Our family of four (kids 5 & 3 yrs) will be in San Jose for 4 days next month. On our last day there (a Sunday) we would like to take a day trip, but we need to be back at the SJ airport for a 6:40pm flight. What would be our best options? We are considering Montery, SF or Santa Cruz.
Thanks

Hi Trisha, what interest does your family have? That would determin what place to go to.

Just something that would be fun for the kids. In Monterey, we are thinking the aquarium & beach area. In SF, they would probally like the fishermans warf area and seeing the sights. I know that Santa Cruz is close by, but I no nothing about that area.
In San Jose, we are planning on seeing the childrens museum, zoo and maybe the tech musuem, so we would like to do something a little different on our day trip.

Thanks

I would go for Santa Cruz, with a fun visit to the boardwalk and beach. Try some Gilmore garlic fries, a caramel apple sundae and a twistie ice cream cone. The boardwalk has a good kids' rides area.

I think Santa Cruz would be fun too.

Monterey would be great, it is a little further though - maybe 30-40 minutes.

I have such happy childhood memories of San Jose's Happy Hollow (which is the zoo I think you will be visiting)
http://www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org/

Awesome place for little ones. At least it was when I was a kid in the '70s.

As for the day-trip. San Francisco will be fun, but busy. Though time-wise it will be closest - and SJ airport is right next to the freeway.

Santa Cruz is the place to be if you are picturing your kids playing in the sand on the beach (The Boardwalk is fun and may have a few rides for wee ones).

Monterey should be very manageable - though I picture it more of a day at the aquarium rather than a day at the beach.

Sorry, but I have to ask: Why are you spending four days in San Jose? Are you visiting relatives or something like that?

Sorry, but I had to ask. There are so many other nearby places that would be much more attractive to spend four days.

Curious

A day trip to SF (city) with little kids is hard to do unless you have a specific destination in mind. The exploratorim (hands on sci museum) is fun.

If the weather is nice, a great place is a tide pool just north of Half Moon Bay. Anybody recall the name of the park with the tide pool. If you time it right at low tide (different every day), it's a fantastic experience - star fish, urchins, anemones, etc. Be sure to bring boat shoes, or other shoes with a grip you can get wet (old sneakers).

Of course, the weather in SJ will be nice, but you need to look at the Half moon bay fcst.

Next weekend 5/14-15 is the annual artichoke festival in Castroville - just North of Monterey.

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

How many hours does it take to see the aquarium in Montery?

To Curious: I know, San Jose wouldn't be my first choice for a vacation spot either. My husband's company is located there and they are flying us up (we live near Los Angeles) for the annual family picnic. The kids and I will be doing things in San Jose while my husband is at the office and after the company picnic I thought it would be nice to get out of San Jose before we had to fly home.

The Monterey Aquarium takes a couple hours to go through.

For things to do in San Jose, definitely go to Kelly Park and the Childrens Discovery Museum. If the weather is warm, head to Cesar Chavez park downtown and play in the fountain - it is a flat area with water jets that shoot up at varying heights. There are always bunches of families hanging out there on hot days, playing in the water.

Young kids might also enjoy riding the narrow gauge steam train that goes through the redwoods from Santa Cruz.
http://www.roaringcamp.com/steam.html

SF is a great city, but the kids might be too young to enjoy what it has to offer and as one poster mentioned it may not be too much fun for you logistically with two under 5 kids.

Hi Trisha, when I was a little girl my parents use to take us to Santa Cruz (from the Bay Area) and we loved it. I think my parents found it relaxing to (I assume because they took us so often). Although I love SF I think your little ones would be happier at Santa Cruz. Save SF for when they are a little older perhaps. Have a fun trip!

Santa Cruz Boardwalk would be good with kids its about 45 minute drive unless you go on Sunday. Also consider the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium 1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose, 95126 - (408) 947-3636 Winchester Mystery house located right off freeway at 217 Winchester Blv 408-217-2101

Johanne, with all due respect I think that the Egyptian Museum (as wonderful as it is) might not be the best idea for children the age of Trisha's.

I had my daughter and her two cousins there when they were 4,5 and 6 and I found out years later that they all had nightmares etc. from being there. The mummies etc. I think I would wait until the children were older. Just my thought from my experience with taking little ones.