San Jose, CA
What do Apple, Google, Facebook, Netflix and eBay have in common? If you proposed that they are rich and successful, you are right. But more importantly, they are all headquartered in Silicon Valley. And the city of San Jose has proudly been touted as “The Capital of Silicon Valley”.
Indeed, the city has got technological boom to thank for its current state of prosperity. High economic growth driven by the tech bubble in the 1990s drove up employment rates, household income and housing prices. A data collection conducted in 2004 concluded that the cost of living in San Jose, California and surrounding areas is one of the highest - not just within California State but the nation as well. This was predominantly contributed by escalated housing costs. But the high costs of living were also in part matched by higher income, as residents enjoyed the highest median household income amongst all the cities in the United States with a population of more than 300,000 in year 2000. At the moment, this still remains true amongst all the cities in the United States that have more than 280,000 people. Geographically, it is the largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the largest city of Northern California.
As a global city, San Jose has a good mix of racial composition. You will be able to find people of White, various Asian, Mexican, Hispanic and Latino descents amongst others in this metropolitan place. Obviously residents are also of a diverse mix of religious beliefs. As a predominantly Christian society, there are plenty of churches, but there also exists places of worship for believers of the Buddhist, Islam, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh faiths. Indeed, perhaps it is how so many people of different backgrounds and beliefs can magically co-exist harmoniously together, that makes San Jose special and differentiated from any other city in the United States.
San Jose and the Bay Area is the mecca for ethnic diversity which you will find in the population of the people who reside there, the restaurants and culture. You will find a diverse mix of Asian cuisines, Middle Eastern, Indian, European, African, Mexican and more. The Bay Area has always been a liberal place to live where people of different ethnic groups, race and sexualities are accepted. It is a great big melting pot.
There is another thing that is hard not to love about the capital of Silicon Valley, and that is the awesome weather. It enjoys sunshine a good 301 days on average, despite the annual average temperature being around 60.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 15.8 degrees Celsius). Annual mean rainfall is also on the low compared to other parts of the Bay Area (at 402mm), largely because mountains on three sides surround the city so it lies inland instead of being directly next to the ocean. Snow rarely befalls San Jose too. So the geographical location makes it exceptionally awesome for people who shun away from the extreme hot or cold, and who love to enjoy some of the sun’s warmness throughout the day. Now wouldn’t that make most of us?
San Jose offers plenty of local attractions for visitors to explore. For a start, there are many museums and galleries that would cater to different interest groups. The San Jose Museum of Art, for example, will give those amongst us with an artistic flair and sense of appreciation for contemporary art a very satisfactory afternoon. Got a kid or two in tow? Fret not, for the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose will keep your children preoccupied with their participative exhibits. It was designed with the following three concepts – Community, Connections and Creativity.
San Jose is also home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. San Jose residents are devoted and loyal fans of their Sharks! They are also great fans of the 49ers of the National Football League, who play at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The 49ers stadium was originally located in San Francisco before they relocated to a brand new stadium in the South Bay. You also have the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's baseball, as well as, the hot and exciting Golden State Warriors basketball.
There are many top liberal schools in the Bay Area including the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, San Jose State University, California East Bay State University, and San Francisco State University. Bay Area universities and colleges receive many foreign students who come for the opportunity to learn and assimilate with the multicultural diversities among these schools.
There are also three convenient airports to fly in and out of in the Bay Area, including the San Jose International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport. San Francisco is, of course, the largest, however, you can fly domestic and international out of all three. It does not matter where you live in the Bay Area, you can access any of these major airports fairly easily and conveniently. There is also the convenience of taking the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train directly to the San Francisco and Oakland International airports.
For history buffs, the Winchester Mystery House since 1884 will not fail to disappoint. Marvel in the 160-room Victorian Mansion owned by Sarah Winchester, who had ordered for the construction to be continued for the rest of her life until 1922 because she believed that evil spirits would harm her if the construction was ever stopped.
For those seeking excitement and adventure, head to Raging Waters for some fun with water slides and wave pools. There are facilities for children to indulge in too so expect this to be an inclusive and fun hangout for the whole family. If you are in a shopping mood, the largest open-air market is right there in San Jose! With a 55 years history, the San Jose Flea Market is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and the weekends. Find everything that you can imagine up over here, from organic vegetables to antique comic books to getting a haircut at a barbershop. Remember to bring plenty of cash down!
