The Rose Walk is not far from the Rose Garden in Berkeley!!…read more Not many Roses along the Rose Walk, it's really just a pathway through a residential area. I saw the sign and went up the stairs and walked the short, paved path. Very quiet here also!!

If you like to be in a peaceful and tranquil environment, if u like to walk around quiet, tree-line…read moreresidential areas, if u cherish neighborhoods with lots of character, and if you don't mind climbing uphill a bit - then u would definitely love this stone stairway called Rose Walk. Berkeley has many hidden jewels like this - check out berkeleypaths.org and you'll find more beautiful footpaths like this.

Yep. It is a Big C. Could it be a bigger C? Yeah, but it isn't claiming to be the biggest C. The C…read moreis big enough to be considered big. Yep. The nice thing about The Big C hike is that it is easy enough that anyone can make it to the top while still feeling like a bit of a hike. It's not too long of a hike nor are any parts of it super steep. This makes it great for student outings, a small activity, or just something to do with people visiting the area. The view up top is great too with the iconic UC Berkeley skyline. On a nice sunny day, parts of the San Francisco skyline is clearly visible as well. Whether you come here at sunrise or sunset, the view is just great. I've even been here once for a nighttime hike with lights and that was all fun as well. Go Bears!

It's a short and steep hike up here. However don't expect a blazing 'C' at the top. We went…read moreduring a hot day and there isn't much shade around the area. If you're looking for a short burst workout this is a pretty good one with a fabulous view. I'm sad the swing isn't there. I would have like floating in the air. We paid for parking by the wooden stairs. However, there must be another area to park for free as there were other hikers en route.

I agree whole-heartedly with the first reviewer of this hidden gem (Ciana W.) and I just want to…read moreadd that there are tons of hidden paths like this in Berkeley. www.berkeleypaths.org would tell you all about them, with detailed maps and walking guides provided. This is one of the many things that make Berkeley so charming and loveable. There are so many stone stairways and narrow footpaths paved with fallen leaves hidden in all these quiet, unassuming neighborhoods! I live in the Elmwood area and, wow, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Oak Knoll, Pine Path, Garber St, Oak Path... just north of my neigborhood. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Mosswood and Orchard path north of the International House. And now, I discovered this hidden treasure of Vine Lane and Rose Walk! Absolutely five stars. And thank you SO MUCH, berkeleypaths.org, for preserving them!

Are you ready to fall down the rabbit hole into a true-blue wonderland?…read more The delirium and dementia of Telegraph Avenue are equally and oppositely reflected in the glamour and mystery of Vine Lane, one of Berkeley's many secret hidden pathways. This is my gift to you: take a walk up through Vine Lane to the Berkeley Rose Garden. Start by putting on your comfy shoes and wandering up the hill that is Euclid Street, taking careful note of the gorgeous, dilapidated old houses, the swooping trees, and the almost eerie peacefulness of North Side. Hang a right at Cedar Street, and look westward out to the Bay. By the time you make a right on Hawthorne Terrace, you'll be in a completely different world, and to prove it, there is Vine Lane. Tucked away so delicately that you could almost miss it, there between the Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts homes, is a small pathway cutting up the hill. It is as simple as that -- a pathway, or miniature pedestrian route built sometime around the turn of the century. Walking silently, respectfully, and ever upwards, you can just feel the stillness of the hillside, and you can appreciate the idealistic thoughtfulness of the city planners who built these paths. Vine Lane is aptly named because the walls of the residences, most of which are set off the path by several yards, are covered in luscious vegetation. It's worth going to see the changing colors in both fall and spring. At the top of the mount hangs a small lantern and sign in wrought iron, proclaiming "VINE LANE" in an elegant script. This place is unexpected, charming, and a complete relic of Berkeley's mystical and lurid past. Continue on to Cordonices Park and the Berkeley Rose Garden if you want to keep falling further into that rabbit hole...

I'm kind of shocked that more people haven't reviewed this park. But then again, I like the fact…read morethat it's a park that's far less traveled. I literally pass this park almost every day on my way home from work. It's conveniently located right off of Claremont Ave behind the Claremont Hotel, but there's also another entrance off of Evergreen Ln and Alvarado Rd where it dead ends. I decided to explore it one day and was blown away by what I found. First off, this isn't a park with a kid's play structure or anything. It's a small local park that's tucked away behind houses in the Berkeley Hills and is comprised mainly of short hiking trails. I'm kind of jealous of the residents who live here. If I had a park like this that was literally in my backyard, there would no excuse for me not to hike here several times a week. The trails are dirt and pretty narrow, but fairly easy to follow. There are some pretty mild inclines followed by a narrow ridge, but it's a great spot to get a quick workout. I started at Evergeen lane and continued along the loop trail that ended up looping me back to the beginning. The loop trail was short, probably no more than 2 miles and will take about 30-40 minutes to complete depending on your speed. I took my time and stopped along the way to take pictures during the hike. Speaking of pictures, you'll definitely get some great ones here! A portion of the trail runs parallel to Claremont Ave, but the rest of the trail involves scaling the Berkeley Hills and the views are very scenic. There are several spots along the trail where you can see bay and even the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. There are several numbered trail markers to help guide you back to the beginning. The shade from the trees will help to keep you cool, even in the hot summer sun. Just be mindful of where you step because it's easy to slip on the leaves on the ground, especially during the fall when they're more prevalent. There are portions of the trail where you'll be walking up and down log steps and where you'll be on the edge of the ridge, but nothing too difficult. I observed many fallen trees, some with the most peculiar looking structures, but interesting nonetheless. There are a couple of nice rest and recreational stops along the way, one of which is equipped with an old looking fireplace and a few benches. I think I ran into maybe one or two people while I was on the loop trail, but I basically had the park all to myself. Super peaceful! And since it's located behind a residential neighborhood, I felt safe hiking here alone. It's an excellent spot for an easy and local hike. Would totally recommend if you're looking for a less crowded alternative to Claremont Canyon or the Berkeley Fire Trails.

