San Jose advice...

[fudge stripe cookays]

I just interviewed with a place the other day here in town. Things are going well. They're based in San Jose though, and I might get to fly out for a quick visit with the bigwhigs. Never been before.

Anyplace good to eat? Better places to stay than others?

If I wanted to drive to the Sacramento area (Orangevale) from SJ, how difficult is the drive? Any recommended shortcuts? I'd probably be going out on a Saturday or Sunday. It looks like it's about the distance from Austin to Dallas for us Texans, so the length isn't a problem. I have a newly discovered cousin there I might like to visit (for my genealogy and family history that I'm writing).

Thanks all!
fsc :hi:

[Newsjock]

1. the drive

SJ to Sacramento is about 2.5-3 hours in normal traffic at reasonable speeds (and there's a $3 bridge toll along the way). But any difficulty in traffic can quickly turn your trip into a massive pain. And if you're thinking about returning to the Bay Area from Sacramento on a Sunday (or on the last day of a holiday weekend), just forget it. You'll go nowhere fast as a bazillion broke vacationers return from Tahoe and Reno, and I-80 can be a giant 90-mile-long parking lot, particularly if some drunken party crowd runs their SUV into the center divider.

If you must travel on a Sunday, consider going south on I-5 through Stockton to I-205 to I-580. But even that's difficult, because the 205/580 combo has quickly become one of the Bay Area's worst commutes, thanks to the ever-expanding commute band (now up to as much as 100 miles).

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. That helps!

That's about how long it takes from Austin to Dallas. That's my yardstick for most other distances now, since I've been doing it for so many years.

Sounds like I should stay in Sacto and fly out from there, then.

Thanks newsjock!

[Gormy Cuss]

3. FSC -- there's a great genealogical resource in Sacto

The state library
http://www.lib.state.ca.us/
They have a pretty impressive collection of local and national resources (the Sutro branch in SF is my home genealogical port these days.)

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Cool!

Thanks Gormy!

I don't know if I'll have any time, but I'll try to check it out. It sounds like a great resource. Especially newspapers. Those are my goldmine.

If this lady I visit has as many pictures as I think she might, I may be at her place scanning all day and meeting other family in the area.

We also had a guy teach at Sacramento City College for awhile, and I'd like to see the campus. Oi! Only 1 day!

:hi:
fsc

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Kick!

Since my 2nd interview went really well and there's a very good chance of this happening now.

fsc

[XemaSab]

6. Just a warning:

A friend of mine just bought a house there for $660,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you read that right! $660,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a McMansion, it's not a REAL mansion, it's just a house. For $660,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!