The University of California, Berkeley, arguably the best public school in the country. The main Cal square is Sproul Plaza, where many historical civil rights protests took place. Sit on the steps of Sproul Hall and take in the moment. Be sure to also check out the Moffit Library, Cal Campanile, Memorial Stadium, and the rest of this beautiful campus.

Telegraph Avenue ends at the foot of the UC Berkeley campus.

• It’s pretty easy to take a self-guided walking tour of the campus. Walk along Telegraph Ave. in the direction towards the campus and just keep on walking. You’ll immediately hit Sprowl Plaza and soon after the Sather Gate. If you look up you’ll see the Campanile, and if you keep on walking you’ll soon arrive to the stairs that lead up to it. Moffit library is not far away, and you’ll cross right by it if you stay along the same path. You’ll eventually pop-out at the North Side of campus. Go up the hill on Euclid Street and you’ll reach Piedmont Ave. Take a right and pass by some dorms, the Greek Theatre, Strawberry Creek as well as Memorial Stadium, home of the Cal Bears.
  
• Bring a bag lunch and have a picnic! There are a few good spots, my favorites are around the Campanile, Moffit Library, and near Strawberry Creek.

The Cal Campanile, or the Sather Tower. A historical clock tower that can be heard throughout the Cal campus. Take an elevator ride to the top and enjoy the views of Berkeley. The 61-bell carillon concerts are held everyday at 7:50am, noon, 6:00pm & Sundays at 2:00pm. Admission: $2.00

Walk past Sather Gate, and look up, you will see the Campanile. Just follow your eyes and you’ll find it.

-Around the Campanile are some benches and nice trees that make a pleasant spot for a picnic. If you prefer large open lawns, I suggest keep walking along the path until you hit Strawberry Creek or behind Moffit Library.

Berkeley is a fantastic town for those who love architecture, but when it comes to classical Greek or Roman architecture, the very first thing that will pop into any Berkeley resident’s head is the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre on the UC Berkeley campus. The grand 8,500 seat theatre was designed by John Galen Howard, overseen by then UC Berkeley President Benjamin Ide Wheeler, and the money was a gift from William Randolph Hearst. Today the theatre is at a ripe age of over 100 years old. The theatre officially opened on September 23, 1903 where a festival took place there for several days. Months earlier before the structure was completed, President Theodore Roosevelt gave the 1903 commencement speech at the Greek Theatre. Renowned architect Julia Morgan was in charge of decorations for this event.
The architectural design falls under a Beaux-Arts style theatre. The structure itself is definitely massive looking and made of all stone. There are twelve huge columns that serve as the backdrop for the stage. Decorative cornice designs line the upper part of this Greek style ampitheatre, and the ceiling is nothing but a perfect blue sky with white clouds drifting by. The symmetrical facade carries on throughout the theatre, all the way down to the seating.
Today the stage is used for ceremonies, commencements, performances, concerts and more. It definitely serves as the centerstage of Berkeley trying to become the artistic “Athens” town of the West.

This four block strip is the yuppie area of Berkeley. Be sure to have some coffee and tea time at famous Pete’s Coffee. Also check out The Nature Company, Hear Music, Sweet Potatoes, Bette’s Oceanview Diner, C P Shades, custom furniture shops and more.

Go west on University Ave., away from the Cal campus and make a right turn on 4th street.

-Eat some lunch, grab a dessert and window shop. Prepare to spend a couple hours here at most, then drive over to the Berkeley Marina.
-Walking to the Berkeley Marina from 4th street is about a mile long, if you choose to walk be careful around the freeway overpass.

The main strip for Cal students with a shopping mall worth of shops, clothing stores, unique vendors and dining spots of all kinds. Expect to spend a couple hours here walking along this ten block strip. Have an exquisite cup of coffee and a raisin scone at Caffe Strada, or get a fresh bagel and cream cheese at Noah’s New York style bagels. Checkout Amoeba Music, Rasputin’s Music, Cody’s Bookstore, Moe’s Bookstore, Berkeley Hat Company, Gap, Cafe Intermezzo, Jamba Juice, Comix and Comix, Urban Outfitters, smoke shops, sports shops and much more. The vendors that fill the sidewalks are a great place to get those hard to find trinkets that you’ve always wanted.

