Things To Do
City Cruises Berkeley
The dock is RIGHT behind the hotel - so easy to book a cruise around the Bay that will show you the sights and bring you right back. :)
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park
This park is right next to the Doubletree Hilton. It's a lovely (and flat) place to take a walk. It's along the water and can be windy, but we find it brisk and refreshing in summer. There is a port along the path where you can sign up for sailing, kayaking, and other fun water related activities! There's also a great coffee cart along the path.
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
Really cool place to walk around and take in some art!
Berkeley Marina
This website has a load of information about the Marina in Berkeley. Parks, places to picnic, sights, etc. It also has Berkeley as a city laid out in neighborhoods in case you want to venture out beyond the Marina more into downtown.
Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market
Open every Saturday morning year round from 10am-3pm. Seems like a great place to check out the morning of the wedding if you like great food and unique merchants galore! Some awesome vendors: Cheese from Stepladder Creamery Vios Donuts Primavera Tamales (we loooove them) Bernie's Apple Cider from Pomo Tierra Orchard Pastries from Laguna Garden Bakery Coffee from Higher Land
The Hidden Cafe
This. Is. The Cutest. Cafe. Ever. Sun streaming in through tall windows, a huge lawn right outside, patio seating and cozy indoor seating in a quiet library-esk space, and really good breakfast/brunch offerings.
Muir Woods
We've gone here a couple times, and it's always been gorgeous. It's kind of a twisty-turny drive, but it's worth it if you love National Park vibes and incredible moments of awe and wonder. Keep in mind reservations are required. $9.50 to park your car, and each adult entrance ticket is $15.
Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts is a historic site and event venue that's open to the public daily. The grounds are free to enter and include a lagoon, walking paths, and columns. It's also where we got engaged!!
Haight Street & Ashbury Street
This is such a fun neighborhood. Super hippie, eclectic, and historic. You'll find vintage clothing shops, record stores, restaurants, and it's a great place to explore the city’s counterculture history. The Grateful Dead house is right there!
Salt & Straw
This is by far our fav ice cream spot in SF/Bay Area. They always have new flavors, but their standards are delicious. The most recent flavor we've loved was a Dandelion's chocolate nibs with frangipane. Sooooooo gooooooooood. There are two SF locations; one on Hayes and one on Fillmore -- both great.
Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point
There are lots of different viewpoints if you want that awesome Golden Gate Bridge photo. We took this one at the Hawk Hill/Marin Headlands vista point (number 2 on the website list). It was so cute - a bunch of ladies were there that were probably celebrating a bachelorette, and they took the picture for us and ooh and awwed and it was adorable.