Did not quite make it to Mexico this Spring Break. And in truth, I often wonder why so many Americans tend to shoot their annual vacation wad on a week in March or April? The very thought of enduring a stint in Disneyland this week along with virtually every other completely insane family in California brings to mind that old-fashioned game of sardines we played in darkened coal cupboards under the stairs, as kids!
What about that long, drawn out summer when the recessed students are starting to crawl up the walls with boredom? That's the time of year when I find more bang for the buck in packing the bags and bikes and inflatable boats and heading out of dodge.
But in the meantime, it sure is sweet to spend a night or two in a sophisticated destination spot just an hour or two down the freeway.
Once again drawn to the sleek style and European hospitality of Hotel Valencia, in San Jose's Santana Row, I casually corralled my Spring Break boys into the car with a mere overnight bag and swimsuits and set off down the 101 for a twenty-four hour get-away in the hip southern hemisphere just over the edge of the greater Bay Area in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Liking the sleek Spanish city look of Santana Row and its charming, urban street front bistro seating, bustling vibe and beautiful window shopping opportunities, a trip to these parts is a tiny bite of the Basque right here in sunny California.
From the roof-top swimming pool of Hotel Valencia, high-topped mountain range on either side of the urban landscape is similar to the sort of views I've seen in Spain. Just don't look too far down the street at the Best Buys and Crate and Barrels of California, and it could be a fashion-forward European mini-break for the moment.
With seventy swanky shops, 20 outstanding restaurants, nine spas and salons, an indie movie theater and the Hotel Valencia slap bang in the center of the strip, Santa Row is a happening place to park the car and take a break from the mall mentality of a run-of-the-mill shopping expedition (although there is a giant Mall at the other end of Santa Row, if you can't live without a Nordstrom pit-stop).
Rooms in the Hotel Valencia are immaculate and stylish in the extreme. From the Basque style, Moorish entrance with its fleet of elevators up to the dramatic foyer, all details are right on the dot. Loved the heavy pots of bougainvillea on the balconies, weaving vibrant color along the metal railings and up the
sun-soaked, salmon, sandstone walls. Ask for a room with a view and a balcony if booking early enough, and make a point not to be anywhere near the heaving nightclubs on a Friday or Saturday night stay.
The boys and I ate delicious seasonal, Neapolitan hearth-baked, thin-crust specials for dinner at Pizza Antica, but it was a toss-up between this favored dining spot and Amber India, authentic Indian cuisine opposite the movie theater and around the corner from Consuelo Mexican Bistro, both big hits when staying over on girls annual shopping trip. That's another story, and quite a different one from the three boys' version. Which mainly involved them keeping me OUT of the stores. Better for the wallet, but still lots of fun.
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Posted by: metal railings | Monday, December 07, 2025 at 06:46 AM