Went to the bay area over the 4th.

Things that were a waste of money:

Winchester Mystery house. Overpriced and tourist trap. The old house was okay but not worth $15.00 a person. I didn't see any ghosts floating around.

Staying over in SF hotel. It would have been better to go for the day and stay in SJ. SF is pretty but way to expensive and too windy.

Had a great time at:

The tech musuem in SF was so much fun! If your into computers this is for you. Alot to see & do.

The SportzComedy in SJ was great! Talented actors had me laughing for two hours. Like improv? Check out this show.

I did not have a hard time parking or getting around SF. Glad I decided to drive.

The area is fun. Alot of good places to eat, things to see & do. Have a good time.

Isn't the tech museum in San Jose? Were you at a different museum in San Francisco?

The Tech musuem is in San Jose.

I agree whole heartedly with not going to the Wincester House. Another waster of time is the Mystery Spot in the Santa Cruz Mtns. However, if you want to stay in San Jose, do try to visit the little towns of Los Gatos and Saratoga and from Saratoga drive up into the mtns. on hwy 9 through the redwoods to Big Basin Redwood Preserve. Beautiful and the oldest preserved redwood forest in CA. Also have a look at St. Joseph's cathedral in San Jose and the contemporary art museum. I'd rather be in SF, but SJ has its good points. We live about halfway between the two.

As I write this I am less than 1 mile from the Winchester Mystery House and have been in this area for 10 years. I have never been to the house and don't know too many people in SJ that have.

Bob, I agree!!Took friend from CT. shopping at Valley Fair once and returning home, she insisted on stopping at the Wincester House! What a waste, but she wouldn't listen to me! Just a house of a crazy old lady who liked the number 13 and kept building and building---too much time and money on her hands. It is pretty from the outside though. Far more worth a visit if you like lovely old homes are Hakone Gardens and Villa Montalvo in Saratoga or Filoli near Woodside.

I live in San Jose, and have been to the Mystery House several times. Although it isn't as exciting as Disneyland or Alcatraz, I do find it to be a very interesting house. If you enjoy architecture, old houses and have a sense of humor, you should enjoy it. And the family was very important to the history of the area.