Schmap San Jose and Silicon Valley A Walk through Downtown

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San Jose and Silicon Valley - A Walk through Downtown
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Starting from the corner of First and San Carlos streets, walk west along San Carlos Street past the Hyatt Sainte Claire. The Sainte Claire, a Spanish-Italian Renaissance Revival-style jewel built in 1926 and dubbed "the million dollar hotel," is a registered National Historic Landmark. The lobby might have come from a ducal palace in Castile or Umbria. It's worth a peek. Continuing on San Carlos across Market Street, and you'll see the massive San Jose McEnry Convention Center. It's the $147 million centerpiece downtown San Jose's redevelopment, which took place under former San Jose Mayor Thomas McEnery's direction. Just inside the front entrance you'll find a San Jose/Silicon Valley Visitors Bureau booth, where you can get further information on sights, attractions and tours across the Valley. Across San Carlos Street is the San Jose Civic Auditorium and Montgomery Theater, built during the 1930s.

From the corner of Market and San Carlos streets, you'll see Light Rail tracks, and in spring and summer, antique trolleys operated by the San Jose Historical Museum. They are a convenient and delightful way to take in the downtown area. Heading east across Market Street, you'll enter the southern end of the Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park. The original plaza of the first Spanish pueblo in the late 1790s, it was renamed after the labor activist and founder of the United Farm Workers, who spent part of his life in San Jose. The park serves as the site of outdoor music festivals and other events. At its southern corner is a controversial statue of the Aztec and Toltec plumed serpent god, Quezalcoatl, which reinforces the commemoration of Hispanic culture.

As you walk through the center of the plaza, you will see the strikingly colored new Tech Museum of Innovation (or "The Tech" as it is affectionately known), designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. Its unique exhibits include a $10 million "clean room," where silicon chips are prepared; a virtual roller coaster, a U.S. Olympic bobsled team simulator; and countless interactive learning stations dealing with computers, the Internet and biotechnology; as well as interesting temporary exhibits. To top it off, there's a 295-seat IMAX dome theater.

Crossing Market Street into the posh The Fairmont Hotel (until 1887 the site of San Jose's Chinatown, look for the historical marker), walk through the lobby and past the Fountain Restaurant and exit at the end of the corridor into the Corona of Palms Plaza, which commemorates San Jose's days as the first capital of California. To the plaza's southeast, you can see the Knight-Ridder building. Knight-Ridder is publisher of the San Jose Mercury-News, whose offices are here. Once, however, this was the site of the Garden City Bank and Trust Building whence in 1909, Dr. Charles Herrold beamed world's first radio broadcasts to the public, who by and large, did not yet have radios.

Along the north side of the Corona of Palms is the San Jose Museum of Art, an architectural melange of new and old in which one can usually find touring exhibits of national importance. Walking back over to the north end of the Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park; at the corner of San Fernando Street is stately Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Since 1803, various incarnations of this church honoring San Jose's patron saint have been afflicted by fires and earthquakes; the present structure dates from 1876 and underwent a lavish $20 million renovation in 1990.

Proceed north on Market Street for two blocks, turn right on Santa Clara Street (with a nod to the Bank of America Building, Silicon Valley's oldest skyscraper), and left onto First Street. After a block, you'll come to St. James Park. It's the site of the state's last lynching, which was in 1933. Earlier, the park served as a tent city for homeless survivors of the 1906 earthquake. Interestingly enough, it's homeless people who are the park's most dedicated patrons today. Next to the Main Post Office, at the southwest corner of Saint James Park, is the grandiose Santa Clara County Courthouse. It was built in 1867, not as a courthouse, but rather as the hoped-for new State Capitol. Plans to lure the capital back from Sacramento failed, however, and the building's original dome collapsed in 1931.

