Amy & Jason
Places to See
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
Amy used to live in San Francisco for college and enjoyed riding her bike across the bridge to visit the cafes and shops in Sausalito, the next town north of San Francisco. San Francisco has plenty of neighborhoods and attractions to visit, so don't forget to spend a day or two here too. Maybe catch a Giants game if they're playing. San Francisco is about a 45-minute drive from San Jose.
Lake Chabot - Castro Valley
During pharmacy school, Amy often went jogging here after class and on weekends, and enjoyed the views overlooking the city and natural beauty of the lake. The area has well-maintained scenic trails. Make sure to access the park at Lake Chabot Road in Castro Valley. Castro Valley is about 45 minutes from San Jose.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Not too far from San Jose, is a fun drive down Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is about 45 minutes to 1 hour south of San Jose.
Carmel-by-the-Sea & 17-mile Drive/Pebble Beach
We enjoyed our trip to Carmel Beach but were only able to stay for a few hours. We wish we had more time to visit more places in the area. Make sure to check out Pebble Beach and the 17-mile drive to take in gorgeous views of the coastal cliffs. Carmel is about 2 hours south of San Jose and is about 1 hour south of Santa Cruz.
Napa Valley Wine Country
If you enjoy wine, you'll have to drive up north about 1.5-2 hours from San Jose and explore Napa Valley. There are several towns with vineyards to choose from when you're in Napa Valley: Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Rutherford, Calistoga...
Livermore Valley Wine Country
Livermore Valley is the "lesser known" of the wine countries in the area, but Amy used to live here so it has a special place in her heart! Smaller crowds and less fussy out in Livermore! Livermore is about 45 minutes to 1 hour from San Jose.