Often known as ''"The Capital of Silicon Valley,"'' '''San Jose''' [http://www.sanjose.org] is the largest city in the Bay Area, 3rd largest in California, and the 10th largest city in the United States. For the fifth year in a row it was named the safest big city in the US.

Understand

True to its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is home to the headquarters of many "tech" companies such as Cisco Systems, eBay, and Adobe Systems, just to name a few.

There are many different neighborhoods in the large geographic area of San Jose to the point where you wouldn't know you are in the same city depending on where you are. Like most Bay Area towns and cities, San Jose is an expensive place to live (many basic houses easily top $1M in price). Some of the hip areas to live these days are in San Jose's downtown area, for those who prefer urban living, or Santana Row for a mixed living, shopping and dining areas. You can find vintage California charm in the neighborhoods of Willow Glen and Rose Garden. The woodsy area of Almaden Valley is known for its excellent schools, while Silver Creek is known for its subdivisions of sprawling "McMansions."

Get in

People who ask, "Do you know the way to San Jose?" (in reference to the 1968 hit song recorded by Dionne Warwick) will be ''glared at.''

By plane

San Jose is home to one of the Bay Area's three '''international airports''', Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (SJC) [http://www.sjc.org]. There are direct flights from many US destinations and it's located about 2 miles from the downtown area.

The two other options are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) which is located 35 miles northwest of San Jose on US Route 101 on the peninsula, or Oakland International Airport (OAK), which is 35 miles north off I-880 in the East Bay.

By train

San Jose has three commuter rail lines:
  • '''Caltrain''' [http://www.caltrain.com/], which runs up the Peninsula to San Francisco
  • Amtrak California's '''Capitol Corridor''' [http://www.amtrakcapitols.com/] line that runs through the East Bay and then inland to Sacramento
  • '''Altamont Commuter Express''' [http://www.acerail.com/], which runs from Stockton, Livermore, and Pleasanton into San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley in the morning and then returns in the late afternoon and evening.
  • San Jose is also served by Amtrak's '''Coast Starlight''' [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Vertical_Route_Page&c=am2Route&cid=1081256321841&ssid=135] running daily between Seattle, Portland, Emeryville, and Los Angeles.

    All rail lines stop at '''Diridon Station''', which is San Jose's central train station. It is located at 65 Cahill Street, just across Santa Clara Street from the '''H.P. Pavilion''' [http://www.hppsj.com/].

    Capitol and Tamien stations serve the southern part of the city.

    By bus

  • '''Greyhound''' [http://www.greyhound.com] has a stop in downtown.
  • By car

    San Jose is connected to San Francisco by two major freeways, '''US-101''' and '''Interstate 280'''. From Los Angeles, take I-5 North to CA-152 West to US-101 North. From the East Bay, use either I-880 or I-680 South.

    Get around

    Using your car will probably be your most convenient method of travel, however the local transportation agency, '''VTA''' [http://www.vta.org/], offers serviceable transit downtown. A day pass, entitling you to usage of buses and light rail lines, cost $5.00 in 2007. Many lines allow you to stow a bicycle en route. VTA Route #10 [http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_10.html] serves as a free shuttle between the airport, Caltrain - Santa Clara Station, and light rail - Airport Station.

    The 511.org website [http://www.511.org] is a wonderful resource for trip planning, whether by car or public transit (or combination of both). Its Trip Planner spans all local transit systems.

    Many roads in San Jose have delineated bike lanes and/or wide shoulders. This, in combination with typically favorable local weather, makes bicycling a viable means of transportation within the city. Many public transportation options in the city also have provisions for bicycles, making mixed-mode travel a simple affair.

    See

    Downtown San Jose is a mix of offices, shopping, hotels, numerous restaurants as well as a convention center and the SoFA (South of First Area) nightclub district. Check out the San Pedro Square Farmer's Market on Fridays for local and organic produce, or visit San Jose State University campus and City Hall. The main library [http://sjlibrary.org] is a prestigious, award-winning, joint-use library combining resources of the city and San Jose State University. Get outdoors and take advantage of San Jose's invariably sunny weather on the Guadalupe River Trail or in one of the many city parks. You'll always find a wealth of cultural events at theaters, art galleries, and museums.

