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Transit
I suggest taking mass transit for political and personal reasons. Remember, we have the worst congestion in the country, and you’ll be a happier camper if you don’t get caught in it.
Happenings
For up to date listings on events in the Bay Area, consult the San Francisco Chronicle Online.
Nature Writing
Tom Stienstra is the SF Chronicle’s outdoor writer and author of lots of books on the great CA outdoors.
Resources for Parents
Two great online resources for Bay Area families are
The Parents Network
and
GoCityKids.com: The City Guide for Parents
***OAKLAND***
HIKES
The East Bay Regional Parks are the place to see redwood trees, Bay views and views of Mt Diablo. The most popular walk, with good reason, is in Redwood Park, along the West Ridge trial and. It has pleasant shade, wide trails and you can walk for as little or long as you like. It’s a moderate hike. To reach the trial head, take the Joaquin Miller exit off 580, continue to Skyline and turn left, until you reach the parking lot on your right. My favorite short hike (1 hour) in the East Bay is Roberts Park. You also go along Skyline until you reach the turnoff to Roberts Park, on your right, about halfway up the hill. Stop for a swim at the public pool or continue past the pool and down the hill to the trailhead for Graham Trail on the left. Follow the trail to the right for a loop.Check the map or you’ll get lost. You can easily walk from the trailhead to the Chabot Observatory (about 45 minutes) or get in your car and drive there by going up the mountain on Skyline Blvd
Chabot Space and Science Center This recently opened observatory is a great place for a romantic evening or a place to take kids. On Friday and Saturday nights you can look (for free!) through the giant telescope or linger with amateur astronomers. Last winter, I saw the rings of Saturn, just like in a textbook. Located in the East Bay Regional Parks, off Skyline Blvd.
Mt View Cemetery in Oakland at the end of Piedmont Ave, 5000 Piedmont Ave near Pleasant Hill. You can walk or drive to see the fantastic Bay views from Mt Tam and San Pablo Bay, to the Bay Bridge and lots of Oakland. Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1863, (the same architect who designed Central Park, Yosemite and Golden Gate Park), it's home to some old monuments, including the famous "melancholy angels" on some tombstones. They have tours the second Sat of every month. 510-658-2588
Jack London Square
Lots of restaurants along the waterfront including Jack London’s old watering hole. Here’s where you can catch the ferry to San Francisco and Angel Island.
Lake Merritt
Our urban park near downtown. It’s fun to walk around here and see the diversity of who lives in Oakland. Visit Fairyland with the kids or go for a gondola experience in authentic Venetian gondolas. Prices start at $55 a couple. 510-663-6603. Reservations recommended. With the energy crisis, they’ve turned off the necklace of lights around the lake but it’s still a pretty place at night.
Lake Temescal-East Bay Regional Parks
Swim or sunbathe at this human made lake. Lifeguards and a big beach make this an easy and safe place to swim. Picnic tables and wild blackberries along the hiking trail on far side of lake.
RESTAURANTS
Manzanita Restaurant. It's been renovated but the organic food remains the same. An affordable set lunch and dinner menu when you need that cleansing that only organic food can provide. And the people watching is fun too. 1050 40th Street, near Adeline, 985-6447
Tropix Backyard Cafe. A great patio serving Caribbean cuisine for dinner and brunch. 3814 Piedmont Ave, near MacArthur 653-2444
AG Ferrari. chain of Italian delis has excellent picnic fare--gourmet sandwiches and a tasty olive bar. Located at 4001 Piedmont, 2905 College and 6119 LaSalle (Montclair)
Nan Yang. Burmese eatery on the trendy College Ave at Claremont. Tell the owner and chef, Philip Chu, that Karen from Earth Day sent you. He might make up some pea sprouts for you. The mango garlic noodles are a winner. 655-3298
***BERKELEY***
HIKES
Tilden Park, Lake Anza-East Bay Regional Parks
Inspiration Point is the favorite hike here but I also like Wildcat Canyon and the Seaview Trail. Lots of great things for kids including a nature center, petting zoo, merry-go-round, ponies and steam trains. The swimming is fine at Lake Anza.
