I was surprised to find these redwood hiking trails a mere 20 minutes from my house. Plenty of…read moreparking lots, clean restrooms and picnic tables throughout the park. Parking was free when we went on a Monday morning. There's a variety of trails for everyone, even my preschool age kids. We hiked the stream trail which was a good level for them. They were pleased to stumble upon a playground during the hike. The stream itself was quite low and dry this time of year (summer, August). Perhaps it's livelier in the spring or winter. We did not come across much wildlife other than bugs. They recommend wearing long pants in case of ticks.

Flynn and I spent the day exploring Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and it couldn't…read morehave been a more perfect day. The weather was cool, comfortable, and ideal for hiking. One of the things I love most about this park is that it's only about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Oakland, yet once you're surrounded by the towering coast redwoods, it feels like you've escaped deep into the mountains. It's hard to believe you're still in the middle of the East Bay. The park is home to one of the largest remaining natural coast redwood forests in the East Bay, with many trees reaching around 150 feet tall. The area was heavily logged during the 1800s before being preserved and allowed to recover. In 2019, the park was renamed in honor of Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, former president of Mills College and one of the original East Bay Regional Park District board members. Parking is easy with several lots throughout the park. The regular parking fee is $5 per vehicle on staffed weekends and holidays, but during this America 250 celebration weekend, parking was free. With nearly 40 miles of interconnected trails, there's something for everyone--from easy family-friendly walks to longer, more challenging hikes. You could visit multiple times and still discover new trails, such as the French Trail, East Ridge Trail, and West Ridge Trail. Whether you're a beginner, trail runner, or experienced hiker, there's something for everyone. Families will enjoy the picnic areas, BBQ grills, playground with swings, open grassy areas, and plenty of tables and benches to relax. There are also water fountains for both people and our paw friends, which Flynn definitely appreciated. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean the restrooms were. They are individual restrooms with flushing toilets, and there are sinks with running water outside for washing up. The park is also popular for mountain biking, horseback riding, birdwatching, photography, and of course hiking. Dogs are welcome on many trails, on leash, making it one of my favorite places to spend time with Flynn. If you're hoping to camp overnight, the park offers primitive group camping by reservation only at designated hike-in campsites. There are no showers and I'd recommend bringing a portable filtered water system like Sawyer. Reservations are required in advance through the East Bay Regional Park District, and fees vary depending on the group campsite. If you're visiting the Bay Area or even if you've lived here for years and haven't explored this hidden gem, I highly recommend adding Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park to your list. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, plenty of water, and your camera--you'll leave wondering how such an incredible redwood forest has been hiding so close to Oakland. Flynn gives it two paws up! A friendly reminder to stay on the designated trails and be aware of your surroundings. Like many natural parks in the Bay Area, ticks, poison oak, and coyotes are present. We stayed on the trail, had no issues, and enjoyed a wonderful hike. After your visit, it's always a good idea to check yourself and your dog for ticks Cheers!

Long linear park with big exciting news. Basketball courts, dog park and play structure among other…read moreamenities. Big news!! Voters approved new bathroom and is currently under construction. Basketball courts well lit and kids play structure looked newer and clean from a distance. Dog park ensures safety for all. Linear park great for a walk too. Enjoy the green trees and grass. With People's Park gone this may be a close alternative and replacement. People's park no longer for the people - rather student housing.

It did strike me how odd the shape of this park was when I first visited that it was indeed a park…read more I just thought it was a series of unrelated green patches, but it's actually an intentionally narrow park, about a half-block in width and stretching four blocks along Hearst to Sacramento with one additional isolated section that ends at Milvia. Aligned with the beginning of the Ohlone Greenway (review: https://bit.ly/3bcblbO), it kinda looks like Chile on a map of South America. The reason for the shape abnormality is BART. When the Richmond line was built underground in the late 1960's, the idea was to build residences on top of it. Can you imagine how much your juice glasses and Corningware would've shaken with each passing train? Anyway, Berkeley being Berkeley, locals were up in arms that the area not be developed and started planting trees and plants without getting permission from the city, They called it 'People's Park Annex'. It sounds like a scene from "Hair" where the hippies start singing "The Age of Aquarius ". The city decided to leave the groovy space alone. Now there are playgrounds, a basketball court, a ball field, and a dog park among other amenities. No need to be a hippie to appreciate the park. RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

I agree whole-heartedly with the first reviewer of this hidden gem (Ciana W.) and I just want to…read moreadd that there are tons of hidden paths like this in Berkeley. www.berkeleypaths.org would tell you all about them, with detailed maps and walking guides provided. This is one of the many things that make Berkeley so charming and loveable. There are so many stone stairways and narrow footpaths paved with fallen leaves hidden in all these quiet, unassuming neighborhoods! I live in the Elmwood area and, wow, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Oak Knoll, Pine Path, Garber St, Oak Path... just north of my neigborhood. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Mosswood and Orchard path north of the International House. And now, I discovered this hidden treasure of Vine Lane and Rose Walk! Absolutely five stars. And thank you SO MUCH, berkeleypaths.org, for preserving them!

