I have used FE for so many years. Most of the trips were art related. I have taken trips with them…read morein the states and in Europe. All of the trips were very organized! Valerie and Jacquie were available for the entire trip - they ensured my comfort, good transportation, and good information for excursion's and outside tours. They even brought lunch and carried chairs. Both Valerie and Jacquie are very kind and so much fun to be with. I would absolutely recommend them and French Escapade - you will have a great trip! I am actually scheduled for my next trip with them later this year!

I just want to add my very positive review of French Escapade. This is a professionally run…read moreorganization with participant satisfaction at the front of everything they do. It's easy to recommend them because I know that any sketch artist or painter will love being in the care of French Escapade and their artist Instructors.

Today I visited Meek Park with my doggie client as I want to take her to beautiful park hence why…read morewe were here this morning. I haven't been to Meek Park since 2017?! Oh my goodness that's so long ago. Meek Park today is still as lovely as I remembered it, but even better because they now have the water fountain flowing. The grounds are maintained well with beautiful lush grass and pretty flowers. I also saw some cute cats in their garden area. They have a parking lot with plenty of spots. The playgound looks whimsy and elegant at the same time. I'm so happy that their poop bag stations have actual poop bags! I had poop bags with me, but it's just so helpful when a park also provides poop bags as well just in case people need them. I think they have a restroom area if I remember correctly. I know there was an area with plenty of picnic tables.

A very nice park, with the Meek Mansion as the centerpiece!!…read more Meek Mansion is a historic victorian house surrounded by gardens. The whole park is fenced off, with locking gates to the parking lot. There are many paved trails here, along with picnic areas and playgrounds. There are always people here walking the trail along the outer edge of the park. I have not yet been inside of the mansion, but this park is nice enough to go to on its own. But checking out the inside of this mansion is definitely on my to do list!!!!

Our quest for living in California is to visit as many beautiful places as we could while we're…read moreliving here in this expensive state, especially in NorCal. Last weekend we visit Hayward Japanese Gardens. It's not too far from our home in Fremont. We took Mission Blvd all the way to Hayward, we got to see the city, quite nice. The parking lot is designated for the theater but there's no where else to park so we parked there. We're amazed with all the well groomed different types of trees, quite pleasant and unique. The pond with beautiful Koi fishes. It's a huge garden with so many beautiful trees and flowers. It's so well kept and every tree was trimmed to perfection. There are benches to sit to enjoy the sceneries, wedding people came here to take pictures for their albums. It's a gorgeous day in CA for a beautiful garden.

Five stars because it costs no yen…read more As far as Japanese gardens go, this one is my least favorite because it is rectangular, with a visible metal fence perimeter, with ugly trash and graffiti visible from across the creek and no opportunities to feed the koi fish. Three things, though, that make it special is that they have memorial plaques, stray cats, and blowtorched wood for an aged and weather-resistant finish. From 1913-1962, the site was a practice site for farming and raising livestock for Hayward Union High. It became a garden by the late 1970s, and when dedicated in 1980, focusing on botany (with plants donated by local Japanese-American nurseries) rather than religion. Every first Saturday at 1pm there's a free lecture/tour. It's not especially beautiful or big (3.5 acres) or exciting (the few people I saw there were on their phones), but it's a peaceful, clean area. I think informational displays could help people enjoy it more. Or phone chargers. Information like, many of the wooden connections (including the main entry gate) have notches instead of notches to fit together like puzzle pieces. This more authentic approach prevents rust. Or, the garden uses the Shakkei technique: when you can stand at the highest point, the surrounding trees are meant to look like distant mountains, with specific plants blended with the Japanese maples and native Oaks to make the garden feel ten timers larger than its actual 3.5 acres. Or, the hand-selected granite boulders from the Sierra Nevadas are buried one-third into the ground so it looks like they are growing, which is why I don't manicure myself often. .

