Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit In Berkeley, California. #Top Attractions

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Considering a trip to Berkeley, California? Check out the list of the best things to do in Berkeley, California, and places to go in Berkeley, California, below. As a Web 3.0 travel startup, Wondrous Drifter aspires to make a huge impact on the world.

Adventure Playground

Adventure Playground, Berkeley, California
Adventure Playground, Berkeley, California / Teddy Cross / Flickr

A place where your kids can be creative? 

Berkeley’s Adventure Playground is the place for you!

In 1979, Berkeley’s Adventure Playground opened and still has that ’70s vibe, where kids can run around and let their imaginations run wild.

There are views of San Francisco Bay and the nearby metropolitan area from the playground, located near the Berkeley Marina on the San Francisco Bayside.

Moreover, you’ll see painted wooden shacks and other shabby constructions created by youngsters throughout the place.

Rope-netted structures (old tires and pipes) and discarded industrial debris (big pipes) encourage climbing, crawling, and hiding.

Additionally, there is ever-popular zipline that sends youngsters plunging straight into a large mound of sand. Ziplines are pretty popular.

Even while the staff ensures the park’s general safety and gives youngsters some direction when they need it.

In fact, kids may earn hammers, saws, and paint by helping out around the construction site, and there are always pieces of wood to be found!

You and your kids will surely love your time here in Adventure Playground!

Address: 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

Aftel Archive of Curious Scents

Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, Berkeley, California
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, is one of the best places to go in Berkeley, California

The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents is one of the best things to do in California.

Are you looking for a California attraction that is one of a kind? This place could be what you’re looking for!

Over 300 smells are available in the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, which debuted in 2017.

The universe of natural smells is waiting for you in my museum-quality collection.

You’ll be able to view one-of-a-kind fragrant items, antique items, and century-old publications.

At first view, it appears to be a simple garden home, but it is, in fact, the country’s first natural scent museum.

It’s possible to smell and touch raw components like vetiver grass or benzoin resin.

In their Garden Annex, you’ll be able to smell 40 various essences, which include some 100-year-old essences, historical animal odors, and the famed oud oil.

The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents offers more than 200 natural essences produced from fruits, flowers, trees, grasses, and resins. 

Moreover, you may select six samples from each of these natural essences.

In visiting Aftel, you’ll have fun by using just your nose!

Address: 1518-1/2, Walnut St, Berkeley, CA 94709, United States

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, California
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, California / Jane Marie Cleveland / Flickr

You will never get bored at this fascinating museum if you love the arts!

One of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive founders was Hans Hofmann, an artist and educator.

UC Berkeley has a longstanding relationship with the museum, which was established in 1970 and is part of the university’s campus.

More than 16,000 videos and films and over 19,000 pieces of art are housed at the library affiliated with the University of California.

Not to mention artists including Robert Mapplethorpe, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko are among those whose works will be on display.

Additionally, the MATRIX Program for Contemporary Art has acquired Steven Leiber’s collection of art materials and Conceptual Art as part of the museum’s collection.

Sheldon Renan founded the Pacific Film Archive in 1966, which comprises a collection and an online database of films from throughout the world.

Also, some of the highlights are Chinese paintings from the Qing and Ming dynasties. 

Visiting Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive will surely be one for the books!

Address: 2155 Center Street Berkeley, Berkeley, California

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Berkeley Marina

Berkeley Marina, California
Berkeley Marina, California / Peter Alfred Hess / Flickr

Prepare your picnic basket and have a wonderful time with your family in Berkeley Marina! 

Located on University Avenue at the city’s west end, the Berkeley Marina has about 21 hectares of water.

It has more than 1,000 docks for vessels of all sizes.

On University Avenue in Berkeley’s western section, the marina is a lovely site from which to explore many other points of interest in the city.

Attractions range from lodging to restaurants to cycling and walking trails and fishing ports.

Also, the area is packed with fascinating and handy options for visitors.

Moreover, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities in the marina.

The Adventure Playground is sure to be a hit with kids.

The playground, which opened in 1979, has a zip line and a variety of structures for children to climb on, including boats, forts, and towers.

Visit Shorebird Park Nature Center and witness marine creatures and birds in saltwater and freshwater tanks.

Address: 201 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, California
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, California / lisascenic / Flickr

Witness one of the best performing arts schools in Berkeley Repertory Theatre!

One of the best performing arts schools in the country, it also houses a Tony Award-winning theatrical team.

First constructed in 1968, the theater was only a storefront with few seats.

It took some time, but now it’s a few of the finest cutting-edge entertainment and theatrical locations in the country.

Some of the works played at this theater have been shown on New York’s Broadway or London’s West End.

Even if the show is a classic, current award-winner, or premiere, the theater understands how to pick the best hits for its audience to enjoy.

Several of the theatre’s works are sent on tour across the United States and other countries, including regular presentations in Berkeley, California.

A trip to the theater is a must if you seek something to do late at night.

Address: 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley, California

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Berkeley Rose Garden 

Berkeley Rose Garden, Berkeley, California
Berkeley Rose Garden, Berkeley, California / IvyMike / Flickr

Heaven on Earth? The Berkeley Rose Garden is considered one of the most gorgeous attractions in the United States!

