Life with ArielBerkeley is a great spot for a day trip with a lot to offer: beach, mountain, university campus, hippie and artsy vibe, and good food. If you a have day to spend in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to explore outside the city, stop by Berkeley.
Although having lived in the Bay Area for a while, I rarely went to Berkeley because of the long and congested drive from South Bay. I’m not super familiar with the area, but I did some research and got recommendations from friends for my day trip. Nothing disappointed me and I had a wonderful time.
Stop 1: ACME Bread in Berkeley
If you get to Berkeley early, I highly recommend to check out ACME Bread and get some fresh bread or pastries from it for breakfast or brunch. It’s a 39 year-old artisanal bakery shop and a local’s go-to. Although having multiple locations in Berkeley and San Francisco, there’s always a long line to get in. I went to the one on San Pablo Ave. The staff was super friendly and patient, explaining to me, a first-time visitor, what’s their most popular, their personal favorite, and what’s they are made of.
They offer a wide variety of bakeries, some of which I have never tried before. I love their pastries, pizza, and focaccia. But those typically run out in the morning. You can also find various baguettes, rolls, loafs, batards, challahs, buns, etc. in both sweet and sour styles. I usually don’t like baguettes but finished half of the rustic sour baguette I bought from them on my way home. I also used their sourdough to make a brunch sandwich the next day. The bread still tasted fresh.
Stop 2: Albany Bulb
Albany Bulb is a famous hiking spot in the Bay Area and probably on many people’s top list. It’s a short and flat trail with only 1.9 miles in McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. What makes it popular is the fact that it’s formerly a landfill but has been converted into a unique recreation site. You will find construction debris with artsy graffitis on it and statutes made of trash. It’s adjacent to Albany Beach. Kitesurfing is a very popular sport there because of the strong wind. If the weather is clear, you will see San Francisco across the bay. I won’t say Albany Bulb is beautiful because the water is actual not clear and the view is not that special either. But it’s special. You won’t find it anywhere else.
Stop 3: Third Culture Bakery Berkeley
Good sweets and coffee are the best remedy for a tired driver. After driving for an hour and half with traffic from South Bay to Berkeley, I was sleepy, tired, and bored. Third Culture Bakery picked me up with its delicious mochi desserts and gourmet coffee. I highly recommend it! The shop is tiny and there are no tables or chairs for dine-in. But the quality of the food is not compromised. You will find all kinds of mochi desserts here: mochi brownies, mochi donuts, and mochi muffins. They are also known for its premium matcha drinks. I’m not a big fan of matcha but ordered their coffee drinks. I love their Strawberry Lychee Latte. It went so well with the box of mochi donuts I bought. If you are not much of a sweet tooth, the original mochi muffin is a good choice.
The crew is polite, friendly, and accommodating. They even gave me a free mochi donut to thank me for the support. Moreover, the store has various cute merchandises in case you are a fan: stuffed dessert toys, premium matcha power, oolong tea, bags, stickers, etc.
Stop 4: University of California, Berkeley
This prestige college is probably on everyone’s list when visiting Berkeley. It’s also my first stop of my first trip to Berkeley. UC Berkeley has a beautiful open campus that is very easy to walk around. Passing by students wearing flip-flops and talking about papers, classes, and internships made me feel young and hopeful. Yes, there’s so much uncertainty, but it comes with so many possibilities.
Stop 5: Imm Thai Street Food
Imm Thai Street Food is probably the most popular Thai food in Berkeley. Thus, it’s always packed. I recommend to order takeouts or go off-peak hours; otherwise, you will have to wait in a long line. I’ve never been to Thailand, so I have no idea how authentic Thai food tastes like. How do I know this place is authentic and decent? The staff all speaks Thai, from waitresses to cooks. I liked the food regardless of how authentic it is. The Tom Yum was full of veggies and spices, very flavorful. The noodles in Pad Kee Mao were flat rice noodles, soft and moist. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of my food.
Stop 6: Grizzly Peak
A sunset or city light view at Grizzly Peak is a perfect ending for the day. There are several great lookouts. One is a vista point close to UC Berkeley, next to the Lawrence Hall of Science. You can see the view from the parking lot. Another one is called “The Wall”. You will have to find parking along the Grizzly Peak Blvd, which is not that easy given how popular this spot it. Lastly, you can hike the Grizzly Peak Trail in the Tilden Regional Park. It’s about only one mile one way and you don’t need to worry about parking. However, you will have to take the risk of hiking in the dark after sunset.
I did the hike and loved it. It’s mostly shaded and not crowded at all for a Saturday afternoon. I didn’t wait until completely dark to go back. Still, the hike in the woods after sunset was a bit scary, especially with the wind and fog. I drove to UC Berkeley later to take another look at the city light. Unfortunately, the night I went was foggy, so the view of the bay was not super clear. It’s still beautiful though.
Other Possible Good Stops
There are some other spots I’ve heard good things about but didn’t get a chance to check them out. For example, the brunch at Berkeley Social Club, coffee at States Coffee x Bread, and the neighborhood that looks from European fairy-tales, Normandy Village. I guess I need to plan another trip to Berkeley!
