When you think about Northern California, or The Bay Area, you probably think of San Francisco. Or maybe Oakland. Not many people are familiar with San Jose California, unless they are from California. Well if you didn’t know, San Jose California is where we are from. So we’re going to help show you 10 reasons the South Bay as it’s called, should be on your radar!
WHERE’S SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA?
MAP OF SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
First things first. Where is San Jose California? If aren’t familiar, it is located at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay in what is referred to as the South Bay. The closest large cities to San Jose are San Francisco and Oakland which are both roughly 45-60 minutes north. To the south, Los Angeles is roughly a 5-7 hour drive depending on the route, and San Diego is another 1-2 hours south from there. The Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States, and much of that is due to the proximity of so many things: Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, the Pacific Coast, and so so much more. You can get to SO many different incredible places within 2-4 hours driving in any direction. We’re gonna keep this article to covering places within an hours drive.
THINGS TO DO IN SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
There is a TON to do in The Bay Area. Whether you’re a foodie; wine, beer or cocktail lover; adventure seeker; someone looking for ways to relax and disconnect; or something in between. We’re going to keep this list to the things we know best, and the things we enjoy most.
DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
In terms of square miles and land size, San Jose California is HUGE. It is double the size of San Francisco, and ever so slightly larger than Oakland. But despite being so large, it feels very small. The downtown area of San Jose is only 20 square blocks, with the concentration being only 5 square blocks. This makes it very accessible, you can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. So whether you like shopping, eating, drinking, sports, or just leisure walking, downtown San Jose (or DTSJ) is perfect!
There are a few areas of downtown San Jose that have a little bit of everything to do and enjoy, and would be our recommendations for places to check out.
San Pedro Square Market
One of the coolest places to hang out if you like to eat, drink or watch sports is San Pedro Square Market. Two adjacent buildings with many restaurants, a craft beer market, two cocktail bars and a cafe, separated by an outdoor seating area. This is actually where Katy and I met for the first time and had our first date! So if you’re looking for a place to hang out, relax, have some good food, a few drinks or coffees and maybe watch some sports, then this is the place for you.
Our favorites here: Urban Momo Nepalese Cuisine, Jora Peruvian Cuisine, Three Sisters Cocktail Bar, Voyager Craft Coffee, and Market Beer Co.
Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park
In the heart of downtown San Jose, is Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park. An open grassy park area where people can walk, hang out, enjoy a picnic, surrounded by restaurants, hotels, a tech museum, performance venue, and museum of art. Each year during the Christmas season, they hold a Christmas in the Park display where people set up Christmas exhibits and people walk around with cups of hot chocolate, wine or beer. A great way to get in to the holiday spirit!
First and Second Street
We’ve lumped two streets together in to this as they are adjoining streets and share many similarities. Just one and two blocks over from Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park, sandwiched between San Fernando Street and San Carlos Street, are First and Second Streets. Here you’ll find numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes. If you find yourself at Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park, then taking a stroll over to these two blocks is a must.
SoFA Market
Heading south on First Street, just after San Carlos Street, is SoFA Market. Much like San Pedro Square, SoFA is a restaurant market. You’ll find restaurants serving Hawaiian Poke, Mexican food, Vietnamese Fusion, Cuban cuisine as well as some ice creams and desserts. Our favorites: Hawaiian Poke Bowl, Tacos Los 3 Hermanos, Vietnoms, Habana Cuba and Natural Sweet.
In addition to the above, you’ll find a number of museums, sports and concert arenas like the SAP Center where the San Jose Sharks hockey team plays, and much much more. To see what else there is to do in downtown San Jose, check out the Visit San Jose page for more!
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
California has 280 State Parks! That’s the most in the entire United States. So no matter where you are in the state, there are likely a handful of State Parks nearby to visit. In San Jose’s case, there are 7 within an hours drive. And each providing their own unique landscape and list of activities from hiking amongst giant redwood trees in Big Basin, or visiting seals at Año Nuevo. Most parks range from $6-$10 per vehicle for entry, or you can look at their annual park passes which would make the most sense if you plan on visiting a fair amount.
