San Jose help
 

My husband and I have the opportunity to fly to Sann Jose on a 2-for-1. I don't know much about it except that it's somewhat close to San Francisco.

Is it worth seeing San Jose itself or would it be a starting point to see San Francisco. I have never been to CA.

Thanks!

There is really nothing wrong w. San Jose as a town. But since you have never been to CA before I would not base a vacation there.

Take advantage of the 2-for-1 and then go to either San Francisco and maybe the Napa/Sonoma wine region; OR down to the Monterey Bay/Carmel area.

depending on how long you are planning and when, you might be able to squeeze in all three (SF/Napa/Carmel)

I would head to San Francisco. I am from San Jose and while there is a lot to do, you would have more fun in SF. How long do you have in town?

Another vote for flying into SJ and then heading out. SJ is a nice city, but doesn't offer much for tourists, esspecially when so many incredible places are so close by.

Thanks everyone. That's what I think we'll do. We've got about 3-4 days so maybe San Fran and wine country.

Here's a tip, when driving 101 to san francisco stop at "Taqueria La Bamba" in mountain view, about 15 mins from san jose (take the old middlefield road exit and it's on your right hand side when you get to the first stoplight)

Another nice trip is to take hwy 17 to santa cruz (leave early if you go on a weekend) check out santa cruz, drive up hwy 1 tthrough halfmoon bay all the way up to San Francisco. (It'll take 2-3 hours, but it's beautiful.)

get a super burrito (any meat but chicken is the best)

This place has the best burritos of anywhere in California or Mexico. (Yes, I have eaten every other burrito)

Taqueria La Bamba is great.

I don't live in CA BUT I have been in the same situation.
I think your decision REALLY depends on what y'all like to do.
We LOVE the B&B's in Carmel and driving down the PCH. We just saoked in everything!
I like San Francisco, too but only go there when I am traveling alone or with my daughter. My husband is more of the golf/resort set and totally prefers the beauty of the areas outside of San Francisco. We also love Sausalito.
Damn, you just can't go wrong, really... no matter where you go!
Just let us know what floats your boat and maybe that will help narrow the choices.

Another vote for Carmel! Check out Pt. Lobos State Park, it's gorgeous. Lots of great places to eat in the area. Stay at the Highland's Inn or the Tickle Pink Inn for breath-taking views of the coastline. ***kim*** (~~)

I was born in a city adjacent to SJ.
San Jose was formerly the capital of CA, before Sacramento.
Old Almaden was the world's leading producer of Cinnabar & Quicksilver, important for extracting gold from ore - during the Gold Rush of the 1840s.

Over the years, several territories have been annexed to SJ and this has made the area built "out" not "up". For this reason, a nice, clean, light rail transit system is receiving yet another line to reach more residents of the valley floor.

The general area once supported farming and has, within the last 50 years, supported mostly high tech businesses and tract homes.

San Jose Jazz Festival is the largest free such event. What time of year will you arrive?

In San Jose, a person could visit the CA Theatre on First Street, which was recently remodeled and reopened.

The (hands-on) Tech Museum of Innovation and IMAX theatre on Market Street are interesting.
San Jose Museum of Art and St. Joseph's church across the street.
All within walking distance of the Fairmont Hotel.

Grandview restaurant on Mt. Hamilton / 130 is a nice place for a sunset dinner.
Upscale Shopping/restaurants in Santana Row on Stevens Creek Blvd. have a newer quasi-euro village feel to them.

What's the difference between San Jose and yogurt?
Yogurt has an active culture.
San Jose has always lived in the shadow of San Francisco.
Take this perspective : every major seaport in the world is steeped in history and culture that is more attractive than it's younger sister cities.

San Jose isn't really a destination for tourism. Use it as a starting point to see SF - if SF is your goal. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, etc. are great areas to the South. SF, Sausalito, Marin, etc. are great areas to the North.

Let us all know if you have specific questions.

Thanks so much for the help!

I didn't realize Carmel was so close. Would anyone be able to recommend a moderate, but decent hotel/Inn in the area. At least we wouldn't have to deal with th SF hotel strike.

Thanks!

There are hundreds of hotels in SF that are not involved in any labor dispute-only 14 hotels are. Unless you have your heart set at staying in one of these 14, there is no "hotel strike" to "deal with". These are the 14 hotels: Argent Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Union Square, the Hilton, the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins,Fairmont, Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Holiday Inn Civic Center, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fisherman's Wharf, Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf, Palace, Hyatt Regency, Omni and Westin St. Francis. BTW except for the Argent, these are all large, non boutique hotels.

My first recommendation is to post a separate question for this...

My second is the Carmel Valley Ranch. However, I must say that it has been 4 years since we were there last, and I wouldn't feel comfortable with this recommendation.

Ok, that's good. Didn't realize the strike wasn't city-wide. The strike in the Atlantic City hotels is messing everything up, and I didn't want the hassle that they seem to be having.

I'll repost the Carmel question. Thanks again.

NYGirl: I live in the Bay Area.

