Any "must see" things in Silicon Valley?

[DVNT1]

I just arrived in San Jose last night (from Ohio). I start the thirteen 12hr/days of MCSE boot camp classes tomorrow. I still want to get out and experience what Silicon Valley has to offer in the off hours so my time is limited.

Any recommendations?

[thekingofpain]

Goto the Chevy's Mexican restaurant---pretty cool spot :-)

[MegalosSkylaki]

Check out SOFA (SOUTH of FIRST AVENUE) recently "gentrified" but 'downtown SJ is in recession and I'm told a lot is closing. "Nite-life" scattered throughout SV.

Check out San Fran in daytime and come back at nite. Always worth seeing/walking and the "tourist bust" may be in your favor.
Area near the New Giants Baseball Stadium has been redeveloped.

Sorry, haven't been back to "Peninsula"--the SF to SJ area for a while.

If you have time, go across the Golden Gate Bridge to Bodega and Jenner at the mouth of the Russian river. Avoid Mt. Temalpais road (hi-way # !) in Marin County--cliffside road kinda below the fog line. Sausilito in Marin county is worthwhile.(VERY pricey)

back to SJ: Pedro's in Las Gatos (nearby town) and take hi-way 17 to Santa Cruz. Foggy University town. Mountain road but not overly challenging but probably first done in daytime.

'Rainy season" in Dec, Jan. can make some roads dicey.

Take the Monterrey Hi-way to Monterrey, Carmel through Salinas--about two hrs. If you have time, head S. on One to Big Sur.

Alot depends on time you have, tolerance of (some) curvy driving, rain situation.etc.Team up with someone..Public transportation limited to non-existent. except in SF.

Best Wishes on your "boot-camp" and on your extra-curricular.

deDOOOG

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Let's see. Where to start.........

Napa Valley
San Francisco and the Wharf
Ghiradelli Square in Frisco
Santa Cruz
Monterey
Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey
Crossley Telescope in the eastern foothills.


Highway's......
Highway 1 all the way to Big Sur from San Fran.
Highway 9
Highway 35
Highway 84

Places to eat.....
Los Gatos Brewing Company in Los Gatos
Tied House in San Jose
Mr. Chau's chinese fast food

These are just a few. let me know if you would like more.

[MrBaseball]

definitly check out Pac Bell park, home of the sf giants. If yoou go to sf, be sure to lock your doors and roll up your windows as you will see how, umm, well scary it is.

If you wanna check out the whole bay area, napa valley is a must. Oh, you probably don't know what Fry's is but I believe there is one in san jose. Go there. You will be amazed but be sure not to buy anything with the "sticker of death" on it.

[MrBaseball]

oh, places to eat; The rainforest in SF

The outback in Pleasant Hill

The elephant bar in concord.

[DVNT1]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Looks like I'll need to rent a care to enjoy some of these suggestions.

[I_W]

MORE than you want to know about San Jose area.

Fry's in:

Sunnyvale very first Fry's now in it's third location in large building that used to house Link. ***best one to visit if you're close to Sunnyvale ***
Campbell In relatively limited space but convenient right off highway 17 at Hamilton Ave. off ramp. Building was Apple's service center 10 years ago or so and more recently occupied by HP.
San Jose near intersection of 880 and 280..don't go into that area if you can help it during commute hours--- fairly large and took over Wyse plant building as I recall.
Palo Alto Not far from Page Mill Rd. & El Camino - somewhat cramped.
Fremont area haven't been there for a long time and they're in a different location than when I was last there. Right off highway 680.


Place to visit during day hours if you aren't heading home right away at the end of the workshops:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park over the hill via Highway 17 or Highway 9 (winding and slow, particularly if you're a "flat lander") just south of Felton. Walk the 3/4 mile loop through the redwoods - nice on a sunny or stormy day - take rain gear and warm jacket this time of year. Cross through the fence into the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad and ask when one of the steam trains might be scheduled. Probably none during the week this time of year. About 15-20 miles from SJ area.

Drive on down Highway 9 or back to Highway 17 and into Santa Cruz. If time is limited head NORTH on Highway 1 up coast and perhaps loop back to the peninsula area from Half Moon Bay via Highway 52 heading towards Redwood City and San Mateo then back south via El Camino if you want a slow drive or via Highway 280 if you want freeway.

If you have more time go on to the end of Highway 1 and into San Francisco.

If you have even more time, go SOUTH from Santa Cruz on Highway 1 to Monterey and Carmel. On to Big Sur if you have time. (Ask in the area about Esalen if you want a "real" California experience and see what the hours are for the public to use the outdoor tubs on the side of the cliff. Years ago you could only do so after midnight - don't know about now - if nudity doesn't bother you it's a true 1960s and 70s experience.) Otherwise from Monerey/Carmel through Carmel Valley to Salinas and back to San Jose via Highway 101. Avoid morning hours on weekdays or later in the day on Saturday or Sunday to head into San Jose on 101. Traffic can be bumper to bumper. (Head off 101 at Cochrane Rd. in Gilroy and turn towards San Jose on Monterey Highway to avoid the worst bottleneck. Consult the map.)

Best way to and from San Francisco from Silicon Valley is Highway 280 ***NOT*** highway 101 and Bayshore -- too congested and too much traffic.

Avoid highway 17 - and 9 - in the morning coming from Santa Cruz towards San Jose and in the afternoon the other direction. Watch out for the Christmas tree crowd traffic in the afternoons on a nice sunny day or weekends all day.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Hey!

What about the Garlic Ice Cream in Gilroy
Or garlic pie
Garlic everything......

I say , keep heading south from Big Sur to Morrow Bay.
Stare mindlessly at the Huge ROCK in the Bay for hours until in a Hypnotic trance, the go to Gilroy and buy one of everything. Be sure to bring it all home on plane for extra fun !

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Oh yeah.......

I have been to every single one of those Fry's stores.