- Castle Rock
- Portola Redwoods
- Big Basin Redwoods
- Año Nuevo
- Wilder Ranch
- Henry Cowell Redwods
- The Forest of Nisene Marks
HIKES
While visiting the State Parks provide some of the best hiking available, those do come with a fee. There are however a plethora of hiking trails around San Jose that offer you incredible views for no or little cost.
Mount Umunhum
One of the most unique hikes in The Bay Area, is Mount Umunhum. And this is largely due to its history. At the top of Mount Umunhum, is a giant concrete box that was once used as a radar station from 1957-1980 as part of the Almaden Air Force Station. This also happens to be one of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountain Range at 3,500 ft / 1,070m. You can drive right up to the top where there is a small parking lot and viewing area. Otherwise, the hike from the base of the mountains is an up and back hike of roughly 8 miles. Strenuous, but worth it!
- Difficulty – Moderate to hard
- Length – 7.7mi / 12.4km out and back
Mission Peak
On the opposite side of The Bay, known as East Bay, between the cities of Fremont and Milpitas, is Mission Peak Regional Reserve. Much like Mount Umunhum, the hike is strenuous and not for novice hikers. Unlike the Umunhum hike though, which is covered in most areas by tree canopy, this hike is entirely out in the open where you are completely exposed to the sun. So lots of water, sunscreen, and breaks are key. But the view from the top is quite incredible.
- Difficulty – Hard
- Length – 6mi / 9.7km out and back
Los Gatos Creek Trail
Looking for something a little easier? The Los Gatos Creek Trail is perfect for those who may not want to take on a 6+ mile hike, but still want to enjoy the mountains and have some good views. This trail starts right near the downtown area of a city called Los Gatos, which we’ll cover in a bit. It begins relatively flat, but eventually leads up in to the Santa Cruz hills and mountains giving you a great view of Lexington Reservoir.
- Difficulty – Moderate
- Length – 3.8mi / 6.1km loop
Rancho San Antonio
Just west of San Jose, is Rancho San Antonio. An open space reserve with over 30 different hiking trails to choose from. You’ll also find a petting zoo and a ton of natural wildlife, from deer to turkeys and birds galore. This makes it a perfect family friendly place, or place a get some steps in without going bonkers like some of our previously mentioned hikes.
- Difficulty – Easy to hard
- Length – 1.5mi / 2.4km to 18mi / 29km
Honorable Mentions
WINERIES
There is no better way to celebrate an epic morning of hiking, then to head to a winery up in the mountains, relax, and sip wine with a view of the coast. And there are a TON of wineries to choose from, so we’re going to just list a handful of our favorites.
- Burrell School – Santa Cruz Mountains
- Regale – Santa Cruz Mountains
- Loma Prieta – Santa Cruz Mountains
- Mountain Winery – Saratoga
- Cooper Garrod – Saratoga
- Gali – Los Gatos
- Sycamore Creek/MOHI – Morgan Hill
- Guglielmo – Morgan Hill
BREWERIES
Is wine not your thing? What about beer? If so, we have some great recommendations for breweries as well! San Jose actually has quite a few local micro breweries that are REALLY good. Expand your reach out to San Francisco or Oakland, and you’ll have a lot to choose from. Whether you like IPAs, lagers, stouts, sours or something in between, there is something here for you. Our ABSOLUTE favorite though? Barebottle. They have a huge selection and variety, and never disappoint.
