Events in San Jose

San Jose
San Jose, a city at the southern end of San Francisco Bay in Santa Clara County, California, is one of the largest cities in population in the United States. This city boasts a huge number of high Technology companies.

This is why it is also known as the Capital of Silicon Valley. San Jose has a booming economy and it has the highest median household income in the nation.

San Jose has plenty to keep a family busy and entertained. From museums to zoos, parks, hiking trails, picnic spots, sports, and festivals, life in San Jose is always happening and eventful.

Area, Population Growth and Climate
The city of San Jose covers a land area of 443.4 sq km. Its metropolitan region encompasses all of Santa Clara County, with a land area of 3,344.2 sq km.

The population of the city of San Jose has grown at a remarkable rate in recent years. Newcomers are attracted to the city because of its climate and economic opportunities, and the city has placed highly on national rankings of the best places to live. The population of San Jose increased from 628,283 in 1980 to 894,943 in 2000. In 2004, its population was estimated at 904,522.

San Jose takes pride in the cultural and ethnic diversity of its population. The Residents speak more than 56 different languages. The census bureau shows that there are 33% white, 32.1% Hispanic, 28% Asian and 2.8% African-American of the total population. San Jose has a mild climate throughout the year. The sun shines here for 300 days per year.

Education and Culture
Metropolitan San Jose is one of the most highly educated areas in the country. San Jose State University is the oldest public university in the state with 30,000 students and 4,000 employees. According to a census, more than half of the adults living in Silicon Valley hold a college degree.

There are prominent museums in the city which display the work of artists, few feature the technological marvels from Silicon Valley and others exhibit Victorian buildings and Egyptian artifacts. San Jose has a rich selection of performing arts, where famous theatres promote drama, dance and ballets. The city has numerous community festivals throughout the year, many celebrating ethnic themes.

Transportation
With the automobile being the primary means of transport, there is an option of sleek light rail cars which link downtown to businesses and attractions, making it easier to navigate to and from the downtown. The city boasts of three interstate highways, expressways and a Caltrain (commuter rail between San Francisco and Gilroy) The Norman Y.Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is just three miles from downtown San Jose.

Economy
The San Jose metropolitan area is an economic powerhouse. It is the single most important high-technology center in the United States, specializing in aerospace and computer technology. It is estimated that the region contains one-half of the leading venture capital firms in the world.

Among the nations largest companies in the San Jose metropolitan region are Intel, the world leader in making microprocessors and headquartered in Santa Clara; Apple Computer, maker of computer hardware and software, in Cupertino; Hewlett-Packard, manufacturer of diverse electronic equipment, in Palo Alto; and Sun Microsystems, computer developer, in Mountain View.

Other major employers include the missiles and space division of Lockheed Martin, International Business Machines (IBM), and National Semiconductor. The San Jose area also continues to be an important agricultural region. It produces fruits, nuts, vegetables, and cut flowers. The many wineries in the area produce wines sold worldwide.

The Experience of San Jose
San Jose provides excellent opportunities of entertainment for families with its famous museums, parks and festivals. There are hundreds of ways to explore nature in San Jose. Adventurous visitors can bungee jump, hike fiery craters, scuba dive with sharks, and kayak through fierce currents. After a day full of adventure, you can relax and enjoy the unique hotels available in every part of this beautiful country.

Arts and Entertainment
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts (including mummies), Nile-invoking gardens, and a funky style, 70-year-old planetarium, which holds shows for children. The San Jose Museum of Art features special exhibitions on modern masterworks, especially for families with young children.

The History Park offers a historical perspective on San Jose, through guided tours on restored buildings of the city. Ballet San Jose is the center for the Performing Arts. Various main stage productions are shown that provide entertainment to little children. In addition to this, many seasonal events and festivals take place all year round, making life in San Jose colorful.

Outdoor Activities
San Jose has many parks providing great outdoor activities such as hiking, riding, watching wildlife and going for picnics. The largest of the many parks inside San Jose is Alum Rock Park, where hiking trails take you to the mountain foothills.Kelley Park, is a famous family park focused on providing children with a creative play area.

Almaden Lake Park is popular for its swimming beach on a lake. Among the beautiful public gardens in the city are the Municipal Rose Garden, with about 3,500 rose plants; the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden, which emphasizes the history of rose cultivation; and the Overfelt Gardens is popular for its Chinese Cultural Garden.

Sizzling Shopping and Dining
San Jose is a great place for smart shopping and offers many good standard cuisines. The San Jose Flea Market covers 120 acres and is the largest open-air flea market in America, famous for reasonable bargains.The Downtown Farmer's Market at San Pedro Square displays colourful fruits and vegetables and you can savour a huge variety of delicacies here.

Santana Row has broader appeal, with some 70 shops, dozens of restaurants, spas, and a chic hotel, blended with luxury residences, attracting young and hip crowd. San Jose's dining scene offers a wide variety of cusines. The Downtown boasts everything from innovative cusines to junk food.

The Sporting Life
Sports help bring a sense of pride and spirit to a city, and San Jose boasts some of the region's most successful football and hockey teams.San Jose is home to many major league sporting events, such as the Amgen Tour of California.

Growth and Innovation
San Jose continues its focus on growth and innovation. The airport is a key link to the world's leading center for innovation and technology.This is why ongoing development takes place for expanding the airport and making it accessible from the downtown.

San Jose Downtown boasts more than 100 software companies, and citywide there are 6,600 technology companies. The city's redevelopment agency helps San Jose maintain its lead, investing more than $19 million in the emerging technology companies.

A Re-energized Downtown
Downtown is lively and livable, and home to everyone. Significant investments have been made on development projects in the urban areas. San Joseans value the importance of technology and education. This is why continous effort is put in the development of these areas.

Conclusion
San Jose is a great place whether, youre making a business trip, or have come for a weekend or a long vacation, the lively energy of San Jose will give you a break away experience. With great weather, and a wide choice of activities from amusement parks to interactive museums, San Jose offers something for everyone in your family to cherish for a long time to come.