Do You Know the Way to ... Silicon Valley? San Jose Offers Unique High-Tech Attractions, Great Weekend Values.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 1998--In the 30-plus years since Dionne Warwick recorded "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," the song's title city has evolved from a laid-back agricultural region to become the world's high-tech Mecca.

And with the opening of the $96 million Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose Oct. 31, local tourism officials expect more visitors will soon learn the way to Silicon Valley.

"Silicon Valley is a household term in most parts of the world," said Marian Holt McLain, president and CEO of the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau. "And the closer we get to the 21st century, the more interest we get from people wanting to visit the area."

The Tech Opens Silicon Valley to the World

In the past, San Jose's challenge as the self-proclaimed "Capital of Silicon Valley" has been to give visitors something tangible that would help them "experience" the area's uniqueness, Holt McLain said.

"Most people can't just stroll into Apple or Intel and get a high-tech tour," she explained. "The Tech essentially gives visitors the opportunity to interact with -- and understand -- technology and its impact on our lives. It's captured the essence of Silicon Valley and put it all under one roof."

And while Intel and Apple don't provide tours to the general public, they and several other Silicon Valley companies (including 3Com, Silicon Graphics, and Hewlett-Packard) do have visitor centers where travelers can learn more about the high-tech industry and pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

San Jose Hotels Offer Dramatic Savings on Weekends

Holt McLain said The Tech is expected to be a particularly strong draw on weekends because San Jose hotels offer deep discounts on Friday-Sunday nights. Room rates at first-class hotels just blocks from The Tech can drop from more than $200 on weekdays to as little as $69 on weekends.

And since San Jose is a big city (it's actually larger than its well-known neighbor to the north, San Francisco), it comes with the typical big city amenities: cultural and performing arts, professional sports, nightlife, gourmet restaurants, theme parks, and more. Throw in 300 days of sunshine a year and a rating as one of America's safest big cities (according to FBI crime statistics), and you have what Holt McLain believes will be a popular destination for the new millennium.

"We think our new high-tech attractions and outstanding weekend hotel rates make a compelling case for leisure travelers to spend part of their Northern California visits in San Jose," said Holt McLain.

For a free San Jose visitor's guide or more information on hotel packages, call 1-888-SAN-JOSE or browse the Web at www.sanjose.org.