San Jose, California

From its official designation as California's first capital in 1849 to today's informal title as the "Capital of Silicon Valley" San Jose has always played a starring role in the state's history.

Originally founded by Spanish pioneers back in 1777 as El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, two centuries later California's first civilian settelment has grown into America's 10th largest city and Northern California's biggest-surpassing even San Francisco, that "other city" just an hour to the north.

Passengers who happen to glance out the windo as they land at San Jose International Airport may notice that the city's growth has been more horizontal than vertical, as it lacks the usual big-city downtwon cluster of glittering steel skyscrapers. In fact a stroll downtown almost feels more suburban than urban. But don't let that deceive you; all the elements you'd expect from a big city are here: ethnic diversity, world-class performing arts and museums, cutting-edge art exhibits, national pro sports teams, a trhiving dining scene, pulsing nightlife, and, yes, headache-worthy rush-hour traffic.