As one of the most expensive cities in the US, San Jose isn't exactly known for budget living or cheap travel. Although you can frequently find inexpensive flights to San Jose, hotels, eating at restaurants which 8.75% city florida sales tax may cost quite a penny.
Luckily, San Jose still has plenty to offer when it comes to free attractions, especially if it calls for the outdoors, art and historic sites. Benefit from the city on any budget with this particular listing of the best samples by mail to complete in San Jose.
Kelley Park
Spanning 172 acres, Kelley Park is not only an urban oasis to unwind in, it houses some of the best free attractions within the city, such as the Japanese Friendship Garden, as well as beautiful picnic spots and leafy walkways. Head to the southwest corner of the park to uncover the interactive and admission-free History Park. This is when discover more about a century-old form of San Jose, filled with historic buildings, cultural museums, a trolley as well as an old-fashioned frozen treats parlor.
Mount Umunhum
Located in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and perched 3486ft over the Santa Clara Valley, the East Summit of Mount Umunhum is among the best panoramic viewpoints in San Jose. As the fourth highest peak within the Santa Cruz Mountains, there isn't much that competes with the impressiveness of Mount Umunhum on the clear, sunny day.
Besides the views, Mount Umunhum includes a layered history like a sacred ceremonial space for Amah Mutsun people along with other Native American people. It had been also the location of US military operations throughout the Cold War. To get as much as the top, you may either perform a quick drive or hike 7.4 miles roundtrip in the Bald Mountain parking area.
Municipal Rose Garden
There's no better spot to smell the flowers than at the Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose. Conveniently located near downtown, this one-time prune orchard continues to be transformed. It had been named “America's Best Rose Garden” by All-America Rose Selections in 2010.
Its colorful grounds feature 189 types of roses, a reflection pool and fountain, picnic tables and lots of photo opportunities. Flowers have been in bloom from April through November, however the most impressive time for you to visit is May.
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
There aren't a ton of free museums in San Jose, but the Institute of recent Art makes up for that fact with its three galleries filled with first-class modern art. With rotating exhibits that range from photography to sculptures, textiles along with a mixture of pop, religious, political, historical and cultural art, there's something for the most hard-to-please museum-goer to enjoy.
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
There are lots of free places to hike in San Jose, only one of the very most unique and historic spots is Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Once the site of the most profitable mercury, or “quicksilver,” mining operation in The united states, today this 135-year-old park features 4163 acres of rolling green hills, panoramic views, wildflowers and 37 miles of hiking trails. History buffs are treated to leftover mining relics and structures in the 1800s, along with the closed-down San Cristobal mine that may be viewed via a gate.
Cesar Chavez Memorial Walkway
An important activist and hero towards the Mexican-American community, Cesar Chavez would be a civil rights leader known for leading nonviolent protests to combat low wages and horrible working conditions of farmworkers within the 1950s to 1980s. The Cesar Chavez Memorial Walkway not just commemorates him and the achievements but celebrates time he lived in San Jose in the 1950s. Even though the walkway isn't overly condensed (it covers four miles one-way), it is a glimpse into the mark Chavez left around the San Jose community.
Stops include Plaza de Cesar Chavez, the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San Jose State University, Mexican Heritage Plaza, Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Mayfair Community Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and also the former home of Chavez.
Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Located 10 minutes from downtown San Jose may be the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis, the very first from the 21 California missions dedicated to a female saint. No matter your religious affiliation, the mission supplies a relaxing place to rest and learn more about California's Spanish colonial past.
While planning your visit, remember that it's still an active church so the weekend is generally busier with services and events. After visiting and maybe carrying out a self-guided walking tour, eat the beautiful campus of Santa Clara University, the oldest university in California.
South First Fridays
If you prefer a backyard art walk instead of being stuck inside a museum, you won't want to miss South First Fridays. Happening in the SoFA district around the first Friday of each and every month (except July and January), South First Fridays is easily the most popular monthly art event in San Jose.
It not only highlights the best art galleries and museums in the neighborhood, but also features a street market, live music and food and drinks for sale. Visit in June which are more boisterous version of the wedding, dubbed the SubZero festival.
Los Gatos Creek Trail
Iced coffees in hand, cute pups, green pathways and locals taking in the sunshine while stretching their legs – this is the scene you can expect around the Los Gatos Creek Trail, an 11-mile pathway that cuts from San Jose to Los Gatos and beyond.
Snaking its way through cities, parks, reservoirs and scenic sights on the way, this is the best urban trail to understand more about by foot or bike within the greater San Jose area. It's a prime spot to people-watch and explore the highlights of urban South Bay nature at its finest.
Street art
For decades now, San Jose has revolved around all things tech, whether that function as the latest networking events, the discharge of convenient newly discovered apps, or promising startups reaching their Series A. But a new side to the city has been emerging recently, one that is more colorful, light, cultural and fun, by means of public art and murals.
Juxtaposed from the usual concrete jungle of freeways and neutral-colored buildings, these bits of street art bring new perspectives towards the city and visual enjoyment for passersby. Explore the very best public art in downtown, or expand your tour city-wide.
Lick Observatory
An hour beyond San Jose, you need to take a winding and slightly treacherous route to wake up towards the Lick Observatory at the top of Mount Hamilton. Once you discover the 4209-foot view from the top though, you'll agree that the journey was worth it.
Besides being a world-renowned research facility for the university since 1888, the Lick Observatory is a tourist attraction on its own. One of the best methods to experience it is through a guided tour where you can take a closer look at its historic refractor and reflector telescopes. Otherwise, attend the observatory's popular lecture and concert series throughout the summer, sign up for a photography night, or simply have the wind on your face having a 360-degree view from the top.