- Barebottle – San Francisco / Santa Clara
- Fort Point– San Francisco
- Anchor – San Francisco
- Laughing Monk Brewing – San Francisco
- Almanac – Alameda / Oakland
- 21st Amendment – San Leandro
- Faultline – Sunnyvale
- Camino Brewing – San Jose
- BJ’s Brewhouse – San Jose
- Hapa’s Brewing – San Jose / Los Gatos
- Loma Brewing Co – Los Gatos
- Kelly Brewing Co – Morgan Hill
- Half Moon Bay Brewing – Half Moon Bay
If you find yourself at San Pedro Square Market, their Beer Market has a great selection that is always revolving. Definitely worth checking out if you are a craft beer lover!
Disclaimer: please drink responsibly.
RESTAURANTS
A list of things to do wouldn’t be a list of things to do without listing some must-visit restaurants. While we no longer eat meat, we used to and would be remiss to not mention some solid restaurants no matter what your eating preferences are. And there is A LOT of great food in the Bay Area. So we have a little bit of everything here!
- Kazoo Sushi – San Jose
- Good Karma Artisan Ales & Vegan Cafe – San Jose
- The Grill On The Alley Steakhouse – San Jose
- The Breakfast Club – San Jose
- Cha Cha Sushi – South San Jose
- Jakes of Saratoga Pizza – Saratoga
- Forbes Mill Steakhouse – Los Gatos
- Maurizio’s Italian Cuisine – Morgan Hill
- Odeum Modern Artisanal Cuisine – Morgan Hill
- Craft Roots Vegan Bar & Grill – Morgan Hill
- Town Regional American Cuisine – San Carlos
- Crow’s Nest Seafood – Santa Cruz
- Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge – Santa Cruz
FARMERS MARKETS
Whether you’re visiting from a nearby town, or from afar; for a short time or an extended amount of time, going to farmers markets are a great way to get outside, and find some delicious local produce and food. And there are a TON to choose from! When we were still living in our apartment in San Jose, going to farmers markets on the weekends to grocery shop was one of our favorite activities. Not only is the produce SO MUCH better than what you’d typically find at a grocery store, but you’ll also find foods that you couldn’t find at a grocery store. And for much cheaper. So here’s a few to check out:
- Japan Town San Jose – San Jose
- Downtown San Jose – San Jose
- Downtown Campbell – Campbell
- West Valley Saratoga – Saratoga
- Downtown Los Gatos – Los Gatos
- Morgan Hill – Morgan Hill
- Westside Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz
- Coastside Half Moon Bay – Half Moon Bay
SPORTING EVENTS
While we don’t talk much about it on our blog or social media, we are both fans of sports. And the Bay Area has a slew of sports teams to go see, whether it be professional, minor league or college sports. So here’s a few teams and venues to check out:
- San Jose State Spartans (College) – CEFCU Stadium- San Jose
- San Jose Giants (MiLB) – Excite Park – San Jose
- San Jose Sharks (NHL) – SAP Center – San Jose
- San Jose Barracuda (AHL) – SAP Center – San Jose
- Bay Area Panthers (IFL) – SAP Center – San Jose
- San Jose Quaks (MLS) – PayPal Park – San Jose
- Stanford Cardinal (College) – Stanford Stadium – Palo Alto
- San Francisco 49ers (NFL) – Levi Stadium – Santa Clara
- San Francisco Giants (MLB) – Oracle Park – San Francisco
- Golden State Warriors (NBA) – Oracle Arena – San Francisco
- Oakland A’s (MLB) – RingCentral Coliseum – Oakland
- Oakland Roots (USL) – Laney College Field – Oakland
- Cal Golden Bears (College) – California Memorial Stadium – Berkeley
MISCELLANEOUS
SANTANA ROW
Santana Row is very similar to San Pedro Square Market and SoFA Market, but mixed with an outdoor mall type vibe. So in addition to restaurants, bars and cafes, you’ll also find clothing shops like Lululemon, Marine Layer, and Vuori. There’s even a Tesla store where you can check out Tesla models and offerings. There are roughly “50 shops, 30 restaurants, 10 spas and salons, a boutique hotel and a movie theatre”. And perched on top of all of these, are “615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos”.