  • The Tech Museum. useum of Science and Technology. 01 South Market St. 1 (408) 294-TECH (8234). ttp://www.thetech.org/. 8 (museum and IMAX). A great interactive experience for all ages and backgrounds. The Tech Museum allows visitors to see how technologies affect their daily lives. Permanent exhibits focus on the internet, the human body, and exploration. You'll also find an IMAX Theater, cafe, an a retail store featuring merchandise unique to the Silicon Valley.

  • San Jose Museum of Art. 10 South Market St. 1 (408) 294-2787. ttp://www.sanjosemuseumofart.org/. 8 general admission, $5 seniors/students. Recognized for its contemporary collection of modern art, which highlights movements on the West Coast as well as national and international pieces. The museum started as a small civic art gallery in 1969 and has grown alongside the city's growth.

  • San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. 20 South First St. 1 (408) 971-0323. 6 general admission, $5 seniors/students with ID (free on the first Friday of the month. The first museum in the US to focus on quilts and textiles, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles has an outstanding collection on a rotating display. Exhibitions change quarterly at this exciting and modern museum.

  • Winchester Mystery House. 25 South Winchester Blvd. 1 (408) 247-2101. ttp://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/. ansion tour: $23.95, behind-the-scenes tour: $20.95, combined tour $28.95. The legend is that Sarah Winchester was afraid of being cursed by the ghosts of those who had been killed by Winchester guns. She thought that as long as construction kept going on, the ghosts would be kept at bay and she would keep on living. Construction did keep going on, resulting in a fantastic house full of mazes, stairs that go nowhere and other odd architecture. Beware, visitors have reported seeing paranormal objects in the house, and the only way you can confirm their claims is to see them yourself!

  • Santana Row. 68 Santana Row. 1 (408) 551-4611. ttp://www.santanarow.com/. A "European Village" of shops, restaurants, and high priced condos, with hotels and great nightlife. It's even been known to attract people as far away from San Francisco visiting for the day or night.

  • Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium. 342 Naglee Ave. 1 (408) 947-3636. This museum on Ancient Egypt features exhibits funded by the Rosicrucian Order, who have secured artifacts from archaeologists working in the area since the 1920s.

  • Japantown. The neighborhood surrounding Fifth and Jackson streets (a mile from Downtown) has several good restaurants, retail shops, and cultural facilities. Festivals are held several times a year.

  • Willow Glen. ttp://www.downtownwillowglen.org/. On Lincoln Avenue near Willow Street, this charming shopping district was once the center of a town separate from San Jose.

  • San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. aglee Avenue and Dana Avenue. 08-277-2757. ttp://www.sjparks.org/Parks/RegionalParks/rose/RoseGarden.asp. am to half hour past sunset. ree. 7__19__55.8__N. 21__55__41.3__W. San Jose's 5 1/2?acre Municipal Rose Garden ? a one-time prune orchard ? is today one of the most attractive of its kind in the world, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The Garden is exclusively devoted to shrubs of the rose family and features over 4,000 rose shrubs with 189 varieties represented. Hybrid?teas comprise 75 percent of the plantings.
  • Heritage Rose Garden. pring and Taylor. ttp://www.heritageroses.us/. alf an hour before dawn to half an hour after dusk. ree. ...delighting you with a world class collection of almost 4,000 plants of more than 3,000 varieties of heritage, modern and miniature roses, initially planted by more than 750 volunteers in March, 1995.

    Do

    San Jose has two major professional sports teams, and a variety of theater and comedy acts that perform throughout the year. The city also plays host to a variety of unique conventions that focus on cartoons and anime, sci-fi as well as video games due to its proximity to several major game companies.

  • San Jose Sharks. ttp://sharks.nhl.com/. The HP Pavilion hosts this National Hockey League team, which has enjoyed relatively good success since their inception in 1991. Watch one of the more famous traditions as the team enters the rink out of a 17-foot high shark head.

