Recreations & Leisure
The San Jose area is home to a number of sporting events. Possibly the most popular of the locally-based teams are the San Jose Sharks, members of the National Hockey League. In addition, the SaberCats (Arena Football), Earthquakes (National Soccer), Stealth (National Lacrosse) and the Giants (Minor League Baseball) all call San Jose home.
Professional and college sporting events are planned on an annual or special basis, ranging from car racing to tennis and more. College sports fans will be delighted with the regular line-up of college events that includes football and basketball. March Madness is an annual event that culminates with sports matches.
The San Jose Library or one of the library’s 20 branches is a good place to spend an afternoon. There are some 1.5 million items in the system and one of the branches is aimed at the community’s Spanish speaking population. There are additional language collections in Korean, Japanese, Russian and Chinese.
City Getaways
When you’re starting from San Jose, you have dozens of options for a one-day or weekend getaway. The proximity to trains and air transportation make almost anything possible, but there are also some great trips that just take a few hours of drive time.
Arguably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area is the Napa-Sonoma valley. It can easily be a day trip for those who enjoy touring grape vineyards and wineries. Add the beautiful scenery and a plethora of hot springs available for photos or even a quick dip, and you’ve got the makings of a great weekend excursion.
Maybe you’d love nothing better than to spend a day (or two) looking for antiques. A trip to Los Gatos could be your answer. The city is just south of San Jose and almost borders the Silicon Valley, but has still managed to retain the charm of a small town. Los Gatos Creek Trail provides hiking and walking trails for those who need to get a bit of exercise.
Nearby Saratoga is another destination for a great day trip, especially if you like French Cuisine and the goodies found in European bakeries.
While Milpitas is sometimes considered a part of San Jose, it’s really a city in its own right. But the cultural heritage of this area makes it well worth a visit. Performing arts and a program to put murals and sculptures in the area make it a lovely place to spend a few hours. And if you happen to visit in August, you can plan to attend the Milpitas Art and Wine Festival.