Quicksilver Trail in San Jose

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wearing: silver hoops / tee shirt / backpack / sweatshirt / spring nail polish / jeans / hiking boots /

Quicksilver Trail is a popular hiking trail in the southern part of San Jose. It’s an interesting trail because it goes through the old and historic Quicksilver Mines; which are a big part of San Jose history. There are several mines in the area dating back to the gold rush; some of which were still in operation in the early 1900’s. This trail is a fun way to share and learn about our local history, while getting a great outdoor workout.

The Quicksilver Trails are steep. I would not recommend bringing a small child or stroller on these trails. They go up in elevation quickly, so it is a good idea to be old enough to handle the pitch of the trail; and to also be fit enough to tackle the terrain. It is a great workout, and worth the effort. The views at the top of the various trails are outstanding.

In case you are wondering what Quicksilver is, it is actually mercury. It was used during the gold rush as a reduction agent for gold and silver; before the industry switched to cyanide.  Quicksilver from San Jose was an important product during the gold rush, and essential in helping the area grow. It’s fun to hike through the old mines, and share this history with your kids. My kids enjoy the trails, and they always find it fun when we come across an old building or mine shaft. I recommend staying out of any mine remnants. It is not safe to climb into old buildings and mines.

There are several entrances to the Quicksilver Trails. Our favorite is on Whispering Pines Drive between Whitbourne Drive and Pierce Ranch Road. There is plenty of parking on the street across from the homes in the area. This is a neighborhood filled with homes and children, please respect the neighbors by driving slowly, not blocking driveways or mailboxes, and keeping noise to a minimum. During peak season such as weekends and summer, I recommend going before 10am. It gets crowded.

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This is an incredible hike! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

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Classic black and white for winter

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wearing: large gold hoops / lipstick / white knit turtleneck / black belt / spring nail polish / black handbag / black and white pleated skirt / knee high suede boots /

Let’s face it, white is not a slimming color. That being said, I love how this white knit turtleneck looks with my black and white pleated skirt. So, when my daughter asked for a trip to the American Girl Store to purchase the new girl of the year book (she loves their books), I decided to try and make this white turtleneck not make me too huge. haha

Black and white is classic and chic. So it is always satisfying to put together an outfit, which is black and white, and not boring. While this knit turtleneck is ribbed, and slightly body conscious, it is a little loose; perhaps I could have sized down? It needed a little something to elevate it; the top could not be worn alone. I have to say, the easiest way to elevate a plain top or turtleneck, without using a topper, is with a belt. There is something about belting loose clothing; whether it be a top or dress, which makes an entire look appear structured and put together. Love that!

I wear this belt all the time with my jeans, this was the first time I used it to belt an article of clothing without belt loops. It worked out really well. The belt took the frump out of the loose turtleneck, and pulled the black and white outfit together. It was perfect for browsing at Stanford Shopping Center, and bringing my daughter to the American Girl store for the book.

These pieces are part of my winter capsule wardrobe. If you have not read it yet, please check it out! It’s handy to have a few pieces each season which can be mixed and matched to create a large number of outfits. It saves money, and time. Stay tuned for more capsule wardrobes this year!

These boots are comfortable for walking too! Love!

Shop my winter black and white outfit online:

Do you ever belt an article of clothing to make it appear more structured?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

winter outfit ideas

Japantown San Jose with the kids

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wearing: blue and silver earrings / lipstick / white knit turtleneck / blue scarf / grey faux fur teddy coat / belt / bootcut jeans / black satchel / spring nail polish / western style boots /

The San Francisco Bay Area is full of hundreds of nooks and crannies. There is always something to do, and something to see. Although I am born and raised Bay Area, I had never been to San Jose’s Japantown before this month!

We decided to take the kids down to Japantown San Jose in order to see what was there, and also enjoy some sushi. Unfortunately, I won’t share the sushi lunch with you, it wasn’t very good. I think we chose the wrong restaurant. That being said, I am sure there are other places to eat, and I heard the ramen place is really good! Wish we had gone there, but I digress. . .

There are plenty of fun things to do in Japantown San Jose with kids. There is a museum, the temple, and many historical buildings. It is easy to walk around and see everything in one day. There are also cute shops with imported items from Japan. Some of the shops have been owned for generations and have their history posted inside. You can learn a lot by chatting with the shop owners, and reading the signs! It’s really a cool outing.

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My son posing in front of one of the murals found in San Jose’s Japantown. This area of Downtown San Jose is full of street art. It’s fun to walk around and enjoy the beautiful murals. This one was my son’t favorite. He loves the characters depicted, and seems to know who they all are! I had no clue!!

If you are local to the Bay Area, and are looking for a fun daytime outing with the family, or without, I highly recommend visiting Japantown San Jose; and wearing walking shoes! High heel boots were not my best choice for the day. haha

Shop my winter faux fur teddy coat look:

Have you been to Japantown San Jose? What is your favorite site to see?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

japantown san jose things to do