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About 25 years ago, antiquing was all the rage. Flea markets, hole-in-the-wall antique stores, and estate sales filled with young adults looking to fill their home with rare items were quite the norm. Then came the mass-production phase ushered in by Target, IKEA, and other brands. Affordable furniture became the new trend, but ultimately the short lifespan of cheaper materials brought about a newfangled interest in antiques. Fortunately, San Jose has one of the best antiquing scenes in the country thanks to the famed Antiques Row and other stores. Here are a few places in which you can find a one-of-a-kind item. Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles Located on Antiques Row at 1885 W. San Carlos St., Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles is one of the oldest antique stores in San Jose. An old bakery houses this antique store, adding to its charm and providing an excellent backdrop for your shopping excursion. more Over 30 dealers exhibit an array of items such as apparel, jewelry, furniture, antique signs, and more at Briarwood. The large variety of dealers ensures that you will be provided with different and new merchandise every time you visit the store. There's a reason this antique mall was voted as one of the 10 best places to shop in San Jose. Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Colony Antiques Located two doors down from Briarwood at 1881 W. San Carlos St., Colony Antiq ues is the largest antique store in San Jose, offering an assortment of furniture, art, clothes, and vintage toys. The store has 50 dealers and covers over 9,000 square feet — you could easily take days to peruse its contents. What makes Colony Antiques even more impressive, is the range of styles you can find in its stores. Boasting everything from European furniture to Asian pottery to ephemera from yesteryear, there's something for everyone's style. Colony Antiques is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whatnots & Doodads Not sure what you're looking for? Head on over to the aptly named Whatnots & Doodads. Voted the best antique store in San Jose in 2012, this collective of 23 dealers is always stocking that unique piece for your home or an excellent gift for a loved one. What separates them from the pack is the dealer wish list. If you can't find an item here, their dealers will put it on their watch list. When they find it, they'll contact you and arrange a purchase and pickup. There's no easier way to find something you've wanted for your home. Whatnots & Doodads is located at 1330 Lincoln Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The store is closed on Mondays. From fancy chandeliers to beautiful oak armoires, San Jose's antique markets have everything you could ever want. All you need to do is exercise a bit of perseverance in your search, and you'll end up with decor that's the envy of all your friends. Photo by docoverachiever | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

Museums aren't just about ancient history. The San Jose area has a surprising variety of museums that feature exhibits ranging from prehistoric fauna to modern art and technology. We've compiled this short list of our favorites to help you plan your day on the town. The Tech Museum of Innovation Visit The Tech Museum of Innovation to learn about modern science and technology in a hands-on, family-friendly manner. The organization's interactive exhibits will give you the chance to glimpse the frontier of cutting-edge science. more For example, the BIO Design Studio allows visitors to experiment with the “building blocks of life” by applying the principles of bioengineering. The Social Robots exhibit involves designing and building your very own robot utilizing sensors, controllers, and actuators. Computer-savvy guests are likely to enjoy the Cyber Detectives exhibit, which demonstrates the strides that cybersecurity professionals have made in recent years. If you prefer a more passive experience, the museum also has an IMAX theater. San Jose Museum of Art Modern and contemporary art is the focus of this museum, which receives about 100,000 visitors per year. The organization strives for inclusivity by representing the work of artists from many cultures and backgrounds. The museum also makes contributions to art history scholarships and programs. Visit during the spring and summer of 2018 to see paintings of California landscapes by Raimonds Staprans, as well as a collection of American lithographs and wood engravings gathered from early 21st-century history. Another must-see exhibit is The Propeller Group's examination of global culture, presented through video footage and staged reenactments. The Propeller Group represents a cooperation between artists based in both Los Angeles and Vietnam. Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose If you have children, you won't want to miss this unusually interactive museum experience. The Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose places emphasis on allowing its guests to get hands-on with all of its exhibits. Guests won't be constrained to just looking at an art gallery; they'll also have the opportunity to create their own artwork. Scientifically-inclined children are sure to be drawn to the Mammoth Discovery exhibit, where they can see a mammoth skeleton and practice fossil excavation in the museum's special dig pits. The museum even caters to the youngest children, who can climb artificial trees and crawl through tunnels in the Bill's Backyard exhibit. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum Featuring the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in western North America, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a great example of a classic ancient history museum. A visit to this museum will reward you with fascinating information about this culture's burial practices and mummification. There are exhibits focused on Ancient Egypt's gods, religion, and belief in an afterlife. But some of the more mundane artifacts are even more interesting, as they provide visitors with a look into the daily life of regular Egyptian citizens. Visiting a museum is usually an educational experience, but that doesn't mean it has to be dry or boring. Any one of these San Jose museums will give you an experience that's both engaging and interactive. Photo by donjd2 | Licensed under cc by 2.0