Amazing Park on the edge of the Oakland / Berkeley hills. I guess you could call this an urban…read morepark, although after a short walk on the trail, you feel like your deep in the forest. This is another one of the hidden gems in the San Francisco Bay region. Probably not worth a special drive for a hike here, because it's relatively short. But I recommend a little exploratory walk from the Claremont.

This mural was painted on the Bicentennial of the American Revolution to commemorate the 1960's…read morepolitical & social movements in Berkeley from 1964 (Free Speech Movement) to 1969 (People's Park) Images (left to right) on mural -Mario Savio speaking at sit-in @Sproul Plaza where Free Speech Movement started. -Vietnam War protesters -Black Panthers -street scene on Telegraph Ave. in '60's -creation of People's Park -"Blood Thursday" on this location between demonstrators & protestors over People's Park. An observer on a rooftop killed by Alameda County Sheriff's. -homeless young woman lying on sidewalk, a tree breaks thru concrete. Its branches dances down Telegraph Ave. into the future, signaling a better future. (Transcribed from plaque posted by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project) Mural design: OSHA Neumann Painters: O'Brien Thiele, Janet Kranzberg, Daniel Galvez et al.

Best place when you want to indulge and/or gift someone a beautiful box of unique chocolates. Great…read morevariety of amazing flavor combos and visually so, so appealing. I mean, true art. My current favorites - Mango and Meyer Lemon. Service is also always perfect and makes you want to come back again and again.

The chocolate is divine. It's high quality and each piece has rich flavors that taste fresh. Some…read morepeople might balk at $3 for a truffle but it tastes like it's worth $3. The taste is luxurious. They change up the flavors every few months. I tend to not like chocolate that is too dark but here it isn't too strong. My favorites: Champagne-pretty heart shape and tastes very champagney Banana Fosters- Colorful and very flavorful Peanut Butter and Jelly-essential for peanut butter lovers Lavendar-it's like aromatherapy for your mouth The truffles remind me of Christopher Elbow in the city for quality but in a must less fancy setting and more obscure location. I wish they were open longer the store is closed Sunday-Tuesday and open Wed-Sat from 12pm-6pm.

$$$4U is a mural on building on Shattuck Ave. next to McDonald's. The namesake is posted on the…read moreright. At the left are 3 rabbits staring at it. The female ones have hearts & $$$ in their eyes. The male has a pair of periscopes with flames atop it. The rabbits have different colored shirts: gray, pink & red. Underneath the rabbits are written "Cal, Stanford, Community College" these may be an addendum with no relationship to the central theme. Underneath &$$4U is a rose with an heart next to it. Under that is the Creators name: MOROE The theme may be the rabbits' respective love & hate for materiali$m/capitali$m.

The Hunrick Grocery, located at 2211 Rose Street, was designated a Structure of Merit in 1988…read morebecause it provides "this generation and future generations examples of the physical surroundings in which past generations lived," and its designation conforms to the purpose and criteria of the ordinance. It has now been fully restored and is a beauty to look at as I've walked by and admired this piece of Berkeley's architectural history. The building was constructed as a grocery store and residence by George Hunrick in 1908. Hunrick had come to California to study banking with A.P. Gianinni, but never returned to Germany. He moved to Berkeley in 1906 and set up his first store at 2120 Shattuck. In 1908 he moved his business and home to 2211 Rose Street. Prospects were good in this location at the time, as the north Berkeley hills were just being developed, and a streetcar line was extended up Spruce Street in 1910. Hunrick operated the store at this location from 1908 until 1923, when he moved his home to Woolsey Street and opened a grocery on College Avenue at Ashby. The shop at 2211 Rose Street served as a small convenience store until 1966. The distinctive architectural feature of the now dilapidated building is its Mission Revival false-front parapet.

Mystic Designs is an assigned moniker for the art adorning the wooden planks covering Tasty Wok's…read morestorefront. Colours of violet, purple, yellow & light blue shade the many patterns with disguised agendas. Schematics has a pac man allure as a facade. Whether religious, cultural, tech, Mother Nature, a supernatural force et. al is involved isn't clear. Whatever the message, mural is intriguing... Creator: unknown...

in the mural everyone is a part of a joyful, loving celebration in a festive neighborhood whenever…read morethe sun is hot and the weather warm. various adults of all ages, genders, and ethnicities are partying with children, dogs, etc. they are all dressed in bright, expressive colours. creator: Cecil Bowen?