Hey it’s Wes and Chanda and welcome to DinkLife! On this adventure, we headed 45 minutes south of San Francisco to visit the famous Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. It’s been a must-see on Wes’s bucket list for years, and we finally got the chance to explore it. We picked a Saturday visit to also take in a fun little Christmas market and oddities expo happening on the grounds.
The house itself is fascinating—totally bizarre and full of weird architectural decisions, from staircases that go nowhere to spiderweb designs and rooms with exactly 13 of everything. Though video isn’t allowed inside the tour, we took tons of photos and soaked in all the history. One of the coolest parts was the basement tour, where you wear hard hats and explore a section believed to be the most haunted in the house. Definitely worth the extra $13.
We were surprised to find that the mansion sits in the middle of a busy industrial park. It’s strange to see this historic and spooky house nestled among office buildings, but it adds to the experience in a cool way. The property used to be farmland, and the contrast between past and present is dramatic.
Overall, the Winchester Mystery House tour was absolutely worth the visit. It’s a perfect 2-hour excursion and an easy day trip from San Francisco. We’d definitely come back—especially around Halloween to see what they do with the place. Remember, as always, whatever you decide to do, just get out there and do it!
Website: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
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