It’s a pretty unique place and a one-stop shop for just about anything, making it a must-visit. It’s also located directly across the street from Valley Fair Mall, so if you’re in a shopping mood, these are the places to go!
WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE
Definitely one of the odder things on this list, is the Winchester Mystery House. The story of this house and its owner is a weird one, that is for sure. It was owned by Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester, who was the widow of William Wirt Winchester, the founder of the Winchester firearms company. She was also the heiress to much of the company as well. After William Winchester died, Sarah bought a home in San Jose California and began what most would describe as a never-ending home renovation.
What started as an 8 bedroom home in 1886, ended as a 160 bedroom home when she passed away in 1922. 160 bedrooms! Where it really takes a turn though (pun intended), is the oddity in the design of the house and its rooms. And the reasoning behinds its design. It is quite literally a mystery place house like what you might find at a carnival or circus. Hallways and doors that lead to nothing. Hallways and staircases that zig-zag in ways that only a child might be able to fit. Many rumors and beliefs say that she was haunted by ghosts, and built the house in a way so that the ghosts would lose their way and not be able to find her. But to this day, no one really knows what was going on in Sarah Winchester’s head.
No matter what you believe, this house is definitely something worth seeing. And if you’d like to see what is probably an over-exaggerated and embellished version of the story in movie form, you can check out the movie Winchester staring Helen Mirren as Sarah Winchester. Best to take it with a grain of salt though.
WALK THROUGH A FRUIT ORCHARD
While California is known for it’s wineries and vineyards, there are actually a TON of orchards all up and down the state that you can visit and even pick your own fruit. We had the pleasure of visiting Andy’s Orchard in Morgan Hill and it is an experience we would highly recommend!
NEARBY TOWNS AND CITIES WORTH VISITING
Have you tackled everything in the list above? Looking for some other cities or towns nearby that you can check out? No worries! We’ve got you covered. While we won’t go in to detail on each city and town, we will note what we love about the city.
- Morgan Hill – Quaint downtown with shops and restaurants, small town community feel
- Santa Cruz / Capitola – Quintessential surf town, shops and restaurants
- Los Gatos – Quaint upper scale downtown with shops and restaurants
- Saratoga – Quaint downtown with shops and restaurants
- Campbell / Willow Glen – Quaint downtown with shops and restaurants
- Half Moon Bay – Seaside fishing town with great coastal views
- San Francisco – Golden Gate Bridge, great food and great beer
- Oakland – Jack London Square, great food and great beer
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
San Jose may not be the biggest city in California, but it does cover a large area, and there are tons of places to stay! For a cool and fun place to stay, we’d recommend Hotel De Anza. It’s right in the heart of downtown, making many things walkable, and public transit readily accessible. It’s also located walking distance from San Pedro Square mentioned above. You can actually see the hotel in the second image at the top of this article! Another really popular hotel property that’s just outside of downtown, is the Hotel Valencia which is located in Santana Row which is also mentioned above. Either way, there are tons of places to choose from depending on what type of experience you’re looking for.
10 THINGS TO DO NEAR SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
Whether you’re visiting San Jose California specifically, or looking for things to do when in San Francisco or one of the other Bay Area cities, we hope this list of things to do in San Jose California has helped give you some inspiration and ideas for your trip. There is SO MUCH MORE we could have included here, but we can’t give you everything can we? And if we did miss something, or you would have liked to have seen some other things listed, let us know in the comments below!
And if you’re looking for some other California inspiration, check out some of our other California articles:
- 12 TOWNS TO VISIT ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST
- 9 WAYS TO VIEW GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
- 11 UNIQUE PLACES TO VISIT IN CALIFORNIA (THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T HEARD OF)
- 10 NATIONAL PARKS IN THE U.S. YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW EXISTED
If you aren’t following us on Instagram, then check us out there as this will be the best place to follow our van life journey and adventure!
Thanks for stopping by!
Ryan & Katy
