What are the best places to visit in San Jose?

Question

What are the places that a new visitor should see for sure?

Answer 1

The previous posters have some great suggestions...



I also would highly recommend the Winchester Mystery House (525 S Winchester Blvd) and Santana Row (located directly across the street).



HP Pavilion (525 W Santa Clara St) also hosts the San Jose Stealth (a professional indoor lacrosse team). The San Jose Sharks are currently fighting for a playoff spot, so a hockey game in the next month or two would be fun.



The Tech Museum (201 S Market St), I agree, is just OK, but it does have an IMAX theatre which does show newly released movies from time to time.



If you are into art, you can also go to the San Jose Museum of Art (111 S. Market St). Admission is free.



If you are into historic churches, there is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (located right across the street from the San Jose Museum of Art at 80 S Market St). Also, Mission Santa Clara is not too far away, on the Santa Clara University campus (500 El Camion Real, Santa Clara).



Lick Observatory is also in San Jose (albeit a 1-2 hour drive from downtown San Jose @ 7299 Mount Hamilton Rd) - it is home to what once was the largest telescope in the world.



If you are looking for amusement parks, Paramount's Great America is located in neighboring Santa Clara (1 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA), and there is a waterslide park called "Raging Waters" within the city limits (2333 S White Rd).



There's also the Center for Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd) which is currently hosting "The Lion King."

Answer 2

San Jose isn't much of a tourist destination. You'd be better off going north to San Francisco. But if you're stuck in the San Jose, you might try these sights:

Winchester Mystery House

Santana Row -- High-end shopping; great restaurants in a European-like setting

Egyptian Museum -- It's actually pretty good. Not world-class but OK.

Kelly Park -- There's a great park for kids, a small zoo, a fairly nice Japanese garden, and an historical museum that's best to visit on weekends

San Jose Giants baseball - Minor League baseball in a great old ballpark

Children's Museum - If you have kids, it's a good way to spend an hour or two. Doesn't compare to the flagship museum in Boston, though

Tech Museum - It's OK; not the best but worth an hour or two

Answer 3

Downtown San Jose has some great restaurants and museums.

Answer 4

See the hockey game, San Jose Sharks. That may get you more attention than anything.

Answer 5

Take them to San Francisco instead.

Answer 6

Chili's for sure