San Jose, CA Area Guide

After decades as a territory of Spain and then Mexico, San Jose became the second incorporated city in the U.S. state of California in 1850. After briefly serving as the state capital, San Jose served as an important stage coach stop. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the Winchester Mystery House, a bizarre Victorian mansion built by the heiress of the Winchester Rifle fortune constructed in a deliberately-nonsensical design between 1884 and 1922. In 1943, IBM established a headquarters in Jan Jose, effectively launching the modern technology industry in the region now known as Silicon Valley.

Downtown San Jose is home to some of the area’s most innovative restaurants. Dine on Spanish tapas at Picasso’s, sushi and sashimi at Fuji Sushi or authentic Mexican food at La Victoria Taqueria. All these restaurants are within one city block and are a small sample of what’s available.

Public transit is the preferred method of getting around downtown San Jose. Beyond that the city is spread out and ringed with several suburbs where driving is sometimes more practical. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, VTA for short, operates bus transit service as well as a light rail line. Passes allow you to use both systems. Both offer service to the Caltrain Station, located on the western edge of downtown. Amtrak and the Altamont Commuter Express also stop here. The bus system offers express service to the Bay Area Transit System, or BART, giving you access to the entire Bay Area. The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is roughly three miles from downtown.

The city of San Jose contains over 15,000 acres of public parkland, including the stunning San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, the trail-filled Alum Rock Park, and dozens of smaller neighborhood parks within walking distance of virtually home and apartment. Many of the larger parks include tributes and exhibits connected to the region’s diverse cultural influences.

As with most of the bay area, rent can be rather expensive in San Jose. It’s rare to find a Silicon Valley apartment for under $1,000 per month but it is still possible to find a cheaper apartment for rent in San Jose. The average rate for a two-bedroom unit is over $3,000 (single bedroom apartments average around $2,500). However, this figure is heavily influenced by the number of high-end properties in the area; apartments, condos, townhomes, and rental houses can often be found in the $1,600 range.

San Jose is home to one of Northern California’s largest malls, Westridge Valley Fair. It houses more than 250 stores, a host of fast food and sit-down restaurants and has valet parking. South of downtown is the Eastridge Shopping Center, another shopping giant that has free Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the mall. Head north of downtown to Milpitas and you have the Great Mall, one of the largest indoor outlet malls in California. It also offers Wi-Fi hot spots, name brand stores, restaurants and a 20-screen movie theater.

Head to downtown San Jose for the Farmers Market every Friday from May through November. Local vendors sell everything from ethnic prepared foods to fresh produce and homemade craft items. Also be sure to check out the weekend San Jose Flea Market, a fixture in the Berryessa neighborhood since 1960.

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, CONRAC, SAP Center, Avaya Stadium, Winchester Mystery House, San Jose State campus