  • San Jose Earthquakes. ttp://sjearthquakes.mlsnet.com/t110/. After almost losing their soccer team to Houston, the Earthquakes have resumed play after being on "hiatus" for the 2006-07 seasons of Major League Soccer. The "Quakes" currently play at Santa Clara University's Buck Shaw Stadium, as well as in Oakland at the Oakland Coliseum for larger games. A new stadium is planned for 2011.

  • Improv Comedy Club. 2 S. Second St. 1 (408) 280-7475. ttp://www.symfonee.com/improv/sanjose/home/Index.aspx. Improv acts right downtown, with a full restaurant and bar. The club is also great for group outings between 10-400 people.

  • San Jose Repertory Theater. 01 Paseo de San Antonio. 1 (408) 367-7255. ttp://www.sjrep.com/. Comedies and dramas with a creative flair; the Rep puts on six main-stage classic and contemporary plays a year.

  • Teatro Vision. 700 Alum Rock Ave, Ste 265. 1 (408) 272-9926. ttp://www.teatrovision.org/. Known for putting on high-quality Chicano/Latino plays in San Jose for over 25 years. The mission of Teatro Vision is based on community, celebrating a common culture, and creating a better world.

    Events

  • Cinequest. ttp://www.cinequest.org/. arch. A film festival with an emphasis on digital production. Named one of the Top 10 Film Festivals in the world by the ''Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.''

  • San Jose Jazz Festival. ttp://www.sanjosejazz.org/. ugust. Includes jazz as well as blues, salsa, and big band playing simultaneously on approximately 12 mostly outdoor stages. Billed as the world's largest free jazz festival.

  • San Jose Metro Fountain Blues Festival. ttp://www.sanjosebluesweek.com/. ay. Blues on Paseo de San Carlos at San Jose State

  • Music in the Park and Music in the Other Park. ttp://www.sjdowntown.com/Music_in_the_Park.html. Downtown in Plaza de Cesar Chavez and St. James Park, respectively. Free concerts weekly through the summer, sponsored by the San Jose Downtown Association

  • Downtown Ice. ttp://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_ice.html. ovember - January. Outdoor ice skating located between the Fairmont Hotel and the San Jose Museum of Art.

  • 5 de Mayo. inco de Mayo. The Sunday right before or after May 5th is the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the Bay Area. A parade takes place downtown early in the morning, followed by music and cultural events held at the Guadalupe park and Santa Clara Fairgrounds in the afternoon.

    Conventions

  • Further Confusion. anuary. One of the world's largest convention for fans of ''furry'' (anthropomorphic animals or creatures) art, writing, comics, and costuming

  • Consonance. ttp://www.consonance.org/. arch. A mid-sized convention devoted to ''filking'' which is (yes, you guessed it) folk singing with a science fiction theme

  • BayCon. ttp://www.baycon.org/. ay. A long-running, regional science fiction convention

  • Fanime. ttp://www.fanime.com/. ay. The largest anime convention in Northern California

  • California Extreme. ttp://www.caextreme.com/. uly or August. An all-you-can-play exhibition of pinball machines and classic video games.

  • SiliCon. ttp://www.siliconventions.com/. ctober. A small science fiction convention with a media track.

    Shop

  • Valley Fair. 855 Stevens Creek Blvd. 1 (408) 248-4451. ttp://westfield.com/valleyfair/. One of the largest and best of the shopping malls in Northern California contains a variety of mostly medium-priced stores with a high-end shops.

  • Santana Row. 68 Santana Row. 1 (408) 551-4611. ttp://www.santanarow.com/. Across from Valley Fair is a relatively newly constructed "European Village" of high-end shops, restaurants, and high-priced condos - a Northern California version of LA's Rodeo Drive

  • Oakridge Mall. 25 Blossom Hill Rd. 1 (408) 578-2912. ttp://westfield.com/oakridge/. All the Westfield mall basics for those that are addicted to malls. Since its renovation, seems to largely be a clone of Valley Fair

  • Berryessa Flea Market. 590 Berryessa Rd. 1 (800) BIG-FLEA. ttp://www.sjfm.com/. A huge outdoor flea market with California's largest farmer's market. Worthwhile for bargains, but let the buyer beware. Everything from furniture and stereos to haircut salons and massages can be found, if you look hard enough. Spanish is the lingua franca.

