From The Fairmont San Jose Best Nearby Sightseeing (Attractions & Activities) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: San Jose, CA Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) 80 S Market St, San Jose  CA  95113 • 408-283-8100 Distance: ~481 ft         Description: DOWNTOWN. This multi-domed basilica dates to the 1870s, although it's actually the fifth incarnation of the church. Furthermore, the cathedral basilica stands on the former site of the city's first church, St. Joseph Church, an adobe structure dating to 1803. Inside the building are stunning stained glass windows and a unique pipe organ. Open, airy, and elegant, the cathedral basilica is a lovely place to worship and to marvel at art, history, and architecture. Peralta Adobe (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) 175 W Saint John St, San Jose  CA  95110-2434 • 408-993-8300 • 408-918-1055 Distance: ~0.39 mi         Description: DOWNTOWN. Dating back to the late 18th century, Peralta Adobe is the only vestige of the original El Pueblo de San José, one of the state's earliest Spanish settlements. Inside, the pueblo is furnished in much the same fashion as it was 200 years ago, and outside is an outdoor fireplace. Your ticket also gets you into the Fallon House across the street. Mexican Heritage Plaza (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose  CA  95103-0004 • 800-642-8482 Distance: ~2.32 mi         Description: DOWNTOWN. This is one of the states largest multipurpose centers dedicated to the furthering of Latino culture. The Mexican Heritage Plaza contains beautiful thematic gardens, a Pavilion area, a 500-seat theatre, a 4000-foot exhibition space called La Galería, and several offices and classrooms. This facility hosts several exhibits, concerts, and festivals each year and offers suitable facilities for corporate meetings. Paramount's Great America (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara  CA  95054 • 408-988-1776 Distance: ~7.44 mi User Rating: 6.5 / 10         Description: Paramount's Great America, located just north of San Jose, offers some of the best family-oriented fun in the South Bay area. The park is a great place to spend an afternoon, and you'll find a wide range of entertainment from rides and play areas to games and shows. Great America is the home of such rides as the "Demon," the "Drop Zone," a James Bond ride called "License to Thrill," "Stealth," the world's first flying roller coaster; and an IMAX theater. HP Garage (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) 367 Addison Ave, Palo Alto  CA Distance: ~16.40 mi         Description: PALO ALTO. A simple garage is often called the "birthplace of Silicon Valley." Of course, in 1939, it was the first location where David Packard and William Hewlett worked to develop what would become the HP conglomerate. The Hewlett Packard Company bought the garage and the accompanying house. Today, there is a plaque explaining the significance of this small wooden structure, which is now noted as a California Historical Landmark. The garage is not open to the public, but it does provide a great setting for an interesting photograph. Hoover Tower (Attractions & Activities - Sightseeing) 550 Serra St Stanford University, Palo Alto  CA  94305-6011 • 650-723-2053 • 877-466-8374 Distance: ~16.44 mi         Description: Home to one of the United States' first official think tanks, the Hoover Tower stands as more than just a gigantic eye-catching structure. Located on the Stanford campus, the building houses the Hoover Institution, the carillon bells, and an observation platform. The Hoover Institution Library takes up the first 9 floors of the Tower, cataloging over 1.6 million volumes and 50 million documents specifically relating to public policy issues. Visitors are encouraged to take the elevator to the 250-foot high observation platform, which offers breathtaking views of the Silicon Valley. Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.