No list of Bay Area neighborhoods would be complete without San Jose. San Jose is the largest city in the county and is surrounded by the sprawling Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east.
San Jose became California’s first state capital in 1850. The city now serves as the seat of Santa Clara County, the most affluent county in California. The heart and center of Silicon Valley, San Jose is the hub for technology, innovation, and economics in the South Bay. Countless global tech companies, such as eBay, Adobe, Samsung, (and soon, Google) and many more, make their headquarters here.
You can find everything you would hope for in a large metropolitan area: booming nightlife, unique restaurants and bars, and adequate public transportation. With a wide range of housing options available, such as single-family homes, apartments, high-rise condos, San Jose has something for everyone.
Being so large, San Jose features many smaller communities, each with its own charm. You might be partial to the unique and older architecture of Willow Glen. Or, Japantown with its host of authentic restaurants and shops and proximity to downtown, may be more your speed. Some prefer the quiet pocket of Cambrian Park with the outstanding schools that comprise the Union Elementary District.
You’ll also find many other trails, rivers, parks, and golf courses throughout the city. Although louder and busier than many of the surrounding neighborhoods, San Jose has a lot to offer, and being centrally located, has quick access to many other parts of the Bay Area.
