Friday, February 13, 2009

Make Your Way: San Jose

By James Gilbert Pynn

When Eric Burdon and the Animals proclaimed the virtues of those warm San Franciscan nights, it must have struck anyone who had ever spent time in the City That Fog Built that there are no such things as warm San Franciscan nights. Ever. Never! San Francisco is bordered on three sides by water and maintains a chilly average nightly temperature of 55 degrees. Mr. Burdon and his mates must have mistakenly been across the bay, in the colony formerly known as Nueva California. Yes, that's right, the home of Silicon Valley: San Jose.

Unlike old Frisco, San Jose is perfectly snuggled on three sides by mountains. This makes for a warm, dry city that seldom sees the kind of fog Frisco sees. Warmer temperatures, less fog, and still parked in the Bay Area " what more could you ask for? Technology, you say? Well, behold: Silicon Valley.

What would you like? An iPod? Someone to build you an iPod? Well, with the proliferation of engineering and computer science graduates in the area " lest we forget the Silicon Valley incorporates such fine centers or learning as UC Berkeley, UCSC, SJSU, and Stanford " San Jose is never at a loss to fill open positions. While the heart of rock and roll may still be beating, in Cleveland, in San Jose everyone is finding his or her way to a hi-tech future.

But say youre a naturally attuned person. Say you cant get enough of Nature and all her bounty. Never fear, my fine naturalist " San Jose puts you smack in the middle of one of the greenest part of the Golden State. You've got the world-famous Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Emma Prusch Farm Park, and Kelley Park, which happens to include the kid-friendly Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and the Japanese Friendship Gardens. Not a bad selection of earth friendly destinations.

Well, the largest city in the Bay Area awaits you. That's right, and don't forget San Francisco is only seven square miles. San Jose, on the other hand, is now the third largest city in California! And you thought it was Bakersfield. We all love Buck Owens, to be sure, but San Jose is where the future is being built. If a trip to this fine city is in the cards, the sheer number of fine hotels San Jose has to offer is staggering. From economy motels to boutique hotels to five-star affairs, do like Dionne Warwick did and find your way to this city of refined industry.

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