What are the interesting places to visit near San Jose, San Fransisco (ca) area with family ?

Places should be within 200 miles of San Jose as we are going to spend 4-5 days and also kids can enjoy too.

There are quite a lot of things you can do while you are in San Jose.

During the day Activities

Drive down to 17-mile scenic drive, Monterey Bay
Drive to San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Pier-39
Cable car ride, and many more...
Goto Mysterspot (http://www.mysteryspot.com/)
Visit Winchester Mystery House
Goto Santa Cruz - Boardwalk if you like the rides (http://www.beachboardwalk.com/)
Goto Beaches like Half Moon Bay
Great America
Gilroy Gardens is another place.

If you prefer to drive you can go to Yosimite National PArk and Lake Tahoe. They are nice places. Also, you can go to Napa Valley and take the train ride.

Shopping

You can visit Westfield Valley Fair Mall
You can visit Great Mall - in Milpitas
Gilroy Factory Premium Outlets in Gilroy
Many other shopping in and around San Jose

You should definitely try

The Tech Museum- San Jose
-- This would be a great experiene for you and your young ones, giving them a chance to learn while looking at amazing experiments done!

Happy Hallow Zoo&Kelly Park- San Jose
-- Petting Zoo and a beautiful Japanese Garden!

Great America Theme Park- Santa Clara
-- Great for a day out with the family! Roller coasters! Nickelodean theme park! I'm not quite sure if it's opened for the season yet, but definitely check it out!

Discovery Museum- San Jose
-- A museum designed for childern, wonderful experience!

Monterey Bay Aquarium- Monterey
-- Great if you like fishes! Beautiful!

&there's soo many more! Email me if you need anymore help, I'd love to be of assistance, good luck! &Have fun!

Technically, have only been to San Jose Airport to go to Monterey/Carmel.

Would DEFINITELY URGE you and your family to visit Monterey / Carmel.

Monterey is only about an hour to an hour and a half drive from San Jose.

The kids would love the Monterey Bay Aquarium and if they love scenic drives then both Monterey and Carmel in my opinion, are the BEST.

Don't miss out on the 13-Mile Drive from Monterey to Carmel and then you can take the Highway 1 drive back from Carmel to Monterey.

On the way (13-mile drive), you'll enjoy some of these fabulous sights (not to mention, that nearly all the 13-mile stretch is scenic):

Pebble Beach and the Big Sur

Have fun!

Check out the Mystery Spot over in Santa Cruz or the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.

San fransico go to pier 39. alot of different thing to do over there..

getaway, you'll tour the area in and around San Francisco, with visits to Monterey and the Napa Valley. The beauty of the Pacific Ocean is yours to behold as you travel along the legendary 17 Mile Drive. You'll visit Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress before driving to chic Carmel with its unique boutiques, cafes and charming cottage homes. In Monterey, explore Cannery Row and enjoy a wonderful dinner before returning to "the City by the Bay." On a city tour, you'll see San Francisco's famous sights, like the Twin Peaks, Seal Rocks and the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll also visit a fortune cookie factory and watch the cookies being made right before your eyes. With an afternoon of leisure, you can choose to walk along Fisherman's Wharf and take a ride on a famed cable car. Then you're off to the most famous wine-growing region in the country, beautiful Napa Valley. A ride through this picturesque area aboard a restored 1915 train, combined with superbly crafted wines, provides you with a solid foundation on both wine tasting and train history!
http://www.ytbtravel.com/Vacations.aspx?...

Definately head for the Monterey Peninsula - it is spectacular in every way -

Nature, the aquarium is world class, the scenery, Carmel, Pacific Grove, restaurants...it is really a place to spend some time!