Nice relaxing place despite the number of people visiting…read more The first dirt parking lot we saw was actually an overflow parking. The signs in that lot were quite confusing. The signs point toward the hill like you can drive up the unpaved path but don't. The actual entrance actually has the Dragon Mountain sign with a paved parking lot further down the narrow road marked "private property." There's a blue boat in the parking lot. Two ways to get up to the monastery: hike up the long driveway or stairs next to it OR drive up the winding road. There's very limited parking at the top. Stairs have some steep sections. Free incense to light at any of the incense stations in front of the diety statues. They had free water bottles. No food ro purchase so bring snacks if you plan to stay long but don't litter. There were a couple of areas away from the main lot that are great for meditation. You can hike up higher, above the Mother Earth temple. Very clean. They have a public restroom.

What a great place to do a sunset hike! The total trail is about 4.6miles and we finished it in a…read morebit over an hour. We arrived at the parking lot around 6pm, no fees needed. The first part is all stairs, after reaching the end of maybe about 200 flights, we arrived at a lawn patch with some big Chinese gods statues and a panel about Jesus. There's one man there burning the incense to pay respect but mostly it was just visitors checking out the place like visiting a museum than worshipping gods. This spot also has a restroom. Then there're more stairs up, and soon transitions to uphill trails with big patches of grass growing along sides. No cows or other animals insight. To our left is the beautiful valley and a dropping sun. When the wind blows, it was beautiful and magical. As we continued the climb and reached the top where there are a lot of smaller porcelain statues displayed on top of poles. It was super windy up there so we didn't linger. Going down was much quicker. There's a portion of the trail where it was slippery with gravel, fortunately, next to it there's a flight of stairs for easier walking and the steps are not that high. By the time we got down to the first gods lawn, there's a security car probably clearing out the place. A car just arrived and was told to turn back because they were closing. We were all very satisfied with this hike.

The roads may be a bit narrow and it's a bit packed depending on the time you go but I feel it was…read moreworth it!

such a pretty drive. nice views but limited spots to park and look out. roads are nice as wellread more

Went for a jog here while in the area, and took some time to explore the park and the historical…read morebuildings of Oracle... auditorium, mansion (Agnews State Hospital superintendent's residence), clocktower (formerly the treatment building), and visitor center. The info center had plenty to share about the history of Agnews as a state hospital for the mentally ill, destroyed in the 1906 earthquake killing 106 patients and 11 staff members, rebuilt and reopened 5 years later, and becoming the first modern psychiatric hospital in California. You can't enter the buildings (except the mansion and auditorium by reservation), but there's sufficient signage near each of the buildings, noting its history, to educate visitors. And there are beautiful trees and well maintained grassy fields with a few picnic tables and benches on site. Still, access to this park is very limited, as it's the location of the Oracle Santa Clara campus. Not the ideal park due to its inconveniences and lack of offerings, but still cool to learn a bit about its history, or just a simple peaceful spot for picnicking.

It's nice that they now have dog waste bags stations at the park. They also posted dog leash…read morerequired signs a while back. Can't wait for the Spring when all the flowers are blooming.

Every time I go to Alviso I try to see if this place is open to public or not. Apparently not, but…read moreapparently some others have told me (open secret) that is a great place to do some bird watching. At the corner of Hope and Elizabeth streets you will see this 2-story building called today Mudflat Refuge but back in the day of the cannery factory in Alviso this was called China Camp. Several hundred worked lived there and worked in the Bay Side canning company across the street. Many San Joseans of today are descendants of these Chinese Americans that came to work in what was one of the most successful canning companies in the US. All gone, but this building is a historical remain to remember the past.

One of the nicest experiences in North San Jose, lately! I was planning some 'Lets check all these…read moreparks in Santa Clara' activity for these Christmas days of forced vacation when I found out about James Lick Mansion. In fact, I thought it was just the house of someone and for some reason appeared on my Google Maps search (not easy to find from the street as you actually need to enter though an apartment complex to find it). I learned about James Lick, an entrepreneur that moved to Santa Clara in the 1800 and started several business, and died at the end of that century being considered the richest man in California. This mansion is registered at the National Register of Historic Places. This type of Victorian mansion style is called Italianate and it seems was popular during those times. The house (24 rooms) was built between 1858 and 1860 next to his flour mill, out of native redwood trees. Not only you will find this pretty house but also the rebuilt granary and mill that was used to create paper that was used on the fruit packaging when the Valley was in full production splendor. It is a pleasant experience to just be there imagining another era, observing the elegant palm trees and having a calm time with yourself. I could not enter inside the house, but took a peek at how the interior is and for around ten minutes I went daydreaming.

