San Jose's Municipal Rose Garden, in the Rose Garden neighbourhood northwest of downtown, holds about 4,000 rose plants across nearly 200 varieties. The garden was laid out in 1937 on the site of an old prune orchard and has been maintained by city gardeners and volunteers ever since. In 2010 the All-America Rose Selections named it the best public rose garden in the United States.
The garden is at its showy peak from late April through October, with the first flush in early May being particularly spectacular. Entry is free. Combine a visit with the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum a couple of blocks south — the two sit in the same quiet residential neighbourhood and pair naturally into a half-day outing.