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Travel and Outdoors

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10+ of the top free things to do in San Jose
No cash? No problem. Whether you are spending a day or a lifetime in San Jose, these are some of the best offerings that won’t break the bank.
August 28, 2025 06:41 PM
 · 
Monica Garske
A two way, narrow bike lane with bicycle symbols and arrows indicating directions.
Travel and Outdoors
How much of your day can you spend on a bike in San Jose?
We take a look at our bicycling infrastructure and how we can make the area more bikeable.
February 27, 2023
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
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Travel and Outdoors
Enroll in TSA PreCheck ahead of spring travel
Apply online and visit a local enrollment center ahead of spring and summer travel.
February 24, 2023
 · 
Emily Shea-Owen
A person walks down a trail that overlooks San Jose.
Travel and Outdoors
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority celebrates 30 years
Let’s give it up to the organization that has preserved our natural resources, and kept Santa Clara Valley’s green spaces clean since 1993.
February 21, 2023
 · 
Alyson Chuyang
A bush of silver lupine flowers.
Travel and Outdoors
Native plants in San Jose, CA
Let’s learn a little about the wild + native plants that grow in the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.”
February 17, 2023
 · 
Alyson Chuyang
The skyline of Honolulu.
Travel and Outdoors
Great Escapes: Our guide to Honolulu, HI
Get ready for sun all year round, fresh poke, and sand between your toes.
January 13, 2023
 · 
Alyson Chuyang
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Travel and Outdoors
The 2023 celestial calendar for San Jose, CA
Don’t miss any of this year’s meteor showers, supermoons, or solar eclipses.
January 11, 2023
 · 
Emily Shea-Owen
The entry to Yamagami Garden Center.
Real Estate
Winter gardening tips for San Jose, CA
How to prepare your garden and what to plant in the winter months.
January 4, 2023
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
Santana Row lit up with Christmas lights.
Culture
Where to take holiday photos around San Jose, CA
Looking for local spots to take your holiday card photos? We’ve got you covered with 11 spots around the South Bay to snap the perfect seasonal shot.
November 15, 2022
 · 
Alyson Chuyang
Monopoly in the Park
Culture
San Jose’s record-breaking Monopoly board game
How many times will you pass “GO?”
November 7, 2022
 · 
Jessica Te
A hand holds a small open canister and a roll of paper with log entries on it.
Travel and Outdoors
Exploring San Jose through Geocaching
Join the world’s largest treasure hunt and see your city in a whole new way.
October 31, 2022
 · 
Nicole Calande
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More from SJtoday
A wintry background with snowflakes that reads "SJtoday's 2024 Gift Guide."
Culture
SJtoday’s 2024 holiday gift guide: 90+ gifts for everyone on your list
Including gifts for neighbors, foodies, significant others, homebodies, students, and gifts under $20.
November 13, 2024
 · 
Sarah Leonhardt
Women sit on yoga mats in a park.
Fitness
Find your zen with our San Jose yoga guide
Check out these 12 yoga studios around the great 408, which offer everything from beginner Vinyasa to full-fledged hot yoga + pilates.
November 4, 2024
 · 
Robin Schwartzkopf
A Victorian-style bedroom.
Live
Amazing Airbnb and Vrbo rentals around San Jose
Check out some of the coolest, most unique Airbnb and Vrbo rentals around the great 408 and plan for your next adventure or staycation.
October 14, 2024
 · 
Trevor Peters
Cinnabar Hills Golf Course
Sports
Tee time: 20+ golf courses in San Jose
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 24 golf courses in San Jose, CA are sure to make for a good round.
October 8, 2024
 · 
Cat George
History Park's Pacific Hotel and Light Tower.
Weather
Flannel-ready fall forecast for San Jose, CA
Prepare for fall weather in San Jose, CA, with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
September 16, 2024
 · 
Staff
San Jose Skyline
Culture
Pack up: People are moving to San Jose from these US cities
U-Haul rolled out info on 2024 moving trends — and now you just might know a little more about your new neighbors.
September 12, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
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Culture
Where to make friends in San Jose
Here’s your guide to social clubs, public events, and more local ways to make pals in the great 408.
August 22, 2024
 · 
Nicole Calande
Rapper Traxamillion holds a microphone close to his mouth and wears a bright orange track jacket.
Culture
Remembering San Jose rapper + producer Traxamillion
Learn about the late San Jose-raised rapper + producer who has a lasting legacy in the great 408, the Bay Area, and the hip-hop world as a whole.
February 26, 2024
 · 
Alyson Chuyang
A woman in a blue sweater and white pants performs a stretching maneuver low to the ground.
Culture
Meet the San Jose breaker vying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
Vicki Chang, also known as “La Vix,” is a professional breakdancer + member of Team USA — and hails from the great 408.
February 26, 2024
 · 
Gregg Aronica
Two Park SJ meters in downtown.
City
How to deal with parking tickets in San Jose
Resolving parking citations in the great 408 will always be a bummer, but hopefully our guide makes it less confusing.
February 21, 2024
 · 
Gregg Aronica