Took a relaxing stroll around Overfelt Chinese Cultural Garden today, an often forgotten city park…read more Overfelt Gardens Background: In 1959, out of affection for the people of San Jose, Mildred Overfelt bestowed a gift of 33 acres to the City for a park "so there will be a place where people can find quiet contemplation in nature and beauty..." The Chinese Cultural Garden is a feature of Overfelt Garden Park and was inspired in 1971 by Frank and Pauline Lowe. Mr. Lowe deeply cherished the heritage of his native China and his adopted American homeland. His vision to broaden the understanding between Eastern and Western societies in a tranquil and beautiful setting achieved this, while fulfilling Mildred Overfelt's original intent.

It's a nice, urban park, but there can be a lot of litter. Some of the features have been closed…read moreoff for months it seems while there always happens to be construction or maintenance going on somewhere. However, it's mainly quiet and many of the walkways are shaded. The ponds are nice and full of life during rainy seasons, but can smell and look nasty during drier ones. It opens rather late for a park too, at 10am.

No this isn't a drop tower. It's a slow moving elevator that spins around slowly so you get a view…read moreof the park which is nice on a hot sunny day and you want to sit down and relax and enjoy the view of the park and the screaming guests on the coasters down below.

The view from this ride is amazing. The view of the 49ers stadium, and Silicon Valley. You can also…read moreget a good view of gold striker, and the rest of great America.

Rock the Block Alum…read moreRock Park is what many, myself included, consider to be *the* crown jewel of CSJ parks, and it's easy to see why. From the vast 730-acres of green space includes thirteen miles of trails that run the gamet of flat sojourns, to steep hikes to Eagle Rock. It's also California's oldest Muni park (1872) but has always served as land since 1777 when the Pueblo was established. The Good: *Variety of trails, as mentioned above, and they're mostly shaded. *Lots of history here as there's remnants of an old train trestle that used to run visitors up to a health spa of sorts. There's still remnants of the spa as you can see--and smell thanks to the sulfur springs. *Trails also connect to adjoining Sierra Vista OSP, and is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. *Sand volleyball courts *Playground *Reservable and non-reservable picnic tables *Restrooms *Six miles of Horse trails *Three miles of Bikes trails *Home to the YSi (Youth Science Institute), which I highly recommend to parents. They have a bunch of summer camps that are great ways to get kids to love nature. The Meh: *No dogs allowed *Lots of poison oak *Parking costs $6 *Cell service is spotty, at best. The Ugly: *Budget cuts, budget cuts, budget cuts... Thanks to the lack of caring by our leaders for our parks, this place is not as great as it once was. As there's several entrances that have been closed off for nearly thirty years! *I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. As the (unofficial) Mr San José I find it very shameful and shall self-flagellate immediately. Conclusion: Not as great as it used to be, but still pretty damn amazing.

If you arrive before they open at 8 am, there is a line to enter. Luckily parking in the…read moreneighborhood and walking into the park is fairly easy. Arrived at one the trailheads hoping for a park map near the restroom but none were to be found. The trails were a little hard to follow and we ended up landing on a different one. Fortunately they all connect! Great place to hike with a ton of trails to choose from. Finished my hike at 9:30ish and the park was packed!

"The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people."―César Chávez…read more Built in 1964, this three bedroom 1900 sq foot house was once the family home of Mexican civil rights leader César Chávez. This location is a privately owned home and is **NOT** open to the public.However, there is a plaque out front designating it as City of San José historical landmark #98. The wooden meeting house―McDonnell Hall at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church―down the road on San Antonio St is where he used to meet and organize the United Farm Workers union and mounted his infamous grape boycott. That location is now a National Historic landmark so go check it out, as well. That is open to the public. ¡Sí se puede!

Historical landmark where Mexican civil rights leader César Chávez use to live. There isn't much…read moreto look at. Privately owned not open to the public. There is a plaque in the front. Accoring to Zillow, house is 1,080 sq ft and was built in 1964. It contains 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.