San Jose is an unexpected city. Embracing its techy roots, expanding its cultural offerings and shoring up its foodie footings, San Jose is more than just a gateway to Silicon Valley.
Let’s start with the tech. Of course, businesses like Adobe, TiVo and eBay make their homes in San Jose and a large, fantastic convention center hosts conferences throughout the year. Recently released “Wickedly Fast Wi-Fi” connects the entire downtown area, while The Tech Museum of Innovation is an incredible place for kids and families to explore tech concepts in a hands-on way.
The side effect of San Jose's tech roots is a rich, yet accessible, city. Several downtown hotels offer lots of options, though I loved the Fairmont with its central location, excellent service and over-sized rooms (at least over-sized to this New Yorker). The fourth floor pool provides the perfect late afternoon diversion for the kids, while the poolside bar makes a mom feel like she’s briefly been transported to an island resort.
A short walk will bring you to San Pedro Square Market where you will find a wide variety of dining options, all market style, enabling your kids to grab a burger or pizza (albeit a gourmet one), while you treat yourself to fresh sushi, the best Vietnamese summer rolls I’ve ever had and a lovely selection of wines. It is a place where families, grandparents and hipsters dine side-by-side, while an extensive calendar of live music and special events means there's something fun happening every week.
Your kids (okay, and you) will undoubtedly be fascinated by a tour of the Winchester Mystery House, a sprawling historic home built by carpenters who worked around the clock for decades under the watchful eye of Winchester rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Widely considered to be one of the nation's most haunted houses, there are staircases that lead to nowhere, doorways that drop two stories, a stunning front door that was never used and more strangeness around every turn.
From The Winchester House, it is an easy stroll to one of the crown jewels of San Jose, Santana Row. Dubbed “San Jose’s answer to Rodeo Drive” where you will find more than 70 shops, 20 restaurants and 9 spas to help you wile away an afternoon. With several restaurants offering sidewalk seating, there are few places better to people watch. And you will see it all … families with kids in strollers, hipsters, mother-daughter teams out for lunch and shopping, even an occasional bachelorette luncheon. Left Bank Brasserie is perfect for a ladies' lunch, while El Jardin Tequila Bar & Restaurant was hopping the day we visited.
Speaking of food, San Jose is well-connected to its Northern California roots, with local wines, amazing cocktails and a huge variety of restaurants. We loved Scott's Seafood on a sixth floor terrace just two blocks from the Fairmont and First to Market, where the food is second only to their hand-crafted cocktails beyond anything I've seen before ... and did I mention that I live in New York?
Before you plan your San Jose visit, check out City National Civic Center to see what shows are coming, as you might catch anything from Disney's Pirate and Princess Adventure tour to Diana Ross or American Idol Live at the small, intimate theater that's an easy walk from the Fairmont.
With all of this to do, set against a city that boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, plus easy access to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Pebble Beach, massive redwoods, gorgeous vineyards and more, San Jose should be on your “cities to visit” list.
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The writer was a guest of Team San Jose for a three-night visit. Accommodations and most meals and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received.
All photos within article: Michelle Elliott
