Spending a quick but fun weekend in San Jose, California based on our adventures.

We lived in San Jose, California for four months while on a travel PT assignment. After only being there a few days, we decided that San Jose is probably our favorite city of Northern California (and WAY better than San Francisco).

The weather is great, even in the winter, and the city life there has so much to offer. You still get the Calif city vibe with fewer crowds.

Where to Stay

San Jose Tiny Home

We found a tiny home through Airbnb in the middle of San Jose. Not only was the location perfect but it was nice checking out a different tiny home since ours is not as typical. It was also nice to get some tiny home inspiration and see aspects we liked or didn't like.

The tiny home was on a trailer platform but is not mobile being located in the driveway of the owner's permanent house. The best part about the tiny home was it had all the things a typical rental would have such as TV, bed, and shower. If you have ever wanted to stay in a tiny home then this may be the option for you.

Hyatt Place San Jose Airport

The San Jose Airport is big enough to have good flight deals but still small enough to not be too overwhelming. When we had to fly out early we would stay at the Hyatt Place San Jose Airport. They offer a shuttle to the airport or it's just a quick and cheap Lyft ride. The area is still being built up so there's isn't too much immediately nearby but many places deliver.

Even if you don't need to fly in/out of San Jose this hotel is still a great place to stay. One weekend we decided to do a staycation here and it was perfect, especially the pool. Plus the rooms are huge with a separate sitting area for the couch and TV making it feel less like a hotel.

Residence Inn San Jose Airport

The best part about this hotel is that they allow cats but we also loved the setup. It's not a typical hotel where you only get the bed, bathroom, and a tv. Instead, you get the bed area, plus a couch lounging area, PLUS a kitchen. You also get other typical hotel amenities like the pool and free breakfast.

We stayed here for a week during a heatwave as our tiny travel trailer does not have AC. It made having to live in a hotel easier even when we had to get work every day. They also had FREE laundry offered which was a huge perk.

Where to Eat

Benihana

There are several different cites with a Benihana but it's still a good San Jose option. Benihana is a hibachi grill so it's almost dinner and a show. All of the food is cooked in front of you and your meal comes with A LOT of food. The drink menu is also stacked with fun drinks to try. Of course, wine is also an option and don't forget to try the Saki. You can also try some of their sushi or other appetizers.

The tables do seat eight so if you are going with a small group you may be sitting with strangers but that can be part of the fun. We went during a slow time and got a table to ourselves but we did have to wait a little longer.

Old Spaghetti Factory

There are Old Spaghetti Factory (OSF) restaurants in many cities. It's one of Kelsey's favorite restaurants so we always try new locations when traveling. We even went to one in Honolulu. We really like the San Jose location though. Located in downtown San Jose you can stop by for food then walk around the city.

OSF offers great Italian food but the best part is the 3-course meal. Every main dish comes with bread, soup or salad, the main dish and then ICE CREAM. The prices aren't bad and you can also get some wine or Italian cream soda.

Cream

Phil's favorite and go-to ice cream shop is Cream. It's an ice cream sandwich place where you pick the cookie, the ice cream and the topping on the outside of the cookie sandwich. There are also other options instead of a cookie such as a brownie and doughnuts. Trust us, this place is legit.

Cream is located throughout Northern California and not just native to San Jose. We have also gone here while in visiting San Francisco and Napa.

What to Do

Monopoly in the Park

Located in a San Jose park is a giant life-sized monopoly board. Even if you just go and check it out it's worth it. It's a perfect Instagram photo opportunity and a Guinness book of world record.

To play you have to go during their scheduled events (or bring monopoly pieces). You can also book the board for your event. It's free to go check it out and you can walk around the park when done.

Splash Bar

Per their website Splash is "South Bay’s Premiere Gay Nightclub". According to us, Splash is "the coolest bar in San Jose".

The first floor has a bar, a small dance floor, and standing tables. The upstairs has an entire dance floor plus another bar. There is also an outside rooftop patio where you can enjoy some amazing San Jose views. Video screens are located throughout the entire bar which makes the dancing/party vibe even better.

It's open every night which also helps when you want a drink after work at a place with a welcoming atmosphere. Kelsey's birthday fell on a Wednesday one year and coming here was the perfect way to celebrate.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Technically Los Gatos is a town south of San Jose but it's not a bad drive. There is a hiking path in town called the Los Gatos Creek Trail. You can walk, run or bike the trail and there are several routes to-go so you can switch up the scenery. Most of the loops are 4-5 miles and have some elevation change giving you a quick but great workout.

We love running while on vacation but running in a big city can be difficult. There are often crowds along the sidewalks and you get stopped by a lot of traffic lights. For us, this path was worth the drive from San Jose because we were able to do a long run with less stress and great views.

We hope our travel guide for San Jose, California will inspire you and help you plan your next trip. The best Bay Area city (in our opinion) with a great downtown to explore. Happy Adventuring!