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.

I live walking distance from this gem of a playground and have taken both my girls there from ages…read more6 mos to about 3-4 years. Sometimes we still go even though the youngest is early elementary aged and they're clearly the older (est) ones there. This humble small lot is literally a toy graveyard, and excitement abounds if you happen to find one where the batteries still work and it makes sounds/ lights! There's also a small slide, 2 swings, it's totally enclosed, have some bench seating and toddler picnic table, 2 baby swings, turf ground + sand pit, and some shaded areas. (It can also get really sunny and warm.) Street parking is typically easy around two of the lot perimeters. It's one of the few lots where I could let my 2yo kids roam without worrying too much that they'd wander off or get hurt. Yes, there's a little steep "lip" heading into the sand pit (might make for a surprise butt-slide) and you'll still need to watch to make sure your kid doesn't get clocked in the head by someone on the swings. And for sure you may not want your kid eating everything that's there. But by and large it was one of the safest playgrounds and we met up with lots of (adult) friends there to chat while the kids played. We actually got some conversation in!! And our kids made some friends. On the weekdays, a bunch of nannies would bring their kids over and sit, picnic, change diapers on the ground, and chat. Super friendly. I'm so thankful this lot exists for my kids.

Great park. Love that it's fully gated. There is shade from the trees around the edges and around…read morethe picnic tables. Short picnic table for the kids

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.

This park is absolutely delightful. It sits in the city of Piedmont, which is a bit of unusual city…read moregeographically because it is completely encapsulated by Oakland. It's somewhat of an oasis in Oakland. And this park is an oasis within that. The park isn't huge, but it does the job. Love the trails, great with the dog, and every once in a while, they'll have the food trucks. Parking nearby is easy.

Piedmont park is approx. 15 acres. It is located in downtown, next to the Community Hall, Piedmont…read moreHigh School and Veteran's building. It has many walking paths that take you to different sections of the park - some make you feel you are in a dense forest. It' well maintained and manicured. Many people are sitting on benches or on the grass; park is full of life - vibrant. There is a children's playground, a Japanese Tea Garden, large lawn areas, a football field, and dog runs.

Beautiful park! Full of green spaces and something for everyone…read more There is a small community centre which is not used and a proposed project is underway, so hopefully, that gets to be in fruition. There are tennis courts, a playground, very dog friendly, and a huge green open space. The park seems very well kept. On a nice clear day, one can enjoy the colours and the warm sun. And from a certain angle, one can see the campanile in all its glory. One can picnic, play frisbee, play catch, etc. I did not see many concrete paths or much for bikes and scooters. I enjoy the little circular crevices to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. The mosaic water fountains are a pleasure to the eye. Everybody is welcomed here. AC Transit buses 6 and 51B are easily accessible with a short walk. Nearest BART stations I would say Downtown Berkeley and Rockridge, both serve the buses that would take you here too or walk more. GO Outside!

Small playground area was nice. Definitely gears towards younger toddlers. Wish it had more variety…read moreof playground toys but don't think it was meant to be. Lots of other people around throwing frisbees , picnic, tennis and basketball nearby so you feel safe even at 7-8pm during summer hours.

From a six year old- "well I like the monkey bars and climbing pirate ship thing. And I also like…read morethe slide, creek and caterpillar!" Creek was a huge hit! Adult review, "I can get coffee near by at hidden cafe!" Win. Win.

Best park, newly renovated with hidden cafe for adults. Only gripe is bathrooms, often gross (human…read moreexcrement on the walls etc) so find elsewhere to "go"

The Berkeley Rose Garden is such a hidden gem! I was just driving through the area when I happened…read moreto pass by, and I'm so glad I decided to find parking and take a walk through. I had no idea this beautiful spot existed, and there's so much more to enjoy than just the roses. The little winding paths let you wander around and discover different views of the garden, making every turn feel special. I saw so many people enjoying the space in their own way, whether taking photos, going for a peaceful walk, or sitting with a coffee and catching up with friends. The view of the Bay from the top of the garden is absolutely beautiful and makes the visit even more worthwhile. There's also a lovely park across the street for kids to play, making it a great spot for families, too. Such a peaceful, charming place to slow down and enjoy a Sunday. I'll definitely be coming back!