Crossing back through Saint James Park to its southern edge to St. John Street, turn south on Second Street and walk past the closed Jose Theatre, where Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini and Fatty Arbuckle once performed. Proceeding along Second Street, you'll come to the highly regarded San Jose Repertory Theater, cloaked in post-modern neo-industrial metal. At the eastern entrance of the Federal Building at the corner of San Carlos Street, is a memorial to the Japanese-American citizens interned during World War II. Continuing on Second Street, you'll return to the parking lot. If you're unfazed by a bit more walking, the architecturally bold San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, art-deco elegant Hotel DeAnza, San Jose Arena (or the "Shark Tank" as its known during hockey season), and expansive Guadalupe River Park and Gardens are all within a block or two.

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Fairmont San Jose

Luxury in Downtown San Jose

170 South Market Street
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 998 1900
http://www.fairmont.com/sanjose/

This is one of San Jose's most luxurious hotels. It puts you within easy walking distance of museums, posh restaurants and theaters. An ideal place for the discerning traveler.The 20-storey hotel features three first-class restaurants, a handful of shops, and a wealth of top-notch amenities and guest services.The cocktail lounge features a live pianist nightly, and the ambience is dramatic and arresting. It is a great place to escape.Several packages are available, including romance packages and joint deals with the Tech Museum of Innovation, which is across the park from the hotel.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Dave Dunne

Photo: Jillern

Fairmont San Jose photo by Tiffanie Shakespeare

Photo: Tiffanie Shakespeare

Fairmont San Jose photo by Florian SEROUSSI

Photo: Florian SEROUSSI

Fairmont San Jose photo by Bill O'Donnell

Photo: Bill O'Donnell

Photo: Meg Canada

Photo: mrtariqahmed

Fairmont San Jose photo by John St. Germain

Photo: John St. Germain

Fairmont San Jose photo by Melissa Clark

Photo: Melissa Clark

Guadalupe River Park & Gardens

Guadalupe River Park & Gardens 438 Coleman Ave
San Jose, CA 95110
United States
408-298-7657
http://www.grpg.org Crawling for three miles alongside the Guadalupe River and harnessing Highway 87, this unique natural environment contains a rose garden, jogging trails, several species of birds and lots of picnic tables. Nestled in a particularly scenic spot in the South Bay, it is a great place for a day's outing or a slow leisurely walk. Improvements are ongoing and when it is finally completed, it will be a spectacular place for everyone in the family.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Xi
Photo: Alan Brown

Hotel De Anza

Hotel De Anza 233 W Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 286 1000 / +1 800 843 3700
http://www.hoteldeanza.com/ Located in a renovated historical landmark, this is a luxurious stay in downtown San Jose with an unusual, lush ambiance. Each room is suitable for work, equipped with a desk, telephones and data ports. You can relax in the jazz lounge or hang out in the gorgeous outdoor courtyard. The facilities are optimized for a number of functions, whether business meetings or receptions. The penthouse is one of the most luxurious rooms in the entire Bay Area.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Travis Harrison
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Hyatt San Jose

Luxury in a historic setting 1740 North First Street
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 993 1234
http://hyattsanjose.hyatt.com/... One block from the McEnry Convention Center is this luxurious, European-style hotel with a wealth of amenities. Each suite has a high-speed Internet workstation and a printer/fax/copier, so you can check your email, print or fax directly from your room. You're one block away from the Tech Museum, Park Center Plaza and a plentitude of excellent restaurants. The in-house eatery, Amalfi's Grill and Lounge, is top-notch, and the service from the professional staff is courteous and warm.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Steve Okubo

Montgomery Theater

An intimate setting At the corner of Market and San Carlos streets
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 277 3900
http://www.sjcc.com/montgomery... This intimate opera theater has been the home of Opera San Jose and San Jose Children's Musical Theater for many years. It is right in the middle of downtown San Jose and is within walking distance of all major hotels and restaurants, making it convenient for visitors as well as locals who want to grab a bite before or after the show. Built in the style of a Spanish mission, this elegant theater is connected to the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Credit card acceptance varies by show.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park

