There are separate buildings/entrances with a gigantic shared parking lot, but this venue is not…read morethe Athletic Club. The Plex is the building toward the right. The place is a dream for sports lovers. Giant screens for watching your favorite teams, and a plethora of facilities and activities for expending energy. An illuminated video game arcade, giant claw machines, hoops, billiards, and the most cornhole boards I've ever seen in a single setting. Multiple rinks on site... four volleyball courts fit into one, two separate soccer fields, and a roller rink where roller hockey is probably also played, from the looks of it. But this past Friday, I partook in Open Skate here. The skating session started with an annoying online waiver process (required for first-timers) and a $15 fee for an hour-and-a-half time slot. They charge an extra fee for skate rentals, but luckily I have my own rollerblades. Also got myself a green bead necklace which they were giving out for free for St. Paddy's week. There were sets of bleachers at each corner, outside the rink, where I left my shoes (underneath) while skating. It was super breezy in there, kept nice and cool during this heat wave. The floor was massive, with color-changing lights glowing in the dim space. A range of music played through the speakers including songs like David Guetta's Titanium, Save Your Tears by The Weeknd, Beauty and a Beat by Justin Bieber, Hips Don't Lie by Shakira, and Airplanes by B.o.B. My favorite part... ZERO skate aids! Mainly skilled skaters on the floor, even a lot of the kids seemingly. Having fewer inexperienced skaters compared to other roller rinks made for a far more enjoyable time. The house lights turned on at the end of the first session, signaling skaters to exit the rink, as there was a 15-minute break before the next group (two time slots available on Friday and Saturday evenings). The Penalty Box Bar and Grill had two sections and order counters. One was an actual bar restricted to the 21+ crowd. The other was the "grill" serving a wide range of menu items including burgers, tacos, sushi, rice bowls, pizza, wings, and more. There was even a separate area with a multitude of craft beers on tap. And the venue offered endless seating options on multiple levels. Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or having a night out with a significant other, The Plex offers more than enough to keep visitors of all ages active and entertained.

We've had two very special family gatherings at The Plex over the past few months, and I can't say…read moreenough wonderful things about the experience. In November 2025, we celebrated my mother's 90th birthday there, and in March 2026 we returned for her Celebration of Life. Both events were handled with such care, kindness, and professionalism by the amazing management and staff. A special thank you to Alex Del Angel and Elsa for going above and beyond to make everything perfect. Elsa did a beautiful job creating a slideshow that played on the TVs in the area of The Plex where we gathered to celebrate Mom's life. It meant so much to our family and added such a personal, heartfelt touch. What makes this place especially great for family events is that there's truly something for everyone. My young granddaughters had plenty of games and activities to keep them happily busy, while my kids enjoyed playing pool, darts, and spending time in the arcade. Many members of our family also play indoor soccer there every week, so it's already a place that feels like part of our lives. The Plex is more than just a venue--it's a welcoming community space where families can come together, celebrate milestones, and make lasting memories. Thank you again to the entire team for helping us honor my mom in such a meaningful way.

Great staff who was super helpful for beginners. this made for a really fun night with familyread more

Coming from a super clumsy person, this felt pretty safe and very fun! I always wanted to try axe…read morethrowing. Dress code: closed toe shoes Instructions were pretty simple, with form and feet placement. You can try 2-handed or single hand throws, with 3 different sizes of axes. It was crowded, so I used axe target lanes with no metal barrier between them, but this worked out fine since my boyfriend used the other lane. Axe retrieval after each throw is recommended due to the damage fees charged if the axe thrown hits another axe. I definitely will be back to do more axe throwing and maybe try knife throwing while I'm at it.

This is the only climbing gym in the east South Bay and the closest to Pleasanton…read more Pros: -Friendly staff -Not too expensive for a membership Cons: -Way too many kids at 5-6pm, feels like a daycare. -Routing setting is okay, but routes are not changed very often. -The gym is very lacking (no treadmills)

Reach another level of personal growth with a visit to The Peak of Fremont, the biggest indoor…read moreclimbing facility in the area. Remember those days in the playground and their climbing structures? Well, as an adult, The Peak is the place to reignite that hobby and enjoy the sport with a rich community of professionals and enthusiasts. This huge facility is shared among The Peak's climbing structures, an indoor volleyball court, a casual restaurant, and a small arcade. There aren't many parking spots up front but around the back of the building, you'll see plentiful spots. Once you enter the building, head to the left through the glass doors where you'll see the many climbing walls speckled with multiple colored protrusions. The pricing is transparent and it's all available upfront. They do have day passes, multi-visit passes as well as memberships that will waive your entrance fee. In addition to the entrance fee, you may also be required to pay for the harness and shoe rentals (members get a discounted price). They also have chalk for the more advanced climbers. If it's your first time, consider completing the waiver online ahead of time. You may be asked to go through a quick orientation regarding the use of their auto-belay system, however if you already know how to belay traditionally, they may ask you to go through additional training just to be sure. Each wall seemed to feature a variety of colors to distinguish the different difficulty levels for more advanced climbers. Aside from the walls, they also have a huge structure designed for bouldering with a thick padded floor underneath. The boulder and auto-belay walls seemed the most popular but it didn't seem there was much waiting given the ample space in the facility. There was certainly enough climbing space for everyone. As a novice, the activity was fun and tiring; there's definitely a balance between technique and strength! Despite having entry for the whole day, we definitely were tired out within an hour of constant climbing and by hour two, it was just about time to leave and refuel. Fortunately, the location of this space is quite convenient due to having a restaurant right on site as well as its proximity to the highway and other eateries just a few minutes away. The staff were friendly and informative. Besides the initial onboarding, there wasn't much interaction with them. They seem to keep things organized, cleaned and well-maintained. Overall, The Peak does a fantastic job introducing the sport of climbing to the local community and providing a clean and safe environment for newbies and experts alike. The price is reasonable for an all day activity and even more so if you become a member. For kids, they also have camps to build a new passion and train them up as climbers. For the more serious climbers, you may want to consider investing in the equipment to further save on the rentals. If this is a new challenge for you, take the opportunity to get in on this sport! The Peak makes it relatively easy to pick this up and continue leveling up with each visit!

