Although San Jose, CA, has plenty of tourist traps, the real appeal of the city lies in the huge amount of free entertainment that it offers. The freebies begin at the airport, with the San Jose Airport Shuttle running every fifteen minutes from 5am to 11.30pm to drop visitors at either the Santa Clara train station or the Metro station.
Jazz
If you're visiting in August, take in the San Jose Jazz Festival.This has been a yearly event in San Jose for fifteen years and now draws some big names from across the US and the world. Although an admission price is charged for a couple of events, all other shows cost exactly nothing and there is no drink minimum or other nasties.
Arts and Museums
The art-minded will love the free offerings in San Jose. The San Jose Museum of Art offers free entry to the public every day it is open (closed Mondays); Anno Domini (366 South First St) runs on the first Friday of every month and combines art exhibitions with performances by local theater troupes, individual performance artists and singers; Phantom Galleries is devoted to creating art exhibits in empty storefronts (third Thursday of every month); The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (also in South First St) has some amazing works by local and international artists and offers free entry for all of its opening hours (closed Sunday and Monday); Finally, the Saturday Art Market is a great place to pick up a few pieces by the same artists that exhibit in Museum of Art next door, and its the perfect place to spend a couple of hours chatting with the locals.
Cinema
If you prefer the movies, head to Park Valencia (Santana Row, Winchester Blvd and Olin Ave) for free outdoor screenings of cinema classics. Screenings are held every Wednesday during the summer and although you can buy food and drinks there, you are quite welcome to bring a hamper. Champagne and popcorn never tasted so good.
Near the San Jose Museum of Art, in the Circle of Palms, the Gypsy Cinema offers free open-air screenings too, of classics and new releases, and the Cinema San Pedro also chips in six weeks of free outdoor movies most nights in the summertime.
Events
San Jose loves it festivals and fairs and there are plenty of these included on the freebie-list too. The Tapestry Arts Festival is not just handicrafts – it is a sprawling mix of live music, food, and performances held over the Labor Day weekend in downtown San Jose. Entry is free but obviously the food and arts cost money to buy. All the proceeds go to local schools and other community causes.
The annual fair (Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, early August) has recently made the move to free entry. This is an old-world fair, with tame rides for the kids and plenty of prize pigs and the like. A fun, if low-key afternoon, the free entry make it worth the cost of candy floss, and there are some great fireworks every night.
Hotels
Hotels in San Jose average around $120 - $180 per night, and the best specials are usually to be found online, where even the center-of-the-action downtown hotels have some pretty drastic price drops toward the end of summer season.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in San Jose, California.
(Photo:iStockPhoto/Terraxplorer)
