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California is often referred to as wine country because of its abundance of vineyards and wine tasting destinations. Check out a few of the best wine spots in the San Jose, California, area. Divine Wineries Divine Wineries is conveniently located in downtown San Jose and serves some of the highest-rated handcrafted wines in the entire area. None of their unique wines are available for purchase in local stores and can only be tasted at this winery. They source their wines from the Sierra Foothills, the Santa Clara Valley, and even the Alexander Valley. Reservations are not required and they are open Wednesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. more This winery is within walking distance of nearby hotels, making it a great choice for a full day of wine tasting. Locals can also join the Divine Wineries wine club for just $35 per month. This membership includes up to three free bottles of wine each month and special discounts on wine accessories and unlimited happy hour events. Vino Vino Vino Vino is also a wine tasting destination in downtown San Jose that has 13 different fine wines available. They also serve small plates to pair with your wine tasting. Want to bring along a guest that does not enjoy wine? Vino Vino also serves local craft beers. This winery has a simple goal: to provide locals with a no-frills spot to taste local wines, share good food, and get to know their neighbors. This sports bar environment is perfect for a casual wine tasting experience, and you can easily reserve a table online. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines The history of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is not only interesting but is also an important part of the California wine industry. The founder, Jerry Lohr, spent many years attempting to find the right spot for his vineyard. He eventually landed on the central California coast, paving the way for a vibrant wine industry. Both of the J. Lohr locations are open daily for free wine tastings. No appointment is necessary, but larger groups should always call ahead. You can also join the J. Lohr club. Membership includes access to VIP events, brand discounts, and free bottles of wine. Left Bend Winery The Left Bend Winery is just a short drive outside of San Jose in Los Gatos. All of the wines from the Left Bend Winery are sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains. This windery handles every aspect of the winemaking process, from pre-harvest to bottling. You can order bottles of their wine and join the wine club online. Club members receive complimentary tastings, discounts on wine bottles, and four wine annual shipments of your favorite wines. The Left Bend Winery is open Thursday through Sunday from 12 until 5 p.m. Spend a day checking out the best wines of San Jose, California. Each of these local vineyards is a great choice and has special deals and memberships to ensure you have a great wine-tasting experience. Photo by dalecruse | Licensed cc by 2.0

California is often referred to as wine country because of its abundance of vineyards and wine tasting destinations. Check out a few of the best wine spots in the San Jose, California, area. Divine Wineries Divine Wineries is conveniently located in downtown San Jose and serves some of the highest-rated handcrafted wines in the entire area. None of their unique wines are available for purchase in local stores and can only be tasted at this winery. They source their wines from the Sierra Foothills, the Santa Clara Valley, and even the Alexander Valley. Reservations are not required and they are open Wednesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. more This winery is within walking distance of nearby hotels, making it a great choice for a full day of wine tasting. Locals can also join the Divine Wineries wine club for just $35 per month. This membership includes up to three free bottles of wine each month and special discounts on wine accessories and unlimited happy hour events. Vino Vino Vino Vino is also a wine tasting destination in downtown San Jose that has 13 different fine wines available. They also serve small plates to pair with your wine tasting. Want to bring along a guest that does not enjoy wine? Vino Vino also serves local craft beers. This winery has a simple goal: to provide locals with a no-frills spot to taste local wines, share good food, and get to know their neighbors. This sports bar environment is perfect for a casual wine tasting experience, and you can easily reserve a table online. Lohr Vineyards & Wines The history of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is not only interesting but is also an important part of the California wine industry. The founder, Jerry Lohr, spent many years attempting to find the right spot for his vineyard. He eventually landed on the central California coast, paving the way for a vibrant wine industry. Both of the J. Lohr locations are open daily for free wine tastings. No appointment is necessary, but larger groups should always call ahead. You can also join the J. Lohr club. Membership includes access to VIP events, brand discounts, and free bottles of wine. Left Bend Winery The Left Bend Winery is just a short drive outside of San Jose in Los Gatos. All of the wines from the Left Bend Winery are sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains. TThis winery handles every aspect of the winemaking process, from pre-harvest to bottling. You can order bottles of their wine and join the wine club online. Club members receive complimentary tastings, discounts on wine bottles, and four wine annual shipments of your favorite wines. The Left Bend Winery is open Thursday through Sunday from 12 until 5 p.m. Spend a day checking out the best wines of San Jose, California. Each of these local vineyards is a great choice and has special deals and memberships to ensure you have a great wine-tasting experience. Photo by dalecruse | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