  • Tropicana Shopping Center. 630 Story Rd. 1 (408) 280-0435. A good taste of East San Jose culture.

  • Coleman Crossing Shopping Center. oleman and Hedding. A new multistore shopping area with decent number of eating joints. Target, Trader Joe's, Michaels, T-Mobile, Chili's and many more.

  • Fry's Electronics. 50 E. Brokaw Rd. ttp://www.frys.com/. One of the largest places for consumer electronics and gadgetry, this particular Fry's branch is unique for its Mayan-themed decoration. This is just one of several Fry's Electronics stores in the area, including Campbell, Fremont, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale; however the San Jose branck is the original and the largest.

    Eat

    Italian

  • Original Joe's. 01 S 1st St. 1 (408) 292-7030. A San Jose classic, having been in business for almost 50 years. Very good food, if not a bit pricey. 70s decor. Always (!!!) busy and one of the few places open late in the downtown core. You may end up waiting for half an hour for a table, but it'll be worth it.

  • Il Fornaio. 02 S Market St. 1 408 271-3366. ttp://www.ilfornaio.com/?page=138&restaurant_id=3156. 15-$25. Located at the Sainte Claire Hotel (same block as Original Joe's), it offers a true Italian experience, often bringing chefs from different parts of Italy and featuring special dishes from their hometown. It also features a bakery, offering specialty coffees, unique baked goods and authentic Italian artisan breads.

    Mexican

  • Aqui Cal-Mex Grill. 145 Lincoln Ave. 1 408 995-0381. ttp://www.posthoc.com/aquicalmexgrill.htm. This place serves Mexican food as if it had passed through a fun-house mirror. One of the first places to use gourmet burrito wraps. Inside the wraps you'll find fish and fillings from anywhere on the Pacific Rim: salmon, yellow-fin tuna, or plantains. Inexpensive, filling, and unusual!

  • Taqueria Corona. 01 N 4th St. 1 408 925-9336. This bright taqueria in Japantown is a traditional, leisurely, sit-down Mexican restaurant. It has good seafood plates, chimicangas, and al pastor. It also has a nice selection of domestic and Mexican beers. The various shrimp combination plates are quite tasty. Inexpensive.

  • La Victoria. 40 W. San Carlos. 1 (408) 298-5335. The nachos and burritos are very good, and the business stays open late to cater to all the late night revelers. They're known for their delicious "orange sauce," but don't even bother asking for the recipe; they'll never tell. Inexpensive, tasty, and with a cool vibe.

    American

  • Henry's Hi-Life. 01 West St. John St. 1 (408) 295-5414. ttp://www.henryshilife.com/. This is an "old skool" steakhouse where a lot of guys dine before going to a Sharks game. Located closer to the Shark Tank than most places. Its proximity to the Guadalupe River has resulted in many floods over the years.

  • AP Stump's. 63 West Santa Clara St. 1 (408) 292-9928. ttp://www.apstumps.com/. This is more of a fine dining restaurant that a lot of men take their wives before going to a Sharks game (if the wife wouldn't go to Henry's Hi-Life). Near the Shark Tank.

  • Amato's Restaurant. 162 Saratoga Ave. 1 (408) 246-4007. ttp://www.amatoscheesesteaks.com/. 6-$30.. This tiny hole-in-the-wall shop in the West San Jose neighborhood serves the best cheese steak sandwiches this side of Philadelphia. In addition, 34 other sandwiches are on the menu.

  • Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery. 3 East San Fernando St. 1 (408) 294-6785. This is a lively downtown restaurant that serves good Californa fusion cuisine. It has freshly-brewed .5 liter beers, and you can dine outside in the courtyard in the (usually excellent) San Jose evening weather. Also, Gordon Biersch is located a quick walk away from the newly-opened Century 12 theaters.

