One of the nicest experiences in North San Jose, lately! I was planning some 'Lets check all these…read moreparks in Santa Clara' activity for these Christmas days of forced vacation when I found out about James Lick Mansion. In fact, I thought it was just the house of someone and for some reason appeared on my Google Maps search (not easy to find from the street as you actually need to enter though an apartment complex to find it). I learned about James Lick, an entrepreneur that moved to Santa Clara in the 1800 and started several business, and died at the end of that century being considered the richest man in California. This mansion is registered at the National Register of Historic Places. This type of Victorian mansion style is called Italianate and it seems was popular during those times. The house (24 rooms) was built between 1858 and 1860 next to his flour mill, out of native redwood trees. Not only you will find this pretty house but also the rebuilt granary and mill that was used to create paper that was used on the fruit packaging when the Valley was in full production splendor. It is a pleasant experience to just be there imagining another era, observing the elegant palm trees and having a calm time with yourself. I could not enter inside the house, but took a peek at how the interior is and for around ten minutes I went daydreaming.

We used to stop by fairly often when I was a little kid. I'm now 77. My sister loved peering over…read morethe edge. I thought it was creepy as hell but pride wouldn't let me show my fear. My sister Sharon knew how I felt and really got a kick out of watching me squirm. Even as I got older the creepy feeling never really left.

I've been wanting to take some pics here for a while, had to email the SF Public Utilities…read moreCommission to make sure it was open Monday 4/1/13. They don't get Cesar Chavez Day off so I was happy. It's FREE to enter & take pics. Open M-F 9-3 for the public. It's a nice drive in, with purple leaves in the California Redbud trees. Lilac bushes - didn't see them, Lombard Poplars - not sure if they are still there. You can read the history of the SWT & take pics. The ceiling wasn't finished, kinda neat to see. Spent about 20 min there. Website with more info: http://www.sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=94

The Almaden Winery Community Center (AWC) is located at the Old Almaden Vineyards site which was…read moreCalifornia's oldest winery* (est.1852). Here Charles LeFranc made the first commercial planting of European Wine Grapes in Santa Clara Country from cuttings he had brought over from his native France. Almaden Vineyards still exists today but it has relocated to Madera, CA (go to http://www.almaden.com for more info). The Community Center Building is the old residence building and the actual winery itself is still there, but is fenced off and unavailable for tours, at this time. The AWC received California Historical Landmark status in 1953. The AWC isn't open for anyone to just saunter into despite the "Community Center" moniker; it's only available for party and event rentals (please see my tip or the CSJ website for rental info). The grounds surrounding the AWC have a relatively well-manicured garden; interesting architecture; and a children's park (http://www.yelp.com/biz/almaden-winery-park-san-jose) There are also some picnic tables on-site if you want to enjoy a meal at the Vineyards. I visited the AWC during the Winter but need to definitely come back in the Spring; there's a Rose Garden and Grape Vines that would be really neat to see in full bloom. Unless you've been lucky enough to have hosted, or been invited, to an event at the AWC I would still recommend for you to come down here on a Spring day and enjoy this hidden, and historical gem. The whole thing can be done in about an hour and I recommend you bring a lunch. *CA State Historical Landmark #505

Great venue here for our Nurse's Day for Santa Clara County Public Health Nurse. The amenities are…read moreawesome..full kitchen and great hall! . Garden and brick structure. The place has 283 maximum occupancy. WiFi works !!

I came here for a tour with a friend who's been here before. They do tours on the weekends and you…read morewill need to book online. A lot of history about this place. The house is much bigger inside than it looks. If you want to learn more about the history of San Jose whether you are a local or a tourist, I do recommend giving this place a try.

I recently chaperoned a field trip here with my son's class. The class is for special needs…read morestudents, and my son is a 10-year-old nonverbal autistic child. I was really excited to join the trip and help the kids have a great experience. Unfortunately, the experience with the staff was very disappointing. Several staff members were rude and not accommodating to the needs of the students. When you invite a class of special needs children for a field trip, there should be some understanding, patience, and willingness to help the students feel comfortable. As a special needs parent, I know that environments can be challenging for kids like my son. A little kindness and flexibility from staff can make a huge difference. Instead, we felt unwelcome and unsupported. If a location is not equipped or willing to accommodate special needs students, it might be better not to invite those classes for field trips. I hope the staff can receive better training on how to interact with and support children with disabilities in the future.