Santa Clara County may be known for its high-tech Silicon Valley, but this California county also offers 28 pristine regional parks and recreation areas. If you are into bird-watching, these parks and preserves represent a veritable birder's paradise, as they host not only huge residential populations but also migratory birds. Here are some places where you can go birding to your heart's content. Baylands Nature Preserve This 1,940-acre preserve is one of the largest tracks of undisturbed marshland in the San Francisco Bay area. Over 15 miles of trails give you access to a large variety of wildlife and a unique mixture of tidal and freshwater habitats. Baylands is regarded as one of the best bird-watching areas on the West Coast and is not only home to a substantial residential population, but also an important stopover during the Pacific Flyway migration. more Birds that you can view here include the endangered California clapper rail, wintering ducks such as mallards and pintails, migratory shorebird species, cliff and barn swallows, nesting black-necked stilts, American avocets, black-crowned night herons, and snowy egrets. Baylands Nature Reserve is located at 2500 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park This park, nestled in the hills east of Gilroy, is a 6,695-acre recreation area, offering 33 miles of trails that wind along breezy mountain ridges, clear streams, and through oak forests. This park is home to all kinds of species, such as reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mammals. If you are lucky, you can spot the rare western pond turtle or the California tiger salamander. It is also a great place for birding. Over 219 bird species have been noticed in this area, including the national bird, the bald eagle. Common species that you might spot are the American wigeon, mallard, bufflehead, ruddy duck, California quail, wild turkey, acorn woodpecker, and the California scrub-jay. Notable species that have been seen include the bald eagle, golden eagle, cackling goose, Clark's grebe, American pipit, Rufous-crowned sparrow, and the rock wren. This park is located at 10840 Coyote Reservoir Road, Gilroy, and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Ed R. Levin County Park This 1,500-acre park is one of Santa Clara County's most unique regional parks and recreations areas, as it offers a combination of constructed parklands, natural bush, and hillsides. Expansive lawn areas are ideal picnic spots for the family, whereas the rolling grasslands and oak woodlands offer lovely trails that are great for bird-watching. Over 64 bird species have been spotted here, including migratory birds, shorebirds, raptors, flycatchers, and corvids. Common species that you can see here are the great blue heron, acorn woodpecker, mallard, turkey vulture, red-tailed hawk, and the white-tailed kite. If you are lucky, though, you might also spot a ring-necked duck, American wigeon, bald eagle, golden eagle, yellow-billed magpie, belted kingfisher, or a rufous-crowned sparrow. Ed R. Levin County Park is located at 3100 Calaveras Road, Milpitas, and they are open from 8 a.m. until sunset. If you love bird-watching, then you will be spoiled for places to go to in Santa Clara County. So, grab your binoculars and head out to the beautiful parks and preserves of this county. Photo by roseannadana cc BY-ND 2.0 | Licensed under

Ice cream in the United States is almost as old as the country itself. The first ad for the sweet treat was published in the New York Gazette in 1777 and first President George Washington reportedly spent $200 in ice cream on the summer of 1790. History lessons aside, whether you're a classic vanilla or chocolate fan or into more far-fetched flavors, it's not hard to find a place in San Jose with your very favorite. Take a look at our suggestions of where to find the best ice cream in San Jose. Treat Ice Cream Company If you don't feel like spending too much time deciding what flavor to get, you know you've come to the right place when you enter the Treat Ice Cream Company. Sometimes, less is more. more For chocolate ice cream fans, there are at least five different variations on the menu, but the Brownie a la Mode and the Cookie Mint Krunch are the house's favorites raking in the highest praises from customers. Address: Downtown at 11 South 19th Street Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cre'Me Paris To say that Durian fruit is an acquired taste is an understatement. Unless you've lived in Southeast Asia all your life and are used to it, Durian's smell and flavor are hard to overcome (and forget). However, at Cre'Me Paris they've turned what's probably the world's least favorite fruit into an ice cream flavor. If you're brave enough to try it, dig in. If not, there are plenty of other creamy options to choose from. Address: East San Jose at 2200 Eastridge Loop Hours: Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Willow Glen Creamery Sometimes you don't want complicated flavors. All you want is a giant dose of ice-creamed sweetness. Well, that's exactly what you get at Willow Glen Creamery. This locally owned business blends its own frozen yogurts in the store every day, with locally sourced ingredients. What's customers' favorite frozen yogurt flavor? Surprisingly, vanilla. If you think this is the blandest ice cream flavor of all times, pay a visit to this place and it will change your mind. Address: Willow Glen at 1100 Lincoln Avenue Hours: Sunday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Sweet Rendezvous Slightly hidden in a little corner, this is the kind of ice cream you'll only find by chance or if you're really looking for it. That's part of the Sweet Rendezvous' charm. Don't overthink what to order, just follow the employee's suggestions. They never get it wrong.  And forget popular flavors. Everyone's favorite thing about this place? The free teaser scoop of any other flavor you want to try beyond the ones you just ordered. Address: Blossom Valley at 668 Blossom Hill Road Hours: Every day from noon to 9 p.m. Ice cream at these spots in San Jose is so delicious that it'll be hard to choose just one spot...or just one flavor! Photo by Maria Eklind | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0

