Destination: San Jose Flea Market
Explore the San Jose Flea Market, visit San Jose’s Japantown, and walk around the Heritage Rose Garden
This is part of a series of family-oriented day trip outings around the San Francisco Bay Area I look forward to enjoying with my kids once social distancing and shelter in place isn’t the norm any longer.
Social Isolation — Day 48
I spent the day organizing my writing and production schedule for May. My goal for these 52 weekend adventure posts was always to write a book, one affordable day-trip adventure every weekend for a whole year. I’m also planning on including 25 bonus destinations to places with higher admission prices.
Once our shelter in place order gets relaxed and we can get out and start doing things again, I wanted to share ideas for outings we can all enjoy once we are free to move about. These articles were to get my creative juices flowing, to create a taste of each of these adventures. The book will have more information and detail for each of these adventures.
It’s going to be a busy month, and it’s a lofty goal to try to get this whole thing done in that time, but I think it might happen.
Where do you want to go once you are free to go anywhere you desire?
Destination: San Jose Flea Market
Explore the San Jose Flea Market
Visit San Jose’s Japantown
Walk around the Heritage Rose Garden
Explore the San Jose Flea Market
By User: Benreis at wikivoyage shared, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22719224
Meander through colorful alleys and treasure-laden corridors of this open-air market. From fresh produce to garage sale finds, and everything in between, this will be a treasure-hunt everyone will enjoy. The San Jose Flea Market has been here since 1960.
Visit San Jose’s Japantown
By Noelle Gillies — Noelle Gillies Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64126051
Nihonmachi, San Jose’s Japantown dates back to 1890, and is one of three historic Japantowns in the USA. Japanese people originally came to Santa Clara to take part in the abundant farmwork available. The district grew until the outbreak of WWII when all people of Japanese descent were relocated to Internment camps for the duration of the war. Following the end of the war, this district grew as it provided a place away from the anti-Japanese sentiments of the time. Today it is still a hub for cultural activities and businesses.
Walk around the Heritage Rose Garden
By Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4289378
A five-acre rose garden with over 4000 modern and antique roses. The garden dates back to 1995 and is open during the daylight hours. The garden is taken care of primarily by volunteers.
Cody Tolmasoff is an author and publisher for Adventuring.in. He is a recovering programmer and a San Francisco native, raising two daughters, and regularly finding new adventures around the SF Bay Area. This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book, 52 San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Adventures, Day Trips With Your Kids!
Find him on Twitter @codyo, and read his most recent title Adventures in Getting Out on Amazon, filled with advice on successfully getting your family out for day trip adventures.
Originally published on Medium on 30 April 2020