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.

I did myself a favor and started purchasing yearly parking passes for the reservoir, so I don't…read morehave to deal with the parking meters anymore. The Lafayette Reservoir is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. Love it here.

Lafayette Reservoir is a beautiful local park! And there is so much parking and bathrooms with…read moretoilet paper and soap! That's honestly way more than I was expecting. The parking lot we parked in had a max 2 hour limit, which isn't enough time to walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir but it looks like there are other lots that don't have as much time restrictions. Beautiful little walk - not much of a hike because of the paved path, but it's a nice distance and has beautiful views. We would definitely come back again.

Charming little park with rides for kids, a sports field, and a stage. May even spot a giant bird…read morelike I did. The winning aspect for me was the lovely trail at the edge of the park. Felt like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" traveling down it!

An excellent park in Moraga that has it all. If you drive by you can't miss it as its on a main…read moreroad and on the corner. It will lure you in with its beauty. Best place around for a picnic. Play area and tables and green area for days... all in the perfect setting... a little manmade park carved out of nature. It has the footprint of a big triangle and is beautiful no matter which direction you look. The design and layout needs to be redone in many other cities - why reinvent the wheel? Little trail if you just want to walk too. Perfect for the pooch. Mr Wolfie will want to come with you on this outing. Family friendly. Bring the kids too. Super clean and safe and no worries. Different playgrounds to please kids of all ages. Very relaxing for everybody. Moraga has a slogan 'parks make life better.'

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.

I had been curious about Briones Reservoir because driving on Bear Creek Road, it looked inviting -…read morethough it turns out to be quite a restrictive area when it comes to recreational activities. That explained the complete absence of any boats, canoes, or kayaks on the water. I had read about this particular trail online as it hugs the northern side of the lake from two different staging areas. I stopped first at the Briones Overlook, but found the trailhead blocked by some major excavation occurring around the dam. I then drove over to the Bear Creek staging area which has the trailheads for both the Bear Creek and Oursan Trails. I inadvertently walked on the Bear Creek Trail for a bit but it was dull as dirt, so I went back to get on the right track. I knew I needed a EBMUD permit and indeed I wrote down my permit number on the sign-in sheet. Good thing I had a pen in my pocket because someone stole the one that was attached to the clipboard. From the outset, there was a gentle climb before the reservoir came to view, and then it got very woodsy and surprisingly hilly. That was where the moderate part of the trail came in because I had to side-step a lot of loose gravel to make it down some of the slopes. The trail eventually evened itself out though some stretches were overgrown with tall stalks. I went as far as Hampton Trail and then headed back because the total distance was almost ten miles. That was enough, right? Especially since there were no benches or restrooms en route. I did run into a couple of snakes which froze the moment I walked by. My testosterone clearly intimidated them. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Hidden gem - full sun trails…read more This hidden gem as a small car park so it is not the ideal spot for large gatherings that you may want to organize. However it is a great point for some beautiful trials that I recommend you undertake in late fall or winter as they are in full sun and it feels very hot. Epic views from the top worth your while.

"Cute Little Park--just ask for TP"…read more This is a surprising little gem with fun, interesting trails. There are two levels of parking. The lower parking is just a few spaces, near the restroom. The upper area has far more. There are several gorgeous trails, especially in the springtime. The day that I visited I went up to Mulholland Ridge Open Space. It's a bit of a steep hike but completely doable. For those interested in geocaching, there are several geocaches in the park. They have restrooms on the lower level, but they're pretty rustic. They appear to have no toilet paper. Other than that, they're really great restrooms.

The steam train was such a fun outing with my little one. The train ride itself isn't very long,…read morebut that's honestly perfect for young kids. The route through the trees is beautiful, and there's something so charming about riding a miniature steam train through the hills. I can see why this place is such a Bay Area classic. The staff were friendly, the tickets were just $5, and the whole experience felt nostalgic in the best way. Overall, it's a simple but memorable family outing that I'd absolutely recommend.

Open every weekend (weather permitting) including holidays 11am to 6pm…read more Super cute steam train that takes you around the park Tickets are $5 per person Kids 2 years and up need a ticket Credit card and debit card accepted Parking in the main lot gets full fast but there is additional parking not too far away and parking is free My little man enjoyed this ride I love making new memories with him

What a cute drive leading up to it and easily accessible from other east bay cities. It gets a…read morelittle cold at night fyi I would go around sunset time though

Quality/Quantity - If you are following, just had Uber Eats from Gold Medal Restaurant (see…read morereview). And my buddy did NOT want me to share the views from his hidden Oakland hills home. So this park is a VERY good example of his views! Atmosphere - Cut and pasted from the internet: "The peak was named for the California grizzly bear which inhabited the local area until the late 1800s. Grizzly Peak is a summit in the Berkeley Hills above Berkeley, California. The peak is located on the border between Alameda and Contra Costa counties, within the boundaries of Tilden Regional Park, and directly behind the University of California, Berkeley campus." Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thanks for having this peak for me to share my buddy's views. :)

Quaint, albeit somewhat precarious park nestled in the Oakland Hills. Despite being called a park,…read moreit's more like a small hiking trail, with some bits that are challenging to traverse due to meager footing and slippery mud. Made it through in about 20 minutes, so not a very long adventure. Worth it if you're up for the challenge and rather agile

Great hiking spot. Nothing too strenuous, but still challenging. Great place to clear the mind, get…read morea good workout, and be with nature. Parking is on the side of the road. Hiking/trail shoes recommended.

Sequoians is an inclusive body-positive space for all ages, genders, and body types (including…read morepost-surgery or modified bodies)! It's an overall pretty chill space with a clubhouse, bocce ball, hiking, and pool/hot tub. It's member-only, and the community is tight-knit and welcoming. We have been members for the last year, and my girls (9,7,5) love going. They are treated with incredible love and respect by all the members and there are currently several families with kids, ranging from 5-14 years old. Yes, it's naked. Yes, you will see naked people. Yes, you will be naked! Kids under 18 do not have to be naked if they don't want to, but adults are expected to be clothes-free most of the time. Let me tell you why Sequoians is walking the walk on inclusivity, and why it isn't creepy. 1) Creepiness is gross and bad for all ages; sexualizing kids is wrong, full stop. 2) Creepiness is bad for business! Getting accused of improper activities is bad for business! Sequoians, and nudists in general, have a vested interest in keeping their spaces safe for everyone. 3) Inclusivity is more fun! More people can be included and feel safe, and that feels good. Therefore: Sequoians makes a big deal of vetting potential members, and everyone is educated about body positivity and etiquette. You see consent engagements in real life, in terms of playing with the kids, hanging out in shared spaces, keeping spaces clean, and working together for the benefit of everyone. Everytime we do out there, my kids say "ohhhhh we love it here!" and I do too. If you are interested in learning more, please read the website. And come visit!

Great judgement free spot!…read more Every member I have met has been friendly, helpful and welcoming. The location is somewhat remote - and no cell service is a bonus. I really enjoy being in nature and hearing nothing but birds and wildlife. That said, it is a bit busier on the weekends, but not rowdy. Wonderful place to remove clothing and be in nature. If you're interested in gawking at naked members of the opposite sex, save your time and go to a strip club.