This is one of the places you have to see if you live in San Jose. It's not one of the bigger…read moremuseums in town, but it is interesting. I found out that this is the world headquarters for this religion. Make sure you get the free tickets to the stone tomb. It's a recreation of a governors tomb. There's plenty of free parking in the back. Also it's only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I really enjoy all things Egyptian and was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a museum in…read moreSan Jose! It's not as large as other museums so less people, which means more time for you to look around! It's 3 levels and there are a lot of different artifacts to see, my favorite of course, are the 2 mummies they had! There are few casted statues (wish they had originals but that's understandable for a small/lesser known museum) and a couple spots where if you push a button it tells you more about what you're looking at. There was also a free "Tomb Tour" that was cute. The guide was funny and engaging and explained different parts of the fake tomb/answered questions after if we had any. I liked that extra part because even though it was a replica, it was neat to see how areas may have been used back then. Parking is free and around the corner in a lot, and it's wheelchair friendly with even pathways and ramps to get to the museum. It's a cool way to kill a couple hours, definitely check it out!

We came here for Viva CalleSJ this past Sunday. It's a lovely plaza with plenty of outdoor space…read moreand a large parking lot which was used for vendor booths during the recent event I attended. We enjoyed our time here, entertained by cultural dance performances (mexican folk dance), live music including spanish reggae tunes and mariachi, fun pro wrestling matches, and more. Food and drink vendors were available on site, selling mexican cuisine, korean fried chicken, and kona ice (flavored shaved ice). We were able to grab a variety of items for lunch including iced tea and coffee beverages from Travelin' Tom's Coffee of Mountain View, a yummy quesadilla from El Viejon, and a tasty sandwich from Chick N Bros food truck. If there's anything I think could make this place better, it's grass. But I understand, not every park or plaza can offer this. It's a beautiful venue nonetheless, for community events and the arts.

I've seen two plays well events, at the Mexican heritage theater maybe four years ago I saw San…read moreJose Taiko play for their 50th year anniversary! No acoustic sound needed in that great auditorium especially with Japanese Taiko ("drum" in Japanese) involved! For that show, we were actually sitting in the front middle row, and it really felt as if during the swing performance they were going to swing into our laps! A couple of the numbers I actually jumped back in my seat it seemed like they got too close! But amazing performance by San Jose Taiko!! This particular evening, I saw a friend performing in "shaking the mess out of misery! "They had great acoustics in this particular performance, but not too much singing in the actual show itself so more of a play and a great story for young women to see how things were different from the 1940s or 50s until now! I love how this particular play had the proper lingo and accents of the era and that southern hospitality sound!! I had to look up a couple of the words, but the play, and the overall meaning itself was great!! As we left at the performance, and actually started raining and they're beautiful open area outside/the front of the Mexican heritage. Plaza glistened and gleamed with lights! It looked very pretty and I really enjoyed the theater! Hee

I frequent the Littlest Little Italy for the yummy arancini from the Salumi Bar. Other than that, I…read moredon't often spend time in the area. However, I attended Little Village's Big Easy Block Party & Beer Fest this past weekend and had an enjoyable time. A bunch of merchandise vendors and beer tents were lined up along West Saint John Street. Talented musicians played awesome tunes for the crowd throughout the day. John Blues Boyd band performing the blues at Poor House Bistro's patio stage where I snacked on some delicious baked dessert while delighting in the spirited musical entertainment, and All Things Swamp putting on an engaging show at the main stage in the early afternoon (I didn't stay for the later bands but I'm sure the remaining performances didn't disappoint). Some great community events are held at Little Italy San Jose, like car shows, cultural celebrations, food fairs, and art & music festivals, many of them free to attend. But on a regular day, it's mainly a small collection of restaurants selling italian cuisine, wine, and other goods. Parking is extremely limited and can be difficult, even when no special events are happening in the vicinity.

We were pleasantly surprised with great food, different types of drinks and an Italian feel…read moreambiance Service was amazing. Easy planning for any occasion. There's a nice size patio, catering room, tap room and the main wine dinning area The food was amazing. From appetizers to the main courses and desserts. Service was warmth and welcoming. Great for all ages as there's food and entertainment for all.

California Theater is a gorgeous old historical theater with distinguishing beauty and exquisite…read moredetails. It's the type of place you go to where you spend just as much time ogling over the venue as you do the show itself! I went there for a film festival and loved it. The location is also pure perfection because it is within the same block as several restaurants and bars for those who want to grab a bite or drink before or after their show. The only (small) downside is finding parking. We parked in an outdoor lot 2 blocks away for $20. It is about the average rate for the area but still seems steep to me for a 2 hour show. *breathe* Trying to not sweat the small stuff, so I say pay for the steep parking and enjoy the gorgeous theater and watch a nice show! It will be worth the experience.