Wonderful place to take swim lessons. All swim teachers are Red Cross certified (surprisingly this…read moreis not the case with all swim schools I found out) . Swim teachers are skilled, and kids really learn here. Big indoor heated pool. The most attentive pool lifeguards, warm showers and large locker room for changing. vending machine for snacks in front area .

Nice facility but they cannot seem to keep the temperature of the comp pool consistent to a 79/80…read moredegree temp... it's running at 76/77 not acceptable for a public comp pool

Growing up in San Jose, I feel like I took advantage of being so close to the Rose Garden. It was a…read morespot to walk to, around, etc. I was in town for Mother's Day and took a walk to Rose Garden after the festivities, around sunset. It was a great time. So many roses in bloom in just about every color. It was packed with people having picnics, taking pictures, walking around but still easy enough to find your own quiet space. Such a pocket of beauty in the neighborhood.

America's Best Rose Garden Run by Volunteers!!!…read more This is a beautiful 5.5-acre rose garden officially recognized as "America's Best Rose Garden." It features over 3,500 shrubs and around 200 varieties, with about 75% being hybrid teas. The garden has an interesting history: it was once a prune orchard purchased by the San Jose City Council in 1927, thanks to advocacy from the Santa Clara County Rose Society. Today, it also serves as an official All-America Rose Selections (AARS) display garden, where new award-winning rose varieties are tested before public release. The layout is classic and park-like, with a two-tiered fountain and mature, decades-old trees that add to the atmosphere. Some standout roses that I enjoy, include: * Rosa 'Handel' (climbing rose): Soft pink, slightly ruffled blooms that look great climbing fences or arches. Light fragrance, subtle but nice up close. * 'Camille Pissarro': Super eye-catching striped petals in pink, red, yellow, and cream. Looks like a painting. Mild scent. * "Make Me Blush" (hybrid tea): Clean, soft blush-pink rose with a neat classic shape. Light, gentle fragrance. * "Perfect Moment" (hybrid tea): Very polished, classic rose form with rich color and that "traditional rose" look. Noticeable floral scent. * "Double Delight": Creamy white with red edges that deepen in the sun. Each bloom looks a bit different. Strong, sweet spicy fragrance: one of the most fragrant ones there. A pleasant surprise is that the garden is entirely volunteer-run. Volunteers actively work to preserve heritage roses, even rescuing and propagating rare varieties from old cemeteries, abandoned homesteads, and rural roadsides. Practical info: * Parking: free street parking with no time limit * Hours: daily, 8am to 30 minutes after sunset * Restrooms: available (clean, basic, and well-stocked) * Dogs: not allowed * Yoga: permitted if non-commercial * Alcohol: not permitted * Photography: casual photography and picnics are free, but professional shoots require a $100 permit Overall, it's a peaceful, well-maintained garden with both botanical depth and historical character, especially enjoyable for rose enthusiasts or anyone looking for a quiet walk among carefully preserved varieties.

It's free to enter and free to park. There are animals to look at, there are trails to hike or…read morewalk on, there are mature trees that give you shade. It's a beautiful place. There is a park there as well as a farmhouse, pool, and things to do. It can get populated here on sunny days.

I've been here a couple of times pre-pandemic and they had a slide, but I guess they remodeled it…read moreand took out the slide, but everything was very clean and organized. There were a number of Lifeguards on duty at each pool and making sure the children were all safely jumping feet first into the pool and walking around. Great place to have a family get together and/or birthday party for kids!

We loved the lake and stories about Nesty as they call the dragon. Fun stuff. The people are sweet…read moreand it's easy getting around. The food is great. I want to go back.

Getting there and having to pay for limited parking is the worst, but if you can stomach that,…read moreyou'll be rewarded with a nice serene lake! It's still pretty much a secret and for pretty good reason.. The road to there is rough and windy. There's also not much at the park. The prices for boat and water stuff rental is pretty reasonable.

Honestly? Alviso Marina County Park isn't really bad after all. The first time I went was a few…read moreyears ago when I visited after a rainy day and that the trails are very muddy. Rarely any people came here. However from this visit, I came in the right time. It was sunny during the day and many people came here for a reason. Keep in mind that it's not a regional park but rather a wetland. When you look at the water, it's colored slightly red from its edges. Also, the trails are light since there is no elevation here. It's really good for jogging and biking. I've seen people do that here. The trails are very long which is why I selected a stop so I can turn back to where I started. Ideally, you want to come here in earlier in the morning so that you can hike longer and end sometime in the early afternoon. It was hot outside and I prefer not to hike longer. Basically, I powered walk from halfway. It's not necessary to bring hiking shoes due to light trails but you should use them if it's muddy. Perhaps, I should come here way earlier so that I can maybe hike longer.

Mostly dog friendly location in Santa Clara. There are a few decks that dogs are not allowed but…read moreit's like 1% of the whole thing. The views are jaw dropping! You can see the mountains in the background. Very clean and well maintained. I love seeing the wildlife. I've seen so many different bird species, plants species and I've even seen a seal once. Super special place indeed.