South side, across the street from the UC Berkeley campus

-be sure to check out the stores and restaurants on Bancroft Ave. and Durant Ave. Sweetheart is just off off of Telegraph on Durant Ave., it is a favorite for students looking for a tapioca ‘boba’ drink/ice cream/snack spot.

Great staff, relatively cheap drinks, and tons of pool tables makes this place a fun spot for Cal students and locals alike. The jukebox is always bumpin with hot tunes, even if the volume is too high for conversation.
The pool tables and equipment are very well kept, and the bartenders really know how to mix drinks well. Out door smoking patio with tables and chairs, indoor booth and table seating areas along with 21 pool tables. Try out the dart board, shuffleboard, pinball machines, arcades and drinks!

Shattuck and Channing

• Seriously some of the best tasting mixed drinks in the city. Bartenders here know what they are doing. The place can get very crowded on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the line at the bar can get cumbersome during these hours.
  
• $5.00 per/hour pool time on Sunday thru Wednesday nights and everyday before 6:00pm.

Cal’s fabulous Botanical Garden is a great place to walk around for an hour and see over 12,000 different plants and garden styles from all over the world. The cactus exhibit is especially nice along with the Japanese garden by the pond. Admission: $5.00, free for all UC students

Near Strawberry Creek Canyon at the eastern most tip of the UC Berkeley campus.

-UC Berkeley’s Botanical Garden is nestled in the Berkeley Hills, and is a must see for any plant or garden enthusiast. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.

Enjoy spectacular drop-jaw views of San Francisco, the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can walk along the path or take a rest at the top of the grassy hill, either way there’s really no better place to stop, rest and soak it all in. You can also charter boats here!

University Ave. going West, a few miles away from the Cal campus. Pass over the freeway and keep driving, you’ll soon be at the Berkeley Marina.

Be sure to checkout the Berkeley Pier. Take a memorable stroll along the wood planks out into the bay. At the end is a fantastic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco skyline.
The Berkeley Pier is a great place to fish!

Take a tour of Berkeley’s best science and technology museum. There are great tours for kids and adults. This is one of the most renowned reseach centers in the world. Yes, this is also the founding home to those last few elements found on the periodic table. Did anyone mention the breathtaking views of the bay? Oh yeah they are all here. Free to checkout the spectacular views, Admission: $9.50 adults, $7.50 students, $5.50 kids

At the top of Centenial Drive

-The views here are simply breath-taking. Get a full 180-degree view of the Bay ‘Yah’ Area, including Berkeley, Oakland and of course San Francisco. The museum is truly a great place for kids.

Can this place smell any better? Walk around the beautiful rose garden and see all different kinds and types of roses. There is a little bridge and a creek at the center of the garden. Admission: Free

At the corner of Euclid St. and Eunice St.,
right next to Codornices park. About a mile walk from Top Dog hot dog restaurant.

-If you have kids then be sure to take them to Cordonices Park which is just across the street. There is a giant concrete slide in the mountainside that is a must try for all ages capable of going down this monster. Throw some cardboard under your behind if you want some serious speed.
-The Rose Walk is only a block away, a place where there are rows of houses designed by renowned architect Bernard Maybeck.

A fantastic architectural walk of some of the famous buildings designed by Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan’s instructor. The strip of houses line both sides of the street, and the roses fill the air with pleasant scents of . Berkeley is filled with famous architectural structures by both Morgan, Maybeck and others. Admission: Free

about a half block away from the Rose Garden. When you see the fancy stair case, walk up it and you’ll know you’re there. Rose Walk street crosses Euclid Avenue.

-only a block away from the Rose Garden.

Downtown Berkeley is filled with restaurants, cafes, unique shopping, banks, desserts, movie theatres, and pretty much anything you would be looking for. Check out City Hall, Berkeley Main Public Library, Berkeley Main Post Office and various other municipal offices. The BART (subway) station can also be found here. Definitely a great place to spend a couple hours and catch a dinner and a movie. Highlights include Games of Berkeley, Comic Relief, Black Oak Books, Jupiter (pub), Original Mel’s, Downtown Berkeley, YMCA and more.

Shattuck Ave. and University Ave.

-this place has a nice collection of shopping, restaurants, cafes and movie theatres. Not the most tourist-friendly area in Berkeley, but definitely common walking ground for locals.



-closest BART station to the UC Berkeley campus.

