San Jose is a fantastic place for families to visit or establish roots. A highlight for many families is Camp Galileo, which has operated in the city for over a decade. Galileo offers engaging summer camps that inspire children to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) through hands-on projects. This well-established program helps children make friends, develop new skills, and ignite their creativity, adding to the city’s vibrant and youthful atmosphere.
With attractions ranging from interactive children’s museums to awe-inspiring nature walks, there’s plenty of fun for the whole family to enjoy. The Capital of Silicon Valley may be best known for its tech scene, but there’s no shortage of family activities San Jose has to offer.
In this guide, we’ll explore 5 of the best outings and experiences to share with the little ones this summer.
#1 Watch Exotic Animals at the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
There’s no safer, quicker and more convenient way to learn about and connect with animals than a family trip to the zoo! Over 180 million Americans go to zoos every year and 57% of those visitors are children under 11. Additionally, 94% of attendees agree that zoos help teach their children about different animal habitats and effective conservation methods for preserving them.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is the city’s premier animal experience and one of the best family things to do in San Jose—and you don’t even have to leave the city to get there. Situated on 16 acres of wooded land on the northern edge of Kelley Park, Happy Hollow has been proudly displaying its diverse collection of flora and fauna since opening its gates over 60 years ago.
Alongside being able to view and learn about all these majestic creatures, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the various other activities and attractions that Happy Hollow has to offer.
Some of the most fun and notable include:
- Beekeeping workshops that show you how to start your own backyard apiary
- Professionally-led science sessions where students learn about and meet different kinds of animals
- Painting nights where aspiring artists can use their brushes and canvases to bring animal models to life
- Theme park rides, such as roller coasters and carousels, for more daring visitors to take a spin on
- A leaning, lopsided play place for kids to explore and enjoy dubbed the Crooked House
- Puppet shows, animal acts and magicians on rotation at The Crooked Meadow entertainment stage
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is open during normal business hours on most days but may, in rare circumstances, close suddenly due to inclement weather. Check out their full schedule and make a plan to visit next time you’re in San Jose!
#2 See Unique Architecture at the Japanese Friendship Garden
If you’re already in Kelley Park for Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, you’d be remiss not to spend a little extra time in the area exploring the Japanese Friendship Garden. Situated near the zoo and within the confines of Kelley Park, the garden boasts a picturesque atmosphere replete with Japanese-style bridges, waterfalls and koi ponds.
Designed to mimic the world-famous Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan (one of San Jose’s sister cities) the garden offers children a glimpse of completely different architectural and design styles that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the US. After an exciting time learning about exotic animal species, help your children relax with a peaceful stroll through serene greenery and peaceful plant life.
The Japanese Friendship Garden is popular with wedding photographers and picnickers alike—so, if you want to skip eating out and enjoy your lunch with a calm, charming backdrop, you can always pack something to munch on.
Reservations for designated picnic spots must be booked at least three days in advance and can be made up to a year before the day. If you’re planning a trip out to Kelley Park for the zoo, garden or both, be sure to claim your space so you can relax and dine comfortably as you recharge for more fantastic San Diego activities.
#3 Step Into San Jose’s Past at History Park
There’s still one more exciting and informative family attraction to take advantage of before leaving Kelley Park! Situated on the South end of the area, visiting History Park is like taking a trip back in time to the early days of settlement in the Santa Clara Valley.
Complete with both original and reproduction homes, businesses and landmarks, History Park captures life as it was in the early 1900s in Northern California.
Stop by after visiting the zoo or Japanese Friendship Garden to enjoy:
- Trolley tours through the replica town’s old-fashioned streets and alleys
- A variety of era-specific businesses including print shops, stables and blacksmiths
- An old-timey ice cream shop serving up specials from the turn of the century (the 20th century, that is)
History Park provides a one-of-a-kind look into San Jose’s past, including through exhibits highlighting the city’s Portuguese, Asian and African-American roots. Whether you’re visiting the Bay Area or are a local, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to step back in time and discover more about an essential piece of American history.
