A great place for the entire family. A beautiful park where you don't have to drive for hours to…read morevisit. On the weekends, parking is $5. Best to get there early because parking fills up quick. I was there for a BBQ on July 25th, at 10 a.m., and I was able to make parking in the overflow. There's parking on the outside street, but that fills up quick, as well. Anyway, inside the park, there's a long trail that goes all the way around the lake. There's boat rental, either kayak, paddle boat, you can rent a tour boat. I think you can bring your own boat, but it's best to call and make sure. There's BBQ and picnic benches. Volleyball court. A lot of green grass to sit, play sports. There's only one restroom near the boating area, and a few small restrooms if you trek around the lake. There are plenty of hiking trails. There's camping as well. An outdoor Cafe next to the boats. No swimming or wading. You can fish, but I wouldn't eat what you catch. There's warning signs about the water.

So this reservoir was built in 1874 but closed to public, then opened for recreational use in the…read more60s. So the trails around the lake have matured really well. Like most parts of the paved trails are very well shaded from trees that have grown over those years. My dog and I walk for around an hour to hour and a half, so we usually pick west or east from the parking lot and return the same way. I think we've only explored like half of the lake so far. I've seen wild turkeys, deers, rabbits, and ducks around. And if you are wearing overear headphones, you get the natures remix with all the birds and insects chirping.

Definitely an amazing family day at the Oakland Zoo! My family had such a great time! There's so…read moremuch to see and do, and the gondolas were SOOOO cool!!! We got to ride up and back down for part of the zoo. Honestly, that was one of the highlights for us--the views were beautiful and it made getting around the zoo feel like part of the experience. Our absolute favorite was the mountain lions. One of them was literally stalking my son like he was on the menu, and we were dying laughing (while also telling him to maybe back up a little!) Definitely one of those zoo moments we'll remember forever. The animals seemed well cared for, and there were plenty of areas to stop, explore, and take breaks. It's a great place to spend the day with the family, especially if you have kids who love animals. We also grabbed some food while we were there and thought it was pretty good! Definitely on the pricier side, but that's expected at a zoo. Overall, though, we felt like we had a really fun experience and would absolutely come back. I even am considering buying a yearly pass.

Spacious and nice outside, however sooooo many animal habitats are "closed"…read more The gondola has a huge line and you'll need to wait a long time. The bathroom stalls feel like they have zero privacy. Hugeeee gaps let people walk by and see you, and they're so short that if you stand up in the stall you're seen from the chest up. One of them had no space to sit for my legs and I'm petite too. It's very odd and uncomfortable and embarassing to use the bathrooms here.

What a cool glowy wonderland!…read more Went for the first time with my hubs and 2 year old for the 5:30p slot and we had a great time. Each winter season the Oakland Zoo transforms into a colorful vibrant experience and my toddler was enthralled with all of the lit up animals and flowers. Tips -Get tickets as early as you can - they sell out fast. Tickets become available 1 month prior to arrival date. - Arrive early for your time slot, parking lots fill up. -Dress warmly, it got cold especially after taking the gondola on the higher level. I put a puff coat and thick blanket on my baby. -Peruse the ground level first, then go to gondola. Line wasn't so bad at 7p. -Food was pretty good and they have a nice selection and variety in the top level. Tickets are pretty pricy but hey it's an annual thing and they do such a great job with all the displays. The future Oakland display was awesome! Highly recommend for everyone, especially if you have kids. Also saw groups of friends and date nights.