Visited today with BB -- our first time here. We definitely picked the wrong season, as most of the…read moreroses have already been pruned. Even so, the garden itself is peaceful and well maintained. What really stood out was the view -- you can see the Golden Gate Bridge from the garden, which is beautiful and unexpected. There's also a constant sound of rushing water nearby (not sure if that's always there), but it added to the calm and made the few roses still in bloom more enjoyable. The garden is wheelchair accessible, though I will note the hill leading up to the entrance is very steep. They do have public restrooms and tennis courts on site, which is nice. Street parking only -- and be careful, cars come around the bend quickly. Overall, even though we missed peak bloom season, it was still worth the visit for the views and the atmosphere. I'd love to come back in the spring when everything is in full bloom.

What a tucked away away spot to come across with my wife. We came across this spot after having…read moredinner at Hana Japan. We were in absolute awe because it was very serene. We saw pol just relaxing in their cars, some ppl were fishing and others just taking it all in. Had a great conversation with a car neighbor who told us about some spots here in Berkeley and Oakland to go and check out. We are so excited about learning more of what the East Bay has to offer every time we decide to venture out.

OK early morning stop. I wanted my parents and kids to see some water and we stopped by since we…read morewere in the area and this park is open early. It's too cold to go into the water but you can see a bit of San Francisco on a clear day. Its actually a perfect representation of the Bay Area for visitors. Cold, sky is gray, and rocks near the water is covered with slippery seaweed. At the very end of University Ave you can find plenty of parking and two of the odd/unique attractions. There is a giant sundial near the pier. Its 10 foot in diameter and a gift from Berkeley's sister city Sakai, Japan. There is a giant proto-asian culture style statue called "The Guardian" on the grass. The Guardian is an extrapolation of a six-inch clay and wood sculpture in a Buddhist temple in Penang. The city fiercely resisted Frederic Fierstein's plopping of the Guardian. Fierstein fiercely fought back. Fierstein gathered signatures and placed an initiative on the ballot in support of the Guardian. The worst thing about coming so early are there was a person smoking weed in their car and kept loudly cursing on the phone even with kids and old people visibly around.

Great view and easy to climb. There are steps too that make it easier to get down. It's never too…read morecrowded the times I've come. People also respect the rock and it's usually clean in the surrounding area. Parking can be challenging because it's in a residential area, but sometimes people make their own parking if they're not staying too long. It's a great place that is close enough to get to without long windy roads and still have an amazing, clear view.

Indian Rock Park offers a serene escape, perfect for quiet reflection or quality time with family…read more The views are nothing short of breathtaking.

I love love love this park. There are several parts to it. There's a very nice grassy hill,…read moresurrounded by trees that you can lay a blanket down on and read a book or hang out by yourself or with your friends or family. And then there are tennis and basketball courts and then there's a kids play scape for younger kids and we spent so much time at this park. The community center is also very nice and they have plays or other events there. I've seen quite a few events there and have also taken Zumba classes. There's also an area between the two parts of the park that has a stream and picnic tables and we often met groups down there and had celebrations. I've also seen work groups meet there for lunch. My kids loved to go hang out there because there were so many things you can do there. The Parks in Berkeley, in general I find just amazing.

This is a lovely park with plenty of lush green grass for picnicking and trees providing ample…read moreshade, as well as concrete stairways connecting to the creek and a bridge leading to the Live Oak Theater. I attended the showing of SF Mime Troupe's "Disruption" this past Saturday, an entertaining and comedic musical production reminding the crowd that everything is politics. In addition, I laid out my mat in the grass to enjoy a meal and read a book, appreciating the relaxing and carefree atmosphere.