Activities in East Bay
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Walking
The large parks of the Oakland Hills are ideal for day hiking. Information is available from the East Bay Regional Parks District. The district manages 59 regional parks, preserves and recreation areas in the Alameda and Contra Costa counties, which contain some 1000 miles of trails.
Off Hwy 24, the Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is the northernmost of the Oakland Hills parks. It has great views of the Bay Area from its Round Top Peak (1761ft), an old volcano cone. From Sibley, Skyline Blvd runs south past Redwood Regional Park and the adjacent Joaquin Miller Park to Anthony Chabot Regional Park. A hike or mountain-bike ride through the groves and along the hill…
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Oakland A's
Giants on the road? Across the Bay Bridge, the A's are usually at home, expanding the possibilities for a summer baseball fix - BART stops just outside the ballpark. The A's most recent championship came at the Giants' expense in the quake-addled 1989 series, but they are still fierce contenders, having made the first round of playoffs in 2006. Sadly, this team will likely be moving away from the aging, inhospitable Coliseum.
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Lake Chabot
At the southern end of Chabot Park is the enormous Lake Chabot, with an easy trail along its shore and canoes, kayaks and other boats for rent from the Lake Chabot marina (510-582-2198).
AC Transit bus 53 runs daily from the Fruitvale BART station to the Chabot Center and Joaquin Miller Park. Bus 46 runs from the Coliseum BART along Skyline Blvd, during weekday commute hours.
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Kayaking & Boating
At the southern end of Chabot Park is the enormous Lake Chabot, with an easy trail along its shore and canoes, kayaks and other boats for rent from the Lake Chabot marina (510-582-2198).
AC Transit bus 53 runs daily from the Fruitvale BART station to the Chabot Center and Joaquin Miller Park. Bus 46 runs from the Coliseum BART along Skyline Blvd, during weekday commute hours.
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Boating Center
The boating center lets you sail or paddle beneath Oakland’s downtown towers. At night, the lake is ringed with little lights, the kind you see decorating Christmas-tree lots.
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Oakland Raiders
With three Super Bowl championship wins, the notorious bad boys of the NFL have had their ups and downs over the years, but they have the staunchest, rowdiest fans in the western US. The team ungratefully moved to Los Angeles for 12 years, but returned in 1995, the prodigal football club, to Oakland's open arms. It's been football bliss in Oakland ever since, unlike in SF, where in 2009 the 49ers were in final negotiations with Santa Clara County to build a new stadium and leave SF behind. Given the choice between a 20-minute BART ride to Oakland and a 40-mile drive to Santa Clara…well, we wish the 49ers luck.
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Walking
A great find in the hills is the UC Botanical Garden, in Strawberry Canyon, below the Hall of Science. With 34 acres and more than 13,000 species of plants, the garden is one of the most varied collections in the USA. It can be reached via the Bear Transit shuttle H line.
The nearby fire trail is a woodsy walking loop around Strawberry Canyon that has great views of town and of the off-limits Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Enter at the trailhead at the parking lot on Centennial Dr just southwest of the Botanical Garden; you'll emerge near the Lawrence Hall of Science.
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Golden State Warriors
If it's hoops you must have, then it's the Warriors for you. This team has a long history, starting in Philadelphia in 1947. In 1962 it moved to San Francisco and played in the Cow Palace as the San Francisco Warriors. In 1971 the team moved across the bay and has played at the Oakland Arena (next to the Coliseum) ever since, as the Golden State Warriors. After a decade-plus slump, the Warriors advanced to the playoffs in 2007 and caused quite a commotion when they beat the top-ranking Dallas Mavericks. Alas, still no trophy.
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Boardsports Kiteboarding & Windsurfing
Boarding school is never dull at Boardsports, where you can learn to fast tack and pivot jibe in a weekend. The Bay Area has prime wind conditions, and the sweet-spot for lessons is in Alameda, just across the bay. Instructor-student ratio is almost 1:1, and knowledgeable, fun-loving staff will keep you laughing even when you fall off your board. Gear and wetsuit included; bring a towel, snack and change of clothes. If you already know what you’re doing, rentals are available.
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Boat Tours & Cruises
Franklin D Roosevelt's 'floating White House,' is moored at Clay and Water Sts by the ferry dock, and is open for dock-side tours. Two-hour history cruises are also held several times a month from April to October; call for reservations. They leave from Jack London Sq.
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Tilden Regional Park
Kick back in Tilden Regional Park, in the Berkeley hills, which has hiking, picnicking, swimming at Lake Anza, and fun stuff for kids, including a merry-go-round and steam train.
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Swimming at Lake Anza
Lake Anza is a favorite area for picnics. From spring through late fall you can swim in Lake Anza for around. AC Transit bus 67 runs to the park.
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Golfing
Flex your nine-iron at this 18-hole golf course Tilden Regional Park. AC Transit bus 67 runs to the park.
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