I stopped by on a Saturday to ride the train. It was about 2 pm. There was a line. But I was able…read moreto get into the immediate next train, which came in 15 minutes. Every train cleared the line. Ticket was $5 per head for a single trip. It was fun for kids. Train winds around redwood trees for 15 minutes. Main parking lot was full. But there is a second parking lot with additional space. I also stopped by at the Little Farm. Entry was free, and there was no crowd. The place had rabbits, ducks, cows, goats, sheep and turkey. Till a year back they let people feed the goats. But now that is not permitted. There was a single bunny they kept for kids to pet. Finally I stopped by on the Education Center, as it was right in front of the farm. The place didn't have much crowd. It took me about 20 minutes to cover the place. Microscope was probably the coolest thing. There were pelts from different animals, to touch and feel. There was no cell phone range in many parts of the park. But if you drive a couple of miles and keep checking, signal will start appearing.

Fantastic for toddlers and adults! The botanical gardens are free! And so heavenly- the Sequoia…read moregrove is my favorite part. I visited twice this trip and felt I saw new plants and trees each time. The labeling of each plot was meticulous and I only wish I could have stayed in town long enough for the plant sale! -(Not that I could've taken any home, lol!) The train rides for the kids pass through beautiful woods and are very enjoyable even for adults.

Came here as a stop to enjoy our pastries and coffee while watching our grandson play. Love that…read morethere is a lot of shaded areas. Looks like there is a hiking/walk path nearby. Love the area and we relaxed and enjoyed the calmness.

Had an amazing day in the park yesterday watching taming of the shrew. The park is always so…read moregorgeous with such beautiful trees and well maintained. The event was well organized and everything went very smoothly. The actors were incredible and our family had such a great time being outdoors in the amphitheater watching a show.

Good park for both older and younger kids - as the grandma of 18-month old twins, I especially like…read morethat it's gated so they can't escape! We'll definitely be back!

This is a great playground! Found it based on other yelp reviews and so glad we checked it out…read more Really fun structure with a climbing wall and two big slides for bigger kiddos, and a smaller play area for the little kids. They have two sand boxes and a cool 4 way teeter-totter bouncy thing that my 4 year old loved. The park is dog friendly (on a leash) and they have a grassy area with picnic tables. It's a great park!

Turkey sighting. I usually see them out around San Pablo Ave., near the Albany city services area…read more-- Police, Fire, City Hall. It was nice to see one out in nature and not doing the casual street stroll. Apple maps showed me two different routes to destinations of this name, depended on the day. One was up Taft, the other was to a path near Ranch 99. Well, the Ranch 99 route starts with a long walk that includes a long stair climb. On the bright side, there's your warm up. Downside really only if you have someone already there waiting for you. Live and learn. Enjoy the outdoors and a good walk.

Albany Hill Park is aptly named, as it's just one big hill, or one big rock off of I-80!!…read more You can drive to the top and follow the trails or stairs back down. Or you can start at the bottom and work your way to the top. On the way up one trail, I saw a cross and a swing, and plenty of dog walkers. There are some good views at the top looking through the trees. When I was here, I felt like I was at a super small version of Golden Gate Park. Albany is a really small city, just driving through you can pass through it and you might not know it, but when you see this big rock, you'll know you're definitely in Albany!! Very nice park, seems like the highlight of this little city to me!!

Looking for sweeping views of the Bay but don't want to deal with a bunch of other people? Grotto…read moreRock Park is perfect - don't bother going to Grizzly Peak or Indian Rock Park next time you wanna watch a gorgeous sunset! Using Google Maps and the address listed on Yelp took us straight to the park. There was a lot of street parking right next to the rock formation when we went at 8pm on a Friday evening, but that might not always be the case since you're in a neighborhood. You can climb directly up or take dirt paths that go around the rock formation. There are steps/paths carved in the rock at multiple entry points, but for the easiest access, I'd recommend taking a right when you enter the park, walking up for about a minute, and then you'll see the easiest rock path up. There's a cute stone bench carved into the rock near the top, where my boyfriend and I ate pizza and watched the sunset. Climbing difficulty is on the easier side and there were only two other people when we went. As always, be respectful when you're at the park! Aka pick up your trash, don't blare music - you're in someone's neighborhood.

