Discover Emeryville

Emeryville offers a range of things to explore on a trip: the marina, a bike path that follows a former railroad route, a self-guided historical walking tour, and more than 60 publicly owned art installations. You can also enjoy views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from Marina Park. When choosing the focus of your vacation, you can weigh up options such as the waterfront, outdoor activities, history and art.

Water at Emeryville Marina

Emeryville Marina is used by boaters with and without motors. It provides access to the marina and the open waters of the bay. If water activities are important to your trip, this is a practical consideration for your planning. The concessionaire KGB Kiteboarding offers seasonal lessons and equipment rentals at the marina. The lessons are seasonal, so keep that in mind if you’re considering this option for your trip. The marina therefore offers both a connection to boating and an activity centered on kiteboarding, though these are not the same experience.

You can enjoy a different perspective on the area at Marina Park, which offers views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. When making your plans, it may help to distinguish between an interest in water activities and a desire to visit a scenic viewpoint. These are different reasons to consider the marina or the park as part of a visit to Emeryville.

The Greenway and traces of the city’s history

The Emeryville Greenway is a linear park and bike path that grew out of a former railroad route. This route was originally part of an East Bay Electric interurban rail line that ran to Solano Avenue in Albany. For visitors who enjoy cycling or are interested in transportation history, the Greenway brings together two distinct themes: its current use as a park and bike path, and its former function as a railway line. The historical connection extends to a specific destination in Albany.

A self-guided historical walking tour offers another way to explore Emeryville’s past. It includes 30 stops along San Pablo Avenue and in the Triangle Neighborhood. The format is suited to exploring the city’s history independently: you can plan it as a historical activity in its own right, rather than confusing it with a guided tour. The number of stops gives a clear outline of what the tour offers, without indicating how long it takes.

Another historical subject is Shellmound Park. This large amusement park operated from the 1870s until 1924. This time span makes the park part of Emeryville’s earlier entertainment history. If you’re interested in more than today’s activities and want to learn how a place has changed, it offers a different historical point of reference from the Greenway’s former railway.

Art, views and getting here

Emeryville currently has more than 60 publicly owned art installations. Public art is a distinct subject to consider alongside the historical walking tour or the marina’s offerings. The number refers to publicly owned installations; by itself, it says nothing about individual locations or a shared sightseeing route. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether art, city history or water activities matter most to you.

Emeryville station may also be useful for getting your bearings: it is the closest Amtrak station to San Francisco. This is a practical detail for travelers planning to visit both Emeryville and San Francisco. It offers a transportation consideration alongside your interests in the marina, Greenway, history and art, without combining these different aspects into a single route.

For more destinations, discover Berkeley, Livermore, Newark, Pleasanton, Union City, Alameda, Castro Valley and Sunol.

Return to the main travel overview: Alameda.