Happening community park at the corner of Market Street and San Carlos Street
(near San Fernando Street)
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95112
United States
+1 408 277 2757 Located in the heart of the city and across from the Fairmont Hotel, this is is one of the happening parks in San Jose. Live music, cultural festivals, craft fairs, food shows and open-air theater, it all happens at the Plaza. The two-acre park is dedicated to community activities, recreation and relaxation and is part of the original Pueblo de San Jose plaza. Parking is problematic, so use the San Jose light rail, VTA bus or one of the two free buses: the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) and the San Jose Arena Shuttle.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Saint James Park

Famous SJ park At the corner of Saint James and First streets
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 277 4661 The last lynching ever held in California took place in this park. Things are much quieter these days (not to mention law-abiding). Nowadays the place holds a few statues and a small clan of homeless persons, but during the summer, there are live concerts featuring a variety of music performed to an appreciative crowd of locals. You will spot everyone from hi-tech types taking a break to families with kids to senior citizens enjoying the fresh air. There are also forestry classes year-round that make the environment come to life in all new ways.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Debi Willis

San Jose Civic Auditorium

For concerts or assemblies 145 West San Carlos Street
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 277 5277
http://www.sjcc.com This well-designed auditorium is perfectly suited for concerts, lectures, sporting events or assemblies of any kind. The building, constructed in the Spanish Mission style, dates back to the 1930s, seats 3,000 people, and has been lovingly maintained, making it an elegant venue for any event. It also offers an interesting look at what San Jose was like before Silicon Valley reshaped the area's economy and the architecture. Credit card acceptance depends on the event (tickets are purchased through agencies).

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Steven Harms
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San Jose McEnery Convention Center

For meeting planners 150 W. San Carlos Street
Between Almaden Boulevard and Market Street
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 277 5277
http://www.sjcc.com/ Named after former mayor Tom McEnery, this sleek and thoroughly modern convention center continues to be one of the prime locations for event planners in the South Bay area. It is a versatile place with huge spaces for exhibits, banquets, and meetings of any kind. Many hotels are in the immediate vicinity, and the center is within walking distance of most of the great restaurants that downtown San Jose has to offer. Note: Credit card acceptance varies by event.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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San Jose Museum of Art

Fun for everyone 110 South Market Street
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 271 6840
http://www.sjmusart.org/ There is something for everyone here: contemporary art, lectures, concerts, tours, book signings, special events and even programs for children. The museum has been host to many outstanding traveling shows and has been a champion of local artists. The museum bookstore offers a nice selection of usual museum merchandise, such as books, tote bags and greeting cards. The museum cafe, under the direction of celebrity chef Kevin Baker, offers a wonderful rotating menu of seasonal delights.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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San Jose Repertory Theater

Innovative professional theater 101 Paseo de San Antonio
(between East San Fernando and East San Carlos)
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 367 7255
http://www.sjrep.com Known as "The Rep," this cobalt blue, angular building juts out in the middle of downtown San Jose like a sore thumb. Its innovative approach draws many in the arts community to its plays, festivals, performances and lectures. A variety of contemporary theater works are scheduled on a regular basis. The season runs all year long and tickets range from USD28 to USD40. Recent productions include Having our Say by Emily Mann and Side Man by Warren Leight.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Tech Museum of Innovation

Only one of its kind 201 S Market St
San Jose and Silicon Valley, CA 95113
United States
+1 408 294 8324
http://www.thetech.org The Tech is a huge bright orange complex that stands out from all the other buildings in the heart of downtown San Jose. With over 200 interactive, hi-tech exhibits, it is unlike any other museum in the world. Learn about communication networks, new frontiers in science, lasers, Silicon Valley inventions, biotechnology, and other cutting edge technologies that influence us all. The museum also includes a 360-degree IMAX theater. Museum or IMAX: Adult $10, Senior (over 65) $8, Child (3-12) $17; Combination Ticket: Adult $16, Senior $11, Child $10.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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