Our pretty, local park. Beautiful views, good facilities, relaxed community feel. We are blessed to…read morehave it!

This is a very clean park--including the bathrooms and water fountain. The structure area is small…read more(best for ages 3-8), but there is nice space for picnics and frisbee, tennis courts, basketball hoops, and a community center. Plus there is a view. A good place to host a party or meet young families for lunch.

Wish I knew about this garden when I was a student at CAL. This park is part of the landscaping…read moreprogram at CAL. Even the door was inconspicuous and at first glance, we were not sure if the entry was the secret staff entry or an actual entryway. It was my first time here and it was hidden in a quiet Kensington neighborhood. I accidentally found this park on Yelp and didn't think much about it but my hubby and I were surprised how charming this park is. It was like a little fairyland full of ethereal cottage flowers such as wispy cosmos moving with the breeze and happy bees everywhere. There were volunteers planting Benary zinnias and other flowers. There was a clean bathroom inside their office and plants offered for a donation. I saw mothers with their babies talking as if they come here all the time. There was a group of elderly women chatting and enjoying the peaceful garden. I was there for 30 minutes before lunch and only saw about 35 percent of the garden and I look forward to another trip to this secret garden in Kensington.

This garden is a bit off the beaten path, it's part of UC Berkeley but 3.5 miles north in the hills…read moreof Kensington. I was surprised because it was much bigger than I had imagined. At 10 acres it's a pretty decent size with a maze of little trails to explore and over 1,500 plant species. I wish they had more signage of what everything was, there were a few placards but for people that are really into botany it would have been more interesting. My favorite parts were the views of the bay and the redwood forest nestled near a creek. It's very calm here, probably because it's only open on the weekdays so it doesn't get too crowded. It's is ideal for a romantic stroll, or to take a meditative walk and it has many benches around to sit.

Really like coming here. It's clean and the staff and lifeguards are nice and attentive.read more

Since I wrote my last review a few years ago I've stopped going to the El Cerrito Pool at all. It…read morehas been taken over by aggressive (mostly male) swimmers whose behavior is not at all controlled or reined in by lifeguards or anyone else. Sharing a lane is like a contact sport, and I just got fed up with it. Also, the water fitness program has basically dissolved - very few classes with poor instruction.

Great view and easy to climb. There are steps too that make it easier to get down. It's never too…read morecrowded the times I've come. People also respect the rock and it's usually clean in the surrounding area. Parking can be challenging because it's in a residential area, but sometimes people make their own parking if they're not staying too long. It's a great place that is close enough to get to without long windy roads and still have an amazing, clear view.

Indian Rock Park offers a serene escape, perfect for quiet reflection or quality time with family…read more The views are nothing short of breathtaking.

Abra has one of a kind energy! We attended an event there this past weekend and the facility was…read moresuper clean and prepared for the event. They were thorough making sure those that entered had clean shoes and sanitized hands. Staff was kind, helpful and friendly. It was a long day and staff stayed high energy and diligent throughout. Thanks for a great event!

I'll preface this by saying I believe USC is probably the best option in the area. I have had two…read morekids going here for roughly a year plus. Pros: facility is solid it has a lot of potential activities and different ways kids can grow and learn gymnastics. They also have a play area which is clutch for dealing with kids who don't have class at the same time. Cons: teachers look often inexperienced and turnover is common. First few months we had two younger but quite vocal and directed coaches. Now it's tricky. In my other class we have more experienced coaches, but midway through the class they tend to lose focus and kids are sorta all over the place. They have some odd rules and enforce or change them at what seems random. Sit in the wrong spot? They'll announce a general warning not to do that. Bring your kids to the door that they used to let them in last week that without warning was changed to the other one? You bet that's gonna be a public service announcement about you messing up. Overall: experience is going to be class dependent especially with the teachers. If I knew there was a clearly better option I'd probably take it. As of now I believe USC is probably the best option in the area.

My son enjoys this class, but a lot of the movements are things he learned at preschool. I would…read moredefinitely suggest for children who stay at home and need a fun activity or need to improve large motor skills. Some instructors are great and another appears like they'd rather be anywhere else, but my son likes the class and is sad he only has one more left.

The rec department is one of my favorite things about El Cerrito. It really does provide a sense of…read morecommunity. They maintain the many parks around us and they are enjoyed by all. Their summer camp, break camp and after school programs are really well managed. During the pandemic they had a flexible option to make sure children could still interact safety. My favorite is summer camp though. Through their website they have many different options throughout the week. They have tons of sports, art, games, STEM, and lots of options in general. My son always has fun and returns home tired. They also have easy to use website for signing up for activities, renting out picnic tables and grills for parties, and pool and event info. Some of their more notable events are the swimming with pumpkins, the earth day event, and my fav the 4th of July Event, it's really epic. Also, the baseball program is amazing.

