Berkeley is bounded by two wild sides that serve as natural parentheses to this compact city. Forested, wildlife-rich Tilden Regional Park forms the city’s eastern boundary. To the west are the San Francisco Bay, wetland habitat, wildlife sanctuary, and the Berkeley Waterfront.
Berkeley's west edge, the Waterfront offers a tremendous range of experiences:
Amazing playgrounds
Beautiful open spaces for leisurely walking and hiking
Water sports: kayaking, SUPs, sailing, kiteboarding, windsurfing
Read more about specific areas within the Berkeley Waterfront and special events and amenities here.
Cesar Chavez Park
Cesar Chavez Park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities at the Berkeley Waterfront, with spectacular views of three San Francisco Bay bridges, Alcatraz and Angel islands and the sparkling San Francisco city skyline.
Shoreline hiking trails (some paved and wheelchair accessible) offer spectacular views and vistas.
Restored wetland habitat hosts flocks of seabirds, life, as does the park’s wildlife sanctuary.
Off-leash dog play areas, picnic and BBQ areas, and perhaps the best kite flying on the continent are here, too.
The Berkeley Marina Sport Fishing Center is based here, as are the Olympic Circle Sailing School, Cal Sailing Club, and Cal Adventures.
In addition to the year-round recreational opportunities, the Marina offers several popular annual festivals and events.
The Berkeley Bay Festival happens every April. This ecology-themed festival includes environmental education as well as hands-on activities like sailboat rides and dragon boat tours of the Bay.
For the full scoop on all the events happening in the Berkeley area, please click here.
Adventure Playground is an only-in-Berkeley experience for kids, friends and families. Called one of the country’s best playgrounds by National Geographic, Adventure Playground features some truly unique adventures and activities:
A variety of hand-made climbing structures repurposed from scrap lumber and materials
A zip line
A tool library and work tables for kids to engage in creative play