Circle of Palms Plaza, San Jose

Circle of Palms Plaza is one of the more iconic locations in Downtown San Jose. This plaza is in the location where the state's first capital stood from 1849 to 1851. You can see a California state seal on the pavement, with a circle of palm trees surrounding the seal.

The concrete set around the seal contains quotes from the state constitutional convention in 1849. You can also see the Museum of Art at one end of the plaza. Other interesting adjacent locations include the Silicon Valley Financial Center, as well as the Fairmont Hotel, which are interesting landmarks in their own right.

There are lights illuminating the plaza at night that make a very interesting sight. If you visit this area during the winter months, you'll be able to take advantage of an ice rink. Even if you are not a skater, spending time watching people on the rink is always worth it.