Marina. A favorite place for a sunset stroll or if you like to fly kites. Birding here includes burrowing owls, and all the usual shorebirds. You can rent rent sail boats and wind surfing equipment at the Cal Sailing Club. Pick up some snacks at the delicious Seabreeze Deli on the entrance to the Marina. Also, the Adventure Playground at the marina is a terrific place where kids can use hammers and saws to build structures plus go on a pulley ride.
LIVE MUSIC
La Peña. My home away from home, where you can see everything from Chilean singers to the latest hip hop from the Oakland hood. Very diverse audience. Also has a restaurant serving Latin American fare. 3105 Shattuck Ave at Prince (near Ashby BART) 849-2568
Ashkenaz Dance Hall.
Great live dance music with wooden dance floor. Mostly white hippy types. 1317 San Pablo (near Gilman) 525-5054
Freight and Salvage.
Acoustic music in an intimate setting 1111 Addison (near University) 548-1761
FOOD SHOPPING
Berkeley Bowl. This Berkeley institution is a full service market with an amazing assortment of fresh produce, a good part of it organic. Excellent deli for picnic fare. Open 9am-8pm, Sunday, 10am-8pm. 2020 Oregon at Shattuck, 843-6929
Farmer’s Markets
The best place to get organic produce from the farmers themselves. Tues and Sat markets in Berkeley.
Saturday
Farmer’s Market 10am-2pm at Grand Lake under overpass, near Lake Merritt, Oakland
RESTAURANTS
Caffe Venezia. My friend John Solomon is the restaurateur here. Venezia serves classy Italian food in a charming piazza with a fountain and overhead clothesline. 1799 University Ave, 849-4681.
Downtown with live jazz. I haven’t gotten into this new, highly anticipated eatery but it looks promising at the corner of the “arts district,” Addison and Shattuck.
649-3810
***SAN FRANCISCO***
Valencia Street. A walk along Valencia between 16th and 24th will take you through the different incarnations that make the Mission district so intriguing. Great ethnic restaurants, bookstores and some honest-to-god thrift stores.
Kabuki Hot Springs. 1750 Geary in San Francisco
I recently spent an afternoon here ($12 before 5pm, $16 after) and was completely refreshed by the hot water and dry sauna. Don’t get there too late on women’s days as you may have to wait. The baths are open daily. Women only on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Men only on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Tuesday is co-ed and a bathing suit is required to use the baths on this day. Finish up with a bowl of noodles upstairs in the Japan Center.
Glide Memorial Methodist Church . We didn’t rollick like this in church growing up. Cecil Williams started this church in the Tenderloin at 330 Ellis (at Taylor). Sunday celebrations are at 9 am and 11 am. Line up 40 minutes early to be sure and get a seat. Rich and poor together, clapping, dancing, singing, holding hands with the Glide Ensemble and Change Band.
***MARIN***
Muir Woods. It’s on almost every tourist’s must do list and it’s really not overrated. "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods. An easy walk takes you through the main grove, but longer trails start on either side of the park. The ascent up the Dipsea Trail is grueling at first but your reward is a vista of what feels like the entire Bay Area from San Francisco to Pt Reyes. Located 45 minutes north of San Francisco, off Highway 101.
Steep Ravine Environmental Campground. I’m still amazed by the number of my friends who have yet to experience this gem practically in our own backyard, south of Stinson Beach, along Hwy 1.You practically have to call 6 months to the day to reserve the cabins (which come with nada). I prefer the campsites and they’re not that hard to reserve if you call 2-3 months out. Last summer we saw an amazing skeleton of a gray whale that had died because of global warming. As the ocean temps rise, the plankton die off and a record number of whales are dying. A State Park.
Calistoga. If relaxation is the goal, then Calistoga is the place, located 1 and 1/2 hours north of the East Bay. There are lots of springs to try. One is Calistoga Spa Hot Springs Telephone: 707-942-6269
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