Weekend in San Jose

A historic church dating from 1803 with a stunning 1925 baroque revival interior. Notable for its hand-painted ceiling, stained glass windows and carved wooden altarpiece.

Tip: Stop in during open hours for a quiet look – it's rarely busy. The acoustics are good so sometimes local choirs rehearse here. Free guided tours on request.

Modern and contemporary art in a historic 1892 post office building. Rotating exhibitions focus on West Coast artists. The sculpture garden is a quiet spot to sit.

Tip: Free every first Friday of the month, 5–9pm during the SoFA art walk. Other days it costs $8. Check their website for family days with free activities.

A formal rose garden with over 3,500 bushes and 189 varieties, laid out in a circular pattern with fountains and arbours. Well-maintained paths make for an easy stroll.

Tip: Visit in late April or May when the first big flush of blooms hits. The scent is strongest in the morning before the sun gets high.

A 170-acre park including History Park, a collection of 32 relocated historic buildings from the 1880s–1920s. You can walk through a working print shop, a candy store and a trolley barn.

Tip: Parking is free. The adjacent Japanese Friendship Garden costs $10 but you can picnic in the main park for nothing. Trolley rides inside History Park cost $3 on weekends.

The largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in western North America, housed in a building modelled on the Temple of Amon at Karnak. Exhibits include mummies, jewellery and tomb replicas.

Tip: Pay entry but the grounds and planetarium are free. The museum shop sells decent replica scarabs under $5. Arrive before 11am to avoid school groups.