Such an awesome experience. Travis was so great. He was patient, explained directions clearly,…read morechecked in a couple times during the tour, and very understanding. He even takes photos and shares it via google for free. Such a nice bonus. I wear glasses and was able to wear my glasses with the helmet and goggles. Although kind of a tight fit, I wasn't blind I highly recommend trying ATV riding here. Just remember that the directions in the link don't take you directly there. It takes you the to the parking entrance. There is a $5 parking fee for the day. Ask the park rangers where to go next when you pay for the parking. You will drive down the road after turning right and see a white trailer.

Poor service. Did not even bring silverware or napkins. Seemed to be unhappy we were thereread more

A+ to my Bestie for finding out about these port of Oakland Harbour tour tickets…read more We arrived at 5:45-ish and they were already about 100 people in front of us so we were a bit iffy on if we would be able to make it onto the ship or not... but to my surprise, we were able to. Of course, with stand-up space only (some seats were still available on the inside) This cruise was very informative on what's going on in the harbor... really enjoyable and I can tell that The tour speakers love their job. Great views! Does get a bit chilly, but you're in the bay so of course. Got much closer to the Baybridge than I was expecting. Great experience and I would love to go again

Every season, the Port of Oakland offers free 90-minute tours if the port in the Red and White…read moreFerry. I just happened to go on the dirt one this year. The weather was perfect and it was a fun, engaging experience. They narrate most of the ride out, pointing out significant ships and places along the channel. You pass Alameda, sail over BART, glide under the Bay Bridge, and cruise by Angel Island. If you listen, you will definitely learn something new. The best place to sit or stand is on the right (facing Oakland). I was inside, because I needed to sit, but there was easy access to the back of the boat. I got some great pics. There is also easy access to the snack bar. They have candy, chips, soda, and other snackables. The surprise offering was cup of noodles, which seemed really popular. They did a brisk business the whole trip. The best parts for me were the cranes, seeing the bridge up close, and check your the lighthouse on Angel Island, particularly the cranes. Shout to George Lucas. He claims the cranes weren't the inspiration for the imperial walkers on Hoth. We all know better. Anyway, be prepared to stand in line a bit before boarding (like at least 1/2 an hour), lots of people, and lots of kids. It seemed popular with families. Time seemed approximate. The tour started "late" and ended a bit late. Nothing too obscene, just don't plan anything immediately following. The tours are popular, so sign up early. Again, it's free, and it's pretty delightful. Definitely recommended.

The Pepsi Tour owner (Art Jaramillo) never went thru with a tournament and didn't even cancel the…read moreevent or notify the players that were signed up. He then refused to return the entry fee money and we had to file a claim to our credit card company. We also spent time and money to get to the tournament in Arizona from California and only when we showed up at the course for a practice round did we find out there was no tournament. Please be careful when signing up to play in these events. Very unethical and unprofessional...to this day haven't received any kind of apology.

A fun and calm experience to go with family and friends! We went on the diesel train ride in the…read moreafternoon, and it was pleasant but sort of loud. The view was beautiful between the hills and trees, and the staff was super friendly.

We went here for the holiday train ride. It was absolutely fantastic. We did purchase the parlor…read morecar option which is the first class accommodation. It was well worth the extra money. Plus you get parking right up next to the train car. The parlor car offered spacious, comfortable seating, VIP time with Santa Claus, a hot adult beverage, or nonalcoholic version, bottled water, snacks, Christmas cookies, and a great narrative of the ride. You're also allowed to walk the length of the train, but you need to have a wristband so you can get back into the parlor car area. Be prepared for lots of traffic as you drive to the train station from other parts of the Bay Area. Traffic is bad during the winter if not always. The train leaves right on time so you do not want to be late. Also, the railroad provides very detailed and helpful instructions about how to get to the depot and how to navigate the parking and other systems. They have outside train cars and inside train cars so you can choose what type of seat you want. This is definitely been worth the money and should become a holiday.

