What to do in San Jose/San Fran

MrRed5 will be heading over to San Jose at the end of May for work and the girls and I are going to tag along.  Even though I won't be able to get to see my family (due to lack of $$) I can't wait to get back to US soil as it has been 4 years. 
We will be over for 10 days at the end of May/beginning of June. 
Our girls are 11 and 8.  The 11 year old has some additional needs which will prevent us from doing activities that are too strenuous or are very lengthy.  MrRed5 will be working most of the time so it will be just the girls and I.
Does anyone have any family friendly ideas that aren't too costly? 
 

I grew up in San Jose!  I just came back from a visit two weeks ago.

If you have a car it will make getting around a lot easier, but there is Light Rail and buses if you are central.

Happy Hollow is an old family favorite which has been majorly renovated in recent years. Day entrance is about $12.95 or annual membership is $35.

http://www.hhpz.org/

In the same plot of land there is also the Japanese Friendship Gardens (free) and History San Jose (Tuesdays - Fridays free). http://www.historysanjose.org/wp/ Bring a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. Likewise there are parks dotted all over San Jose so depending on your location you should easily find greenspace.

The Children's Discovery Museum is a good place to take kids too. $10 each

http://www.cdm.org/index.asp?f=1

There is also a farmer's market downtown on Fridays. http://www.sjdowntown.com/FarmerMarket.html

SJ libraries are also good. The one downtown is large.

Then of course the shopping malls, movie theatres... Target! The usual good old American stuff.

On the weekends in May and June when you will be there, Bay Area cities host free arts festivals.

I am happy to answer any questions.

If you can get down there, I highly recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's spoiled all other aquariums for me (so far).

Yes but if I remember right it costs big bucks.

Thank you!  There are some really great ideas and since we will have a car it will make getting to them easier.  Both girls love to read so we will definitely be going to the library.  The weather should be good so we will be spending plenty of time at the parks. 
Since we may be transferring out there in a year or two it will also give me a chance to scope the area out.
Now I just need to focus on getting some extra weight off.  I've gained a bit over the winter due to stress eating. 

You will love it if you take time to enjoy it slowly. Don't forget the redwoods are as close as Saratoga and the beach in Santa Cruz. A nice drive.

You will love it if you take time to enjoy it slowly. Don't forget the redwoods are as close as Saratoga and the beach in Santa Cruz. A nice drive.

Ah, the beach at Santa Cruz ... 

Los Gatos is quite a nice town to visit

San Francisco is also one my absolute favourite US cities, so get there if you can as well 

Los Gatos is quite a nice town to visit

Check out the lake and children's play area in the park at Vasona. There is also a train and carousel.

I'll add Vasona, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz to my list.  The 8 year old loves the beach, the 11 year old not so much.  But it is all about tradeoffs, so the beach one day and then we will do something that the 11 year old wants to do. 
 

San Francisco is also one my absolute favourite US cities, so get there if you can as well 

This. It reminds me of Vancouver, with better weather and hills, instead of mountains. 

I think if you go to SF, just taking the cable cars is fun, if it's manageable for the girls.

This looks kinda cool in SF:
http://creativity.org/

Oh, am a bit jealous! 

Hope you have loads of fun!

If you like Chinese food, be sure to check out House of Nanking on Kearny St in San Francisco. And for great beer, The Toronado on Haight.