  • Hawg's Seafood Bar. 50 South Second St. 1 (408) 287-9955. Voted the best seafood restaurant in the South Bay by ''Metro Silicon Valley'' readers in 2005. Located near the San Jose Repertory Theater.

  • Sonoma Chicken Coop. 1 North Market St. 1 (408) 287-4098. Very good California fusion cuisine at downright inexpensive prices; very informal and most entrees are under $10. As an added bonus, they brew their own beer and have a nicely sized covered patio area. Their daily specials are usually very good.

  • Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar. 85 Park Ave. 1 (408) 971-1700. ttp://www.scottsseafoodsj.com/. Excellent seafood and a great bar. Some non-seafood items also available. "Business casual" during the day; a little dressier at night. Fantastic location with a great view over downtown and
  • Zeni. 320 Saratoga Ave. 1 (408) 615-8282. An Ethiopian restaurant that shows off the complex flavors of the cuisine. Meals are served Ethiopian style, on ''injera'' bread. Ethiopian coffee ceremony is available, but you should phone ahead to give them time to prepare.

  • Hunan Taste. 98 N 4th St. 1 (408) 295-1186. An offshoot of Henry Chung's original Hunan Restaurant on Kearny Street in San Francisco -- the one with eight tables and a counter space which was once called "The Best Chinese Restaurant in the World" in New Yorker magazine. Quintessential hole-in-the-wall, but the service could not be nicer, as is the hot, garlicky cuisine, if you're so inclined.</eat>

  • King Eggroll. 221 Story Rd. 1 (408) 999-0798. Often dubbed "The Asian McDonalds", King Eggroll offers a variety of fast-food style Asian dishes and combination plates for under $5. As the name would imply, though, most come here for the famous egg rolls!

  • In-N-Out Burger. This famous burger chain boasts "Quality You Can Taste" and is highly regarded as one of the best fast-food restaurants around. Although the chain has expanded since its inception in Southern California in the late 1940s, it's still a quintessential California burger experience. The "secret menu" lists items that aren't advertised on the menus, but are available at every location. :<eat name="" alt="" address="5611 Santa Teresa Blvd." directions="opposite the Oakridge Mall" phone="+1 (800) 786-1000" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></eat> :<eat name="" alt="" address="2950 E. Capitol Expressway" directions="across from the East Ridge Shopping Center" phone="+1 (800) 786-1000" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></eat>

    Drink

    Nightlife in the Downtown area is a mix of lounges, clubs, and bars, which have greatly improved the scene or marked the beginning of its decline, depending on your opinion. Santana Row has a number of upscale clubs and bars and has been the new hotspot since 2005.

  • Goosetown Lounge. 172 Lincoln Ave. 1 (408) 292-4835. Willow Glen's neighborhood bar and cocktail lounge; if you're into a late night pops and bad renditions of YMCA, this karaoke hotspot may be for you.

  • Agenda Lounge. 99 S. First St. 1 (408) 287-3991. ww.agendalounge.com. Three leveled club with pounding house music on Fridays and Saturdays. Many come for the Salsa dancing on Wednesday

  • The Fairmont Lounge. 70 S. Market St.. 1 (408) 998-1900. ww.fairmont.com/sanjose. Upscale and pricey piano bar inside the Fairmont Hotel.

  • Smoke Tiki Lounge. 52 Post St. 1 (408) 292-4266. ttp://www.smoketiki.com/. Cheaper drinks (for a lounge) in a casual, lounge atmosphere. Caters to a younger, college-age crowd.

  • Mission Ale House. 7 E Santa Clara St. 1 (408) 292-4058. ttp://www.missionalehouse.com/. Downtown dive bar with a younger crowd and cheapest drinks in the area.

  • The Vault. 1 W Santa Clara St. 1 (408) 298-1112. ttp://www.vaultultralounge.com/. Bottle service, pounding music, and usually a $20 cover on weekends.