Gorgeous theatre, nicely preserved, and a great place to see some theatre, music, opera, et al. I…read morevisited one night to see an opera, and really had a great time. Sure, it was nice that the opera was NOT nine hours long, but that's me. Your mileage may vary. The outside of the building blends in so well to its surroundings, you may not notice it at first. But, the California Theatre is easy to find, and perfect to walk to from parking or a restaurant. Even in the entrance way before you walk in (where there's the Box Office for will-call or day-of tickets), you see the elegance and grandeur that awaits. Still, there's nothing stuff about it at all. Every staff member or volunteer I encountered was helpful, friendly, and welcoming. There happened to be live music in the Lobby before and after the performance. Refreshments are found on each floor. We had Orchestra Seats. The opera looked and sounded crisp. The singing, the set, the orchestra, the costumes all radiated excitement and serious fun. This particular opera, by Bela Bartok, is rarely done and having some familiarity with the composer, I was excited to check it out. Very much enjoyed the opera, and the venue. If you are an SJSU student, ask about tickets and/or big discounts available at the Box Office.

My boyfriend and I walked in here during the holiday season, but during the day time so there…read morewasn't any real event or lights on, but it was still nice to see all of the houses, decor, and set up. Plus parking was free and entry was free when we went. Just a BIG FYI, because we didn't go during an event, they DO LOCK UP THE PARK and when I was waiting for my boyfriend to pick me up from our parking area (ended up on the other side of the park somehow), I saw a bunch of people trying to call for help after the gate locked them in. Woops. It seems that they hold lots of events here with outdoor local vendors, food vendors, and also opportunities to go inside the houses and learn about the history of a lot of the buildings. I'd keep an eye out on their social media or website for those, but as a freebie person exploring through. It's fun and cute.

If you've been to medieval or historical towns (where folks dress up in that time period and…read morereenact that time period...), this History Park has that kind of vibe. It's like a small town within a big town. There's a museum. There's a gift shop. There's a garden. There's a bunch of seating areas. There's sculptures. There's trains and horns you can honk. Parking is strange. No idea if they truly monitor and ticket folks because it's self pay.

This museum holds a special place in my heart -- I grew up coming here, and now I bring my own…read more3-year-old. She can spend hours here without a single complaint, which says everything. The indoor exhibits are largely the same as they've always been -- a bit unchanged over the last decade -- but the new outdoor additions have completely breathed new life into the experience. The playground, gravel section, and bubble area are an absolute hit and clearly a favorite for little ones. We now come back 3-4 times a year just for that outdoor space alone. A beloved Bay Area staple that keeps earning return visits. Highly recommend for families with toddlers!

This place is awesome! I've only been twice so far and have already signed up for a membership…read morebecause I can see myself coming here with my family more during the warmer summer months. My 1.5 year old's favorite exhibits are the water/ball area, outdoor bubbles, market stand with the pretend food, and the dancing room. They also have a room that you can rent out for birthday parties, which would be so fun for all the guests!

Located in downtown San Jose so parking on a weekend can be tough to find on the street or pricy in…read morenearby garages. Inside the museum is pretty great. It's a compact place with exhibits across 3 floors. And an IMAX theater showing short movies. The schedule was posted by the theater entrance. They even have popcorn like a real movie theater. IMO The exhibits would be for kids 8 and up. It's great that the tech exhibits have tech and biotech. The interactive stations are great for kids to focus and learn. It would probably take a solid 3 hours during low crowd time to try everything. It is a place where kids roam and touch everything so some surfaces will be sticky or gross feeling. Staff at the museum were all very friendly and helpful. Overall, the place was inviting with lots of great learning and info for everyone interested.

I had a lovely time at the Tech at Nite: Love Lab this past Thursday, a special adult-only…read moreValentine's event. I mainly just come here for the IMAX dome theater, so this was a nice opportunity to do something different at the venue. Parked at the Convention Center garage for $5 with parking validation at the Tech. Colorful lighting and music set the mood inside, a DJ playing upbeat tunes, and both the lower and upper level were filled with activities for attendees, with minimal wait times for most experiences. We enjoyed wine-tasting with Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards, a complimentary glass (or two) offered at one of the tables. We created our own light and art project through a mixture of food coloring, dye, and cooking oils, courtesy of Local Color. We also personalized fragrance sprays with Ashy Aromas (an organization known for customized scented candles). In terms of the museum offerings, a couple of the interactive displays were not in working order, such as in the Space Exploration section. But there was still a lot for us to see and do during our visit. Plenty of hands-on stations, the museum exhibits geared toward kids, with some so simple and straightforward that it would probably only be educational or amusing to very young children. But for this adult-only night, we had fun interacting with the exhibits without any kids around. This included building a more sustainable city, sorting compost, recycling, and trash, and seeing nature-themed graphics emulate our movements in the AI-enabled immersive Dream Garden. The Innovator was cool too, a simulation ride where guests could design and enjoy their own roller coaster adventure. We also engaged in a "doctor and patient communication" activity in the Innovation in Healthcare section. And we checked out the Body Worlds Decoded exhibit, even though I've already seen this in Vegas. The event offered limited food options, but the items we got were delicious, apparently catered by Smashing Dishes. We had the Lover's Grazing Plate, a charcuterie snack (which came with meat, cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruit), Cupid's Caprese (made with yummy pesto and adorable heart-shaped mozzarella), and fresh baked cookies (we wanted both chocolate chip and peanut butter, but they accidentally gave us both chocolate chip). Unfortunately, the candy cocktails were not good, particularly the "love potion #14" on the menu which lacked flavor or any kind of sweetness. Luckily, they also offered canned beverages and wine. All in all, it was a great Vday pre-celebration for me and my bf.

