“I’m bored!” They’re among the words a parent or child care provider without a ton of petty cash dreads the most. But the San Jose area’s year-round good weather — combined with the city’s warm hospitality — makes keeping kids entertained without spending a lot of money on activities a feat within your wheelhouse.
There are endless locations around the city to explore the outdoors, local culture, and educational opportunities. Children of all ages can be entertained, exercise, learn, and engage with other kids, all for free, courtesy of the greater San Jose area!
Go to a Park
Address: Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: 408-794-7275 (City of San Jose Parks Division)
It may sound obvious to take a kid to the park, but there’s such a variety of options in San Jose, you can find so many incredible possibilities without ever leaving the city’s center!
Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park is home to the most sought-after fountain/splash pad in the city. Depending on the time of year, the park offers live music, various outdoor activities, and Christmas in the Park — with hundreds of trees decked out by local organizations.
Around the corner at Discovery Park on Woz Way, kids will find the World’s Largest Monopoly Game. There’s plenty of space for kids to run around and climb on large bronze animal statues, listen to occasional live music, and celebrate summer festivals.
Visit the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
Address: Naglee Avenue & Dana Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126
Hours: 8 a.m. – 30 minutes after sunset
Phone: 408-794-7274
Some species of rose is always in bloom at this city garden. May is high season, but April through November highlights the park’s most colorful floral display. Kids will love exploring the fountains and the expansive 5.5 acres. Picnic and BBQ sites are also available at the Municipal Rose Garden, one of the most beautiful of its kind in the world.
Go to a Museum
Address: San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 408-271-6840
It’s always a good idea to expose kids to a bit of culture, but it’s even better when there’s something you know they’ll enjoy. The diversity in the San Jose Museum of Art’s collection promises to deliver something for everyone — from DIY art on Summer Sundays, unique sculptures and paintings to their live exhibits, there’s guaranteed to be something to pique your child’s interest. The museum offers free admission for four with a San Jose Library card through the Discover and Go program.
Explore the Lick Observatory
Address: 7281 Mt. Hamilton Road, Mt. Hamilton, CA 95140
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, noon – 5 p.m., plus additional days during the holidays
Phone: 408-274-5061
Explore the exhibits in the marble and oak Lick Observatory from the 19th Century. Inside the 36-inch Great Refractor, free talks are provided daily on the half-hour between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Nearby, find the the smaller Shane Dome, used to locate planets in other galaxies. Make sure to bring a jacket for you and the kids to protect yourselves from the cold temperatures at more than 4,000 feet. Sometimes there may even be snow! Then, look down over the Santa Clara Valley as you enjoy a prepared picnic or a light snack from the vending machines.
Take a Hike
Address: Alum Rock Park, 15350 Penitencia Creek Road, San Jose, CA 95127
Hours: 8 a.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Phone: 408-794-7275
While there are endless hiking spots around San Jose, Alum Rock is particularly great for kids because of the variety of the expansive terrain and the potential to see wildlife. There’s also a wide variety of plant life along the trails, a creek bed, mineral springs, and a place to picnic.
Visit openspaceauthority.org for a list of more hiking trails. They even have an activities page that includes special events, such as telescope viewing, family hikes, and art projects.
Ride Your Bike
Address: Calabazas Park, 6852 Rainbow Drive, San Jose, CA 95129
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: 408-793-5510
Calabazas is a unique park that provides BMX bike facilities challenging enough for kids and adults. Here, cyclists can roar up over over the dirt mounds to their heart’s content. More traditional bikes trails are plentiful throughout San Jose. One of the most popular is the Guadalupe Trail, with 11 miles of pavement that stretches through the center of the city.
Here’s a guide and map to consult when you and the kids are ready to head out with your helmets and wheels!
Go to Santa Cruz Main Beach
Address: 108 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: 831-420-5270
Santa Cruz’s Main Beach is about 30 minutes from San Jose, and it’s well worth the drive, especially on a hot day. Stroll along the boardwalk, where the clackety old roller coaster zooms by overhead. Walk out on the wharf and watch the sea lions — but don’t feed them or get too close!
Bury your toes or your whole body in the sand with the kids. Build a sandcastle or, occasionally, watch the experts compete in sandcastle contests. If you get too warm, take a dip in cold water. Sometimes you’ll see people practicing yoga on the beach. And on Sundays between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., people dance salsa on the patio by the showers, just off the wharf.
Stick around and watch the sunset, but make sure you bring a sweatshirt for the cooler evening hours. Beginning in June, the boardwalk hosts a free Friday night concert series, where bands bring back the sounds of summer, along with a series of free movies on the beach.
See Some Shakespeare at Willow Street Park
Address: 1320 Willow St., San Jose, CA 95125
Hours: Thursdays – Sundays during the summer, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 408-289-1901
Bring a blanket or some short chairs and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars! Of course, kids may not grasp every word of the dramatic master’s works. (For that matter, you might not either.) But the atmosphere, costumes, and actors’ portrayal of these classic characters will keep you all engaged and entertained. Bring a picnic, sit back, relax on the lawn, and enjoy the culture meant for the masses.
Go to the Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market
Address: San Pedro Square, between Santa Clara & St. John streets
Hours: Fridays from May 5 – Nov. 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Phone: 408-279-1775
In this climate, where there’s such a long growing season, show your kids where it all gets sold locally each week. The community comes together in a celebration of buying local. Enjoy this tantalizing treat to all five senses: free tasting samples of fruits and vegetables from local farmers, the colorful scents of flowers, the sights and smells of cooking demos, and the vibrant sounds of live musicians.
Visit the Library
Address: King Library (main branch), 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95112
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 408-808-2000
Of course, you can always take the kids to the library to read and check out books. But you can also experience everything from Mandarin classes and balloon-animal making to Lego-play and storytime with kids’ favorite characters. Different branches offer various programs, so check your local branch, and then consider traveling around to see what other branches are planning. And your family’s San Jose Library card will give your kids free admission to several other fun locales around town through the Discover and Go program!