  • San Jose Bar & Grill. 5 S 2nd St. 1 (408) 286-2397. ttp://www.sanjosebarandgrill.com/. Cheap happy hour specials, specials on wings and burgers throughout the week, and a decent place to watch sports, especially football, on Sundays. The Grill also has karaoke on Wednesdays

  • VooDoo Lounge. 4 S 2nd St. 1 (408) 286-8636 . ttp://www.voodooloungesj.com/. Downtown's venue for music acts also turns into a club on weekends.

  • Toon's Piano Bar. 2 E Santa Clara St. 1 (408) 292-7464 . ttp://www.toonsnightclub.com/. Calls itself a piano bar, but in recent years Toon's has transformed into one of downtown's seedier nightclub. Cheap drinks may be the only draw.

  • The Caravan and Cinebar. 8 S Almaden Ave and 69 E San Fernando St. Dive bars of a dwindling type. The Caravan is neighbor to (and was once a tenant of) a Greyhound station, no less.

  • Hookah Nites. 71 S First St. ttp://www.hookahnites.com/. Coffees, teas, snacks, and hookahs. The sweet smells of tobacco and fruit smokes spread across the street as patrons enjoy hookahs at sidewalk tables each afternoon and evening.

  • JJ's Blues. 439 Stevens Creek Blvd. 1 (408) 243-6641. ttp://www.jjsblues.net]. One of the best places in the Bay Area to hear live blues music, and one of the few clubs with live music every night of the week.

  • Splash. 5 Post St. 1 (408) 993-0861. ttp://www.splashsj.com/. San Jose's downtown gay nightclub harbor's a friendly atmosphere toward anyone and is one of the better nightclubs in the downtown area.

    Sleep

    Hotels

  • '''Crowne Plaza Hotel''', 282 Almaden Blvd, (408) 998-0400, [http://www.sanjosecp.com]. New $9 Million Dollar renovation. Newest hip spot in downtown San Jose.
  • '''The Fairmont San Jose''', 170 South Market Street, (408) 998-1900, Toll-free: (800) 527-4727, [http://www.fairmont.com]. Luxury hotel located near the McEnery Convention Center. Heated rooftop pool, underground valet parking.
  • '''Hotel De Anza''', 233 W. Santa Clara Street, (408) 286-1000, Toll-free: (800) 843-3700, [http://www.hoteldeanza.com]. Restored historic luxury hotel.
  • '''Motel 6 San Jose South''', 2560 Fontaine Road, (408) 270-3131, Fax: (408) 270-6235, [http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=0103&state=CA&full=California&city=San%20Jose].
  • '''Residence Inn San Jose South''', 6111 San Ignacio Avenue, (408) 226-7676, Fax: (408) 226-9916, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SJCRI].
  • '''San Jose Doubletree''', 2050 Gateway Place, (408) 453-4000. Mostly known for the location of many conventions (see Events above), the Doubletree is within half a mile of the San Jose airport. Free wireless in the bar area. Lots of meeting space.
  • '''San Jose Hilton & Towers Hotel''', 300 Almaden Blvd, (408) 947-4450. One of the finest in the downtown. Excellent location for convention attendees (conference center is conjoined with this with the newly constructed Marriott)
  • '''San Jose Marriott''', 301 South Market Street, (408) 280-1300, Toll-free: (800) 314-0928, Fax: (408) 278-4444, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SJCSJ].
  • '''Sleep Inn San Jose''', 2390 Harris Way, 1-800-765-4203, [http://www.sjclodging.com/].
  • '''TownePlace Suites San Jose Cupertino''', 440 Saratoga Avenue, (408) 984-5903, Fax: (408) 984-5904, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SJCTS].
  • '''Vagabond Inn''', 1488 N First Street, [http://www.vagabondinns.com]. Best price in the city, super-close to the airport. Quite clean, free wifi, safe.
  • Howard Johnson Express San Jose. an Jose Hotel Near Airport. 215 S. First St. 00-509-7666. ttp://www.hojosanjose.com. Howard Johnson Exp Express San Jose Airport puts you in perfect proximity to everything that San Jose and the Bay Area has to offer.

