San Jose

San Jose is a city in the Bay Area. I’ve spent only a little bit of time here as a kid, so I don’t know the area too well.

Places

Places I like, or just random notes on places.

The Tech Museum (map) (I guess it’s called The Tech Interactive now?) was pretty cool and got me interested in computer programming when I was young. They had like a virtual reality exhibit back around 2001/2002 or so.
Their website is thetech.org.
Raging Waters (map) is a water theme park.

When I was a kid I used to go to the Boys and Girls Club nearby. Both of these are close to an executive airport, which I hear is pretty bad for people’s health due to the elevated lead levels.
Santana Row (map) and the nearby Westfield Valley Fair (map) are popular retail areas/malls.
Some of my favorite places here
- Ramen Nagi has ramen, but a huge line as well.
- Maggiano’s (map) has decent Italian food and a good deal where you can take pasta home
Mitsuwa Marketplace (map) is a good Japanese supermarket. It’s also got a good ramen place called Santouka in the food court, and they’ve also got a Kinokuniya book store as well.

Places I still need to check out:

Shuei-do (map) has mochi. Wanted to check it out since Benkyodo in SF closed.
Winchester Mystery House (map)

My mom said that I’ve been here, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t.

Christmas in the Park is a fair around Christmas that’s fun. Website is christmasinthepark.com.
San Jose has a pretty big Vietnamese population. I went to my cousin’s high school graduation here and counted somewhere over 20 Nguyen’s graduating. I think I’ve briefly been to Little Saigon (map).