San Jose, California is widely known for its high-tech industry, but there is another side to the city that makes it an ideal retreat for those seeking leisure activities. Activities in San Jose range from popular tourist attractions to concert venues and museums. Combine these activities with modern lodging and restaurants and you have a vacationland that is full of fun and adventure.
Sarah Winchester was the heiress to a fortune amassed from sales of the Winchester Repeating Rifle. Following the untimely death of her husband and only child, Mrs. Winchester consulted a psychic who told her the Winchester fortune was haunted by the ghosts of those who had been killed by a Winchester rifle. To appease the spirits, the psychic instructed, Mrs. Winchester was to move West and build a home for the spirits to reside. As long as construction continued, no harm would befall the Sarah. Sarah Winchester immediately moved to California and spent the second half of her life dedicated to building an elaborate Victorian mansion. Now referred to as the Winchester Mystery House, the estate features unique features such as hallways the shrink ever smaller, stairways that lead to nowhere and doors that do not open. Many people claim to have experienced ghostly encounters at the Winchester Mystery House, which has added to its popularity as a tourist attraction.
Winchester Mystery House
525 S. Winchester Blvd
San Jose, CA 95128
408-247-2101
Winchestermysteryhouse.com
It's hard to miss the Children's Discovery Museum. A 52,000-square-foot purple building has a way of getting your attention, as well as inspiring your imagination. The purpose of the museum is to provide an atmosphere of learning and discovery for the youth of San Jose. The Children's Discovery Museum is open to children, family and schools, as well as to curious visitors from out of town. Exhibits at the museum are designed specifically with interaction in mind, with the philosophy that children learn more when they are encouraged to explore and experiment with new, exciting items that they normally do not come into contact with.
Children's Discovery Museum
180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA 95110
408-298-5437
cdm.org
The study of the ancient Egyptians is one of the most popular aspects of cultural anthropology and archaeology. One reason for this is the enormous wealth of artifacts that are available from the period, which includes statues, pottery, jewelry and even mummies. With more than 4,000 artifacts on display, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum maintains the largest collection of authentic Egyptian artifacts to be found anywhere in the Western half of North America. In addition to a world-class display of Egyptian items, the museum is also home to a planetarium, which brings the wonders of the heavens to life in a comfortable, relaxing environment. These aspects combine to bring more than 100,000 visitors per year to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and planetarium.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1660 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95191
408-947-3635
egyptianmuseum.org
