This is not a business, it's a private residence! Please be considerate to the owner of the…read moreproperty & to the neighbors. ***No-- there is no private tour*** And yes, please stay on the outside of the gate: where non-residents can look & appreciate the owner's display.

This was pretty cool to check out, but there's not much you could see considering this is a private…read moreproperty house and you can sneak some pictures from the street but that's about it.

As small business month is quickly approaching I was thinking how wonderful and vibrant a community…read moreJapantown San Jose is. There so many seasoned and new diverse small business owners here in the heart of Japantown. Classic Loot, Zonkey, Roy's, Santo Market, Taqueria Corona, Minato, Hukilau, Kazoo are among my families favorites. We have also enjoyed and welcomed new businesses too like Banne (yummy sourdough) and Furbaby Fancy petgrooming (the most posh and elite pet grooming experience) into our rotation as well! I should have just listed all the businesses here! So proud of the businesses that contribute to our community!

What a beautiful área!!! Absolutely loved strolling through this vibrant community for a few hours…read more This was my first time here & found so many stores, restaurants.such a nice to place to walk around. I loved that there's Benches you can sit on just about every block with a bit of history engraved on each bench. Super cute & clean town. Loved all the Art work. San Jose's Japantown is one of the last historic, authentic Japantowns remaining in the US. Definitely try to stop by & explore J town if you're ever driving through San Jose

Hidden Lake is a great serene park for having lunch, watching ducks, and a great place to exercise…read more Get your steps in at this park by walking around the lake or if you go up the steps there is a pathway that is nicely paved. Ride your bike around the lake or if you have a little one have them burn their energy riding a bike, scooter, or roller skate. Plenty of people are there especially in the morning so I have always felt safe. I have seen some people fish here at different times of the day. It has a small parking lot located in a safe neighborhood. There are no bathrooms at this park.

***the lake itself is part of a community called HIDDEN LAKE as well***…read more OVERALL: Meh. Wouldn't go out of my way to drive here to walk; therefore the 4 stars rating. Due to being part of a community, there are a ton of guest parking (especially near the gates to this park) BUT if you keep driving, the parking lot for this "park" is on the outside (you turn in with the sign "HIDDEN PARK LAKE" in green lettering/tanish brown background and there are a few spots for you to pick from). Two stairways up to other flat cement ground trails. Very quarry lake vibes but not much water. Lake itself is a smaller circular flat cement ground leveled trail. Regarding up the stairs: One way does end up at another park whereas the other way just ends up in another neighborhood/main road. Lack of shade. Lots of ducks. There's few places to sit. Few trash bins. No visible toilets.

This stretch of highway is beautiful. I have done this hundreds of time but it still feels magical…read moreevery time I traverse it. There are beautiful redwoods on both sides with little towns along the way. On the one side is quaint Los Gatos and on the other side is stunning Santa Cruz. Just know that it backs up frequently since it is pretty windy and frequent crashes, which shuts down the highway. Drive safe please!

Amazing views, and an excellent scenic drive. The viewpoints at sunset especially are beautiful if…read moreyou want to take photos.

I had watched numerous documentaries and videos and read plenty of articles about this ghost town…read moremonths ago, and became extremely interested since this place is so close to home.  I finally made it here, after a last-minute decision during my run at Alviso Marina park. I always thought that the distance would be too far of a run, since the address/location is listed as Fremont, however, coming from San Jose (Alviso specifically), it was only about 2 and 1/2 miles. So it really wasn't that bad. Of course that's just one-way. I was pleasantly surprised to find that google maps directions leads you directly to a lookout point, so it's really easy to find and access from Alviso (even though there are plenty of "Do not enter" signs along the way, even toward Mallard Slough Trail, which is interesting since SF Bay Wildlife Society states that it is legal to enter this area. https://www.sfbws.com/drawbridge). On my way there, I passed by a run down "bridge" made up of broken planks (see my photo) with a sign post making it clear that entry beyond that point was prohibited. That bridge actually connected to the railway, which was interesting because although I know people have illegally biked/hiked to the old town via that railway, why is this bridge here?!? Are they encouraging bad behavior, or was this connected to something else in the past? That bridge, crossing the marsh was about a mile away from Drawbridge, so I didn't feel comfortable trying to balance on those unstable beams (illegally), then risking my life on the railway trying to access the ghost town, while expending energy (I mean c'mon, I still had to run back to Alviso, and then home). An entire mile, not knowing when to expect a train! I wonder if it's a shorter distance coming from the Fremont side. Either way, I think the view from the lookout point was worth it, and the videos and photos you see online provide sufficient up close shots of the homes that barely still stand. It looks like just old burnt moldy wooden skeletons of 3-4 small homes/cabins, lonely in the middle of nowhere (still can't believe this exists here within the busy metropolitan bay area). The vista point was actually quite nice, peaceful, isolated and lots of open space, surrounded by water and plant life. There is also informative signage describing the history and timeline of this quaint town, as well a bike rack and bench to relax and enjoy the view on a nice sunny day. The whole time I was there, starting with my run from Alviso at 6:15pm, I only saw one train come by (Amtrak, at exactly 7:05pm on a Saturday). And I only crossed a few pedestrians/bikers on my way there and back. If you're looking for a place to be alone with your thoughts and be surrounded by nature while taking in a piece of history, this is a place worth checking out.

