We used to stop by fairly often when I was a little kid. I'm now 77. My sister loved peering over…read morethe edge. I thought it was creepy as hell but pride wouldn't let me show my fear. My sister Sharon knew how I felt and really got a kick out of watching me squirm. Even as I got older the creepy feeling never really left.

I've been wanting to take some pics here for a while, had to email the SF Public Utilities…read moreCommission to make sure it was open Monday 4/1/13. They don't get Cesar Chavez Day off so I was happy. It's FREE to enter & take pics. Open M-F 9-3 for the public. It's a nice drive in, with purple leaves in the California Redbud trees. Lilac bushes - didn't see them, Lombard Poplars - not sure if they are still there. You can read the history of the SWT & take pics. The ceiling wasn't finished, kinda neat to see. Spent about 20 min there. Website with more info: http://www.sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=94

Amazing to find such a gem, a remote area just off 680. Nice variety of trails, mostly moderate…read morewith an easy path to Little Yosemite and more challenging hikes available. We did a 4 mile loop: McCorkle Trail from the South Parking Lot to Cerro Este to Camp Ohlone Road. First 2 miles Moderate but continuous uphill. Some shade from the mature oak trees sporadically throughout but largely exposed. A few view spots with benches.

Came on a Saturday in February around 10:45am and there was no parking fee that day. Most of the…read morelots were pretty full, but we were able to find parking in the overflow area. We did the Canyon View to Little Yosemite trail and I recommend downloading the map ahead of time as there was no service in the park. Trail was well maintained and the views of the green hills were very pretty! Came across some very friendly cows as well. Just be aware if you are going during the summer that there are no trees so limited shade. We did the trail clockwise, which starts off with a somewhat sharp incline and finishes with a gradual decline. I would recommend this direction so that you tackle the difficult portion first and then recover at the end with the descent. We also did part of the McCorkle trail, which was pretty tiring, so we decided to skip Little Yosemite using Cerro Este Road - appreciated how there are shortcuts available. Canyon View trail was not too busy, and we ran into more people (+ dogs/kids) on the Camp Ohlone Road heading toward Little Yosemite. Overall, it was a great, moderate hike and I would definitely come back to see Little Yosemite next time!

What an awesome place! My cousin found this Italian winery after we had some Burmese food that was…read morelocated just a few miles north in Pleasanton. I loved the entry way like and old italian villa with palm trees. Service was nice and the staff attentive but not bothersome. We did a tasting and then I bought a bottle for my cousin and I to share and for one to take home which we eventually shared too lol! The seating area is comfy and has views of the winery and where they make the wine. Totally cool out door seating that was full but not so close that you feel tight. The wine was nice and my cousin gets to pick as she knows more about me in regards to wine and I trust her choices. She is like my sister so I trust her. We both liked what we got and what we got to taste. Overall we both Liked Rubino and we would go again. Highly recommend visit if you like a nice intimate place, beautiful sights and awesome wine.

I am writing to express my disappointment regarding an experience I had at your winery today. I…read morehave been a loyal member since 2017, and today I brought my in-laws to visit after shopping. We reserved an indoor spot, which was indicated to have no time limit. We were having a wonderful time relaxing, enjoying a wine bundle special we purchased, and sharing a charcuterie board. However, our experience was ruined when a host approached our table and asked if we were close to leaving because there was a long waitlist. Several other tables had arrived before us, yet none of them were approached. This treatment felt unfair and left a very bad taste in my mouth. After many years of enjoying my membership, this experience has made me seriously consider canceling it. Please be better.

Lots of details about this interesting corner of the Bay Area provided by our guide Dan G. He was a…read morewealth of information, pretty funny and as a local was able to share a lot of perspective on the islands changes. Great day trip and I wish we had more time to poke around.

Wonderful tour led by Jim. History + nature! A great morning spent on the island…read more For people who are looking to visit the Naval Museum on the island, it is no longer open, but this tour is operative and you get to see the naval chapel and walk around the area. I was originally looking for information about the museum and arrived at this page: https://www.mihpf.org/tours. I hope this will help you find their tour options and dates! All digitalized, no fuss. And it turns out I was the only who signed up for today's tour, and they did not cancel on me because of that. I really really appreciated it. One last thing, the money you spend on the tour goes into helping this foundation : ) Yay!

