Things to do in San Jose

San Jose is the South Bay's largest city, a downtown-anchored hub rather than a single Silicon Valley campus stop. The Tech Museum of Innovation sits right downtown, with general admission around $25-32 for adults, and pairs easily with a walk through the Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

San Jose sits roughly 45-60 minutes south of San Francisco by car or Caltrain, and is a distinct city with its own downtown core, not a neighbourhood of the more diffuse, campus-based geography that spreads north through Palo Alto and Cupertino.

Downtown parking runs cheaper than San Francisco but still adds up over a full day, so budget accordingly before combining a museum visit with a longer walk.