San Jose Parks and Gardens

(San Jose, California - CA, USA)

San Jose offers many large and spacious parks, including rose and Chinese gardens and playgrounds, while there is a swathe of activities on offer at the larger city parks. Chief among these are San Jose's Alum Rock and Lake Cunningham parks, the latter of which contains a massive lake.

Guadalupe Park in San Jose is extremely popular and includes the Children's Discovery Museum, while Overfelt Gardens are ideal for those looking for peace and serenity.

Almaden Lake Park

Address: 6099 Winfield Boulevard, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 277 5130
Almaden Lake Park is situated in the south of the city and is unique among San Jose's parks, in that it has its very own beach and lifeguards. There is a wide range of facilities and activities available for the adventurous as well as for those who prefer more sedate moments, such as walking and picnicking. Kayaks, pedal and row boats can be rented here and there is also fishing, swimming, windsurfing and horseback riding available. The Los Alamitos Creek Trail is ideal for hikers, while barbeque pits are dotted around the park's lawn areas.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to sunset
Admission: charge

Kelley Park

Address: Senter Road, San Jose, California CA, 95112, USA
Tel: +1 408 277 5561
Covering around 140 acres / 57 hectares, Kelley Park contains many of San Jose's most popular attractions. Highlights at Kelly Park include the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, the Historical Park area and the spectacular Japanese Friendship Garden, complete with koi-filled ponds, waterfalls, clipped trees, maples and an authentic teahouse.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Guadalupe River Park

Address: 345 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 277 5904
Located in downtown San Jose, Guadalupe River Park comes with the excellent Children's Discovery Museum, a children's playground and a carousel as well as some catchy artwork. There is also a 3-mile / 5-km long path within the park, which runs from the Children's Discover Museum to Arena Green.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Alum Rock Park

Address: 16240 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 259 5477
Alum Rock Park is a comprehensive leisure and activities park and is California's first and oldest municipal park. There are hundreds of acres of beautiful landscapes here, with mile upon mile of hiking, horse and bicycle trails. San Jose's Alum Rock Park also contains a visitor center, as well as two children's playgrounds and the brilliant Youth Science Institute. The picnic areas at Alum Rock Park are huge, with the capacity to accommodating hundreds of people, and they come with excellent picnic facilities including barbecue stoves.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to sunset
Admission: charge

Lake Cunningham Park

Address: 2305 South White Road, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 238 8028
Lake Cunningham Park is San Jose's most diverse park, which covers a massive area and features a 50-acre / 20-hectare lake and an 18-hole pitch and putt golf course. Options for activities here are numerous and include hiking, jogging, cycling, sailing, swimming and fishing, while the fun Raging Waters water theme park entices summer revelers with its multiple slides and pools. Lake Cunningham Park also boasts a marina with refreshment facilities and visitors can rent boats, canoes and pedalos here.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Heritage Rose Garden

Address: Taylor Street, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 298 7657
San Jose's Heritage Rose Garden is a notable and fragrant rose garden, containing a staggering 5,000 rosebushes and trees that have won national acclaim. The garden is situated northwest of downtown and is ideal for those looking for peace and respite from the city, with quiet little picnic areas and benches scattered throughout the park. Next to Heritage Rose Garden is Historic Orchard, with its collection of fruit trees from the Santa Clara Valley.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Overfelt Gardens

Address: 2145 McKee Road, San Jose, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 408 251 3323
Overfelt Gardens are smaller than Lake Cunningham, yet they offer alternative activities. Featuring wildlife sanctuaries in the beautiful Chinese Cultural Garden, which comes with an amazing selection of trees, shrubs and flowering plants, Overfelt Gardens has something no other park in San Jose has got. There are also many cultural points of interest here as well as walking trails and peaceful spots for reading.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to sunset
Admission: charge