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.

Alhambra Creek Trail - we came back again and had to minus 1 star from our previous review for the…read moreamount of animal droppings along the trail. It attracted a lot of flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. Every few feet, there'll be a swarm of bugs circling. It's a nice trail with a little bit of elevation, but the swarms of bugs made the hike very unpleasant.

Absolute gem! We are so lucky to live minutes away from this incredible park. My husband and I have…read morebeen hiking from Lafayette to Martinez and back for years and the hike never gets old. It is beautiful in all seasons and such a reprieve.

I love visiting the east bay city of Lafayette. There are so many beautiful outdoor trails and the…read moretown itself is adorable. I was looking to get a morning walk in and a family member brought me to this trail which she typically runs. We parked at the community center off of St Mary's road. Just one of many locations that you can catch the trail. Plenty of parking was available. The 7.65 mile trail runs on both sides of St Mary's road through Lafayette and Moraga We decided to cross over to the other side of the street from the community center and walk towards Moraga. The paved trail can be used for biking and horses as well. The trail towards Moraga has quite a bit of inclines and makes for a good workout. I went 2 miles in and turned around at Rheem Blvd for a 4 mile round-trip walk. Beautiful scenery and lots of people walking their dogs.

A paved neighborhood trail that many people use for walking, running, cycling and more. There are…read moresome free parking lots for easy access. Great place for getting away from the cars and busy cities.

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

This is a this is one of the smaller wilderness parks in the city of Walnut Creek. This particular…read morepark is in divided into several sections. Some of them are very close to the East Bay Mud water treatment plant. I don't believe there are any facilities in this park, and I did not see any drinking water. The trails are well maintained however. And the signs appear to be correct. While this is not one of my favorite parks, it's a decent place to go hiking. I enjoyed my visit.

My daughter's choir was practicing nearby. While I waited for her to finish I decided to take a…read morehike and that's how I arrived at Acalanes Ridge. This is a nice hike near downtown Walnut Creek. Residential parking is easy, as is finding the trailhead. This path seems well-worn by hikers and dog walkers alike. If I find myself in Walnut Creek with time to kill in the future, I'll come here!

One of the great views of the Bay area is Grizzly Peak…read more I came to visit and my friends took me here to get a view of the Bay area as a whole and it was so amazing. The winding roads that led to the peak were definitely something this Florida gal was not ready for but it was worth the drive! Not too long but definitely a bit winding path upwards. The view is free and you can see all parts of the Bay here, especially if it's a clear day. It seems like a lot of locals (especially kids) come here to hangout. A nice spot to detour and take people from out of town to hang.

The view here is beautiful, both day and night. I stopped by on a whim, and it was really relaxing…read moreto just take in the scenery and think. There are plenty of spots where you can pull over, park, and walk to areas with some seating, making it a great place to unwind.

Very nice park with lots of things to do with your little ones…read more We recently went on the Train ride, that was super cute and fun The carousel ride is so much fun also Feeding the animals and was a great experience for the boys Parking is free, you can bring your own snacks and drinks Lots of hiking trails to enjoy

Lots of different trails with moderate uphill climb. There are plenty of dogs and the…read moredisappointment lies in owners just leaving behind poop bags on the trails. The view was great and there is parking available. I suggest coming earlier before 9 a.m. I did not see a restroom available. Families hike here with their kids.

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

Redwood Valley Railway was honestly way more fun than I expected. It's one of those small, somewhat…read morehidden attractions in the East Bay that you might not hear about unless someone tells you. But once you visit, it feels like a perfect little weekend activity, especially if you have kids or dogs. The main attraction is the miniature steam train that runs through the redwood forest in Tilden Regional Park. The train goes through trees, small bridges, and tunnels, and the ride is surprisingly scenic. It's about 12-15 minutes long, which feels just right--not too short, but also perfect for kids. Even though it's technically designed for children, adults definitely enjoy it too. There's something very nostalgic about riding a tiny train through the woods. One thing I really liked is how dog-friendly the place is. You'll see a lot of families bringing their dogs along, and it's honestly pretty cute seeing dogs riding the train with everyone else. The surrounding park area is also really nice, so you can easily walk around a bit or have a small picnic after the ride. That said, this place is extremely popular on weekends. There's basically always a line for the train. Because of that, timing really matters. I would strongly recommend arriving around 10:50 AM. That way you can usually still park in the main lot and get in line right before the first train of the day at 11. Getting on that first ride makes the whole visit much easier, otherwise the wait can get pretty long. Another cool thing is that on Sundays, there's actually another train experience nearby run by a train enthusiast club called Golden Gate Live Steamers. It's just further down the hill, and they usually offer free miniature train rides (donations encouraged) in the afternoon. Those trains are run by hobbyists and are even more "enthusiast style," which is pretty fun to see. Overall this place feels like one of those hidden local gems. It's simple, charming, and surprisingly fun. Great for a relaxed weekend morning--especially if you want something outdoors that works for both kids and dogs.

This place has such an amazing view! It's a great place to go for a quick reset! If you are…read morevisiting or exploring Pleasant Hill, it's a must see! Be prepared for a short hike to get to the view, and I wouldn't go if it's raining.

Amazing views of Mt. Diablo. Overall a beautiful natural panorama…read more Nice little trail loop that is doable with kids & pets. Clean, safe

This place is a gem. Really good for walking your little dogs, for hikes, playing basketball, or…read morekids playground, and has a beautiful soccer area. There are picnic tables and plenty of parking. Clean bathrooms that the city of Martinez does a good job of keeping clean. We go to this place over and over again because it's just so nice.

An underrated park with trails and playground, soccer field and of course 'hidden lakes.' Very…read morepopular park that has good vibes. Its unexpectedly good. There are so many overrated parks around - this is not one of them. I think its an underrated park in an underrated city. Martinez is one of these cities that just isn't Walnut Creek or Danville or Orinda. A more affordable city and a family friendly one. Its good to get out and take a walk. I recommend you do that once in a while and why not try a different park from what your used to every once in a while? If you have a dog they will particularly love it sniffing around someplace new. Some of the park is noticed from the main road - Morello. You might even see some people enjoying the basketball hoop from there. Just the 'curb appeal' of the park will get you interested to see more. When I got here with Sweets had in gear this launch mode I hadn't seen since he was a bit younger. His enthusiasm was intense and I was surprised since for the most part he just likes to stay at home - Netflix and chill. There really is something for the whole family to enjoy here. A very underrated park that you need to make time to see one day soon.