No trip to Northern Californiawithout a stop in San Jose. With its close proximity to Siliconvalley, San Jose is a truly modern city, but not without a richhistoric past.San Jose's high-tech reputation stemsfrom strong ties with Asian innovation. Currently, about 32% of SanJose's residents are Asian. As a result, the Japanese FriendshipGarden is a very popular attraction. This park covers six acres ofthe landscape, and includes waterfalls, bonsai plants, cherry treesand bridges over koi ponds, as well as a real Japanese tea housewhere you can enjoy tea and snacks.The long celebrated Spanish historyof San Jose is evident at the Peralta Adobe, San Jose's oldestaddress. Over 200 years old, this is the last remaining structurefrom the El Pueblos de San Jose de Guadalupe. On the same site isFallon House, an exquisite Victorian mansion that was built in 1855by Thomas Fallon, one of San Jose's earliest and most famousmayors. Stroll through the Peralta Adobe and the Fallon house toget a taste of San Jose's rich and interesting history.History buffs will love theRosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium, featuring a full-scalereplica of an ancient Egyptian temple, and one of the largestcollections of Egyptian artifacts in the United States. Or, formore recent history, stop at the San Jose Mystery house, wherevisitors can tour the 160-room Victorian mansion and gardens ofwealthy widow, Sarah Winchester.For more modern tastes, The Tech(Tech Museum of Innovation) explores technology and how it affectsour lives, from robotic engineering to satellites and theinnovations of Silicon Valley.The multi-domed Cathedral Basilica ofSt. Joseph is worth a stop, even if it is just to see the stunningstained glass windows and pipe organ. Visitors here marvel at thearchitecture, art and history that make this cathedral a San Joselandmark.Museum-hopping is great, but don'tforget, San Jose is also very close to California's famous winecountry. While in San Jose, check out the J. Lohr Winery andtasting room, just off the Alameda, for a taste of the regionalwines.Traveling with children? Don't missthe interactive exhibits at the Children's Discovery Museum, ortake the kids for a fun learning experience at the Monterey BayAquarium, one of the finest aquariums in the nation. Finally, climbaboard the Niles Canyon Railway and take in seven miles of historictranscontinental railroad on Pacific Locomotive's vintagetrains.Don't let hunger creep up on you, orslow you down in San Jose. Be sure to plan a stop at OriginalJoe's, known by the locals as 'OJs,' this is the place is known forits simple charm, award-winning burgers, Italian dishes andexcellent tiramisu.And finally, when it's time to restfrom all the fabulous sightseeing in San Jose, look no further thanthe Hotel Valencia. With two five-star properties in San Jose,Riverwalk and Santana Row, this hotel offers a seamless fusion ofstyle, luxury and contemporary design, right in the middle of thecity's best dining, entertainment and shopping districts.