Curious: Good Question. Answer: Because there isn't much to do in San Jose. How many posts do you see on this board that state "San Jose Info - Planning a trip to San Jose, need advice" It's just a large suberb with not many options to make it a vacation destination, so hence everyone travels to The City.

The only people who call San Francisco the City are residents of San Francisco and others who are geographically out of touch. San Jose is the City not only because it is the the most populated city in Northern California, but it is the economic engine for not only Silicon Valley but all of Northern California. Look at the traffic patterns in the morning on 101, 280, 680, 880 and you will see that most are heading for work in San Jose(the City). San Francisco may have been the city 30 years ago when it was the pricipal population and business center in Northern California. What makes a City is its economic importance to a region, and if it was not for San Jose (the City), the economic boom of the 1990's would never have happened in Northern California.

Dan, you've convinced me. I want to visit San Jose. It sounds scintillating.

Curious,

In answer to your question about why traffic leaving the City toward San Francisco is so bad during the weekday afternoon and evenings, is that most of the jobs are in the City and people are heading home toward San Francisco.

So when people have to be in a certain place to make a living and be paid, they are in San Jose (The City). When people get to choose a place to be, where they live and recreate, they are in San Francisco.

Got it. Thanks!

Okay,
Actually, those of us who live in Silicon Valley don't go to San Francisco much anymore because San Jose has everything that only used to be in San Francisco. Namely museums, performing arts, great restaurants, as well as the many games and performances at the Compaq Center. Therefore, no need to go to the Peninsula. For a great day at the beach, nothing beats a drive over the hill to Santa Cruz. The last time I was in San Francisco was 7 years ago.