Glow Up This will be…read morethe sixth year for this now annual lantern and light show event here at the Oakland Zoo. It's held daily btwn the months of Nov - Jan, so plenty of time to get down here. As with other years, the lights and lanterns skew towards the animal kingdom and conservation. The Good: *They change it up every year. Carissa had come the previous year with her "family," and she assumed it would be the same thing but she was pleasantly surprised how different it was. *The ride up up the gondola at night is truly epic. And if you happen to get there for the sunset then it's even more so! *One of this year's features is called "The Future of Oakland, " and it's spectacular. You should definitely come just for this. *Even my grumpy, sulky teenager liked this place, so that's gotta count for something, n'est-ce pas? *Food stands (and their outrageous prices) are still operational even at night. *10% discount for members The Meh: *Tickets must be purchased ahead of time and with slotted time slots (you can get there AFTER your time, but not before) and they only go on sale 28 days ahead of time. *Ticket prices fluctuate by certain dates/days ($36-45/adult GA) *Probably won't see any actual animals, but we did see some napping tortoises, flamingos, and the shadow outline of a buffalo. *It's 100% outside, so dress accordingly. The Ugly: *Better put on your patience pants with some of these GD baybay kids and their gentle parenting nimrods following closely behind. Just breathe, ignore them, and watch where you're walking. *These parents with these giant-ass semi-truck sized strollers in very packed areas. Seriously, Meredith? You really need that Airstream to schlep around Chad and Rex? *Getting into the park was kind of a shit-show of SUV drivers trying to demonstrate the enormity of their male genetalia. Must be might impressive from what I gathered. *Tariffs** cost the event $100k more than anticipated, but you know that's OK because they'll just pass the savings onto you. But, don't worry, you start making that money back any day now--I promise! Conclusion: This place would be great if it wasn't for all the fucking people. https://www-ktvu-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.ktvu.com/news/tariffs-making-oakland-zoos-glowfari-tickets-more-expensive-year.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17640286431571&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ktvu.com%2Fnews%2Ftariffs-making-oakland-zoos-glowfari-tickets-more-expensive-year

We came here randomly on a Tuesday afternoon. The young man at the front desk was welcoming and…read morevery polite. Since it wasn't crowded we got a table right near the front of the pool and my son jumped right on in. From the reviews I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The lifeguards were attentive too- Always watching the pool and the kids. although, I never let mine out my sight, it's still a welcoming feeling. Definitely a cute little addition to the park.

Good for toddlers and kids 5 and under. There's a beach entry pool and a cool play structure for…read morethat age. It's $10 each to get in. Parking was reasonable But it was not crowded. For school age kids this spot is a little boring the slide is fun but the part you need to pass a swim test for is only 4ft deep. There is a vending machine with snacks. There is a nice lawn and you can bring in your own food and chairs. Wish this place was open when my kiddo was smaller. There are lifeguards everywhere so it feels super safe

The golf courses are beautifully maintained, and have the perfect amount of challenge for the…read moreaverage mini-golfer. My family and I visited on Sunday morning, and the cashiers were pleasant and seemed to actually enjoy their job. Arcade was clean, and games were all operational. I highly recommend bringing your family or friends here. We will be back soon!

Roll up your sleeves, loosen your hips, steady your stance and get ready for some putt-putt at…read moreGolden Tee Golfland! Castro Valley hosts this mini golf spot that's an affiliate of the Golfland family and features its two 18-hole ranges perfect for beginners and experts alike. After a few rounds on the green, consider venturing into their arcades to play some good old fashioned video games (Time Crisis and other dual player shooters, Mario Kart and other racing games, and fighting games) and skill games (like skee ball, table air hockey, and claw machines). Be wary, however, for those who have game cards from other Golflands, they're location specific so they won't work here unless you have one from this spot. Starting from the giant parking lot which is just off of a busy street, you'll make your way through the gates and stroll up the long walkway to the front desk where you'll register to get your clubs and balls (you'll get your choice from among a few colors). From there, you'll have your pick of the two courses, one for novices and one for the more adventurous. Make your way through the obstacles and mark your scorecard to determine the winner of bragging rights! We came for a birthday party and logistically, they have the main room amongst the beginner course which is well lit from all the open windows but I believe they have another space near the arcade for those looking for a more enclosed, private gathering. Once the guests arrived, they hosted an orientation and got the members all equipped and ready to go. The youngsters had a lot of fun and can't wait to return! The staff were all very friendly and helpful. You'll interact with them more at the arcades especially if you'll be redeeming prizes with your hard-earned digital tickets. The ticket values on the top tier prizes were pretty large but for frequent visitors or lucky winners, you can get some pretty neat stuff here. The mini prizes definitely reminded me of my times at the arcades when I was a kid, very nostalgic! Overall, Golden Tee Golfland is a well-maintained, family friendly environment conducive to an awesome time outdoors as well as an exhilarating experience soaking up the old school arcade vibe. We accumulated a ton of steps during our visit here and the kids could not stop hitting the greens to get their fluorescently colored balls into the holes. The obstacles are fun - there are water effects and moving doors and bridges. While most of them functioned as expected, there were a few hiccups with some like balls getting stuck or certain doors just not functioning as expected. For wetter seasons, the holes for the balls do end up pooling which makes picking the balls out a bit of an unpleasant endeavor. For being exposed to the outdoors, the place was in pretty good shape, however. It's a bummer that the Golflands don't have a unified system for the game cards as it just incentivizes families to just pick one and stick with it instead of venturing out and exploring the other amazing locations like this one. If you're a local, this is a great place to take a date or the family - it'll tee you up for a good time!