#4 Learn About Cultures, Art, Science and More at the Children’s Discovery Museum
The Children’s Discovery Museum is located in San Jose’s downtown and boasts a unique play-based learning experience for kids and families hoping to combine learning and fun into one unforgettable day of adventure. Famous for its instantly recognizable purple exterior and irregular, jagged shape, the museum houses 52,000 square feet of child-friendly exhibits including:
- The two-story Amazing AirMaze, a series of pneumatic tubes that kids attempt to guide balls through while learning the essentials of how air travels in tight spaces and vacuums
- An inspiring art gallery that prominently features a variety of works created by and in collaboration with young children
- A Tokyo-inspired walking street complete with a sacred shrine, karaoke machines and kami spirits—mainstays of Japanese folklore in the traditional Shinto religion
- An educational exhibit covering the history and extinction of wooly mammoths complete with fossilized remains and a life-size replica statue
- Many more fun, interesting and engaging displays and activities sure to capture your child’s attention and keep the whole family entertained
If you’re looking for San Jose’s ultimate educational and entertaining experience to share with your kids, there’s nowhere else quite like the Children’s Discovery Museum. Make it a must-see on your Bay Area itinerary to excite and inform the whole family.
#5 Explore Stunning Guadalupe River Park
Nestled in the heart of downtown sits Guadalupe River Park, a three-mile stretch of greenspace that runs along the banks of its namesake, the mighty Guadalupe River. Composed of picturesque gardens, hidden hiking and biking trails and peaceful plazas, Guadalupe River Park is a pastoral hideaway situated right in the midst of one of America’s busiest, most bustling urban metropolises.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the speed of the city, slow things down for an afternoon by bringing the family to the riverfront and enjoying the many amenities the park has to offer.
Once you’re in Guadalupe River Park, you’ll have the option to:
- Stroll through the largest rose garden in the Western Hemisphere with over 3,000 different varieties to see and smell across an entire city block’s worth of space
- View over 200 fruit trees in the park’s orchard, including kinds you may not think typical of California agriculture such as cherries, apricots, prunes and persimmons
- Hike along the Guadalupe River Walk, a paved nature path that takes you straight down the banks of the Guadalupe River and eventually connects to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the San Francisco Bay Trail
- Let the kids run loose on the Rotary PlayGarden, a one-of-a-kind playspace specifically designed to remove barriers for children with disabilities and offer a fun, social and engaging playground experience for all
Guadalupe River Park is fun, fascinating and free for all to enjoy. It opens one hour before sunrise and closes one hour after sunset, so it’s easy to find time to squeeze it in no matter how busy your family fun in San Jose is keeping you.
Send the Kids to Camp Galileo for an Exciting Time in San Jose
Entertaining, educational outings bring families together, help children develop new skills and give everyone something to smile about. As a parent, however, you can only realistically take so much time off work. When you need to head back to your office or job site, you still want to make sure your kids are learning, playing and socializing.
That’s where Camp Galileo comes in.
Camp Galileo captures the magic of going to the zoo, the children’s museum and the park all in one incredible, exciting summer experience by letting campers design pneumatic bots of their favorite animal, get their wiggles out through outdoor team games and work on group challenges with peers. Our proprietary curriculum combines STEAM exploration, collaborative play and creative activities to inspire campers to innovate and improve upon the world around them. We elevate the traditional summer camp by instilling confidence, resilience and out-of-the-box thinking within our campers to leave them with an experience and set of life lessons they’ll never forget.
Camp Galileo runs summer camps in San Jose, the Bay Area and beyond. Every summer,, we’re ready and waiting to provide your child with the ultimate summer adventure. Explore our locations and enroll today to get your kid in on the fun.
Located in Southern California? Be sure to check out our Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Diego, Carlsbad, and Orange County summer camps!
Looking for an unforgettable summer adventure in California? Camp Galileo offers joy-filled, innovation-driven experiences across the state. From our hands-on summer camps in Southern California to our creative Palo Alto summer camps and Lafayette summer camps in Northern California, there’s a Galileo location ready to spark your child’s imagination.
Sources:
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Visitor Demographics, https://www.aza.org/.
- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. Park. https://happyhollow.org/.
- City of San Jose. JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN REGIONAL PARK. https://www.sanjoseca.gov/.
- History San Jose. History Park Buildings. https://historysanjose.org/.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Exhibits. https://www.cdm.org/.
- Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. San Jose Heritage Rose Garden. https://grpg.org/.
- Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. Welcome to the Historic Orchard. https://grpg.org/.
- Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. Hiking and Biking Trails. https://grpg.org/,
