San Jose Travel & Photo Guide 📸✨

🏚️ Winchester Mystery House I visited at night this time because I was meeting friends during the day. The Winchester Mystery House usually only opens during the day, but in December, they offer special Saturday night open house events from 6 PM to 9 PM. This allows visitors to freely explore a portion of the mysterious house (daytime visits are guided tours and cover more areas) and enjoy the Christmas decorations. The nighttime lighting makes the whole building feel even more mysterious and enchanting 🪄. Inside, the house is adorned with festive decorations, and you can check out quirky spots like windows in the floor, damaged bedrooms, and doors that lead nowhere—especially eerie at night 👻! The experience was great, and the best part? Night tickets are only $15 (compared to over $40 for daytime tours). Though there’s no guided tour at night, staff in some rooms provide explanations, so you still learn a lot about the house’s history. Plus, there’s free hot chocolate! 🍫 The value is unbeatable—highly recommend the night visit! 🌟 ⛪ Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph Located right across from the San Jose Museum of Art, this is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of San Jose. It’s beautiful both inside and out, with a spacious interior. When I visited, there was a Spanish-language sermon happening, so I couldn’t understand much, and the attendees were mostly Hispanic. 🎄 Christmas In The Park at San Jose Central Park This is likely a special holiday event as Christmas approaches. You can get into the festive spirit early with Christmas decorations and activities. When I visited on a Sunday, there were performances and interactive entertainment starting from 11 AM. 🖼️ San Jose Museum of Art The building itself is quite beautiful. Though the museum isn’t huge, the exhibits are thoughtfully designed. As a STEM PhD with limited artistic sensibility, I didn’t fully grasp everything—but students get in for free (regular adult tickets are $20), so it’s worth a visit! A little art appreciation never hurts 😉. 🏛️ San Jose State University If you have time, stop by for a quick visit. The historic tower on campus has a nice vintage feel. Just be cautious of homeless individuals nearby (it seemed like many were displaced to this area due to downtown Christmas events). #SanJose #BayAreaWeekend #InternationalStudentTravel #ChristmasDestinations 🎅🎨📚