Amazing holiday experience! The lights are beautifully synced to music (tune to 92.9FM ), and you…read morecan enjoy it from your car or up close on foot. Over 13,000 LEDs and fun song selections make this a festive must‑see in the neighborhood -- great for families or a cheerful holiday outing. Thanks to the family that lives here. that set it up.

This fountain sits right in front of the Hoover Tower. It's peaceful and beautiful. You can't…read moresunbathe, but you can take tons of pictures.

Beautiful landmark on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto…read more.. My friend, Judi, and I have been friends since college time. She went away to Stanford University while I graduated from the University of Hawaii. We kept in touch over the years and when I told her that I was interested in visiting Northern California, she invited me to stay at her house. She was really happy that I wanted a tour of her alma mater and she gladly showed me around. When we passed by this fabulous fountain, I asked her about it and she didn't know anything. I looked it up on Yelp and saw photos from my friends, Ann and Stan! Yay! I believe that the fountain is named after President Herbert Hoover since the Hoover Tower is named after this US president. This fountain is so stunning in the daytime! I want to see it again in the evening!

This giant fruit cocktail can is certainly unique, and a little weird to have in the middle of a…read morebusiness park. But hey, that's what replaced the former site of the factory that was once the world's largest cannery... can't change history. There are lovely trees and vegetation and some grass surrounding the water tower, as well as several benches and picnic tables around the border of the monument and along random pathways between the office buildings. Google maps leads you to a small parking lot right in from of Libby's Water Tower, but there are several larger parking lots around the entire business park. Signs say the parking is restricted, but the lots are so large and so empty, with just a handful of cars altogether (at least after 7pm on a weekday), that I don't think it's a problem to park here. Besides, it only takes like 10 minutes to check the place out (too quick to get towed), and if you choose to have lunch here, probably an hour at most. There's also free unrestricted parking on California Ave. I went for a run in the area, taking laps around the business park, and found a good number of couples, individuals, and families taking laps as well... jogging, skating, going for a stroll, walking their dogs, some just making use of the wide open space in the lots. I saw families with the parents on skates and skateboards and their kids on little toddler bikes (even though there's a sign that says skateboarding is prohibited)... So apparently, this business park is really used as a "park"!!?! Though there's nothing too fancy or exciting about this historical landmark, the area is clean and inviting and not run down. It's peaceful and not crowded. It's certainly something out of the ordinary to see and learn about. Most of all, it made me hungry for sliced peaches! :D

Sing it with me!! This is Libby's, Libby's, Libby's I the label, label, label you will like it,…read morelike it, like it on the Tower,Tower,Tower! The original tower supplied water to the Cannery, it was replaced in 1965 by this present structure. Around the structure are benches and a couple tables as well as a lawn to sit on and have a picnic there is also beautiful "and I mean beautiful" landscaping all around it. Wifey and I visited on a Saturday and it was so peaceful here as there was nobody else around.

Checked out this art piece on the Stanford University campus on Sunday, and it was reminiscent of…read morethe artist's Wood Line log sculpture in SF, which I had visited several months prior, the curves of the sandstone river wavy like the slither of a snake. It was built by 8 stone-wallers from Great Britain and consists of 6,500 stones, with the artist aiming to emphasize a connection to nature through the sculpture's materials, location, and design. The parking lot in front of the Anderson Museum (on Museum Way) is free on weekends and provides direct and easy access to this awesome Andy Goldsworthy exhibit.

Also known as 'The Snake", Stone River is an permamant art installation on the Stanford Campus. It…read moreis the work of Andy Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy, a native of Brittan, uses natural products and strives to make a connection to the area the art is emplaced. From the artist : 0 "Movement, change, light, growth and decay are the life-blood of nature, the energies that I try to tap through my work." and "My sculpture can last for days or a few seconds - what is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay." True to his vision, Stone River was constructed using limestone from campus buildings damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The installation is massive stretching almost 320 feet and used almost 130 tons of stone. From my perspective it looks like a giant snake especially from the air. As noted Stone River is located on the Stanford Campus and is right next to the Cantor and Andersen art museums. Its a cool stop especially if you have kids as they can run amok over, around etc on it.