation.

The tech is open from 10am-5pm daily. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for children.

The Redwood Cafe and Spice Company
1020 Main Street

Stop by this charming Victorian house located in a somewhat gritty section of downtown Redwood city. The morning crowd packs in for some delicious Swedish oatmeal pancakes with lingonberries, while the afternoon set enjoys the sunshine and sandwiches on the outside patio. Whatever the meal the ingredients are always fresh, the service is friendly, and the value is outstanding.