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Falafel's is a classic drive-in serving middle eastern food that has been in San Jose since 1966, and it was even featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives show.  Although it is called a drive-in, you technically need to park in the parking lot nearby and then walk up to the window and order. There are picnic tables outside on the patio for dining and some tables inside as well. We definitely recommend the Large Falafel with Banana Shake (made with real bananas - delish), which we usually split with some fries, but you could get your own if you're really hungry. If you want more options for things to explore, Los Gatos is about a15 minutes drive away (on average) and Santa Cruz and Capitola are about a 45 minute to hour drive away.

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Options Further Away in California: If you are planning on staying in California a little longer before or after our wedding, or are just up for venturing out a little further during a shorter stay in California, here are some of our other suggestions for some common tourist stops in the Bay Area and in the state of California in general: 

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• San Francisco is about one hour north from the wedding and offers endless options for things to do in an iconic and historical city. Some of the most common tourist activities include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Zoo, Lombard Street, and/or visiting some of endless museums and excellent restaurants in the city. 

• Monterey is about one hour south from the wedding and Carmel is just a bit further down the coast. Monterey is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in California and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and the Steinbeck Center (nearby in Salinas) are some of the most frequented attractions in the area. Monterey also offers glass bottom boat tours of the Monterey Bay (a marine sanctuary) as well as restaurants and shops on and near the wharf. Carmel-by-the-Sea (Carmel) is a smaller seaside city just south of Monterey with gorgeous beaches and upscale shops and restaurants. It's famous for 17 Mile Drive and the Pebble Beach Golf Course. No matter what you do in Carmel or Monterey, both offer California Central Coast beauty at its best and are lovely places to just take in the views and relax. 

• Big Sur Coastline: If you continue south of Carmel and Monterey, you will soon come to the iconic coastal area called Big Sur. The coastline for the next hour or so is one of the most beautiful drives in the country! Drive carefully on the twists and turns, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged coastline below. This is one of the few places you may spot California condors, as well as sea otters, sea lions, and possibly whales, if you're lucky. There are many places to pull over and enjoy the views, grab a bite to eat at a charming restaurant, or check out some local arts and crafts. There are many places to camp along the coastline, but you typically need a reservation well in advance .

• State Parks Nearby: There are a number of California State Parks within 30 minutes to an hour of the wedding, depending on where you go. The closest state parks, all of which offer nature walks, hiking trails, and information about the local coast redwoods, include Big Basin State Park (heavily impacted by the CZU fires in 2020), Portola Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, The Forest of Nisene Marks, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and Castle Rock State Park. If you are interested in beaches, Wilder Ranch State Park and Año Nuevo State Park (breeding grounds for elephant seals in the late fall and winter months) are good options nearby. 

• National Parks: California has the most National Parks of any state in America. Garth and Kelly love going to National Parks and have been to nearly all of them in California. Some of the ones in this state that we recommend for the diverse beauty that California offers are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lassen National Park, and Redwood National & State Parks. 

• Other Coastal Cities and Attractions: California is definitely famous for its beautiful cities along the coast, with Santa Cruz being one of them. If you are interested in taking a drive south or catching a flight, be aware that the iconic Big Sur Coast is closed to public access because of slides along Hwy 1 that are currently being repaired. However, some of the coastal cities that we recommend the most are San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and Santa Barbara. If you want to venture even further south, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego offer endless opportunities for urban and natural activities, including Disneyland! 

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