When is a rock a park? Well, here's an answer to that question. It's less than a third of an acre,…read moreand most of it is a big immovable rock formation. Geologists might have a field day assessing the volcano-based outcropping, but the ignorant (not the igneous) might beg to differ as it is a quick walk around and then you move on. Zealots can climb on it for views, but I'm not that adventurous even though there are carved stairs. Let's just say I'd be the character telling people not to climb the upside-down Christmas tree in "The Poseidon Adventure" and die five minutes later. RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

All of the three rhyolite exposures in the Berkeley Hills, this, Grotto Rock Park, is definitely…read morethe one with the easiest and best view of the bay. But it's also the least maintained, most run-down, and most overgrown of the three parks along Indian Rock Road (Mortar Rock, Grotto Rock, and Indian Rock).

A solid little neighborhood park up in the Hills. Street parking only and nearby are some…read moreincredible views of the Bay and the City. The top part by a green area great for a picnic or catch, has a huge sand area and a little tot playground. Take the stairs or the huge concrete slide down to the lower part to find some monkey bars and a structure for slightly older kids. Clean, nice, and a little respite in this neighborhood; a great local gem. Maybe not something you'd go out of your way for, although the concrete slide is fun!

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more Located a Spruce and Michigan though barely visible at street level, it's scarcely an acre and hardly relevant to anyone outside of a mile radius, but this little park does provide a certain neighborhood charm despite the steep slope upon which it rests. When should a park be called a parklet after all? Apparently it's been around for quite a while, around eighty years which is quite a milestone for such a prime piece of Berkeley Hills real estate. Even though there are no restrooms (a moot point during a pandemic), there are facilities for toddlers and school-age gnomes, a small picnic table, a patch of green, and unavoidably, a forty-foot concrete slide which the park website states "use at your own risk". The ragged cardboard remnants weren't calling my name. I don't know who Dorothy is, but any park that reminds me of characters in "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Golden Girls" can't be bad. RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of place I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Smaller park with not all that much going on - but its special somehow. Its open, it has some large…read moreboulders or rocks and the altitude adds to appeal. If you have little kids they might not like this. Older adults are more likely to appreciate what this is here. Not many improvements or things for little ones to do but there is open space and unusual looking rocks. No faces that I could see - you have to have imagination but still, they command attention. I don't really like dark thickly wooded areas. Its seems creepy and my imagination could run wild thinking about what might lurk nearby out of sight. This place is open, has fresh air and is not all that popular... all things that could make this a good place depending on what you like. I felt it was serene - peaceful. Bring your (leashed) dog here - both of you can sniff around instead of the same old place for the 30th time.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more OK, I give up. Which rock has the face, and whose face is it? Am I taking the name too literally? Hey, I wasn't expecting Mt. Rushmore, but I was looking for an outcropping that could pass for a nose or maybe an ear. On the plus side, this rock park has actual green space flanking the boulders. You can find it off Arlington Avenue on Thousand Oaks at San Fernando. There are two benches, a picnic table, a water fountain, and of course, the rocks to climb on if you're so inclined. Adjacent to the park is Indian Trail, a rocky path that takes you down to The Alameda. Now, could someone show me the face? RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

My daughter has been to KC Summer Day Camp many times over the past few years and she absolutely…read moreLOVES it. The counselors are truly wonderful: fun, caring, and creative and each week the camp has a different theme lead by local experts or artisans (from carpentry and engineering to jewelry and gymnastics) so the kids are never bored. My daughter also looked forward to their weekly field trips which took them on various adventures throughout the Bay Area.The cost is extremely reasonable for a camp of this caliber and the location is picturesque - nestled in the Kensington Hills near Berkeley. Also, a huge plus for this busy working parent is their early drop off and late pick up on those days when I need it. We'll be there again this summer!

How refreshing. If you, like me, have a whole spreadsheet full of summer camps lined up for your…read morekids, you, like me, might get cranky about how many of them have short hours, high prices, longish drives, complicated drop offs and pickups. KCC Camp is so simple. So easy. It's all day, so great for working parents. Each week there's a different theme and specialized classes with a teacher--carpentry, say, or gymnastics. There's a field trip every Wednesday (on an actual bus--no parent driving required! Yay!). There's always tennis and structured play, but also plenty of downtime if that's what your kid wants. It's not the most coddling camp ever, but the kids have fun and come home happy.