Cool ghost town visible from train - San Jose to Sacramento…read more It was so fun discovering this small ghost town in the middle of the South at wetlands. A raucous history clings to Drawbridge - hunting and maybe gambling at one time or another. Built in the 1870s and it became 'ghostly' after the last person left in 1979. I like the background of the town and how it spices up the history of the southern part of San Francisco Bay.

"As my artist's statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore full of…read moredeep significance."―Calvin San José has a long line of, shall we say, questionable Public Art (PA) projects; everybody knows about the giant dog turd statue Quetzalcoatl―or as I like to call him Quetzacaca ( goo.gl/lvswBr )―in the Plaza de César Chávez. Let's also not forget the Fallon Statue debacle ( goo.gl/wKEv0g )―and don't get me started on the mangled shopping carts (goo.gl/vbB6NE) passing for a statue on the corner of Alma Ave and Almaden Rd. Need I go on?! So, whenever CSJ does something right I love to point it out. I first read about Ursa Mater (aka Mama Penny Bear) in the Merc from my buddy Sal Pizarro's column. Ursa Mater is a gigantic piece of coin art that was put together by Hayward-based artists Mr & Mrs Ferguson. She first made an appearance at last year's Burning Man festival and is now prominently displayed in Paseo de San Antonio―just east of Plaza de César Chávez, right by Bijan Bakery. The statue of Mama Bear and her two cubs sits at least 10-12' tall and is completely covered in 200,000 pennies ($2,000 worth) to make up the bears fur. It's pretty cool to look at from afar, and even cooler up close. I suggest getting here quickly to check her out, as she will only be on display until the end of May. And then we'll be back to staring at Quetzacaca forever. FOL...

I like to think that these represent the bear on the California flag. The name Ursa Mater…read more Is an excellent play on words by the artist. Ursa Major is Latin for "greater she bear" So Ursa Mater translates roughly to "She bear of matter" ( I only understand a very small amount of Latin so this may or may not be the exact translation). The bear and her cub are made of pennies so it seems the artist's intention was to make a realistic mother bear out of " matter" , hence the name. Also behind the pennies is a concrete core. It's as if these bears have a real fur made out of metal. As the previous reviewer said, there are are a lot of bad San Jose art pieces, but this one is fantastic. Just an edit: it seems to be gone now. Very sad.

There is a 120-foot redwood tree in the middle of the Santa Cruz forest just off of the UC campus…read morearea that tons of people climb every year and is incredibly fun, but you should have kids who are confident in their climbing abilities/not afraid of heights before they attempt it. Also, the area around there is incredibly fastening for anyone interested in the outdoors with banana slugs galore and extremely verdant vegetation. On a clear day on top of the tree you can see all the way out into the ocean, completely unobstructed. It's incredibly peaceful and calming. I can't really give you directions on how to get there, but if you were to ask anyone on campus (or if someone on here was better at directions) you should be able to find it, but not without some fun adventure first! http://blog.adventureout.com/2007/05/tree-9-santa-cruz.html

