2019-12-19 05:29:29
EXPLORE OAKLAND & EAST BAY From the thriving food scene to the diverse landscape, the East Bay offers countless reasons to extend your adventures beyond San Francisco’s city limits. Expand your horizons with experiences across the Bay Bridge in Tri-Valley, Berkeley and Oakland. TRI-VALLEY Just 35 minutes east of San Francisco and graced with views of the surrounding golden hills, Tri-Valley is full of events, restaurants, wineries and shops. You can see the region’s three valleys (hence the name) and four cities (Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and Danville) after a hike to the top of towering Mt. Diablo. With more than 55 wineries in close proximity, it’s easy to make a day of tasting local wines and traversing the countryside. One must-visit is Livermore’s Wente Vineyards, the oldest family-run winery in the United States. Beer lovers will want to raise a glass (or several) along the Tri-Valley Beer Trail, which includes more than 20 microbreweries where you can sample flights, learn about food pairings and chat with brewmasters. Craving sweets instead? Allow the Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail to guide you to 14 different local ice cream parlors around the region. Even better: when you collect five stamps on your Ice Cream Tasting Passport, Visit Tri-Valley will donate $5 to the Valley Humane Society. BERKELEY Free speech and flower power are forever in Berkeley’s DNA, but the city has evolved into a modern cultural hub. It’s home to the parklike UC Berkeley campus, as well as renowned visual and performing arts centers, restaurants and outdoor recreation. The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) makes for a fun field trip. It’s only one block from the BART station, after a 21-minute ride from San Francisco on the Richmond line. Opened in 2016, BAMPFA gives you a taste of the eccentric spirit that thrives in the Bay Area. At the heart of it all is the museum’s collection of 19,000 works of art, dating from 3,000 B.C. to the present. The Pacific Film Archive is as vast as the art collection. Two on-site theaters screen more than 400 films a year. Extend your trip into the evening on Friday and Saturday nights, when BAMPFA keeps the galleries open until 9 p.m. Afterward, stroll over to Tupper & Reed for a nightcap. The stylish bilevel bar and lounge is known for its delicious craft cocktails. OAKLAND Dynamic and diverse, Oakland is a destination in its own right. You’ll find art, architecture, music, restaurants and bars to rival those of its sister city across the bay. Head to Jack London Square to sample offerings from some of Oakland’s top culinary talent. Grab expertly brewed java at Blue Bottle Coffee or pizza served around an outdoor fire pit at Forge. Don’t miss plank, a one-of-a-kind entertainment venue and restaurant with bowling lanes, a beer garden and a patio overlooking the bay. Work off some calories on a walk around Lake Merritt. Clocking in at 3.4 miles, the perimeter makes for a gorgeous stroll. Or take a walk on the wild side at the award-winning Oakland Zoo, home to more than 660 critters. For an indoor excursion, spend a few hours at the Oakland Museum of California. OMCA brings together collections of art, history and science under one roof. Stop by Friday Nights at OMCA from 5 to 9 p.m. for a family-friendly night market, featuring Off the Grid food trucks, music and more.
©San Francisco. View All Articles.