I would fly into San Jose and drive to the Monterey Peninsula...Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove. You will have a great time! The drive from the SJ airport to the Monterey Peninsula is about 1 hour and 30 minutes...probably less than that. Take 880 south from the airport till it changes to HWY 1 and head south to the peninsula.

Check out www.pacificgrove.org for a list of hotel and bed and breakfast places in Pacific Grove. The GREEN GABLE INN or the SEVEN GABLES are both old Victorian homes that overlook Monterey Bay.

SAN JOSE is not a small town. We are almost 1 million people and the #10 largest city in the US...slightly ahead of Detroit, Michigan. There is plenty to see, but I think a first time visitor would be better served going to Monterey or San Francisco.

If you go to PG, try to have dinner at either the Old Bath House or the White House. Passionfish is passe, IMO. Not much of anything interesting in San Jose. Explore our gorgeous coast! ***kim***

kimamom - another reckless statement by a reprobate hirsute simian.

If you don't know the area intimately, sure, a person could say with ignorance, what you did. However, there's an inside view to be had when considering San Jose itself and the surrounding territories including, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, etc.

Where do you call "home"?

NYgirl, I go to Carmel several times a year and was just there last month, we may be going again this week. Check out the www.carmelinns.com website and you will see lots of suggestions for lodging in the area. You simply must visit Carmel, it's such a quaint, unique place. Enjoy CA! ***kim***

jsuri - no need to see SF??

Sorry, but there is a reason San Francisco is known worldwide for being a tourist destination. San Jose, while having its amenities, in no way compares with San Francisco.

Nicely put, Kathryn! ***kim*** :)

Oh no. He's baaaaack. I thought fodors got rid of the SF basher.

You're right -- he's back. I noticed late last night on 3 different threads, but was hoping it was just a bad dream. But, nooooooooo!

Thanks kim! I just can't help but be proud of my native city. My brother and husband have both lived in San Jose and we have enjoyed visiting there, but there is nothing like San Francisco "where the little cable cars climb halfway..."

Oh my I'm getting schmaltzy. Must be because I saw Tony Bennett at the recent Bridge Concert!

Uh-oh.......

The SJ natives who say that there's really no reason to leave SJ are being delusional.

San Jose is an EXCELLENT place to raise your family. Pretty safe as far as big cities go. Pretty decent school system. Great weather. But as a tourist spot? No way, Jose. Quick...name one "must see" or nationally-known tourist spot in SJ??? Puh-leeze--don't tell me the Winchester Mystery House!

I didn't think so.

Think of it this way: If you flew to Gatwick or Heathrow airport and decided to "only" stay in the surrounding area instead of venturing out to London, you'd be missing a HELLUVA lot!

NYGirl: I would suggest that you download or print out this thread as soon as possible before it is deleted by Fodors.

There is a poster who posts under several different names - Treck and TKay are only two of them - who will give you very misleading information.

If it is cheaper for you to fly into San Jose, then by all means do so and then drive away ASAP to other points of interest. You can better spend your money and time seeing other sights in California.

San Jose has almost nothing to offer the tourist.

Have a great trip!

Hann - You owe many people here several apologies. I may not agree with the opinions of others here, but I can say with 100% conviction that kimamom and easytraveler and myself are separate people. There is only one computer and one screen name I use : TripleSecDelay. I am no other poster on Fodors. Since I discovered Fodors, I have seen their postings on many threads. The other screen names I do not recognize and I have no relation to them.

If wrong was a hole, you'd be the Grand Canyon. That's just asinine of you to make false accusations. Having lived most of my life in San Jose and the surrounding areas of the valley floor including Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, I know they have a lot to offer. So much to offer, we'd rather that people like you simply didn't show. Maybe not a tourist destination, but it never tried to nor needed to be. We're situated near so many great schools and world-leaders in employment and technology development. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to talk when you don't know what you're talking about?

Kathryn T, Tony Bennet was just recently in our city on tour also, but I missed him. We opted to see David Copperfield instead. Isn't the Fairmont Hotel in SF the place where "I Left My Heart in SF" was first recorded?

My future DIL was just in SF yesterday on a shopping trip with our church, I'll have to ask her how she liked it! It's a beautiful city, I hope to spend more time there myself this coming year. ***kim*** :)

I have to say that I think that using San Jose as a starting point might be a good idea. San Jose has a pretty good central location to a lot of great tourist destinations. Let me just say quickly...I've lived in the San Jose area my whole life and I think it's definitely a great place to live and raise a family (i.e. low crime, great weather,etc). But, as much as I love living here, it is NOT a tourist destination. I would much prefer to LIVE in San Jose over San Francisco, but I would much prefer to VACATION in S.F. over S.J. For somebody who's visiting CA for the first time, don't make a vacation out of San Jose. However, I would possibly recommend staying for the day, just to get a feel for it.

MSTNGHU - I completely agree with your statement:

"I would much prefer to LIVE in San Jose over San Francisco, but I would much prefer to VACATION in S.F. over S.J."

I live in San Jose, and I think it is a terrific place to live. Otherwise I wouldn't spend gobs of money every month to pay the mortgage on my house :)) When I want some diversion, I head over to the coast or up to SF.