There are many great Art Deco examples in Berkeley but my favorite one is the Berkeley Public Library. The Berkeley Main Library was designed by architect James Plachek in 1934, during the height of the Great Depression, at the corner of Kittredge Street and Shattuck Ave. in downtown Berkeley. The building was funded by the proud community of Berkeley as an icon of hope during this very difficult time. The construction of the original structure was a design that was made to last, and that is exactly what it did for 71 years until it was renovated. The building was originally made out of Mayan-influenced exterior friezes, dark oak molding and marble trim throughout, furniture custom-made to match the soaring windows, the same linoleum (never replaced until the 1998 reconstruction) used in battleships, and three floors of sturdy stacks. Renovation remodeling and restoring began in 1998 and went on for four years until 2002. The building reopened in 2002 twice the size of the original structure and fully prepared to last another century with the latest technology. In November of 2005 the Berkeley Public Library was designated as a National Landmark.
There are many notable and recognizable Deco characteristics. First, it was constructed during the height of the Deco movement during the 20’s and 30’s. The building definitely takes on a number of geometric shapes mixed together, exhibiting aspects in a modern version of the Cubism form. Detailed carved ornaments run along the ‘eye-level’ lower part of the building beneath the soaring windows that practically travel from floor to ceiling. All the facades have a series of setbacks that serve as a Deco-Cubism style design element. The setbacks run along the sides, the roofline, between each soaring window, at the entrance and throughout the exterior of the structure. The entrance is ‘highly stylized’ with carved ornaments surrounding the doors and mural like carvings along the walls. The color is green, what I consider to be a relatively bright color for a building, and it looks great.
Please take a look at the building in the pictures I have provided and if you are in the area, walk inside and take a look around. It is really what I consider to be a top-notch, five-star public library.

Downtown Berkeley, at the corner of Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue.

The church and place of worship for the Catholic community at UC Berkeley and many Berkeley residents. By far the best place to attend a Catholic mass in Berkeley. The architecture of the structure is extremely unique and definitely worth checking out. Walk inside and be sure to notice the extremely large open space with no supporting beams intruding on the space!

College Ave. and Dwight Way

The priests here definitely coincide with traditional progressive Berkeley attitudes. Father Sparks is the man!

College Avenue is full of unique atmosphere filled cafes, independent bookstores, gourmet restaurants, antiques shops that people go out of their way to visit and much more…
Be prepared for a pleasant, scenic, window shopping filled walk. Expect to spend an hour to a few hours here walking on College Ave. and be sure to grab a bite to eat at the countless delicious dining spots along the way!

The Rockridge District surrounds the Rockridge BART station, from College near Alcatraz to Broadway and 51st Street. There is excellent visibility and access from Highway 24 as well as Highways 13, 580 and 880; and AC Transit buses pass through the Rockridge District frequently.

One of the District’s three oldest parks, Tilden has been called the jewel of the system, and its recreational activities have become a happy tradition for generations of East Bay youngsters. Highlights inlcude a carousel ride, picnic area, swim at Lake Anza, Little Farm, Pony Ride, group camping, golf course, Steam Train ride,merry-go-round, Botanical Garden and more. Tilden has variety to delight everyone.

Take Spruce Street north until you cross Grizzly Peak Blvd. The entrance to Tilden Park is at the intersection of Spruce Street and Grizzly Peak Blvd.

-There are fantastic hiking trails available for all skill levels. The Tilden Park Golf Course is a short drive away.

Thousand’s of visitors every month flock to this historical steam train run by Redwood Valley Railway since 1952. The train will whistle with steam as it guides itself along the narrow railway winding through the Berkeley Hills. The ride itself is 12 minutes long and leaves every 20 minutes or so. Admission: $1.75 ($7.00 for 5 rides), dogs on leashes are free.

Take Spruce Street north until you cross Grizzly Peak Blvd. The entrance to Tilden Park at the intersection.

This course has many hills and trills that can cause uneven lies and affect your shots. Besides the terrain, unique to this golf course is a stream that comes into play on a couple holes, especially #16, a 206-yard, par 3, which relies on a tee shot over the stream. The Bay Regional Golf Tournament is held on this course every year. There is a separate green fee rate for Friday’s.

Take Spruce Street towards Tilden Park, until you hit Grizzly Peak. Located at Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Shasta Rd

-Great driving range and putting area for those who just want to get in a little practice. Golf balls can be purchased from the vending machines at the driving range.