Indeed, the city has got technological boom to thank for its current state of prosperity. High economic growth driven by the tech bubble in the 1990s drove up employment rates, household income and housing prices. A data collection conducted in 2004 concluded that the cost of living in San Jose, California and surrounding areas is one of the highest - not just within California State but the nation as well. This was predominantly contributed by escalated housing costs. But the high costs of living were also in part matched by higher income, as residents enjoyed the highest median household income amongst all the cities in the United States with a population of more than 300,000 in year 2000. At the moment, this still remains true amongst all the cities in the United States that have more than 280,000 people. Geographically, it is the largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the largest city of Northern California.
As a global city, San Jose has a good mix of racial composition. You will be able to find people of White, various Asian, Mexican, Hispanic and Latino descents amongst others in this metropolitan place. Obviously residents are also of a diverse mix of religious beliefs. As a predominantly Christian society, there are plenty of churches, but there also exists places of worship for believers of the Buddhist, Islam, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh faiths. Indeed, perhaps it is how so many people of different backgrounds and beliefs can magically co-exist harmoniously together, that makes San Jose special and differentiated from any other city in the United States.
San Jose and the Bay Area is the mecca for ethnic diversity which you will find in the population of the people who reside there, the restaurants and culture. You will find a diverse mix of Asian cuisines, Middle Eastern, Indian, European, African, Mexican and more. The Bay Area has always been a liberal place to live where people of different ethnic groups, race and sexualities are accepted. It is a great big melting pot.
There is another thing that is hard not to love about the capital of Silicon Valley, and that is the awesome weather. It enjoys sunshine a good 301 days on average, despite the annual average temperature being around 60.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 15.8 degrees Celsius). Annual mean rainfall is also on the low compared to other parts of the Bay Area (at 402mm), largely because mountains on three sides surround the city so it lies inland instead of being directly next to the ocean. Snow rarely befalls San Jose too. So the geographical location makes it exceptionally awesome for people who shun away from the extreme hot or cold, and who love to enjoy some of the sun’s warmness throughout the day. Now wouldn’t that make most of us?
San Jose offers plenty of local attractions for visitors to explore. For a start, there are many museums and galleries that would cater to different interest groups. The San Jose Museum of Art, for example, will give those amongst us with an artistic flair and sense of appreciation for contemporary art a very satisfactory afternoon. Got a kid or two in tow? Fret not, for the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose will keep your children preoccupied with their participative exhibits. It was designed with the following three concepts – Community, Connections and Creativity.
San Jose is also home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. San Jose residents are devoted and loyal fans of their Sharks! They are also great fans of the 49ers of the National Football League, who play at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The 49ers stadium was originally located in San Francisco before they relocated to a brand new stadium in the South Bay. You also have the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's baseball, as well as, the hot and exciting Golden State Warriors basketball.
There are many top liberal schools in the Bay Area including the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, San Jose State University, California East Bay State University, and San Francisco State University. Bay Area universities and colleges receive many foreign students who come for the opportunity to learn and assimilate with the multicultural diversities among these schools.
There are also three convenient airports to fly in and out of in the Bay Area, including the San Jose International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport. San Francisco is, of course, the largest, however, you can fly domestic and international out of all three. It does not matter where you live in the Bay Area, you can access any of these major airports fairly easily and conveniently. There is also the convenience of taking the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train directly to the San Francisco and Oakland International airports.
For history buffs, the Winchester Mystery House since 1884 will not fail to disappoint. Marvel in the 160-room Victorian Mansion owned by Sarah Winchester, who had ordered for the construction to be continued for the rest of her life until 1922 because she believed that evil spirits would harm her if the construction was ever stopped.
For those seeking excitement and adventure, head to Raging Waters for some fun with water slides and wave pools. There are facilities for children to indulge in too so expect this to be an inclusive and fun hangout for the whole family. If you are in a shopping mood, the largest open-air market is right there in San Jose! With a 55 years history, the San Jose Flea Market is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and the weekends. Find everything that you can imagine up over here, from organic vegetables to antique comic books to getting a haircut at a barbershop. Remember to bring plenty of cash down!