San Jose in a few days! — Country Nights & City Lights

San Jose is a perfect mix of murals, weather, shopping, food, and feeling like you are in a small city, even though it is enormous! Although not often viewed as a tourist destination, there is plenty to do and something for everyone!

Hotels:
*Hotel De Anza- This is a beautiful old boutique hotel, with an art deco theme. The hotel has a great location right by the SAP center, convention center, and downtown. The hotel bar has excellent drinks and food. I died over the waffle burger, and the meatballs were some of the best I have ever had!

*Hotel Valencia-
If you are in town for some girl time, relaxing, shopping and visiting the Winchester Mansion, this is the perfect location. It has a pool and everything I mentioned above is within walking distance.

Restaurants/Happy Hour Spots-

*Social Lady
If you can't tell by its name, this is a bar made for the ladies, and I absolutely love the vibe! It has delicious appetizers, tasty and Instagram worthy drinks, and spots everywhere to take cute pictures.

*Olla Cucina
An upscale Mexican food place with authentic Mexican, cute decor, and a great vibe. This restaurant has an awesome patio in San Pedro Square for some good downtown people watching and some super tasty Margaritas. The poblano mac and cheese was amazing, and I highly recommend!

*Village California Bistro-
California inspired cuisine located right on Santana Row. Great indoor and outdoor space to people watch and enjoy food.

Stop for a Banana Hot Chocolate at the Cocola

TO DO:
*Shop- Santana Row is a gorgeous row of outdoor shopping and restaurants, is across the street from the indoor mall, and the Winchester mansion.
*Catch a show or a Sharks game at the SAP Center, which turned 25 years last week! I was lucky enough to be there for the Blake Shelton concert and loved the accessibility of the arena and the small arena feel, yet they get huge acts like Blake Shelton!
*Get creeped out at the Winchester Mystery House
This house will give you the chills, even in the day time. I took the tour that wasn't supposed to be scary and was still freaked out, so I can't even imagine what the nighttime and Halloween tours are like. This is a must do when visiting San Jose. The widow of the gun maker William Winchester, believed she was being haunted by the ghosts of the people that had been killed by her husbands rifles, and proceeded to use her vast amount of money to build a crazy house full of trap doors, stairs that go nowhere, room upon room, upon room some to trap the ghosts, some at the spirts urging from what she would hear in seances. It is really interesting!

24,000 thousand feet, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors