The Beautiful Day Guide to the Bay Area

By Mitch.Kocen
updated 4 months ago

Wow. It's a gorgeous day today, and by all accounts it'll just keep getting...uhhh...gorgeouser. Why are you spending your day inside? Why am I? No matter where you live in the Bay Area or what your activity level is, there's something pretty for you to walk to.

Annadel State Park

6201 CHANNEL DR SANTA ROSA, CA 95409

This is the hiking park of my youth, and it’s still awesome. A really gentle hike all the way up to a reservoir called Lake Ilsanjo that you used to be able to swim in and probably still can. There are a lot of bike riders and horseback riders, so stay alert. You can actually hike from Annadel to nearby Spring Lake or Howarth Park, but this is crazy and you wont be anywhere near your car.

Sonoma State University

1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609

Growing up in Rohnert Park, I never had the slightest interest in going to Sonoma State for any actual schooling. That being said, it is a gorgeous campus. There’s a lot of wooded areas where you can just wander around and relax, and a really cool duck pond. You hear a lot of stories about geese attacking little kids, I used to go feed the ducks as a kid at this pond and I never had problems. Maybe the waterfowl is just as chill as the rest of the student body.

Angel Island State Park

Pier 41, San Francisco, CA 94109

Following that link will give you a lot of good information about Angel Island. You get to take a ferry out there, and there are some really great views of the city and the bay from the island. When I was in the fourth grade we took an overnight field trip to Angel Island and heard a ghost story about a ghost with no legs that swings through the trees and gets you when you’re sleeping. I remember that story every time I come to Angel Island, and now you will too!

Golden Gate Park

501 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Where better to take a break from the world and just enjoy the outdoors than Golden Gate Park? The park is huge and you can always find something that fits your mood, whether it’s strolling through the tea garden or just sitting on a blanket in front of the windmill.

They recently gutted the playground, which is a shame. I remember riding down enormous concrete slides on little pieces of cardboard back in the 80s when parents didn’t really care if you lived or died.

In April the Golden Gate Park Band starts up again with their Sunday concerts at the Music Concourse. Not to be missed.

Try to find the Shakespeare garden if you can. It’s a neat little spot in the park that’s easily overlooked.

In April the Golden Gate Park Band starts up again with their Sunday concerts at the Music Concourse. Not to be missed.

Try to find the Shakespeare garden if you can. It’s a neat little spot in the park that’s easily overlooked.

Lake Chabot Regional Park

17600 LAKE CHABOT RD CASTRO VALLEY, CA 94546

All kinds of great trails for your hiking enjoyment. Most of the trails are loops, so don’t worry about hiking out and then having to turn around. Some of the trails are hiking only, but most of them are shared use, so keep an eye out. You can also boat and fish in the lake, but no swimming, sadly.

Oakland Zoo

9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605

Not all big and commercial like the San Francisco Zoo, the Oakland Zoo is a great place to get up close with the animals. Also, you can see alligator feedings (unfortunately, they use pellets, not chickens like they do in Florida). No matter how old you are, you’re never too old to let someone airbrush a temporary tattoo of a meerkat onto your forearm.

Alum Rock Park

16240 ALUM ROCK AVE SAN JOSE, CA 95127

No matter how brutal you like your hike, Alum Rock will take care of you. Want something super taxing? Head all the way up to Eagle Ridge for a panoramic view of Silicon Valley. Want something that’ll work you out but not take too long? There’s a great little vista point about a half a mile straight up. It’s quite a climb but it wont take you very long, allowing you to spend the rest of your day playing video games. How about a short relaxing hike with a food reward at the end? Pack a picnic lunch and park at the top of Alum Rock Ave. You can hike down a small path to some tables and then march back up. It’s one of my favorite places in the South Bay, and it’s my go to spot for taking people out to explore the great outdoors.

The Japanese Friendship Garden

1300 SENTER RD SAN JOSE, CA 95112

A little bit of zen in the outskirts of downtown San Jose, the friendship garden is a great place to spend some time outdoors without having to expend too much effort. Like being inside a giant version of those bubbling fountains the person in the next cube over loves so much, the gurgling water drowns out the roar of traffic rushing past the park. Chock full of little bridges and benches, this is the perfect place to take a little stroll or just sit and think. Don’t expect to spend hours of uninterrupted relaxation if you go during the week. Last time I was there we got a good thirty minutes in before a school group invaded.