Parks & Recreation
Get outside and go do it. San Jose's weather is terrific – boasting more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Summers are warm, but not overly hot, and evenings are mild, not too cold.
Find wildlife along Guadalupe River Park's many trails, which abut downtown's urban jungle. You can also find tennis, a carousel, playground and life-size Monopoly board game. Run it, walk it, or take a stroll and explore – Guadalupe River Park shows off downtown in a positive light. Plaza de Cesar Chavez features a water fountain for splashing around. St. James and McEnery parks have toddlers' playgrounds that spur the imagination.
Parks
Guadalupe River Park and Gardens
Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
(408) 298-7657.
Arena Green, Santa Clara and Autumn Street
McEnery Park, San Fernando Street and Almaden Boulevard
Discovery Meadow, San Carlos Street and Woz Way
Parque de los Pobladores, First and Market streets, SoFA
Pellier Park, Terraine and St. James streets, St. James Historic District
Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market and San Carlos streets
Ryland Park, San Pedro and First streets, 3.2 acres, restrooms, picnic tables, barbecues, playgrounds, basketball courts, exercise course and dog park
St. James Park, St. James and Second streets, benches, chess tables, fountains
For more information, including additional dog parks, visit sjparks.org. Also, trail information is available at sjparks.org/trails
Sports Teams
Ready to watch a game?
HP Pavilion, also known as The Shark Tank, is home of:
San Jose Sharks, National Hockey League
San Jose Sabercats, Aerna Football League
San Jose Stealth National Lacrosse League
Elsewhere around downtown:
San Jose State Spartans Division I-A NCAA at the Events Center and Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Soccer
(Find a pub to watch the next MLS game)
San Jose Giants
Seasonal Sporting Events:
February: Tour of California bicycle race
February: SAP Open tennis tournament
March: Pac-10 Women's Basketball Tournament
For information about San Jose's efforts to attract top-flight athletics:
San Jose Sports Authority
Events
Downtown plays hosts to conventions, exhibitions, seminars and sporting events year-round. But every day of the year, you can find a one-of-a-kind event. The city's jazz and mariachi festivals, both held downtown, have grown in national prominence. The Cinequest Film Festival and ZeroOne arts and technology festival receive international entries and kudos. Artwork hanging in the galleries is always unique. You'll recall your experiences for years to come: indeed, only in San Jose.
SJDA events
Downtowner Online
Cinequest Film Festival
Cinequest Film Festival
San Jose Jazz Festival
01SJ
Mexican Heritage Corporation
Take the car: Downtown is close to outings that are good for the family and your psyche. For example:
Golf
San Jose Municipal Golf Course – 4.31 miles/9 minutes
1560 Oakland Road
(408) 441-4653
Rancho Del Pueblo – 5.09 miles/8 minutes
1649 Hermocilla Way
(408) 347-0990
Attractions
Happy Hollow Zoo, part of Kelley Park – 2.5 miles/10 minutes
Story and Senter roads
(408) 277-3000
Delighting and educating young families with animal exhibits, rides and a history park for almost 50 years. Anyone for Danny the Dinosaur?
Raging Waters water park – 7.5 miles/16 minutes
2333 S White Rd
San Jose, CA 95148
(408) 238-9900
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum – 2.4 miles/8 minutes
1342 Naglee Ave.
San Jose, CA 95126
947-3636
Valley Fair Mall/Santana Row –shopping malls – 5.6 miles/13 minutes
Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards
Winchester Mystery House – 5.8 miles 13 minutes
525 S Winchester Blvd
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 247-2101
For more fun things to do, check sjdowntown.com/Recreation
Quick Tour
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About Downtown
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