San Jose, California is a wealthy and educational city in the northern part of the state. The downtown area has been redeveloped continuously since the 1950s, from its inception as a small town with mostly Victorian-style houses to the present modern high-tech Silicon Valley. Today San Jose has a population of more than 900,000 people and is the third-largest city in California.

The people of San Jose are relaxed and easygoing with a high level of education. The city has been ranked as one of the top twenty-five safest cities in the world which gives it a feeling of safety for those who visit. There is a strong sense of community found in San Jose which is exemplified by the numerous events that take place throughout the year. San Jose has a large number of parks and green spaces to visit, many with historical value.

San Jose’s downtown area is undergoing continuous redevelopment while becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. The city has many different museums, performing arts centers, and concert halls. There are over one hundred restaurants to choose from, ranging in variety from Mexican food to fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and Starbucks. There is a wide range of entertainment venues available including sporting events such as ice hockey and basketball at the HP Pavilion or baseball at the AT&T Park.

San Jose has an abundance of parks and green spaces to visit. One of the first on the list is Plaza de Cesar Chavez which has historical value as it was the first public park in California. Pruneridge grove at Buena Vista Park contains redwood trees, some over three hundred years old. The Japanese Tea Garden has an oriental feel to it with its five-tier wooden pagoda and a koi pond. Plaza de San Jose is a park modeled after Seville, Spain which has fountains, walkways, and costumed characters from Spanish folklore. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is a historical park with mining trails and buildings built in the nineteenth century at the site of the New Almaden Mine.