When our kids were young, we lived in San Jose. We used to take our munchkins to a city park that butted up against an old estate. We could peer through an ancient hedge and see a huge, decrepit old mansion - abandoned, spooky, mysterious.
In the 90s, the property was purchased -- The Historic Hayes Mansion -- it was renovated and transformed into a hotel, restaurant and convention center.
It sits smack in the middle of a thriving suburban San Jose neighborhood, and it's magnificent. Craig and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary with a romantic dinner there in 1995. Two years ago, my sister was married there in an intimate family ceremony. When my sisters and I get together, Cosmos at The Hayes, in front of the fireplace, are a mandatory part of the weekend.
If you find yourself in the South Bay, put The Hayes Mansion on your list of Off-The-Beaten-Path places to visit. Read more here.
