San Jose, California

As the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a city of innovators, who take their job of creating the technology of tomorrow seriously. But they don't take it so seriously that they can't make time to play. San Jose has tons of attractions, where you can live out your fantasies.

The first place on your fantasy tour is The Tech Museum of Innovation, which features exhibits on subjects such as engineering and genetics. For kids, there's the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Kids will have a blast tossing a pizza in the air, as they operate their own pizza parlor, or sorting the mail at the make-believe post office. Looking to get some cheap San Jose real estate? Check out Monopoly in the Park, a life-sized outdoor version of the classic board game. Parents might need to stick around to help the kids roll the gigantic dice. There are even prisoner costumes ready for those who land on the dreaded Go To Jail space.

After the fantasies are over, it's time to get back to real life, and 300 sunny days a year makes that reality pretty nice. So, does the city's safety. A recent study using FBI crime statistics showed San Jose to be the safest large city in the US. And, with a median household income of almost US$70,000 in 2002, the city has the resources to invest in improving its quality of life. It was the first city in the US to ensure that all children have access to good healthcare and has been a leader in recycling (more than half its waste is now diverted to recycling instead of landfills).

Looking for a chic urban lifestyle? Downtown San Jose has it. Having grown by more than 8,000 people since 2000, the downtown area is full of trendy lofts, condos, and live-work communities. After locals finish work at the area's many hi-tech firms, they head out to a nearby café or catch a musical or play at the city's Center for the Performing Arts or the Montgomery Theatre.

Not had enough fun yet? There's still the amazing amusement park at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the wildlife shows at Six Flags Marine World. Plus, the wild lifestyle of San Francisco is just a short drive around the bay.

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