Nearby Destinations to San Jose (California): Destinations

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Just east of the city lies Alum Rock Park www.sjparks.org/Parks/RegionalParks/arp/index.asp, a canyon through which Penitencia Creek flows, which is lined by sulfurous mineral springs and several small waterfalls. Above the park stands Mount Hamilton, one of the highest peaks in the Bay Area at 4,213 feet. The telescopes of Lick Observatory mthamilton.ucolick.org, operated by the University of California, crown the summit and are open to the public during daytime hours.

Other places to see in San Jose's backyard are the Scenic Drive in Saratoga Hills, the quaint and classy town of Los Gatos, and Mission Santa Clara at Santa Clara University www.scu.edu. Palo Alto and Stanford University www.stanford.edu are about half an hour's drive to the north. About 45 minutes northeast, you can visit Fremont's Mission San Jose and the Ardenwood Historic Farm www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood.

Less than an hour away over the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains, the small coastal city of Santa Cruz is a nice day trip out San Jose. Spend the day enjoying the beaches and Boardwalk, or make it the first stop on a longer coastal drive. From Santa Cruz, you can take Route 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) south to Capitola, Monterey, and the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

• www.sjparks.org/Parks/RegionalParks/arp/index.asp
• mthamilton.ucolick.org
• www.scu.edu
• www.stanford.edu
• www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood