San Jose is more than just a tech hub—it’s the nation’s 12th largest city, boasting a walkable downtown, a historic Japantown, Little Saigon neighborhood and a few deeply unique museums and attractions (we adore the Rosicrucian Museum as the best replica of Ancient Egypt you can get in the U.S., and the Winchester Mystery House is an eerie, gigantic mansion in which ghosts supposedly pursued an 1800s widow relentlessly).
Add in a shopping district bustling with eateries and bespoke stores, plenty of historic spots to explore and a few fun places to drink and dance, and you’ve got a destination worth visiting. Driving up to San Franciso takes just a little under an hour, making this an easy back and forth day trip for your weekend, but why would you want to leave when there are 300 days of sunshine a year in San Jose, compared to San Francisco’s 265? San Jose’s hiking trails, lush parks and a lake attract those looking for a natural experience, too.
Since our last update: The once-gorgeous, lush Japanese Friendship Garden built in 1965 has fallen on some hard times and thus we’ve decided to take it off our list until its water features sparkle once more. Several other former inclusions, too, have lost the fight to stay open, such as the Midtown Arts Mercantile and California’s Great America amusement park. Raging Waters has closed, and CaliBunga Waterpark is now in its place.