Cheap Flights To San Jose

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Cheap Flights To San Jose

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
Why book flights to San Jose? The hub of Silicon Valley and the technological boom that has taken the world by storm, San Jose thrives with the vitality of entrepreneurs. Its revitalized downtown area offers world-class restaurants and cultural attractions for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Billed as the city where “the fun never stops,” you may want to begin your San Jose adventure with a visit to some of its historic sites, such as the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Jose. For insight into the city’s visionary spirit, take a trip to the Tech Museum of Innovation, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the inventions of Silicon Valley through interactive exhibits. Round out your day by dining at any one of its impressive restaurants or enjoying the nightlife around Santana Row.

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When to Go
High Season
Summer is generally the most popular time to visit San Jose, due to enjoyable weather and vacation time for families and professionals. However, the area enjoys nice weather for most of the year, so it is difficult to find a bad time to visit.

Low Season
Although San Jose gets little rainfall in general, the rainy season tends to be between November and March, making this period the city's low season. The best prices on flights and hotels can usually be found around this time.

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Airport Information
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Distance: Three miles from downtown San Jose
Drive time: 10-15 minutes

San Jose International Airport is owned and operated by the city of San Jose, and passenger traffic exceeded 9.7 million in 2008, per SJC’s official website. Taxis are stationed at the airport, accessible from Terminal A and Terminal C. All trips from SJC are a minimum of $15.00, which includes the first three miles of travel and a $1.50 airport fee; thereafter the charge is $3.00 per mile. The VTA Airport Flyer makes frequent stops between the airport and the Metro Light Rail Station, where trains depart for downtown and all areas of the city for a $2.00 single-ride ticket. Consult the Ground Transportation Department at the airport for more information.


Alternative Airports
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 11 miles from San Jose
Oakland International Airport (OAK) - 30 miles from San Jose

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Weather
San Jose has a semi-arid, moderate climate virtually year-round. Unlike its neighbor to the north, San Francisco, San Jose is further inland and protected on three sides by mountains, sheltering it from rain and fog and lending to light rainfall and comfortable daytime temperatures with cool desert evenings. There is generally very little humidity in San Jose, and the city enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine per year on average.

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Things to Do
South of First
It doesn’t get any cooler than San Jose’s artsy South of First area, or SoFA to locals. Here you can stroll among art galleries, cafes, clubs and lounges from early in the day until the wee hours of the morning. First Fridays of every month are a huge party, when galleries stay open late and live music and beverages abound.

Asian Culture in San Jose
San Jose has a rich Asian heritage, as evidenced by beautiful cultural sites around the area. The Chinese Cultural Garden is dominated by a 30-foot bronze and marble statue of Confucius, while the koi pond at the Japanese Friendship Garden at Kelley Park lends to its serene ambiance.

Tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains foothills just outside San Jose, the Hakone Gardens are one of the few truly authentic Japanese gardens in the U.S. There you'll find twisting paths, waterfalls and ponds, along with a replica Kyoto tea merchant’s home, making this a great respite from the city.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, just down the highway from San Jose, is California’s oldest amusement park. Blending nostalgia and thoroughly modern thrills, the park has several rides to enjoy, or you can take a dip in the ocean, sun yourself on the beach and munch on salt-water taffy.

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Local Attractions
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America in a magnificent building that was inspired by the Temple of Amon. The museum offers many educational programs and visits to the planetarium are always free.

San Jose Museum of Art
The San Jose Museum of Art, in a Romanesque 19th-century building, focuses on artwork from the 20th and 21st centuries, with a terrific rotating schedule of temporary exhibits, lectures, classes, concerts and events for children.

Wine in San Jose
San Jose is a good place to start a tour of California’s Wine Country. Begin at the tasting room of The San Jose Wine Center, at J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. There are also many wine bars nearby, including A Perfect Finish, Vintage Wine Merchants and San Pedro Square Bistro. Further afield, there are many excellent wineries that make for an easy day trip from San Jose. Try Hecker Pass Winery up State Highway 152 or visit nearby Santa Cruz for a guided Santa Cruz Wine Experience tour.

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Must See Sights
Peralta Adobe
Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from the original Spanish settlement, built in 1797. See the two-room adobe dwelling as it might have looked originally. Afterward, check out the Fallon House, a Victorian mansion built in 1855 by an early mayor of San Jose.

Winchester Mystery House
For something out of the ordinary, check out the Winchester Mystery House. In 1884, wealthy widow (and rifle heiress) Sarah Winchester began construction on a mansion of such magnitude that it was still not finished at her death 38 years later. The 160-room estate is filled with so many oddities and marvels that it soon became known as the “house of mystery,” and today it is open to the public.

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Insider Tips

• San Jose is a great place to take children. For a terrific family itinerary, begin at the Children’s Discovery Museum,where kids can tinker with and explore fun hands-on exhibits. Continue to Monopoly in the Park, the world’s biggest version of the popular board game, played on a 930-square-foot board. For thrills, take your young adventure-seekers to the Great America theme park or the Calabazas BMX Park.
• The performing arts are active and lively in San Jose, and there is no lack of excitement for culture buffs. Visit the beautifully restored California Theatre, the Center for the Performing Arts, Montgomery Theater or the highly acclaimed local opera and ballet. Is contemporary art more your thing? Check out the MACLA, whose focus is contemporary Chicano/Latino art, or the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art.

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Getting Around
Like most cities in California, San Jose does not have an extensive public transportation system. For many places in and around the city, a car is needed to get around some areas. However, there is the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which covers the metropolitan area, including downtown San Jose, South and North San Jose and extends to surrounding areas such as Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Cupertino and Fremont. Adult fares are $2.00 for a single ride and $6.00 for a day pass, with longer passes and discounts for youth and seniors available. Historic streetcars from History Park operate on the light rail lines downtown during holidays.

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