For my first review of 2010, i've decided to do a review on something that holds a special meaning…read moreto everyone who has visited it. Tree 9. This majestic and gorgeous tree towers above all the other redwoods around it. once you make the hike up and enter the clearing, the branches beg you to climb it and look at the view it has to offer. The first time i visited the tree, it was in the middle of the night. But the day i saw it in broad daylight, i was blown away by its presence. The branches are smooth from the hundreds who have climbed it before. They stick out in all directions to give even the most fearful the chance to brave it and climb up. 2010 is a new year for me, and it is a new year for this tree. This tree has so far survived all who has wanted to cut it down for the purpose of expanding ucsc. The Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) has been put on hold so far, giving this tree another year to bask in the sun. Contrary to what people think about the name, whether a girl died by hitting 9 branches on the way down, that 9 people died so far, to the fact that it's located above College 9, the name comes from the fact that way back in the day, the tree was actually stop #9 on the ucsc trail tour. and so now the winter is slowly drawing away and the branches call out again to all the banana slugs. I will be back soon. and this time i'll make it to the top! If this tree falls, we will all fall with it. but keep standing tall Mr. Tree 9. another amazing thing: the tree is minutes away from the open field where full moon drum circles are held every month. *wolf howling*

Amazing! Great for kids! I went with my nephew and had so much fun! One of the cutest Christmas…read moreattractions in the neighborhood! So many things to look at :) definitely felt like Christmas.

I visited this free holiday attraction on Friday, and even with the freezing winter temperatures, I…read moreenjoyed my time here. I arrived around opening time (6:00pm), and there was just a short line for entry. With so much to see and admire about this place, the walk thru was much longer than I expected, though that's partly cuz I didn't know you could pass people till I reached the mid-point. It's only one-way through the various pathways and illuminated tunnels that make up this experience, but if people stop and block foot traffic for long periods of time (for instance, families telling their toddler to look at every single doll and figurine in the windows and displays, or having them pose to take pictures like tourists), there's enough space to just pass them. Widmer World presents a range of themes and collections, including Disney (mickey mouse, toy story, disney princesses, etc), Minions, Snoopy, Santa, Abominable Snowman, geese, penguins, and stuffed animals galore. Cardboard cutouts with artwork, inflatables in various characters, moving props and decor, and animated xmas figures. Detailed miniature displays of various scenes including a charming village, a carnival with ferris wheels, roller coasters, and hot air balloons, and a festive model railroad with multiple trains moving along the tracks. It's so much more than a light show lined with impressive displays all around. It's a whimsical wonderland with lots of moving parts and interactive exhibits to delight guests of all ages. There's a scavenger hunt to find 12 gnomes, as well as a Mr. Potato Head coin toss game, and at the end of the walk thru, there's a guest book you can sign. In the front of the house, a giant chair is available for photo ops, along with more holiday lights and decorations. There are also signs directing visitors on where to find street parking (since you can't park in the court where this event is located).

drive and that I shouldn't miss it. And luckily, throughout my 10-day trip, we had sunny weather,…read moreso the drive and the views were just amazing! A scenic drive through Pebble Beach with ocean views, rocky coastline, golf courses, and some very fancy houses. It's a private road, so there's an entry fee ($12) per car. Stops are well marked, so it's easy to follow along, and the whole thing takes 2 to 3 hours if you stop at the viewpoints. TBH- its kind of confusing if you follow GPS and signs... lol The road runs between Pacific Grove and Carmel, and it's lined with Monterey cypress, which only grows naturally in this part of California. Pebble Beach is one of the most famous golf destinations in the world and has hosted the U.S. Open several times. You might spot deer, sea lions, and seabirds along the way. Tip: The fee is sometimes credited back if you eat at one of the restaurants inside.

My wife and I visited 17-Mile Drive during our trip to Carmel, and we decided to bring our dog…read morealong for the adventure! It was a wonderful experience for all of us which kinda reminded me when traveling to Yosemite. The scenic drive offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, beautiful coastline, and stunning landscapes. There are several lookout points along the way where you can pull over, stretch your legs, and take pictures. We enjoyed stopping at different spots to admire the ocean views and capture some memorable photos with our pup. One of the highlights was seeing the famous Lone Cypress, which was even more beautiful in person! Bringing our dog made the experience even more special since we could enjoy the beautiful scenery together as a family. If you're planning to visit, I recommend taking your time and exploring the different viewpoints rather than rushing through the drive. If you're visiting Carmel, Monterey, or Pebble Beach, 17-Mile Drive is definitely worth adding to your itinerary, especially if you enjoy scenic drives and spending time outdoors with your furry companion! We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend it!

It's beautiful! In a neighborhood, so be quiet, park respectfully, take your photos and don't…read morelinger. The story of the house and artist is there. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Great place for interesting and unique photo opportunities. Very colorful and fun. It exists for…read moresuch a touching and loving reason; gives one a sense of love and caring between a couple. I'm so glad the people who have this property now have kept it up.