For those looking for something truly unique to do in the bay area, I highly recommend this tour…read more I'm not going to try and butter this review up here. Let's be honest - I am not a farm person. I appreciate a good meal but am not one who normally spends much time worrying about where my food comes from. So I expected to be bored on this trip, frankly. Boy was I wrong. This trip blew my expectations away. It was a great mix of different farms and different ways of doing things, and I felt like a kid again on a super-fun field trip where you got to explore and touch and watch the makings of where your food comes from. The farmers were genuine, down-to-earth people and were serious farm-fresh foodies. We literally had meals prepared for us by the farmers right in front of us and they were SO DELICIOUS. I got to pick my own tomatoes right off the vine. I even learned about fruits and vegetables I'd never even heard of. Oh, did I mention I got to try them out, too? The environment was relaxed. The guides were very knowledgeable and interesting. And the design of the event was really mellow but well planned. Did I mention the views? These properties are just amazing. What awesome country to get to go hang out in. Between all the exploring, wine, food and learning, the day went by fast and I got to take in a ton of beautiful sites. This tour was a find. After having my parents visit the bay area regularly and running out of creative things to do with them, I know where I am taking them next. What a great and unique thing to do on your weekend.

My wife and I went on a tour that took us up to Russian River without knowing what to expect…read more We've always been interested in gardening and farming, but weren't aware of organic farms open to the public where one could organize a tour and really explore the nuts and bolts. Bay Area Green Tours really came through in this regard, and they arranged everything beautifully. The most memorable stop was a farm run by a restauranteur and chef, and they went all out on the tour. We picked our own fruits and vegetables and the chef prepared them in a gorgeous outdoor setting. Meeting the family that owned and operated the farm was eye opening and educational. For example, the farmer/chef explained that his warm-loving citrus trees do much better at higher altitude up his hill rather than at the base due to the downhill sliding effect of cold air. Good eats, great people, and very educational. Not a bad way to spend a weekend or two!

Chris was a fantastic tour guide. He set up a great variety of wineries for us to visit. Each was…read moreexcellent and offered different experiences. His vehicle was roomy and comfortable and we got to play our own tunes as we cruised between stops!! His knowledge of the area, its history and the wineries we visited added another great dimension to the experience. And the lunch that he prepared for our group of eight was phenomenal. All home prepared by his family and friends! If you come across Chris, don't hesitate for a second to book him!!

We were planning a girl's trip to Napa and got very overwhelmed with all the wineries and tour…read moreoptions. I found Curated Winery Tours and Chris came to the rescue. I completed his questionnaire to help him plan our trip and he did an amazing job meeting our wants and needs. He was also very knowledgeable and friendly and made our day perfect. The picnic lunch provided by his wife was also a perfect addition to our tour. Thank you so much Chris for such a lovely day!!!

A great place for the entire family. A beautiful park where you don't have to drive for hours to…read morevisit. On the weekends, parking is $5. Best to get there early because parking fills up quick. I was there for a BBQ on July 25th, at 10 a.m., and I was able to make parking in the overflow. There's parking on the outside street, but that fills up quick, as well. Anyway, inside the park, there's a long trail that goes all the way around the lake. There's boat rental, either kayak, paddle boat, you can rent a tour boat. I think you can bring your own boat, but it's best to call and make sure. There's BBQ and picnic benches. Volleyball court. A lot of green grass to sit, play sports. There's only one restroom near the boating area, and a few small restrooms if you trek around the lake. There are plenty of hiking trails. There's camping as well. An outdoor Cafe next to the boats. No swimming or wading. You can fish, but I wouldn't eat what you catch. There's warning signs about the water.

So this reservoir was built in 1874 but closed to public, then opened for recreational use in the…read more60s. So the trails around the lake have matured really well. Like most parts of the paved trails are very well shaded from trees that have grown over those years. My dog and I walk for around an hour to hour and a half, so we usually pick west or east from the parking lot and return the same way. I think we've only explored like half of the lake so far. I've seen wild turkeys, deers, rabbits, and ducks around. And if you are wearing overear headphones, you get the natures remix with all the birds and insects chirping.