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

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!

A group of 5 of us decided to do Rose Peak Trail from Sunol. This is a brutal 17.8, 9.5-10 hour…read morehike and up to 20 miles depending if you start from the visitor center. Started late at 9 am with few breaks and got to 3k elevation and still didn't reach the peak at 1:30 pm. A lot of hills and valleys with climbing/walking for 4.5 hours straight. Going back wasn't as easy since there's still some hills to pass. All in all, we did 18 miles for 8.5 hours of hiking. At least know what to expect for next year. The trail markers are numbered decently with not all marked. Bring a map and plenty of water! 2.5-5 liters is recommended by people who finished. Start right at 8 am. Saw 3 tarantulas and there are rattlers/mountain lions from the signs. Definitely one of the hardest hikes in the bay! Not much to see on the trail or views.

I recently became a wine club member here, which has been a great excuse to visit more often. The…read morecomplimentary tastings are a nice perk, but it's the atmosphere and people that keep me coming back. I'm almost always ordering the white flight, and I love that they have a great selection of cheeses, meats, and accompaniments to build your own charcuterie board. It's the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon. The service is what really stands out. Every employee I've met has been incredibly welcoming and takes the time to chat and get to know their guests. It feels genuine, not rushed, which makes every visit feel a little more personal. The outdoor patio is one of my favorite places to sit, especially with the view of the fountain and beautiful rose garden. There are large fans throughout the patio to keep things comfortable on warmer days, and if it gets too hot, the indoor tasting room is air-conditioned and just as inviting. Whether you're a longtime member or visiting for the first time, this is a wonderful spot to unwind, enjoy a flight, and spend a few hours with friends. Looking forward to many more visits!

Service needs help! Not very accommodating. Even in situations where there is nobody around - it's…read morehard to get chairs and tables put together. We are having a chill time but there is a time limit even tho it's not full. Weird concept. Totally understand if it's full and need to be mindful of timing, but it's NOT full. There is more but I'll just leave it to this! Anyway. Not a fan, won't be back. There are plenty of welcoming options in Livermore and Pleasanton.

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

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.

I love the charm of this place and recently got to enjoy a nice solo stroll to really see all the…read morewhimsy of this place. They host all types of cute events here and I almost left with new plants from the vendor they had onsite. Great place if you are looking for a calm setting to enjoy nature.

Cool look at the silent film industry! You can tell there was a lot of significant history in this…read morebuilding and they did amazing work to preserve it. Some original pieces were shown, such as the original bench from the Edison Theater. It's the only remaining original seats from there! Many types of cameras, equipment, and items. Several nods to Charlie Chaplin - his background, movie posters, cardboard cutout, mural, and merch. They have knowledgeable and friendly staff that give guided tours. They are huge fans, so excited to describe everything and share stories. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. On the right side, there's a gift shop of museum souvenirs as well as shelves of silent films you can buy to watch at home. They also have silent film showings with piano accompaniment on Saturday evenings. You can buy popcorn, candy, and drinks. There's a small theater at the back past the center aisle. It would be a fun date night or family activity!

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.

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.

As a 4th grade teacher, I unfortunately would not return for another field trip. The mission itself…read moreis historically interesting, but the tour structure was not well suited for elementary students. Much of the experience involved long lecture segments in a quiet, echo-heavy church environment, and many students struggled to remain engaged or even follow portions of the presentation clearly. The larger issue was logistics and time management. Our tour was scheduled to end at noon but was still actively running around 12:30, which compressed lunch into only a few rushed minutes before buses needed to depart. Departure became chaotic because the gift shop remained fully active during bus loading, making it extremely difficult for teachers to regroup students and leave on time. I appreciate the historical importance of the site, but future elementary field trip groups should be aware that the pacing, scheduling, and transition management may not align well with the realities of supervising large groups of 4th graders on a tight school schedule.

What a great train ride! Lots of different cars to explore and ride during the approx. 90 minute…read moreride. The Conductor and Brakeman were both eager to talk about the NCR, and were very knowledgeable about the rolling stock. As my bro-in-law was a volunteer at the So Cal Railroad Museum, he chatted up the Conductor, and we ended up getting an unadvertised tour of the yard, seeing all the engines, cars, and work units that were being renovated. Mason, our energetic and enthusiastic guide, showed us almost every piece of rail history in the yard, and knew the history of them all. Everyone there is a volunteer; Mason is an artitect and volunteers nights and weekends. Be sure to ask about a yard tour. It's not always available. And be sure to visit the quaint town of Niles! It's worth an hour or three!

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.