Are you ready to fall down the rabbit hole into a true-blue wonderland?…read more The delirium and dementia of Telegraph Avenue are equally and oppositely reflected in the glamour and mystery of Vine Lane, one of Berkeley's many secret hidden pathways. This is my gift to you: take a walk up through Vine Lane to the Berkeley Rose Garden. Start by putting on your comfy shoes and wandering up the hill that is Euclid Street, taking careful note of the gorgeous, dilapidated old houses, the swooping trees, and the almost eerie peacefulness of North Side. Hang a right at Cedar Street, and look westward out to the Bay. By the time you make a right on Hawthorne Terrace, you'll be in a completely different world, and to prove it, there is Vine Lane. Tucked away so delicately that you could almost miss it, there between the Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts homes, is a small pathway cutting up the hill. It is as simple as that -- a pathway, or miniature pedestrian route built sometime around the turn of the century. Walking silently, respectfully, and ever upwards, you can just feel the stillness of the hillside, and you can appreciate the idealistic thoughtfulness of the city planners who built these paths. Vine Lane is aptly named because the walls of the residences, most of which are set off the path by several yards, are covered in luscious vegetation. It's worth going to see the changing colors in both fall and spring. At the top of the mount hangs a small lantern and sign in wrought iron, proclaiming "VINE LANE" in an elegant script. This place is unexpected, charming, and a complete relic of Berkeley's mystical and lurid past. Continue on to Cordonices Park and the Berkeley Rose Garden if you want to keep falling further into that rabbit hole...

Beautiful day at Point Emery! I came here with my husband for a quick late lunch picnic to avoid…read morethe crowd. We were thankful to found a last parking spot when we arrived. Got to come down and sat on a bench for a quick picnic lunch. Love the view on a beautiful sunny day on a Saturday afternoon!

Close access to the beach and trail for running/biking!…read more You can still see the freeway, but overall it's a relaxing route to run/bike and to see the coastline.

Naga makes my walks, my nights, my life, and the world better…read more It's best to approach him at night. The Golden Mile might feel creepy in the dark, but once you've walked it a few times, especially on weekends, you realize that there are people coming and going, on foot and on bikes. Just breathe in and out. Just amazing.

Strolling through Golden Gate Park today had so many fun activities and views but the absolute…read morestandout was NAGA the sea dragon at Rainbow Falls! This magical art installation BREATHES BUBBLES! And with the epic waterfall in the background just under prayerbook cross, it's like a scene out of a movie. Totally worth the visit!

Why get stuck in I-80 six lane traffic when you can take a scenic route from Berkeley northbound to…read morenearby Richmond/El Sobrante ? Or avoid Caldecott Tunnel traffic and take a drive over the mountain instead of through it? I lived in this area many years ago, luckily I remembered the views of the Bay from several stops along Grizzly Peak Drive are so worth it if you have a little time for a more casual drive. You pass the Tilden Park area along the way. Winding roads, the smell of eucalyptus trees along the way, just the way I remembered. Ahh! This is what I love and miss about the East Bay living in WNY, far away. On Grizzly Peak Boulevard, you drive for approximately ten miles from north Berkeley in total to reach the intersection with traffic light to turn west-bound towards the Bay along San Pablo Dam road. Or, east-bound towards the suburb of Orinda/Hway 24, further interior in the East Bay. Definitely take this drive if you're a visitor and want views of the Bay. Of course, if you have even more time and enjoy hiking, there are many trails off the main road to explore. What's concerning and is visible: the East Bay hills are in a serious drought and look parched. Thirsty for water. Risk of fire danger is high. This is a larger scale environmental problem for much of California. As lovely as the eucalyptus tree aroma is, it's oil is also highly flammable. I've read that when the oils in the tree heat up, the plant releases flammable gas, which ignites into a fireball. This accelerates the eucalyptus fire hazards in a region and discourages firefighting efforts. Removal of the trees has been recommended largely due to eucalyptus fire damage but also because they are taking the place of native species. The plants are considered dangerous in fire prone areas because of their habit of shooting sparks if they catch fire. Eucalyptus oil and fire are a match made in heaven from the fire's perspective but also pose a nightmare. Read more at Eucalyptus Fire Hazards on the Internet. By all means, take this drive and smell the eucalyptus while they are still here!

