Things To Do

Los Gatos

Things to do in Los Gatos Breakfast Restaurants/Cafes: -Los Gatos Cafe (great breakfast, get the cinnamon roll!) -Great Bear Coffee (cute vibe, art on the walls, indoor and outdoor seating) -Fleur de Cocoa (pastries, chocolates, outdoor seating only) Dinner/Lunch Restaurants: -Purple Onion -Gardenia Breweries/Drinks: -We Olive (olive oil and wine bar) -Loma Brewing Company - To Do: -Walk around and enjoy the cute houses and gardens -Several awesome Antique stores -Several Flower Shops

San Jose

There are many things to do in San Jose area as well! Bars: -Mini Boss Arcade Bar -Still OG (vinyl record listening bar) -Alter Ego (private bar/food in the back of Still OG, needs a reservation, fun drinks!) -Haberdasher (1920s theme bar) Restaurants: -El Jardin Tequila Bar in Santana Row -Luna Mexican Kitchen (both locations are great) -K Cafe Patisserie and Tea House (brunch and tea service) Hikes: -Pacific Grove has some beautiful hikes along the cliffs. Pedro’s Point is one of Elise’s favorites. Shopping: -Santana Row and The Pruneyard are both lovely areas to walk around and shop. There are also many places to eat and get drinks here as well.

Santa Cruz

There are many things to do in Santa Cruz! It's a close option to see the coast from Los Gatos. We plan to be in Santa Cruz for a portion of the day on Saturday. Come see us! Go for a stroll: Walk along the accessible paved path along the coast, enjoy the cliffs and admire the adorable beach houses. Look for surfers out in the waves and see if you can spot the sea lions and otters! There is also a small Surfing Museum that is cool to look at! Santa Cruz Boardwalk: A long time beach staple with rollercoasters, rides, fair games, fair foods, drinks, a large arcade and beach access. Entry is free, but it is pay per game/activity. There are also quite a few beach volleyball courts, local cafes, shops, etc. Parking: Free parking along the coast on W Cliff Drive, or a huge paid parking lot next to the Boardwalk. Shrine Coffee: One of our favorite spots is the coffee shop at the Catholic church. Grab a coffee and enjoy their garden or take it to go and walk along the coast!

Winchester Mystery House

Winchester Mystery House is a very fun little activity in downtown San Jose, for those wanting to stay close to town. It was built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to a large portion of the Winchester® Repeating Arms fortune who believed she needed to keep constant construction on the house and build “tricky” obstacles to confuse the ghosts of all of those that her family’s guns killed. Whether you are curious about her ghosts and take the “spooky” basement tour, or just want to admire the incredible and unique architecture of the mansion, it’s a really fun tour. One of the most incredible homes I’ve ever seen. A tour is about $45/person It does require you to go up some small stairs, but Sarah had severe arthritis and built special stair cases to allow her easy access to her home:) There is a movie loosely based on Sarah and the house called Winchester. It is filmed in the house, so it is cool to go visit and then watch the movie and recognize the different rooms.

Napa Valley

There are many beautiful wineries and vineyards in Napa Valley. Napa is about 2 hours from the San Jose area, but the distance is worth it, if wine is your thing!

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods is a National Monument just north of San Francisco. Here you can see beautiful giant redwood trees, lush forest and wildlife! The first part of the park is paved and accessible, and there are additional dirt trails to see further into the park if you desire. Parking here is limited, so you must reserve a parking spot ahead of time, or plan to take one of their shuttles. More information on this can be found on their website. Also, there is little to no cell service or internet in the park, so plan accordingly

San Francisco

There are many things to do in the city! Golden Gate Bridge: drive across (there is a toll price) and there are several pull offs to take pictures. Alcatraz: take a ferry across the Bay to tour Alcatraz Prison. The boat ride is fun, and there is a listening tour that goes at your pace through the prison. The Painted Ladies: these iconic homes can be found on Steiner St. The park (Alamo Square) across from them is also a great spot for a picnic. Golden Gate Park: The park is huge and beautiful. Lots of flowers and open spaces for picnics. There is a Ferris wheel and several museums and botanical gardens. Grad some pizza or pastries at one of our favorite spots, A, and take it to the park!

Monterey Bay

Monterey is a beautiful area, if the coast is what you seek. About an hour and a half from San Jose. Lovers Point is a beautiful spot on the cliffs, and there are many restaurants, shops and places to walk around downtown. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also very well known. Carmel by the Sea is a beautiful town next to Monterey with quaint houses, shops and places to eat/drink. Pebble Beach, a world renown golf course, is also nearby. You can drive through this area on the 17 Mile Drive, which is beautiful!

Pinnacles National Park

This is a smaller and often overlooked National Park in California, but it has some really fun hikes, and is only about an hour south of San Jose, a great day trip! My favorite in the park is the Bear Gulch Cave Trail. It takes you through some beautiful mossy areas of the forest in the valley of the park, and through some awesome caves! Make sure to bring a light/headlamp, because you will need it, even in the middle of the day. You can also take a longer hike up into the peaks for some beautiful viewpoints. Directions from San Jose: Take Hwy 101 south through the city of Gilroy to Hwy 25 south. On Hwy 25. Go through the town of Hollister and continue about 30 miles to Hwy 146. Turn right on Hwy 146. Turn left into the Pinnacles Campground to check in at the Pinnacles Visitor Center. From the campground, the Bear Gulch Area is 3.5 miles further into the park along Hwy 146.

Yosemite National Park