Discover Berkeley: Gardens, Trails, and Culture

Berkeley offers a varied mix of gardens, waterfront landscapes, trails, and culture. If you are looking for a vacation rental for your stay, you can easily define your priorities based on these different experiences: Should the day begin with plants and open spaces, continue with activity by the water, or wind down with film and campus history?

Gardens, Water, and Trails

A notable place for plant lovers is Berkeley’s Historic Rose Garden. The terraced amphitheater contains 1,500 rose bushes in 250 varieties. The University of California Botanical Garden complements this garden focus with a different dimension: It is a 34-acre living museum in Berkeley’s urban landscape and contains more than 10,000 plant species, including many rare and endangered species. When planning a trip for different age groups, both gardens offer specific themes to explore without requiring you to limit your stay to just one type of outing.

Aquatic Park is located by the water and features a large lagoon for boating. It also has paths for walking and cycling. At César Chavez Park, the Berkeley Waterfront encompasses expansive open spaces and provides access to cycling and walking along the Bay Trail. The Ohlone Greenway runs through Berkeley as a tree-lined path and offers good connections for walking and cycling. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether open waterfront landscapes, a lagoon, or a green trail should define the character of your days.

History, Climbing, and Film

Berkeley’s cultural history is also very much present. The University of California Berkeley campus was founded in 1868 and opened in 1873. South Hall is the oldest building on campus and was built in 1873. Contra Costa Rock Park contains indications of the early life of Indigenous American populations; at the same time, the park offers climbing opportunities for beginners. Those interested in different forms of history can combine a view of the human past with an active pursuit here.

The Pacific Film Archive offers an exceptional selection of films from around the world, including rare and classic works. This adds a cultural complement to gardens, trails, and water to your trip. This contrast can be especially helpful on a longer trip if you do not want to structure every day in the same way.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

Berkeley has three BART stations for getting there. In addition, the Capitol Corridor route offers frequent daily departures from the Amtrak Berkeley station at University Avenue and Third Street. You can take this information into account when planning your trip alongside your preferred types of outings. When choosing a vacation rental in Berkeley, first determine whether nature, activity, culture, or a combination of these should be the focus. This means that your accommodation decision is not dependent on a single attraction, but on the kind of stay you actually want to plan.

The Ecology Center Farmers’ Markets are among the culinary and local experiences. These family-friendly outdoor markets are places where California farmers sell fresh, locally grown produce and farm-processed foods directly to consumers. This makes them an independent item on the itinerary for anyone who wants to get to know regional products.

More Destinations in the Selection

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Berkeley, this selection also includes Dublin, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Sunol, Oakland, Piedmont, Newark and Emeryville.

To the broader travel overview: Alameda.