Ella Fitzgerald sang, "Summertime, and the livin' is easy," and there isn't a better time in the year to wind down and enjoy some cool events in the city. Whether you're on vacation or are getting ready for the weekend, here are five summer events where you can soak in the sun and relax. Music in the Park No matter how big or small the bands are on stage, the Music in the Park summer festival is all about good music and good fun. There are plenty of food and drink options available at the venue, so all you need to bring along is your good mood. For extra comfort, blankets and low-back chairs are allowed in the area. more The event happens every year from June to August at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15. San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Jazz takes over the city for three days in August with famous and up-and-coming artists performing on 12 different stages. Plaza de Cesar Chavez has been the festival's central venue since its inception in 1990. Despite its growth, the atmosphere is still very much like those early days in San Jose, where you can listen to live performances of jazz, fusion, and funk. Tickets are available as single entries, starting at $15, or as 3-Day Passes, starting at $50. The event kicks off on Friday, Aug. 10, at 5:30 p.m. and continues through the weekend, with stages opening at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Sunset Thursdays Who says summer fun only happens on weekends or on vacation? Every Thursday evening, from June to August, San Jose locals gather at Plaza de Cesar Chavez from 5 to 9 p.m. to enjoy live music, play lawn games, and taste the best dishes of the food trucks available that day. This event is open to the public and free to enter. Follow the organizer's Facebook page for up-to-date information on live acts, food trucks, and upcoming events. July Passport Celebration Day For wine enthusiasts, Passport Celebration Day is the one event in the year they most look forward to. These special Passport holders can visit over 50 participating wineries throughout the year, during opening hours. But, on specific dates, four times a year, wineries are open for tastings and other experiences all day long. The passport costs $65, and the July event falls on the 21st, beginning at noon. It takes place at participating Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries. Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic Tennis fans flock to attend this week-long women's professional tournament, the first sports event of the U.S. Open Series. Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, and Williams sisters Venus and Serena are some of the names on the list of former champions of this nearly-50-year-old tournament. From July 30 to Aug. 5, all tennis roads lead to San Jose State University. Ticket prices vary according to location. Finals Weekend ticket packages start at $300. Weeklong Championship Series ticket packages start at $850. Individual tickets start at $31. Each day begins at a different time, so be sure to check the schedule to arrive on time. Throughout the summer, there are all kinds of events for all tastes and budgets. The one thing they all have in common? They are all meant for you to have fun. Photo by Toolstotal | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

In the beautiful suburb of San Jose, California, sits an iconic landmark that, until recently, has been well-known mostly to local residents. With the upcoming release of the movie inspired by this breathtaking mansion, however, the Winchester House has become famous all over the world. What is it about this house that has everybody so suddenly intrigued? Here are four interesting facts about the Winchester Mystery House. The House Is Named After Its Original Owner A common misconception about the Winchester Mystery House is that it derives its name from the city of Winchester in England. In fact, many people believe that's where the house is located. You may be surprised, then, to discover that the house is actually located on the West Coast of the United States. The mansion was named for its original mistress, Sarah Winchester, who purchased the property when it was nothing more than an unassuming farmhouse. more The House Was Under Construction for Nearly 40 Years When Sarah Winchester bought the original property, she immediately began construction to make it the mansion that exists today. Sarah was so obsessed with the construction of the house that a team of workers worked in rotating shifts nonstop. The house was under construction day and night, seven days a week, for 38 years. Construction would have likely continued indefinitely, had Sarah not passed away in 1922. Accounts of Sarah's death claim that construction stopped so abruptly, there are still half-hammered nails sticking out of walls all over the house. Nobody quite understands why Sarah was so obsessed with the mansion's construction, but many believe she was building out of fear because a psychic medium said her family's money was built on innocent blood. The house wasn't just for Sarah. It was for the souls of the innocents who lost their lives so the Winchesters could build their fortunes. The Entire House Is Designed to Be Confusing The entire mansion is filled with secret doors and passageways. Even those that weren't intentionally hidden are a confusing maze that weaves all over the interior of the home. Sarah was the architect and designer, with no master building plans ever being found, which has led to the belief that Sarah had no specific design in mind for the house. It is believed that the secretive and unusual design was meant to confuse the ghosts Sarah believed lived in the house with her to give her some respite from their constant torment. New secrets are constantly being discovered and it's entirely possible that the house may never be fully understood. The Winchester Mystery House is a conundrum that has stumped paranormal investigators for years. Sarah Winchester is the only one who really understood everything about the house. Since she's no longer around to question, the best that can be done is to rely on the accounts and records that are available for review. For more information, consider visiting the house yourself. Photo by HarshLight | 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