This park is absolutely delightful. It sits in the city of Piedmont, which is a bit of unusual city…read moregeographically because it is completely encapsulated by Oakland. It's somewhat of an oasis in Oakland. And this park is an oasis within that. The park isn't huge, but it does the job. Love the trails, great with the dog, and every once in a while, they'll have the food trucks. Parking nearby is easy.

We spent a crisp morning walking throughout the variety of trails in Piedmont Park. There's a dog…read morerun, play structure, plenty of bench seating, and many shady areas to explore. The safety railings and paved walkways with extra grooves to prevent slippage, especially in steeper sections. The trails would also make a great place to run as most of the paving is flat. This is definitely a place for repeat returns.

Beautiful park in Oakland. Lots of nice trails and there are dedicated off leash dog areas and dog…read morepark. Plenty of parking is available as well. There is a playground for children and steps for those that want to use stairs for their exercise routine.

Toddler + little kid review…read more - Plenty street parking - No restroom - Two small play structures on rubber mat flooring, swings and benches. We bring a blanket and picnic under the oak trees. - Cascade stairs lead up to a water fountain, room to run around the fountain. Water is not clean enough for kids to place a hand and play in. - Upper area has mature oak trees, perfect for little kids to climb and a field to run through. We found large sticks and whacked pine cones, girls collected acorns and made "bowls" for squirrels, there is room for children to be creative. - Great place for kids to run free, with supervision. Occasionally we see couples getting "friendly" with each other but park is large enough to relocate away from it. - Bring a hat and water bottle, can get sunny.

Never disappointed with a visit to Jean Sweeney Park. Our daughter enjoys the various play areas as…read moreshe navigates between the different areas, existing in some spaces longer than others. After parking, if you can find a spot, the first play area includes a trampoline, climbing structure, a wide metal slide and an oversized musical chime. To the right, a spacious mesh swing spins with kids constantly filling and spinning it. Directly in front is an ample sand area with a brick barrier surrounding it. To the left are three picnic tables. In front of the sand area is the smaller kids play area which is directly next to the restrooms and water fountain. To the left of the little play area is the zip line. When you go further in to the park, there is a covered area with lots of picnic tables and seating grouped together, more benches and lots of grass to play and explore further. There are paths to ride bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards. During warmer weather this park is packed. When we visited, following a prior event, there were already lots of kids on a gray, windy, overcast day. This park is spacious on the interior but parking on the exterior is limited. The parking lot is minimal for the amount of space to explore, which is awesome but makes it difficult to navigate up close parking. Street parking is not really existent unless you enter on the opposite end of the park.

An amazing open space park, with room for plenty of activities and a playground large enough to…read morehold a large amount of kids! The playground has multiple areas for activities; sandpit, toddler play structure, large metal slide, and rope climbing jungle gym. The best part? The long rope swing! Parking was plentiful, and there were plenty of logs for parents to enjoy the shade while being close to their kids. Bathrooms are present as well as picnic tables.

The Lake Temescal loop is a beautiful easy-medium short walk that's a little over a mile…read more As you walk the only partially paved trail you'll see a ton of wildlife (ducks and fish) and quite a few dogs being walked as well as a waterfall water feature. The views are picturesque and it's quite serene for how busy it is. The second half of the trail (after you loop around near the fallen tree) isn't paved and in poor weather would be likely too muddy to be particularly safe, so I would probably walk elsewhere after a good rain or while it's drizzling. All in all, we had nevr been to this lake before and it was gorgeous so we fully intend to return!

Great place for fishing or a walk if you live in the area. Its a scenic place for not being all…read morethat large. Parking lot, kids play structure BBQ areas and picnic tables along with a clean walking path around the edge make for a good day with friends or family. I think it had been 35 years since I was last here since a few days ago. I barely remember a company picnic with my parents as a little kid. Obligatory company Christmas parties and picnics I'm sure everybody knows what those are about - and as a little kid it wasn't so bad. I think just now as we get older its the type of thing we look to gracefully exclude ourselves from. Too cool for school, too cool for Lake Temescal - yeah, maybe I think so.

Very pretty, shady park that's beautifully maintained. The lower section is a playground that's…read moreaccessible at the end of Artuna Ave. You can walk up a trail to the upper section, or access from Dracena Ave. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the trails, but not the grassy lawn or playground area. It's a nice park and good for dogs who like to trot along the path with you. But if you have a rambunctious dog (like I do) who wants to tangle with other dogs or launch off the edge of the trails, this is probably not the best fit. If you've got little kids, or just want to go for a walk, Dracena Quarry Park is a good bet.