When is a rock a park? Well, here's an answer to that question. It's less than a third of an acre,…read moreand most of it is a big immovable rock formation. Geologists might have a field day assessing the volcano-based outcropping, but the ignorant (not the igneous) might beg to differ as it is a quick walk around and then you move on. Zealots can climb on it for views, but I'm not that adventurous even though there are carved stairs. Let's just say I'd be the character telling people not to climb the upside-down Christmas tree in "The Poseidon Adventure" and die five minutes later. RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Wish I knew about this garden when I was a student at CAL. This park is part of the landscaping…read moreprogram at CAL. Even the door was inconspicuous and at first glance, we were not sure if the entry was the secret staff entry or an actual entryway. It was my first time here and it was hidden in a quiet Kensington neighborhood. I accidentally found this park on Yelp and didn't think much about it but my hubby and I were surprised how charming this park is. It was like a little fairyland full of ethereal cottage flowers such as wispy cosmos moving with the breeze and happy bees everywhere. There were volunteers planting Benary zinnias and other flowers. There was a clean bathroom inside their office and plants offered for a donation. I saw mothers with their babies talking as if they come here all the time. There was a group of elderly women chatting and enjoying the peaceful garden. I was there for 30 minutes before lunch and only saw about 35 percent of the garden and I look forward to another trip to this secret garden in Kensington.

This garden is a bit off the beaten path, it's part of UC Berkeley but 3.5 miles north in the hills…read moreof Kensington. I was surprised because it was much bigger than I had imagined. At 10 acres it's a pretty decent size with a maze of little trails to explore and over 1,500 plant species. I wish they had more signage of what everything was, there were a few placards but for people that are really into botany it would have been more interesting. My favorite parts were the views of the bay and the redwood forest nestled near a creek. It's very calm here, probably because it's only open on the weekdays so it doesn't get too crowded. It's is ideal for a romantic stroll, or to take a meditative walk and it has many benches around to sit.

What a great park! As a new mom, I'm always on the hunt for great parks throughout the East…read moreBay...and Arlington Park has made the list. There's a few things I currently look for in a park before frequenting: is there easy/convenient parking, are there swings for not just the older kiddos, is there an open grass area for play or picnic, are there slides or safe infrastructure, and most importantly, is this a place I can make memories with my little or just unwind a bit. The answer to all of the above for Arlington Park is yes. I'm surprised how many parks don't have swings anymore, so grateful to those that do. Arlington Park has an incredibly large grass area to throw a blanket and bring a book to meet friends/take a break as well. Easy and free street parking, and did I mention there are ducks? Large enough to walk and spend some time, while also a great meeting spot. Would def recommend if looking for a new park or just a resting space and place. Well-kept grounds, perfect for keeping up the well being :)

Cute park with lake of ducks and turtles. Safe and pretty. Only issue is you have to go through…read morehoops to buy a key for the bathroom :-(

This park is just really cool. On afternoons and weekends it's usually packed full of people. It…read morecan be hard at times to find a parking spot but shouldn't be too difficult to park on a side street if needed. There are several parts to this park. One is a flat area with a play scape and a cement slide. There's actually a tunnel nearby that goes under the road and crosses over to the rose garden, which is really cool. The cement slide is a must see for anyone with kids and even if you're an adventurous adult. There are plenty of cardboard boxes around for you to try it out. When I first heard about the cement slide, I didn't think it would be very fun, (cement and sliding didn't go together in my mind) but it is great! Then just a little bit south, above that play scape area, there's a baseball field. So many different people come here to meet. Some people for picnics, some people play soccer, some people play softball, some people bring their dogs. And then inside the woods behind the park, there are a picnic benches. I have a friend who had her wedding reception there. You can reserve them with the city. And then behind the picnic area, there's a hike and if you're very adventurous, there is a waterfall hidden, but it's not easy to find if you don't know about it. I highly recommend this park. During the winter, the baseball field is blocked off with Fence to protect the grass but other parts of the park are accessible.

This park gets busy. And why shouldn't it? It's great! Nestled in the Berkeley Hills overlooking…read morethe cities and the bay below, amongst the huge trees, you'll see all walks of life enjoying this Berkeley staple. It's made of a lot of different parts - basketball courts, a baseball field, a grassy field across from some great play structures and a huge, long concrete slide. It's epic and built into the mossy hill. When your kids are old enough, they will just do the slide. FYI. Over the bridge, you walk up a hill to some bbq areas, which you can reserve online for parties. The shaded one is so beautiful with this beautiful, huge, old outdoor fireplace. Bbq area #4 has more sun, fyi to those planning. The tunnel leads you to bathrooms, tennis courts and the rose garden. What a great place for a great day. Something for everyone.

Amazing 10-15 min ride through the park. Nice scenic views, great smell of nature…read more I highly recommend

We've been wanting to do this train ride for quite some time now and we're super happy we finally…read moregot around to it! Children 2 and under are free Ages 3+ $5/ per person The entire staff is so friendly and inviting. We came on a Thursday afternoon around 4pm Parking was super easy and quick, right in front in the main parking lot. As soon as we arrived there was already a train waiting to load up and depart, we quickly purchased tickets and walked right on. We were on the train in less than 5 minutes from the time that we had parked. The bathrooms are clean, they have two and a portable toilet behind the restroom building. The ride itself claims to be 12 minutes but I'd say more around 10. Not much of a difference but something to note. The view is absolutely beautiful and we'd love to do it again. I highly recommend it!