And then there\u2019s the personality. The airport celebrates its 1949 founding, including its first commercial flight carrying 2,550 baby chicks, now remembered through \u201cErnie\u201d the chick throughout the terminals. It\u2019s a small but memorable detail that reflects the city itself: practical, innovative, and quietly playful.<\/p>\n
Santana Row: Where the City Comes Together<\/p>\n I checked into Hotel Valencia Santana Row<\/a>, the only hotel on Santana Row, and immediately understood why this area is the center of it all. Santana Row feels like the Rodeo Drive of San Jose, but more relaxed, more walkable, more livable. Restaurants, caf\u00e9s, and boutiques spill onto the street, and everything invites you to slow down and stay awhile. It became my home base and everything radiated out from there.<\/p>\n A City That Shows Up for Sports<\/p>\n San Jose\u2019s sports culture is not secondary, it\u2019s central.<\/p>\n At SAP Center, I saw the San Jose Sharks<\/a> play in a setting that felt electric from start to finish. From the Penthouse Lounge, Carl and I saw in a row that had only four seats, fully padded, food and drinks included! It felt like business class for hockey, but the real story was the energy in the arena.<\/p>\n When Crazy George, the inventor of the wave, was honored with his own Sharks jersey, the entire stadium erupted into a wave. It was spontaneous, collective, and unforgettable.<\/p>\n During one intermission, kids took the ice for a competition that had the whole arena cheering, a reminder that sports here are both present and future. I\u2019ve loved hockey for years, but seeing it here, in this environment, felt different. More connected. More local. More alive.<\/p>\n And the bigger picture is just as strong. San Jose helped host the energy surrounding Super Bowl LX, will welcome global attention for FIFA World Cup 2026, and is set to host Olympic soccer at PayPal Park for the 2028 Summer Olympics. This is a city fully engaged in the global sports landscape.<\/p>\n Innovation You Can Taste<\/p>\n In Silicon Valley, innovation doesn\u2019t stay in tech, it shows up in unexpected places.<\/p>\n At Alamitos Vineyards<\/a>, I met founders Shaun and Chris, who do everything themselves including planting, harvesting, producing, and pouring their wines. The vineyard, located in historic New Almaden, has earned national recognition and reflects a true farm-to-glass experience.<\/p>\n At 10th Street Distillery,<\/a> I met co-founder Virag Saksena, an engineer who set out to create better whiskey after falling in love with single malts. He trained in Scotland, adapted his process for California\u2019s climate, and built a distillery whose award-winning spirits\u2014including Best of Show honors\u2014are now recognized globally. Even more compelling: some of those whiskies are finished in barrels from Alamitos Vineyards.<\/p>\n Two Silicon Valley stories. One shared ecosystem. This is what innovation looks like here, not just in code, but in craft.<\/p>\n A Movie Experience Like No Other<\/p>\n At The Tech Interactive<\/a>, I experienced something that truly surprised me. Watching Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling on the world\u2019s first dome laser projector on the largest IMAX\u00ae dome screen in the Bay Area goes beyond watching a film, you\u2019re fully immersed in it.<\/p>\n During my visit in April, as the Artemis program captured global attention, the timing made the experience even more powerful. Science, storytelling, and real-world exploration all aligned.<\/p>\n I went with a group of 10 including friends, family, and fellow University of Pennsylvania alumni across generations. Three had already seen the film and came back just to experience it again on the dome. That alone says everything.<\/p>\n Food That Reflects the City<\/p>\n San Jose\u2019s food scene is as diverse as its community.<\/p>\n At New Krung Thai,<\/a> people lined up before opening and the flavors delivered. At Augustine<\/a> and Zazil<\/a>, outdoor dining on Santana Row turned meals into experiences with fajitas, table side guacamole, and desserts worth lingering over. Meals here aren\u2019t rushed, they\u2019re shared, extended, and part of the experience.<\/p>\n Nearby Japantown San Jose, one of only three historic Japantowns in the U.S., adds cultural depth and context to the culinary landscape.<\/p>\n So\u2026 Do I Know the Way to San Jose?<\/p>\n Yes. San Jose isn\u2019t a stop along the way. It\u2019s a destination that brings everything together\u2014sports, innovation, culture, and community\u2014seamlessly and authentically.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t just visit San Jose, you step into it. And once you do, you\u2019ll understand exactly why you want to come back.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know the way to San Jose?\u201d Now I do\u2014and I\u2019d take that road again. \ud83d\udcab<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hotel-valencia-santa-row-san-jose-1024x1024.jpg\")
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