We had a team building event this weekend and were looking to have some outdoor fun. Nathan brought…read moreeverything we needed and set up a great spread. We had a great time running around and I got to shoot my manager in the butt. Definitely recommend!

From the owner: We are proud to host Nerf events across the bay area! We use 3D printed blasters made in-house from…read moreour team here in San Jose. We also offer custom printed blasters as well if you want to have a party favor that everyone talks about!

After 6 months training here. My son loves this place just more and more. Highly recommended.read more

This is the place to learn kung fu and get your weekly exercise on. Master Sunny and Master Danny…read moreteach very well, pushing you to work hard while keeping it fun. They know how to support students of all ages and level. Definitely give it a try if you want to learn kung fu, get some exercise, and have some fun.

Located less than 5 minutes from 580 off of the 150th and you're in a world away. Hike, fish, bike,…read morehave a picnic or host a large party/bbq on one of several reservable areas. $5.00 plus 2 for each dog---kind of an honor system but for less than 100 you can get an EBRP year round pass that allows you to visit a lot more parks as many times as you want. Easy decision. M-F seniors get 1/2 off on boat rentals and from there you can finds the fish...if you know what you're doing ;). Anthony Chabot was a man who was instrumental in the California gold rush in the lower Sierras. He helped develop and mastered the hydraulic mining techniques required to reduce mountains to piles of rock to be sifted for gold. After those operations were shut down over environmental concerns, he brought his craft here to help make this reservoir. Amazing really. Nice spot to decompress and get right. Some areas around the lake show clear signs that hydraulic action was used. Birds, frogs, squirrels, butterflies, deer and more.

Chabot Park is not Lake Chabot Regional Park, but it does lead to there with the trails…read more The entrance to this Park is a little dicey to get to, if you're not familiar with this area of the San Leandro/East Oakland border area, it's hard to explain how to get here. And I have a feeling the residents of this area would like to keep it that way, so I'll honor their unwritten code, lol!! The Park itself is very much like your in the woods, lots of trees and fallen trees. They do have restrooms and disc golf here, which seems to be pretty popular, someone always seem to be playing it. Lots of free parking also. But the best thing about this park is the trail that can lead you to Lake Chabot. It starts off all uphill for at least 1/2 mile, then you start downhill and can determine which way around the lake you want to go. If you stay on the paved trail, to the right, you'll cross a bridge which is the Chabot Dam and it's a faster route, although hilly, to Lake Chabot Regional Park. If you choose the dirt trail, to the left, you won't necessarily stay next to the lake the whole way, there's signs to keep you on track. Either way, it's a great walk or run, watch and listen for the bike riders, sometimes they are really speeding coming off those hills. And if you're going to walk all the way around, bring water. Also, there's not a lot of areas where you get phone service. Always enjoy coming here, convenient for me!!

My family and I come here twice a week, and it has truly become one of our favorite places. There's…read moresomething special about stepping onto this field, it's where we laugh, compete, and spend quality time together. The field itself is always in great shape, making every game enjoyable, but it's more than just a place to play. It's where memories are made, and where we all get to share in the love of the game. We're so grateful for this space and couldn't recommend it more!

Markus and Michael S. were awesome! Markus was the tour guide on our boat. My sister booked a trip…read morewhile I was in town visiting! I had an absolute blast! We had great conversation the entire trip and I truly enjoyed his story! He listened to our stories and we had an amazing trip! Thank you so much for the adventure and positive outlook on life!

We took a Class 3 day trip on the South Fork of the American last week. Everything was…read moreprofessionally done and went smoothly. Our equipment was in excellent shape. Our guide was experienced, patient and knew the river well. He took good care of my 10 year old granddaughter, who was a first-timer. This is a quality outfit. I recommend them without reservation. Of note: the South Fork has become a bit crowded with rafts. I'll be trying a different river next time.