You should visit here when you come to the Tilden farm. It's got a great self walk thru museum…read more You can also coordinate with the facility to have a park ranger give your group educational tours. Very informative it's conducted by east bay regional parks. It's free just try and donate

Street parking was free and easy on Kezar this past Saturday when I came by to visit Alvord Lake,…read moreone of the many captivating lakes at Golden Gate Park. It features beautiful landscaping and a fountain at the center, and is home of the first reinforced concrete bridge built in the US, consisting of a single arch and cave-like tunnel. The setting was gorgeous, nothing like previous reviews reported, but then again some of those were almost two decades ago, so it's understandable that the descriptions are far from what it is today. In fact, the lake underwent a restoration during the covid-19 lockdown. In 2026, it's an inviting place, surrounded by greenery, paved pathways winding through the area, a few trees with seating built around the trunks, and a grassy field next to the lake where I was able to stretch out my mat and relax alongside other parkgoers on this cool and sunny summer day.

Dear Alvord Lake, Please tell me your secrets. You are old,…read morealmost as old as the park, so probably think I'm wondering about your name, or the people you've seen, walking through the park, or who drew the Koi, on your bank, today, in chalk. That stuff, it would be fun to hear about, sometime; the thing is, I've got a few questions, of a more pressing nature, to ask of you. See, my terrier, she darted, today, when she saw you; dove right in; I tried to stop her, but surely, in your years, you've seen how difficult a terrier can be, to control. And I know, it's not really your fault, it's mine, I know; maybe if I didn't wear the collar, in my relationship with her, things would have been different, today, when she saw you; the things is, I do, and they weren't. Which leads to my pressing questions. Those little brown things, floating around, the ones that my terrier was nosing, what are they? Please, tell me someone's fetish is to float candy bars on your surface, because I got as close as I could stomach, to the "logs", to see what my terrier was nosing, and they looked an awful lot like turds. Why do you smell like urine? Please, tell me someone's fetish is to dump ammonia into your waters, because now, my terrier, she smells like piss. When were you last flushed out? Please, tell me someone's fetish is to completely flush you out, every once in awhile, for while wading in your waters today, my terrier, she got covered in this muck, a muck that kind of looks like candy bars macerated in ammonia, but I'm fearful, it may actually be turds macerated in piss. I only ask, because right now, I'm on the sofa, with a cocktail, relaxing, from a hard day at work, and a long walk in the park, with the dogs, and my terrier, she expects to get up here, on the sofa, like every other night. It's going to happen, her getting up here, for as I said, I wear the collar in this relationship, but it would be easier to accept, her getting up here, if I knew your secrets.

After spending a sizable portion of my spare time has been spent in East Bay parks. I think they're…read moresome of the sweetest parks anywhere! They're kept clean, well maintained and a really nice level of service when it comes to facilitating our needs reserving a spot for a party, renting a boat, or simple obtaining some good information. Right near this address there are trailheads all around. A few of the trailheads will put you in and around redwoods. Mountain bikers are loving it. Hikers are loving it. Fisherman are loving it. Everyone seems to be having a great time in the East Bay at these parks. Say you unfortunate enough to still be working. You get home, jump in the car, and in in 10-15 minutes, you're walking around giant redwoods, in what feels like " deep in the woods", even though you're just a few minutes from home. Maybe you want to go to a lake. Got Chabot and San Pablo Reservoir in minutes. These parks ARE the great escape!

My husband and I have been recreating at contra loma and Black Diamond for over forty years…read more One park staff should be more concerned about keeping the park clean then harassing members for throwing a few kernels of corn out for the geese and ducks. The fishermen are pigs.There is so much trash in the water and along the shoreline. That should be their conservation concern instead of driving around in their trucks all over the grass. Oh, and how about watering the grass overnight instead of the heat of the day? You wonder why the grass is all burnt. You might try watering the grass and not the asphalt too. WASTEFUL! I also don't appreciate this particular worker talking down to me. I have more " common sense" in my little finger than he has in his whole body. Besides that, there is no signage that says do not feed the wildlife. Super disappointed, but it is california government management, so what do you expect.