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There are many exciting places to visit in San Jose. If you are limited on time, knowing the best places to visit can help you make the most of your vacation. The top ten things to do in San Jose will make your choices easier.
Things To Do In San Jose
Children’s Discovery Museum
Children learn by exploring the museum and doing hands-on activities. Filled with semi-permanent and travelling exhibits that meet the children’s educational and cultural needs to learn. All developmental stages are accommodated as well as all physical abilities.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m., closed Monday. Infants and members are admitted free.
Paramount’s Great America
Children’s favourite Nickelodeon characters wander the park and entertain the children. Stage shows allow the kids to interact with the characters more and see the characters in a familiar setting. Great America offers the most kid’s rides in any theme park in the Bay area. The theme park also offers more thrill rides than any other amusement park in Northern California. There is also a water park located in the Australian themed Crocodile Dundee Boomerang Bay Beach Club.
Open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday.
Tech Museum of Innovation
The museum is unlike any other museum with over 200 interactive, technologically advanced exhibits. The visitor can learn about the technologies affecting our world today and some of the technologies we can hope to see in the future.
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The IMAX Theater is open Tuesday through Sunday, with the hours varying by showtime. Prices for the theatre depend on the movie showing.
San Jose Museum of Art
Contemporary art, lectures, concerts, tours, book signings, special events and programs for children make the San Jose Museum of Art a special place to visit all by itself. The normally expected museum merchandise can be found in the museum bookstore and the museum café offers a menu that differs with the season.
Hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday. Admission is free.
Rosicrucian Museum and Planetarium
With the museum recently re-opening after a complete remodelling, even previous visitors will find something new to excite them once again. Egyptian mummies, artefacts and books wait to reveal new information about the country and its colourful history. A large tomb awaits visitors below the museum and gives a view into what life was like in ancient Egypt.
Park and Naglee Avenues. Open hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Intel Museum
The history of Intel Corporation and Silicon Valley await the visitor to this museum. For those who are interested in learning about the history of the computer and how the parts of the machine, the Intel Museum is the place to visit. Mementoes from Silicon Valley can be found in the gift shop.
Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Admission and parking are free.
Japanese Friendship Garden
The garden is based in the Korakuen Park in Okayama, Japan. Visitors can feed the fish in classic Japanese landscape gardening. While walking through the garden, you will see traditional bridges, ponds and pathways that maintain the art of classical Japan. Flowers in bloom depend on the season and also maintain the tradition of Japan.
Open hours 10:00 a.m. to sunset daily. Admission is free.
Raging Waters
The largest water park in the Bay area, Raging Waters has slides of every different shape and size, including the 500-foot long Barracuda Blaster. An inner tube will take you down the Great White Shark ride and leave you gasping for breath from the excitement. Families, couples and groups of friends looking for fun will be happy with their visit to the water park, especially on a hot summer afternoon.
Hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Santana Row
The Santana Row offers shopping that will appeal to every preference, as well as dining, entertainment and accommodations. Built on 42 acres and offering 528,000 square feet of retail businesses, every member of the family can find something to entertain them.
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
Both Spanish and English masses are available. The church was originally built in 1877 and underwent a restoration in 1990. The first seat for the parish was originally built in 1803, with this church being the fifth location.
Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and mass is held at 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
