Boutique Hotels in San Jose, CA

Nestled in California’s Bay Area, the San Jose area stands at the intersection of the Silicon Valley and some of the most idyllic beaches of Northern California. Visitors love everything there is to see and do from walking along the beautiful sandy beaches to learning about the history of the California Coast. Guests at San Jose boutique hotels will have plenty to keep them busy during their stay. Keep reading to learn about some of the best destinations and activities for your getaway.

Conveniently located between San Francisco and Santa Clara, neighboring Santa Cruz makes a perfect beach day at only an hour away. Santa Cruz boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in California including Swami's Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach. The city has over 30 miles of beaches and features unique activities like surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding. When you book a room at boutique hotels in San Jose, you’ll be within an hour’s drive of glittering California coastline. Be sure to check out Seacliff State Beach, which boasts stunning views of Monterey Bay as well as a great hiking trail that leads up over a bluff to a picnic area.

Nearby Capitola at Santa Cruz is a colorful, eclectic beach town that’s ripe for photo opportunities! If you want to escape the crowds, head over to Bonny Doon Beach. It’s less crowded than other beaches in Santa Cruz but still offers beautiful views of Monterey Bay due to its location on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Before the day’s end, make sure to stop by the Santa Cruz wharf for some great shopping and dining. Visitors can also take a whale watching tour from the wharf during the winter months when grey whales migrate through the area towards Alaska.

A top-rated attraction in San Jose, the Winchester Mystery House is not to be missed. The former residence of Sarah Winchester—the widow of firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester—this sprawling estate was built on madness, obsession and compulsion. After losing her infant daughter to illness and then her husband from tuberculosis, Sarah fell into a depressive madness that led her to believe that those killed by Winchester rifles were after her. From 1886 to 1922, the former 8-bedroom farmhouse grew into a sprawling 24,000 square foot mansion, with a price tag of $5 million in 1923 (or $71 million today). Inside, staircases go to nowhere; doors open to sudden drops and mirrors are everywhere in an effort to confuse the spirits.

But there’s much more to San Jose than this famous mansion. Easily accessible from San Jose boutique hotels, take the kids for an out of this world hands on experience at the Tech Museum of Innovation! With fun interactive exhibits and plenty of hands-on learning opportunities, exhibits include robotics, health care technology and engineering. If you're looking for something a little more grown-up, the Children's Discovery Museum features over 100 exhibits that teach kids about science and technology, while also letting them have fun with arts and crafts projects and other activities.

History Park at Kelley Park is a living history museum that has transformed an old military base into an outdoor educational resource for the community. The California Museum on the site is home to over 40,000 artifacts and 7,000 photographs. A favorite spot for many locals, it's also known as "the park with all the airplanes" because of its collection of vintage aircraft from World War II. Book your stay at San Jose boutique hotels for some rest, relaxation and adventure.

Don't forget to check out our boutique hotels nearby in Cupertino, Aptos and San Francisco.