Confession: I have lived in Northern California all my life. Discovering a whole new side to my home turf is a thrill. A recent Visit California FAM exploring the bleisure side of the South Bay opened my eyes to what has been hiding in my backyard all these years. Half Moon Bay meets the Pacific Ocean) are often grouped together as Silicon Valley, with visions of fleece Patagonia vest-clad tech angels making deals at the bar at Rosewood Sand Hill.
But south of the Bay Bridge is a world of culinary arts, quaint walkable downtowns and natural beauty waiting to be discovered. Wait, there’s more.
Arrive
If you look up the definition of “lift” in the meeting professionals dictionary, you just might see San Jose and The SF Peninsula there written in red and underlined. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is actually in San Mateo County. San Jose International Airport (SJC) offers an abundance of flight options on a slightly more manageable scale. Caltrain, BART and light rail connect the region for easy access.
Stay and Meet
If you are looking to bring your group to a sophisticated escape in the middle of all that is good, tasty and upscale, you can’t do much better than Hotel Valencia Santana Row. A moment in the elevator off the curved flagstone entry opens up into a grand lobby that impresses with Spanish-inspired architectural nooks, and nearby Augustine restaurant awaits with a private dining room and coffee and pastries from a French dream.
Minutes away in downtown, San Jose McEnery Convention Center’s 520,000 sq. ft. of meeting space showcases the produce and culinary talents of the region. On my visit, Chef Michael Riddell riffed off local ingredients and cultures to present a seven-course paired culinary journey through Silicon Valley featuring everything from delicate ricotta, pea, pistachio and lemon ravioli to ribeye with smoked carrots and beets.
The SF Peninsula is a destination focused on business and pleasure. To prove it, The Hangar aviation-themed space in the center of South San Francisco’s medpharma facilities, serves groups with a cafe, full-service restaurant and outdoor lounge, a marke90t hall and conference facilities.
Nourish
A short drive from the bustle of the tech world, San Jose is home to an emerging wine region, New Almaden. Alamitos Vineyard is a tribute to the pioneers of winemaking transplanted from the Azores Islands of Portugal and a respite from the busy world.
Hallmark-channel-worthy downtowns along US 101 include Belmont, where Amara restaurant is the newest hidden garden entry from Michelin-recognized restaurateurs specializing in Mediterranean delights. Save room for the praline pistachio opera cake.
LEED Platinum Twelvemonth in adorable downtown Burlingame is completely plant-based and an adventure as guests move from garden to bar to dining room to cafe and private meeting space. Down the street, Stella has moved into a new, larger space with similar indoor-outdoor options and a focus on comforting Italian fare.
Experience
It might be time to get off I-580 and check out Filoli Historic House and Garden. This wonderland of nature-inspired meeting spaces includes a gilded ballroom for 120, a woodland court for up to 800 and the meadow for more than 1,000.
If your group wants to stay airport-adjacent, SFO Marriott Waterfront Hotel puts guests in front-row seats to watch landings and takeoffs. You can stay here and go anywhere.
Nearby, Topgolf Burlingame is the new hot spot for team building. Ask Katie about adding a shot of trivia or relay race action to the outing.
This article appears in the July/August 2025 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
