San Jose is the third-largest city in California and is famous for its sunny, mild weather. This city is referred to as the urban hub of Silicon Valley, and its sunny weather allows garden attractions to bud the entire year. San Jose has been deeply rooted in the agricultural industry in the past years and features new and old techniques in developing the downtown district. Also, this city has a lot of fun things to do, including visiting the municipal Rose Garden. The historical sites and the museums provide an environment to learn and enjoy a lifetime experience. Continue scrolling to discover the best places and attractions in San Jose.
Municipal Rose Garden
The Municipal Rose Garden started in 1927, and the site has continued to blossom, becoming one of the city’s most popular attractions. These gardens occupy about 5 acres and feature rows of beautiful roses parked in the heart of an adorable city neighborhood. I recommend you visit the gardens in May when the peak blooming occurs. The Municipal Rose Garden is famous for picnicking, family photoshoots, and strolling. You can visit here any day of the week, and no entrance fee is required.
Also featured in the Municipal Rose Gardens are a natural stage and a manicured green space surrounded by a pocket of redwoods. Therefore, these gardens also earn a top mention among the best spots to set a wedding in San Jose.
Downtown San Jose
The downtown district of San Jose is the largest Bay Area city and is always filled with activity. The downtown blends historical architecture with modern culture, giving it a beautiful view. This district is filled with boutique storefronts, sidewalk cafes, and community institutions such as the San Jose Museum of Art and The Tech Interactive. Plaza de Cesar Chavez consists of a 2-acre central green space where attractions sprout in all directions.
The pedestrian-only San Pedro Square is a spot within downtown and among the most historical sections of the city. It comprises restaurants, outdoor seating, and live music all over. Likewise, the square encompasses a modern public food hall named San Pedro Square Market, which has a growing number of eateries. On Fridays, you can visit San Pedro Square to attend the farmers market day.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is famous for school visits and day trips, and it hosts the most extensive collection of authentic Egyptian Ancient artifacts in North America. Covering Ancient Egyptian day-to-day life and the afterlife, the museum exhibits range from housewares and uncovered jewelry to hieroglyphs and tomb tours. Recently developed in the museum, the Alchemy Exhibit features a full-size alchemy lab production which is the first of its kind. If you stroll a short distance from the Municipal Rose Garden, you will find the main museum, which is the centerpiece of the enormous Rosicrucian Park. This park involves a large landscape that incorporates the Egyptian-inspired architecture of the museum. While at the park, you will also locate other attractions like the historic Rosicrucian Planetarium and the Rosicrucian Temple. You can also plan to attend the scheduled shows at the planetarium with your friends or partner. The museum hosts regular workshops, special programs like mummification, and events.
Santana Row
Santana Row involves an entertainment and premier commercial district bustling with food traffic, dining and shopping options. For instance, name-brand stores like Gucci and Kate Spade are well aligned on the pedestrian walkways of Santana Row within the Mediterranean outdoor shopping plaza. Similarly, Santana Row features restaurants that prepare casual street tacos, and Fine-Italian dines. Santana Park includes a great central spot within Santana Row, and it comprises a manicured green space with a local ice cream spot nearby.
I recommend you take an evening stroll through Santana Row, which invites ambiance from the blend of neon and streetlights. This is also a perfect spot for night photoshoots.
Further, you will find free Summer Music Series in Santana Row, which is usually filled with local lineups. Also included in this venue are community celebrations such as an end-of-summer Children’s Bash and free yoga sessions. You don’t have to worry about places you can stay as Santana offers various luxurious hotels, including Hotel Valencia.
Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House is a perfect spot for a thrilling experience, and just like the name suggests, it is a mysterious place. This house was initially owned by Sara Winchester, widow of William Winchester. In 1886, Sara moved to San Jose after the demise of her infant and husband, William Winchester. She began a renovation of the eight-room farmhouse, which took about 50 years, thus establishing the current Winchester Mystery House. This house hosts thousands of tourists annually, which is considered mysterious because of Sara’s renovation choices. Winchester Mystery House includes mysterious doors, 160 different rooms, and false stairs serving as a precaution to evade the paranormal spirits derived from Sara’s family past. It would be best if you took a guided excursion which will explain these theories and more history about Sara. The excursions are available the entire week and entail access to the beautifully manicured gardens around the mysterious house.
San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose Museum of Art is situated near Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park in the middle of the city. This museum offers exhibits of contemporary and modern art. San Jose Museum of Art consists of 2500 pieces of the permanent collection, and it always offers something new to view with continuously rotating exhibits. The museum also hosts various events and programs like Facebook First Fridays at the start of the month. Most of these events offer free admission and extend to night hours and live music performances.
While at the museum, you can view the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph, another neighborhood attraction. This historic Roman Catholic church is over a century old and is still prominent and up-to-date. You can also attend a mass here after your museum trip.
Conclusion
San Jose is perfect for people who enjoy learning and exploring the world.