I had a ghost experience!!! And that never happens... so worth it if you're into that kind of…read morething. Our tour guide Courtney was awesome, especially for being 103 yrs old! she made it super fun, kept a good pace, answered lots of questions and had the perfect vibes for hosting. Anyways, my ghost story was somewhere between the transition from the 1st and 2nd floors, just after the room with the piano music playing, my cousin and I were chatting not even during one of the guided portions it was literally during the walking part and someone clear as day shushed me right in my ear, but there wasn't anyone next to us, and my cousin didn't hear the aggressive "shhhhhh!!!". It was weird and freaky, but not scary. Super fun experience, great to learn so much about Sarah and her eccentric life - she's my kind of heiress!

Sarah Winchester is an interesting woman in local history, so we decided to tour San Jose's…read moreWinchester Mystery House. Booked and paid for our reservation online. I received an immediate confirmation and additional info, like parking, etc., which I appreciated. They also texted a reminder 24 hours ahead. Parking was a breeze and their lot wasn't full, but that may have been due to it being a dreary Sunday in April. The grounds are nice and we enjoyed walking around a bit before our tour. Lots of vibrant flowers and everything appeared well cared for. There was a private wedding party going on, so some of the grounds were blocked off. Our tour guide, Savanna, was very knowledgeable and seemed to really understand and care about the history of the house. The only problem we had was the size of the group we were put in. Most of the rooms are quite small, as are the hallways and staircases. We couldn't all fit in the room to hear her speak so missed some of what she said. There was another group right behind us, and sometimes I could hear that guide better than my own. They offer discounts for seniors and kids 12 and under, but otherwise is a bit pricey at $48 for adults to spend an hour walking through the house. I was disappointed that none of the furnishings are original. It's just been staged with furniture from the approximate period. We also paid for the basement access, and at $13 each (no discounts) it was an absolute waste. Very little to see there. It's just a basement. The cafe was closed while we were there, which was disappointing. Interesting to read about Sarah Winchester and her house, but not really worth the price to visit.

Mike came to the Veterans Hall in Gilroy for their Christmas party…read more At first when I was told that "Magic Mike" was coming for a kids show, I said , "Ummmmm, that's not appropriate for kids. That is for adults." The guy apparently had not heard of Magic Mike the movie. Anyways, yes this definitely was a kids show, not adult lol. He walked around the room showing trick to kids. He was super silly the whole time which made it a fun act. Some things he did everyone was like, how in the world did he do that. Definitely was a good show!

I was an attendee at a birthday party (age 6) where Magic Mike performed. Kids and adults were very…read moreentertained. Magic Mike had a great sense of humor, fun and surprising tricks, and -- the best part -- a white bunny, who the kids got to pet at the end.

My friend and I were looking for something to do on our day off and we decided to visit Hakone…read moreGardens. After hearing about a coworker who had her wedding here I was excited to visit. The drive up to the gardens is beautiful at this time with all the trees being red & orange. Entrance fee is $12 per adult but we just so happened to visit on Santa Clara County Resident's day. After showing ID, our admission was free; what a nice surprise! The gardens were small but had many different areas to enjoy; there was a beautiful pond with fish, waterfall, tea ceremony room, bamboo garden, bonsai exhibit, and more. There are a lot of nice benches to soak it all in. It's the perfect escape from the city!

Somebody as Hakone Gardens needs to update the website and social media better when the cherry…read moreblossoms bloom. I drove 45 minutes to Hakone Gardens recently at the end of March and found out that most of the cherry blossoms were gone. I was like whaaaa....I usually go during the end of March and they would be in full bloom. Apparently, they bloomed earlier this year. I was looking forward to seeing the wonderful pink color all around. Anyways, Hakone is still a treat to walk around and is very nice when the flowers are blooming. I love sitting near the beginning of the trail and looking at the ponds, bridge, koi fish and all the trees. It transports me to Japan without the airfare and passport. Parking can be difficult on busy days and will be waiting for awhile for someone to leave. Gift shop is cute and there are many cute finds in there. Admission is now $12 but parking is still free.