Lovely park with lots of local wildlife, flora, and birds! Plenty of parking when we went right…read moreafter dinner and walking the stretch around the lake is enough to kill around an hour if you're just jaunting around and more than enough to digest a big meal. Around sunset on a Monday there were still lots of people sitting on the benches, walking, biking, jogging, and roller blading. Felt pretty safe, but when the sun sets there's not many walkway/street lamps so keep that in mind. Lots of Canadian geese and we got to see their awkward teenage goslings. There's some ducks and we got to see what looked like cormorant and I think a small heron. We also got to see small song birds and some robins too. It's neat that they have bird houses on some of the trees too and we got to see some ground squirrels. I think the prehistoric themed playground is super nice too. I LOVE themed things so the little saber tooth structure from the distance was quite nice. Along the lake are some "work out equipment" like a pull up bar and parallel bars. Lots of bird turds, so be wary of where you walk, but other than that. A solid park.

most elizabeths are great. to name a few - the queen (rip), elizabeth taylor (the queen), and…read moreelizabeth hurley (also the queen especially when she pulled up in that versace dress, if you don't know what i'm talking about just google it). lake elizabeth is a spectacular elizabeth! it reeks of geese droppings and i'm HERE FOR IT. not in a weird way. it's super nostalgic for every fremont kid, has a great scenic 2 mile trail, and also offers alternative trails like the one behind the railroad. great place for community events and parties. squirrels are cute. note - trail is flat but there is one section that's super bumpy. not ideal for roller skaters like me who only have indoor wheels! some personal memories from childhood: watching an old guy catch a rainbow fish out of the lake, getting chased by a goose, falling off the brown playground slide, getting screamed at by a random parrot

A little whimsy and a lot of charm…read more A bit far from home but it's a special little place. I really enjoy the tranquil nature of Shinn- it's zen style landscaping, rocks and boulders. It's large, well-maintained, beautiful elder bonsai that are remarkable to see in person. The sun glimmers gleams brightly throughout the historic park. It's cute and quiet. Besides the Zen Garden, there is a cool looking historical house with a fountain that photographs well. Next to it is a 300 year-old magnificent tree. It's huge and glorious. This historical garden doesn't have a lot of over the top glitz and glam. Though, it has a lot of charm, soul and tiny touch of mystery. The random places to sit and bushes of wildflowers make this a place to remember. Big thank you to those who love and care for Shinn House. Many people come in and out and leave trash. Thank you to the very good caretakers who keep it nice.

Came to this place to walk around after having a heavy dinner and fell in loooooooooove. I stumbled…read moreacross a tree you simply can't miss when you come here. It's amazing! It's gargantuan! It's historic! It's the most beautiful tree I've ever seen in a city. Highly recommend visiting and falling in love food yourself.

From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly volunteer docent. The exhibit itself is…read morethree rooms of photos and artifacts from the Essanay Studio, active in Niles from 1912-1916 and most famous for Broncho Billy (old time spelling) and some of Chaplin's films, including The Tramp. The museum is free (donations appreciated) and you can ask a docent for a tour. I had a wonderful tour from Michael! If you have a tour, be sure to ask about seeing the preserved projection room upstairs in the theater. There's also a small exhibit in the back of the theater. The gift shop has an extensive collection of rare DVDs, CDs, postcards, and some fun merch. If you're in town on a Saturday night get a ticket online for their 7:30 silent film showing! Concessions, a live piano accompaniment, and a really great show. This place is amazing.

This is a fun little museum to check out while at Niles. It is a great tribute to this town that…read morehas much history in silent films. Charlie Chaplin made the move The Tramp here and many others. Before Hollywood, there was Niles. I so enjoyed handling one of the old movie cameras and looking into it. The staff here are so nice. I always wanted to check it out especially since KFJC DJ Robert Emmett talks about it often. Someday I hope I can come here for one of their movie nights.

Was in the area, and got some free time plus we visited 5-6 missions in California so far so might…read moreas well visit this one. Very nice and grand looking. It's not original since the original was burned down back then. We came around 3-4pm so not much of visitors. Parking is easy and staff are nice and accommodating. Grand service area with high ceiling. Good & glad that we visited.

I've visited most of the 21 Spanish missions in California, as well as missions in Arizona and…read moreMexico. I've even written a book about the California Missions (The California Mission Guide). In my opinion, Mission San Jose is not the most interesting or beautiful of the missions, but it's worth visiting if you're in the area and would like to leanr more about the missions and California history. I was fortunate to visit the mission for a weekend conference, so my experience there may not be the 'typical' visitor experience. The current mission church is not the original. It's a reconstruction, built in 1985. (The original adobe church was destroy by an earthquake.) However, the reconstruction follows the original layout, and employs authentic materials and building techniques, so it gives a very good idea of how the original church looked and felt. The church includes a beautiful organ. Again, it is not original, but it is based on Spanish organs form the 1800s. While visiting, I was able to hear a short concert by the mission's student orchestra, and a performance on the organ. There is a nice small museum that covers a bit of the mission history, and also includes information about the Ohlone tribe, who lived in the area before the mission was built. The Ohlone are still very active in the mission community. At the conference I attended, I met the president of the Ohlone tribe, who gave a tour of the mission grounds. The grounds include a cemetery, gardens, and olive trees. Overall, Mission San Jose is well worth a visit!

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

All aboard! If you…read moreare looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast.