I hadn't thought of San Jose as a family travel destination in the past, but I will definitely be taking my family back there. I experienced so much fun, good food and history while I was there. It is a great destination for a girls' weekend, as well. We had a blast!
Here are some of the great places we had a chance to visit while in town:
Fairmont San Jose - We stayed at the Fairmont and it was truly fabulous. From the perfect location to the relaxing pool, I was very impressed with the Fairmont. The rooms were big, beautiful, and comfy. The location was perfect. We were within walking distance of almost everything we did, as well as many more attractions that were very close. The hotel bar had live music Friday and Saturday night to keep those of us that wanted to stay up a little later entertained. The staff was accommodating and pleasant and they helped us with everything we needed.
J. Lohr Tasting Room - Our first stop was a wine tasting at the J. Lohr tasting room. Great setting and great wines. I also learned that J. Lohr has a Wine Club that allows you to have wine shipped to you quarterly at a discounted rate. It is a great way to try out a variety of wines from them throughout the year. They even create exclusive wines just for club members.
San Pedro Square Market - This was definitely a unique dining experience for someone from the Midwest. I had so much fun at the Market. There is something there to suit everyone's tastes. Appetizers, meals, desserts and drinks! This place has it all. Many different restaurants with a "food court" sort of feel. All of them original and not fast food restaurants, though. Cuisine from all over the globe. You may find that there is too much that you want to try (make this a destination at least a couple of times throughout your trip). Friday night we enjoyed a live jazz band in the outdoor seating area and plenty of culture!
Walking History Tour of San Jose - We learned so much about San Jose's History and buildings. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and you could definitely tell she had much love for the city of San Jose. There is so much more to San Jose than technology!
Savory Kitchen - This was a totally fun hands-on meal that our group was able to help prepare. We all donned our aprons, grabbed a glass of wine, washed our hands, and got to work. We learned so much about chopping, searing, mixing, and drizzling at Savory Kitchen. I have some totally fab recipes that I'll be sharing with you all in next week's edition.
First to Market - First to Market was a quaint restaurant making everything from scratch. I loved everything from the watching the bartender mix the from-scratch signature cocktails to drooling over the smores dessert made with from-scratch marshmallows and graham crackers. 
San Jose Stage Company - An intimate theatre experience had us all feeling like we were part of the show! We saw the production of Bonnie and Clyde and it was nothing short of spectacular. All of the actors were top notch and put on a show that surpassed my expectations.
La Lune Sucree - Three of my favorite things: hot cocoa, croissants, and crepes! Oh my! This was what my breakfast consisted of and it was all perfect. The croissant was the best that I've had and the hot cocoa was to die for. If you're looking for an adorable little breakfast nook, this is your place.
Winchester Mystery House - This was, by far, the place that I was most looking forward to visiting while in San Jose! My family loves mysteries, ghost stories, and more. We've watched documentaries about Mrs. Winchester and the crazy house that she built around the clock for 38 years. It grew from a modest 8 room farmhouse to a mansion consisting of 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms and 6 kitchens! There are staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open to a 2-story drop outside, windows that look over other rooms of the house, and more. It was so much fun to explore in the Winchester Mystery House. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.
Santana Row - Right by the Winchester Mystery House is the lovely shopping district of Santana Row. We enjoyed a great lunch at Left Bank Brasserie, a Parisian-style brasserie offering French cuisine. We also got fantastic spa treatments at Active Sports Clubs. Very relaxing after a morning of walking and exploring.
Scott's Seafood - I really enjoyed eating dinner on their outdoor, rooftop patio. The setting was perfect for a dinner with the girls. Scott's Seafood features the freshest seafood, pasta, chicken dishes, and USDA prime dry-aged steaks.
City National Civic - We enjoyed a concert at the City National Civic by Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band. The Civic was a great concert venue in a beautiful, historic theatre.
San Jose is just a hop, skip and jump from San Fransisco, so if you have a car while you're in town, I recommend taking a day trip to check out the Golden Gate Bridge. You can't be that close without seeing it. Amazing!
All photographs throughout this article were taken by myself, as I am learning more about photography. I hope you've enjoyed them!
**The writer was a guest of San Jose for the purpose of this review. Accommodations, meals and most activities were complimentary. No compensation was received and all opinions are her own**
