Category: Things to do with kids: Recreational Parks and Gardens

Great place to buy your paintball stuff and play.

Contact number: (408) 295-9015

Location: 176 Race St., San Jose, CA 95126

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The first thing you’ll notice about the Chinese Cultural Garden is its peacefulness. Even the sounds of San José’s busy lifestyle fade away as you stroll by the quiet ponds and stately pavilions. The Chinese Cultural Garden is a feature of Overfelt Gardens Park and was inspired in 1971 by Frank and Pauline Lowe.

Contact number: 408-251-3323

Location: 368 Educational Park Dr., San José, CA

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The manicured gardens and burbling streams offer a quiet respite from the busy streets just beyond the wooden gates. The garden’s design was inspired by the Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan, a sister city to San Jose. The Japanese Friendship Garden is a popular backdrop for professional photo shoots and weddings. Take a seat by the teahouse and admire the cherry blossoms, or ruminate on the beautiful willow tree alongside one of the garden’s three koi ponds.

Contact number: 408-277-5254

Location: 1300 Senter Road., San Jose, CA

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The site is a different kind of community park; instead of playgrounds and ball fields, it is a natural sanctuary devoted to the search for peace, reflection, solitude, and cultural education and understanding.

Contact number: (408) 251-3323

Location: 368 Educational Park Dr., San Jose, CA 95133

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Rolling green lawns and colorful showy blooms highlight the San José Municipal Rose Garden. In fact, hardly a day passes when some species is not in full bloom, with more than 3,500 plantings and 189 varieties featured.

Contact number: (408) 277-5422

Location: Naglee Ave & Dana Ave., San Jose, CA 95126

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Lake Cunningham’s acres of open space and 50-acre lake offer something for everyone. Tackle the par course – perfect for jogging or walking – or try out water sports like sailing, boating or fishing. Bring your own volleyball and horseshoes for the perfect barbecue picnic, and grab your rollerblades for a lakeshore cruise.

Contact number: (408) 277-4319

Location: 2305 S White Rd., San Jose, CA 95101

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Kelley Park is one of San José’s most diverse facilities, offering visitors an opportunity to enjoy a picnic or barbecue amid beautiful lawn areas and shade trees; a visit to the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo to see the many animals or take in a puppet show; a walk through the tranquil Japanese Friendship Garden with beautiful koi-filled ponds; and step back in time to turn-of-the-century San José at the History Park Museum.

Contact number: 408-794-7275

Location: 1300 Senter Rd., San Jose, CA

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McEnery Park was carefully designed for children’s creative play. For older kids, there’s a structure of nets and ropes to climb on. For little ones, there are colorful spring toys and a model boat. But most children (and their parents!) will be playing in the river. That’s not the Guadalupe River itself, but a re-creation of the Guadalupe. This new “river” forms the central spine of the park.

Contact number: 408-298-7657

Location: San Fernando Street, San Jose, CA

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Arena Green is the section of the park located between Santa Clara Street on the south, Julian Street on the north, and directly across Autumn Street from HP Pavilion. Public restrooms are located near the Children’s Carousel.

Contact number: 408-298-7657

Location:Autumn and Santa Clara Streets, San Jose, CA 95106

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Discovery Meadow is at the southern end of the park, and is home to the Children’s Discovery Museum. It features a large expanse of lawn and is used extensively for festivals during the summer months. The Riverwalk trails along Discovery Meadow follow the river closely and are lined with comfortable park benches.

Contact number: 408-298-5437

Location: 180 Woz Way At West San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95110

Learn more here.