Great place for our daughter High School Grad photos! She loves flowers so we decided to come here…read moreand she loved it! Beautiful day and lots of beautiful areas to take photos! Parking is limited but we were able to get a spot super close when we drove up!

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.

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.

I know some people say that people here are soft because they complain about the elevation. It is…read moreno joke! A friend and I met up for a walk and we decided to meet at Garber Park. Based on the reviews here, we designated a meeting spot (Evergreen Lane) which is crucial since there are multiple entrances to the "park". Also, it's not much of a "park" - it's a few different fairly vertical trails. That would be okay if that's what we were looking for....but we were looking more for a casual amble. It's also tough to chat because the trials are narrow and you typically have to walk single file. That being said, it's a nice, vigorous hike that's fairly accessible and easy to get to.

A very calm, peaceful, tranquil place nestled between Oakland Avenue and Grand Avenue!!…read more I can see how, if you don't live close to this place, you will, like me, never knew it even existed!! There is a pond in the middle of the garden, and plenty of walking paths here along with lots of benches, and of course, roses!! You can access this garden from many different ways, the main entrance is on Jean Street. There is also a restroom located here. There is a bit of an incline here when entering at Jean Street. So if you want some quiet outdoor time and space, while in Oakland, this is a great place to go to!!!

Nice-sized municipal rose garden located a block off busy Grand Avenue. A good place with benches…read moreon various terraced paths with a large variety of rose bushes and trees. Has a reflecting pond and a terrace for weddings. There is also a path recognizing the Oakland Woman of the Year with names since the 50s? Many plants are not blooming yet as of early May. Should be glorious in the next few months. No dogs or bike riding in the garden although I did notice a few people letting their dogs run wild in the non-rose bush upper terraces.

One of those backyard discoveries that makes me question why it's taken me so long to actually get…read morehere. Welp... I finally made it here. And it is truly sensational. I've pretty much been all up, down, and around Tilden Park. But even with that, I always seem to discover trails that I've never hiked before. It's a huge park, so that makes total sense. Wildcat Peak was one of those recent discovery trails and vista points for me. I've always seen it on the park map, but you know when you get used to hiking on your favorite trails and you neglect all of the rest? That was me. I mean, that IS me. A creature of habit I guess. So on this very day, I decided to explore a different part of Tilden. Entered the park through the nature area and started near Jewel Lake on the Wildcat Creek Trail. This trail is super easy, flat, and partially paved. You'll pass by Jewel Lake along this trail. Turned right onto Sylvan and then left onto the Wildcat Peak Trail. This part of the Wildcat Peak Trail features switchbacks that incline up to the peak. It's a nice workout in general, but the views of the Bay is what makes this jaunt super enjoyable. Once you reach the peak, you'll have the most incredible views of the Bay Bridge, Briones Reservoir, San Pablo Bay, and Berkeley city views. There's a little brick barrier wall at the summit where you can sit and admire the views. It's 360 degrees of pure scenic bliss up there. From here, you can go back the same way you came up, or you can connect to another trail. I connected to the Laurel Canyon trail which looped me back around to the Tilden Nature area. There are so many vibrant wildflowers and plants nestled along this trail loop. The trail has a nice mix of covered and exposed paths. You'll pass through beautiful groves and notice the rampant wildlife on the trails. In the late winter and early spring, it's so incredibly green here. Wildcat Peak is such a gorgeous vista point within Tilden Park. I'd highly recommend the Wildcat Creek/Wildcat Peak/ Sylvan/Laurel Canyon trail loops. It's simply marvelous.

It's hard to imagine that the bucolic fire roads in Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Park once connected…read morethe US military with missile radar stations and launch sites during the depths of the Cold War. Or maybe not given the escalating tensions we have with Russia. But back in 1962 during a moment of atypical calm, a stone circle was built by the Berkeley Rotary Club to allow people agitated by the Commies a meditative spot to take in panoramic, 360-degree views of the SF Bay Area to the west and San Pablo Reservoir to the east. Years later it's still a nice respite if it isn't crowded up here as it sometimes does on warm weekends. Most people walk on Nimitz Way, the mostly paved path from Inspiration Point, to get here. However, my favorite route starts on the Wildcat Creek Trail where I take the gradual climb on the Conlon Trail where you get the same bay views you get from the peak. Except maybe for a herd of unimpressed cows in your way. I then descend on the zig-zaggy Wildcat Peak Trail back to Wildcat Creek. Gee, I sound like an actual hiker, don't I? RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Great little garden within the Lake Merritt Garden. Unfortunately part was under construction so…read morewe'll be back. The "curator" (not sure what to call him) was super nice. They have classes on the fourth Sunday of every month. Definitely will check that out.

Beautiful gardens hidden away in a busy city…read more Sad to see a group of teen throwing trash into the lake. They don't even respect their own area.

I was surprised to find these redwood hiking trails a mere 20 minutes from my house. Plenty of…read moreparking lots, clean restrooms and picnic tables throughout the park. Parking was free when we went on a Monday morning. There's a variety of trails for everyone, even my preschool age kids. We hiked the stream trail which was a good level for them. They were pleased to stumble upon a playground during the hike. The stream itself was quite low and dry this time of year (summer, August). Perhaps it's livelier in the spring or winter. We did not come across much wildlife other than bugs. They recommend wearing long pants in case of ticks.

Flynn and I spent the day exploring Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and it couldn't…read morehave been a more perfect day. The weather was cool, comfortable, and ideal for hiking. One of the things I love most about this park is that it's only about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Oakland, yet once you're surrounded by the towering coast redwoods, it feels like you've escaped deep into the mountains. It's hard to believe you're still in the middle of the East Bay. The park is home to one of the largest remaining natural coast redwood forests in the East Bay, with many trees reaching around 150 feet tall. The area was heavily logged during the 1800s before being preserved and allowed to recover. In 2019, the park was renamed in honor of Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, former president of Mills College and one of the original East Bay Regional Park District board members. Parking is easy with several lots throughout the park. The regular parking fee is $5 per vehicle on staffed weekends and holidays, but during this America 250 celebration weekend, parking was free. With nearly 40 miles of interconnected trails, there's something for everyone--from easy family-friendly walks to longer, more challenging hikes. You could visit multiple times and still discover new trails, such as the French Trail, East Ridge Trail, and West Ridge Trail. Whether you're a beginner, trail runner, or experienced hiker, there's something for everyone. Families will enjoy the picnic areas, BBQ grills, playground with swings, open grassy areas, and plenty of tables and benches to relax. There are also water fountains for both people and our paw friends, which Flynn definitely appreciated. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean the restrooms were. They are individual restrooms with flushing toilets, and there are sinks with running water outside for washing up. The park is also popular for mountain biking, horseback riding, birdwatching, photography, and of course hiking. Dogs are welcome on many trails, on leash, making it one of my favorite places to spend time with Flynn. If you're hoping to camp overnight, the park offers primitive group camping by reservation only at designated hike-in campsites. There are no showers and I'd recommend bringing a portable filtered water system like Sawyer. Reservations are required in advance through the East Bay Regional Park District, and fees vary depending on the group campsite. If you're visiting the Bay Area or even if you've lived here for years and haven't explored this hidden gem, I highly recommend adding Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park to your list. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, plenty of water, and your camera--you'll leave wondering how such an incredible redwood forest has been hiding so close to Oakland. Flynn gives it two paws up! A friendly reminder to stay on the designated trails and be aware of your surroundings. Like many natural parks in the Bay Area, ticks, poison oak, and coyotes are present. We stayed on the trail, had no issues, and enjoyed a wonderful hike. After your visit, it's always a good idea to check yourself and your dog for ticks Cheers!

A solid little neighborhood park up in the Hills. Street parking only and nearby are some…read moreincredible views of the Bay and the City. The top part by a green area great for a picnic or catch, has a huge sand area and a little tot playground. Take the stairs or the huge concrete slide down to the lower part to find some monkey bars and a structure for slightly older kids. Clean, nice, and a little respite in this neighborhood; a great local gem. Maybe not something you'd go out of your way for, although the concrete slide is fun!

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more Located a Spruce and Michigan though barely visible at street level, it's scarcely an acre and hardly relevant to anyone outside of a mile radius, but this little park does provide a certain neighborhood charm despite the steep slope upon which it rests. When should a park be called a parklet after all? Apparently it's been around for quite a while, around eighty years which is quite a milestone for such a prime piece of Berkeley Hills real estate. Even though there are no restrooms (a moot point during a pandemic), there are facilities for toddlers and school-age gnomes, a small picnic table, a patch of green, and unavoidably, a forty-foot concrete slide which the park website states "use at your own risk". The ragged cardboard remnants weren't calling my name. I don't know who Dorothy is, but any park that reminds me of characters in "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Golden Girls" can't be bad. RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of place I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

What a hidden gem. At least, for us. Perhaps most people already know about this botanical garden…read more For the Plant enthusiasts in our family, it was very cool to explore. It was part of my husband's Fathers Day outing and he enjoyed it, even though he initially wanted to skip because he was tired (having to pay for tickets was motivational enough to get us to go through with our planned visit). We were fortunate to go on a beautiful yet cool day which added to our experience. Worthwhile, highly recommend!

Everything was lovely and beautiful. The garden has 9 different areas, each categorized by…read morecontinent or region: Southern Africa, Deserts of the Americas, Asia, Australasia, Mediterranean, South America, Mexico/Central America, Eastern North America, and California. We spent two hours exploring the garden, but we didn't have to see Mexico/Central America and California sections. The collection was really diverse. I remembered taking a plant science course at UCD, and many of the materials and pictures we used were from UC Botanical Garden. For me, it's like I finally get to see these plants in person. Highly recommended for plant lovers!