Love it! Respite for a weary woman grieving. Peace and quiet for me and my pup. We will be…read moreregulars. Sooooooo grateful?

In The Teen and I's new Friday ritual of water watching before we head home, we stopped by Crown…read moreMemorial before heading through the tunnel to let traffic die down a bit.. This was definitely the place to be back in the day! Parking was a snap and we found a bench to sit on starting the water watching. The view was awesome and the sun was shining just like Bob Marley said. There were people, young and old playing in the sand, lots of bike riders, and of course, those dog walkers. The Teen put the phone down and ventured out and some sand, touching and driftwood drifting.. Definitely, we will be back when it gets warmer with hopes of finding front row parking again!

Great family beach! Lots of things to see and do here if you crave that low key beach life.read more

Notable is the skyline views of San Francisco. Very new park near the brewery and 'spirit alley' -…read moreis that what they call it where Almanac is located? Come here for the views. Very pleasant in the evening when the sun is going down. Lots of new apartments in the area - and I suppose that is who this park is mostly for. This area used to be the old Navel Air station. It is slowly getting transformed one park and residence at a time. There is a lot of hidden areas here in the general area that most people probably don't know about. Scolaries food truck I think is one of the bigger highlights.

A great new park in Alameda!!…read more This park sprung up as a result of the Naval Base being shut down, as did all the nearby apartments.. This area is now called Alameda Point. This is a good park, located near the water. It's long, flat, and straight, seems like a good place for skateboarding or the like!! The art structure stands out here. Lots of places to sit here also. A very good addition to this area!!

I have heard of Lake Merritt but never understood what it was- a broad body of still water that…read moreoffers woodsy beauty and peace, amidst Oakland's modest city buzz and blurs. Like many lesser known experiences, which resides in big cites that do noy enjoy an established and fabulous reputation, they suffer from underdeveloped marketing. But, now I am one who will chant that Lake Merritt, is not just a good place to stop by, but a touristy spot. It certainly does not match the green, show, and institutions that reside withing San Francisco's Golden Gate Park but this park certainly offers much to classify it as a stop of interest, at some point in a Bay area vacation. The lake was expansive, however, its wooden and green motif was subdued but present. It was not a garden Nymph dancing and twirling in an elegant, sequenced dressed, it was more of a Nymph resting in a floral dress atop a moss colored trunk and twisted branch. The first nymph was appreciated in action and engagement, while the second nymph is admired for its hypnotic lay. Meaning that Lake Merrit inspired by the tranquil messages its nature told, not by the actions its nature inspired a stroller to take. To make my metaphor more specific in lived experience, I offer the first impulse I had when I approached the lake, which was to sit. For you see, my friend Denise and I had just attended the nearby Lake Merritt farmer's market where we scored the most scrumptious dim sum. And when we neared the lake, my impulse was to sit and take in the non-moving atmosphere of the lake. I was compelled to view the people around the park and not judge their purpose and movement, and to accept the pure stillness of the water, its land, its air, and to finally realize that on this morning my job was to sit and enjoy the view of the lake. This is viewing a nymph at rest. If I were to see the other nymph, I would run into fields of wild flowers so I may know their colors of the skin. After eating the dim sum, Denise and I took a walk. Serendipitously, we saw some ladies with three telescopes, a table, and pamphlets. Can I see through the telescopes I inquired? I was not sure what I would see, but seeing through the telescope should yield a new view of what was around me, I thought. One of the ladies positioned the telescope so I may view some pelicans at rest. And I saw through the telescope, I saw the birds up close. Like I could see them clearly, while I was not near them. I did not know that a telescope could eliminate the perception of distance in such a clear way. And then it happened I saw a pelican open its mouth to yawn, and my world view expanded because I saw a beak bloom. Like the beak did not open up wide, horizontally, it open into a three leaf flower. The top of beak went up, while the bottom of the beak opened wide to two points. I was left in wonder because I saw nature in a different way, I saw a bird, in brilliant and arresting motion, when they were not in flight, but still I saw something span fully, like a three point bloom. As we continued the walk, the sightseeing continued. I saw a small mote filled with pigeons. I stepped into it and approached the birds, imagining a flock in a flurry. But the birds remained still, and did not fly away at my coming presence. I wanted to run to spook them into action in flight, but unfortunately my own fear of drowning kept me from advancing into the plank with reckless abandon. My trip happened on a winter's day, when the air was crisp and the green on trees was minimal. But still the land was not barren, it was simply gathering its might for it to roar in gem, in the coming months. I did capture some trees in pictures that were all twigs and branches. They had become skeletons, but still their was beauty in their lifeless trunks. For the trees branches were gnarled and twisted as a prideful reminder that what is lost can be returned and thus even in lack of visible might something can hold quiet dignity. Plus the blue and white sky created a dynamic background for some of the unadorned trees. As one walked, one can also admire the surrounding buildings. My favorite building, as witnessed from the lake, was a cathedral that looked modern and made out of glass. It was the palace across the land, and blue. Due to all the distractions, Denise and I did not walked the whole loop which would have take at least an hour, especially since I tend to observe and engage, even while in a restful stroll but if I did not I might miss, waters that sparkle in still-life, birds that yawn like flora on parade, and buildings that are uncommon sight. So yeah this place is more than a stroll around the lake it is a mindfulness walk with lots to engage with, if you have the time and patience to embrace the softer side of wild nature.