    Corporate/Vacation Housing

  • '''San Jose Vacation Rentals''',(http://www.SanJoseCAVacationRentals.com). Tel: (408) 269-2339, Toll-Free: (800) 813-3510. San Jose Vacation Rentals offers fully-furnished executive homes in desirable Willow Glen. Other San Jose locations also available. Choose from 1-4 Bedroom Houses. Extended stays preferred. 1 week minimum stay. Pet friendly. High speed internet, enhanced cable, enclosed backyards, BBQ, modern homes.
  • Get out

    Destinations

    Just east of the city lies Alum Rock Park, a canyon through which Penitencia Creek flows, which is lined by sulfurous mineral springs and several small waterfalls. Above the park stands Mount Hamilton -- one of the highest peaks in the Bay Area at 4,213 feet. The telescopes of Lick Observatory [http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/], operated by the University of California, crown the summit and are open to the public at daytime. Nighttime visiting is discouraged [http://www.ucolick.org/public/visitors.html].

    Less than an hour away over the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains, the small coastal city of Santa Cruz is a nice day trip out San Jose or the first stop on a longer coastal drive to Monterey and Santa Barbara in the south or the Lost Coast in the north.

    Other places to see near San Jose are Scenic Drive in Saratoga Hills, numerous hill and mountain parks, Mission Santa Clara at Santa Clara University, Palo Alto and Stanford University, charming Peninsula towns, Fremont's Mission San Jose and Ardenwood Historic Farm, Half Moon Bay, and Downtown Los Gatos. A longer distance away are Capitola Beach, Carmel, the scenic Route 1 (sometimes called the Pacific Coast Highway), San Juan Bautista and its historic mission, and Monterey.

    Transportation

    By '''car''': San Jose is about an hour from San Francisco and Oakland, but the trip is much longer during rush hour on US-101 and Interstate 880. Take Interstate 280 to San Francisco for a scenic alternative, and consider a detour westward on Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay and the coastal Highway 1, which leads northward to San Francisco and southward to Santa Cruz. For Santa Cruz, take Highway 17 southward over the mountains. For an hour-and-a-half ride to Monterey, either go to Santa Cruz and take Highway 1 southward or take US-101 through Gilroy to Highway 156, which connects to Highway 1.

    For other modes, all intercity connections except private lines like Greyhound leave from '''Diridon Station''' (Cahill Station on older maps), 65 Cahill Street (near Santa Clara Street and the H.P. Pavilion).

    By '''train''': Commuter rail line Caltrain [http://www.caltrain.com] runs to San Francisco. The interregional Capitol Corridor [http://www.amtrakcapitols.com/] runs to Oakland and Sacramento. The rush-hour commuter line Altamont Commuter Express [http://www.acerail.com/] runs to Stockton (Central Valley-bound trips only in late afternoon, with return trips only in morning). A trip to San Francisco on Caltrain or to Oakland on the Capitol Corridor takes about an hour-and-a-half. Caltrain also provides the Baby Bullet, an hour-long run with very limited stops to San Francisco, during commute hours. An alternative mode to both Oakland and San Francisco is Valley Transportation Authority [http://www.vta.org/] express lines 180 [http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_180.html] and 181 [http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_181.html] to Fremont, where riders can connect to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) [http://www.bart.gov/], which serves Oakland, San Francisco, and several other San Francisco Bay Area destinations.

    By '''bus''': Amtrak California [http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/] runs a bus with stops in Gilroy, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Santa Cruz Metro [http://www.scmtd.com/] provides a bus line (Highway 17 Express [http://www.scmtd.com/routes/rt17.html]) to and from Santa Cruz. Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) runs bus lines (Routes 180 [http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_180.html] and 181 [http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_181.html]) to Fremont and its BART station. These services leave from Diridon Station, although VTA Routes 180 and 181 and Highway 17 Express also serve Downtown San Jose directly. Greyhound [http://www.greyhound.com] runs to several locations, and its station is at Almaden Avenue and Post Street (70 S Almaden Avenue, not to be confused with Almaden Boulevard one block parallel).