Without the novels of Zane Grey, it is quite possible that Hollywood greats like John Wayne, Shirley Temple, and Randolph Scott would have been lost on the world. Grey’s outstanding Westerns became movies that launched the careers of cinema mainstays, and his novels have been published in over 20 languages, with estimated annual sales between 500,000 and one million copies worldwide. Now his cabin stands as a historical site for visitors. While not everything in the cabin is original, certain pieces allow visitors to visualize Grey’s life in the early 20th century. Find cowboy boots, Grey’s original saddle, a writer’s chair, a cot, and a bear rug.

The Mexican Heritage Plaza is a 200,000-square-foot cultural center designed to promote and strengthen the traditions of Mexico–one of the largest Latino centers in the nation. There are premier theatrical venues, thematic gardens and a Smithsonian-affiliated gallery. It is most certainly a sight to see and appreciate, with musical, dance and visual art activities taking place daily.

National Tile Museum is devoted to the quintessentially Portuguese tiles seen so frequently on buildings across the country. The collection is housed in a monastery, the varying architectural styles and decorations of which give a quick walkthrough the country's major movements. One of the highlights is an enormous tiled fresco which shows Lisbon as it was just before the big earthquake in 1755.

Perhaps San Jose’s most whimsical treasure is the Winchester Mystery House. The Victorian-crafted mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, the wily heir to the Winchester repeating rifle fortune. As she believed she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by the rifle, Winchester built the house in an effort to thwart the spirits. The labyrinth was constructed and added onto until Winchester’s death, resulting in one of the strangest feats of architecture known to man. Endless stairs, corridors, mazes and secret passageways lead tour guides to instruct guests to stay with the group.