Grew up a stone's throw from what Oaklanders officially reference as "The Lake." Growing up my…read morelittle brother and I would ride our bikes around the Lake while my mom speed walked. I moved away decades ago and always planned to revisit the Lake Merritt for old times sake. Well the day had come. I enjoyed beautiful special exhibit at the Oakland Museum and rounded my afternoon with a walk around the lake. The weather was perfect, an uncanny, warm February late afternoon for Oakland. Walkers, joggers, friends, families of all ages and shades: a lovely representation of the human tapestry of Oakland. My walk was a sweet, nostalgic memory of my childhood in Oakland and countless visits to Lake Merritt.

This park is fantastic. The first time we visited was back in 2018 and honestly we can't remember…read morewhere we parked or which trails we hiked. But I know we enjoyed ourselves. Fast forward to yesterday. We had a restaurant in Albany that we wanted to check out so of course we had to hike first to get our appetites whet. I found a loop I wanted us to try on AllTrails. It's called the Dunn Trail--Monteiro Trail Loop. We parked at the Richard C. Trudeau Conference Center on Skyline Blvd. It was the perfect spot to start. Free parking. Public restrooms (even flush toilets!). If you have a dog, most of this trail is off-leash which I have never seen before. Every dog we saw were well behaved and having a great time. We don't have dogs of our own but I am a big dog person. This particular loop was exactly what I was looking for. It had several different biomes. Despite what AllTrails said, it is not all shaded but it was a beautiful, sunny, windy day. We saw lots of wildflowers blooming. We found there to be a difference between AllTrails and our measurements. AllTrails said it was roughly 500+ ft elevation gain but ours said 1000. That's a huge difference! But I would believe ours over theirs. There were a lot of inclines. Also, their's said it was 3.5 miles but ours said a mile longer. The trails were all very well maintained. We saw gorgeous views, small waterfalls/creeks, redwoods, butterflies--just lovely. It was less busy than I anticipated but we arrived before 9 a.m. We finished by 11. This is a big park and lots to explore. Highly recommend!

I went hiking at the Reinhardt Regional Redwood Park for the first time and loved it!…read more Plenty of street parking at the Redwood Bowl lot and we had no issues with vehicle break ins, luckily, although there were a few warning signs up to remind you to put your valuables away. There are bathrooms by the Redwood Bowl but we couldn't find any helpful maps so just used our phones to navigate. The trail we ended up taking was around 4 miles and took 2 hours. Most of it was shaded and among redwood trees so I really enjoyed that this could work as an afternoon hike. It's a moderate difficulty level with some steep areas. There's also a popular picnic area with grills and an archery range. You could even walk to the nearby swimming pool or visit the Chabot. We only did one half of the hiking loop so will be back to check out the other side.

Shoreline park is a beautiful walking path and a green belt on Harbor Bay Isle. It's about 6 miles…read morelong and runs into the Harbor Bay ferry. There is a gravel path and cement path for cyclists. On any giving day you can find people walking their dogs, relaxing and watching the beautiful bay and enjoying sunsets. There are several benches throughout the path and they also have restrooms and plenty of trash receptacles. In some sections, they even have picnic tables and barbecue pits. One area also has an outlook and sandbox for children to play in. While out enjoying the path, you can guarantee you will find some beautiful wildlife, and a lot of pictures are taken by photographers and people just blown away by the beautiful view of San Francisco. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a clean, beautiful and romantic path.

The views over here are Phenomenal!! Definitely recommend to catch a breather or two nothing like…read moreit the environment is excellent the atmosphere is amazing