Walnut Blossom - San Jose, CA

Walnut Blossom was originally settled in 1777 as part of El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, the first town in Nueva California. Originally part of a farming community, the area also served as part of Spain’s military installations.

Despite severe damage from the 1906 earthquake, the economy of Walnut Blossom grew, but soon shifted away from agriculture into industrial manufacturing and defense. Later, the small region joined the rest of Silicon Valley's technology sector in driving the dot-com revolution.

You can learn more about the history of Walnut Blossom and neighboring communities at the San Jose Fire Museum, the San Jose Trolley Barn, and History Park at Kelley Park in San Jose. In February, make sure to see the Tet Festival, the annual celebration of the Vietnamese New Year. A parade, food court, contests, and fashion show highlight this fun cultural event.

Walnut Blossom is very small, so most locals travel to neighboring towns to enjoy a bite to eat. The area around Snell Avenue is where the locals head for a night out. The area features everything from Mediterranean and pizza to Tex-Mex, Asian fusion, sushi, and Latin American cuisine.

Off the Street offers a variety of creative sandwiches, including turkey and pesto, grilled veggies, and pork belly. A casual, welcoming environment provides eclectic seating and a variety of board games and toys to amuse yourself while the staff works on your order. Locals flip for the mac and cheese from the late night menu and the made-from-scratch-tomato soup

Locals crave the creative take on Mexican classics such as burritos, enchiladas, and tacos at Aqui Cal-Mex, where the chef adds quirky extras like Thai chicken and green chile crab to the mix. Try the industrial strength margaritas or get creative with an industrial swirl -- a traditional margarita with a blend of sangria and other tasty ingredients mixed in. This may just become your new favorite place.

If you enjoy Asian food, check out Kenzo Japanese Restaurant, where the menu features high- quality sushi and sashimi. This cozy, casual restaurant can get crowded, but the excellent rolls such as the mango crunch and mamasitta make the wait worthwhile. Reasonably priced specials make this a great place to stop with friends and co-workers for lunch.

Walnut Blossom tends to be very quiet at night, so head to nearby San Jose when you're ready for nighttime fun. Bowlero San Jose offers bowling, food, and drinks coupled with a fun, upbeat atmosphere.

Walnut Blossom and San Jose offer several public transit options, but most residents travel to work and run errands by car. Access to U.S.101 and highways 85 and 87 make travel to nearby communities easy, but try to avoid rush hour, when heavy traffic often frustrates the best laid plans.

Locals choosing to take pubic transportation can take the Altamont Corridor Express or the San Jose light rail from Walnut Blossom to San Jose, or hop on Caltrain to catch Bay Area Rapid Transit, which travels to San Francisco, Oakland and other cities in the East Bay. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority operates many bus lines throughout the area, which is served by several large airports, including San Jose International, San Francisco International and Oakland International Airport. Small jets and helicopters also can land at Reid-Hillview Airport in eastern San Jose.

Downtown San Jose offers a walkable downtown area, where many restaurants and businesses are accessible on foot, but to get around Walnut Blossom or other neighboring communities you'll need a ride. Hailing a cab on the street won’t be easy, but you can call one of several cab companies or Uber for a ride. Many locals also opt to bike around the region, which offers many safe bike lanes and off-road bike trails.

Walnut Blossom sits in a family oriented neighborhood with a variety of enjoyable parks, and the great year-round weather here makes outdoor activities a must.

Take the day off and go to Eden Park, a dog friendly park filled with play equipment, picnic areas and lots of room to run around. Barbecue grills, a volleyball court, a tennis court and paved walking trails make this a true neighborhood gem.

If you're planning a picnic with the kids, head to Blossom Valley's Vista Park, a perfect place for a family party, with a playground, volleyball nets, baseball diamond and basketball court. Best of all, both parks offer free parking and free admission every day.

San Jose offers a number of fun activities all summer long, but you'll really enjoy the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival, which happens every September in nearby San Jose. Take in arts and crafts from local artisans, great food and a selection of local wines as you enjoy California's great weather and sunshine.

Walnut Blossom’s cost of living lies slightly lower than the San Jose average, yet higher than the national average. A typical one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,633 per month.

It costs $2 to get from Walnut Blossom to San Jose via VTA bus. A beer at a local pub runs about $5 to $6, and gas prices sit about 19 percent higher than the national average here.

Walnut Blossom residents do most of their shopping in the neighboring communities of San Jose, where you'll find Nordstrom Rack, a high-end outlet store, and many big-box and chain stores including Target and Babies R US at the nearby Westfield Oakridge Mall.

For boutique shopping, try Plato’s Closet, a second-hand store that sells gently used designer goods. You'll love the fantastic prices on brand-name jeans and be thrilled when they give you cash or a store credit when you have something good to sell. Can't find what you need here? Browse the affordable women’s fashions and cute novelty items, toys, gag gifts and housewares at Francesca's Collections. Locals love the upbeat and helpful customer service here.

Shop for everyday groceries, bakery and drugstore items at Safeway, Lucky or Nob Hill Markets, or try International Express Market for Middle Eastern food and ethnic food. The area’s closest farmer's market, where you'll find fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh eggs and bread, happens on Sundays at Blossom Hill.