Spend the day at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, a five-acre park exclusively devoted to shrubs of the rose family with over 4,000 rose shrubs with 189 varieties represented. The garden is also home to newly hybridized rose varieties. In fact, the All-American Rose Selections, a national independent rating organization, sends the new varieties to the park for testing before release to the general public. Admission is free, and visitors can enjoy colorful, showy blooms throughout the April to November season. A favorite time to visit though is early May when the acres of roses are at their most beautiful stage. The garden also includes several benches for sitting, a two-tiered water fountain, and open grassy areas.

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden also provides many volunteer opportunities for gardening enthusiasts, such as weeding and “dead heading” events. In addition, they host fun community events, including family movie nights about twice a year.