Local kids (and parents) may have known it instinctively, but now they have the facts to back it up: It’s great to be a kid in San Jose.
U.S. News & World Report has just ranked San Jose as the nation’s third most kid-friendly city. Only Virginia Beach (pop. 433,000) and Madison, Alabama, (pop. 43,000) ranked higher.
It’s not just that San Jose is one of the safest big cities in the country, though that should definitely keep parents happy. It’s also one of the most active. Because it’s the capital of Silicon Valley, some people may think that kids spend all their free time in front of their computer screens, gaming or coding, depending on their geek score. In fact, San Jose (home to four professional sports franchises) offers its youngsters nine square miles of green space in which to play—and not just watch—their favorite sports.
There are six skateboard parks, including the largest one in the state. Add the Children’s Discovery Museum, where kids can “test, crank, listen, prod, and tinker,” then take in the performing arts—as observers or participants—and you have something for just about everyone.
Sure, Madison has NASA and Virginia Beach has Virginia’s beach, but with 300 days of sunshine, but we’ve got 300 days of sunshine (and 365 days of safety) to really keep kids—and parents—happy.