In 1933, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) launched a project to build it along Euclid Avenue in the city’s north.

Tennis courts line the park’s north side, while groves of redwoods, oaks, and bay trees may be found on the south side.

Unique but attractive, the amphitheater is nestled in a small canyon that offers stunning vistas of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Furthermore, a 220-foot-long timber pergola encircles the garden, with approximately 3,000 distinct rose bushes comprising 250 different species of plants.

For special occasions, it is among California’s best gardens to wander, especially if you have a chance to see it in action.

A lovely area to sit back and enjoy the landscape while taking a deep breath of fresh air and smelling the roses.

Address: 1200 Euclid Ave, Berkeley, CA 94708, United States

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East Bay Vivarium

East Bay Vivarium, Berkeley, California
East Bay Vivarium is one of the best places to go in Berkeley, California

If you are a pet lover, visit this interesting enclosure!

The East Bay Vivarium was owned by Ron Cauble. In 1970, he started the business in the basement of his home in Oakland, California.

In 1979, he transferred the business to an 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) location in the Emeryville Market in Oakland, California.

Moreover, the Vivarium’s collection is nothing short of astounding.

Also, you can find some of the most diverse and extensive collections of reptiles in this hybrid zoo and pet shop!

Their collection includes Red Blood Pythons, Madagascar ground boas, Argentine boas, and crocodile monitors.

Additionally, you can buy tarantulas, tortoises, and other exotic pets and all the things they need, like cages and beds, at the store.

Furthermore, children visiting the East Bay Vivarium will be allowed to pet several of the lizards.

If you want to take home a new companion from Berkeley, make sure your home is escape-proof

Address: 1827 Fifth St c, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

Gourmet Ghetto

Gourmet Ghetto, Berkeley, California
Gourmet Ghetto is one of the best places to go in Berkeley, California

A visit to the Gourmet Ghetto in this section of California is a must for food connoisseurs!

The North Berkeley neighborhood’s business section, renowned as the Gourmet Ghetto, is where California culinary was born.

Other notable developments can be traced back to specialty coffee, the farm-to-table, and local food movements.

With the introduction of chocolate truffles and baguettes to the United States, premium restaurants were built around an open kitchen.

Also, their California pizza made from locally sourced ingredients was offered.

No one can dispute that Alice Waters’ 1971 neighborhood café, Chez Panisse, is the state’s most popular dining establishment.

An entirely new chapter in the history of food in the United States began with this establishment.

With her farm-to-table and environmentally friendly cuisine, Chez Panisse sparked a wave of comparable restaurants and eating venues in her hometown of Berkeley.

Live music plays in the background while you indulge in your delightful dinner to make your visit even better!

Don’t forget to stop by Gourmet Ghetto!

Address: Berkeley, CA 94709, United States

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Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California
Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California / Michael John Button / Flickr

The Greek theatre is one of the top attractions in California.

Ever want to visit the Greek Theater of Epidaurus? 

You don’t have to go far. Greek Theatre Berkeley offers the same vibe as the original one!

William Randolph Hearst donated the Greek Theatre, constructed in a natural hillside bowl in the hills above campus, as a gift in 1903.

When Benjamin Ide Wheeler became the university president in 1899, he lobbied for installing a Greek amphitheater on campus.

For more than 30 years, the National Register of Historic Places has classified it as a landmark.

Berkeley Jazz Festival, UC Berkeley graduation ceremonies, and speeches by significant public personalities are all held at the 8,500-seat arena.

In fact, it was designed to imitate the Greek theater of Epidaurus.

Also, there are both open-to-the-public and reserved-seating performances at the theatre.

It is, without a doubt, the best outdoor theatre for live entertainment.

Overall, you will not find any bad seats in an amphitheater built in the style of ancient Greece.

Don’t miss out on this incredible attraction in Berkeley!

Address: Hearst Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Road, Berkeley, 94720.

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Grizzly Peak

Grizzly Peak, Berkeley, California
Grizzly Peak, Berkeley, California / Jay Huang / Flickr

The Grizzly Peak is one of the best places to visit in California.

Grizzly Peak is the spot to go if you are a sunset lover!

As one of Berkeley’s most popular attractions, Grizzly Peak can be found at Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills.

Grizzly Peak, located directly behind the UC Berkeley campus, was given its name in honor of a California grizzly bear that roamed the region until the late nineteenth century.

The construction of Grizzly Peak Boulevard through the Berkeley Hills in 1932.

Presently, it makes it easy for visitors to reach the peak of the area.

Historically, this region was home to an inn and stage stop by the name of the Summit House.

If you’re looking for something to do while in the neighborhood, you’ll be pleased to know that there are several options.

You’ll find an outdoor basketball court and picnic area with a BBQ.

Visit Grizzly Peak with your family and watch the horizon as the sun sets!

Address: 3092 – 3148 Grizzly Peak Boulevard, Berkeley, 94705

Habitot Children’s Museum

Habitot Children's Museum, Berkeley, California
Habitot Children’s Museum is one of the best places to go in Berkeley, California

Visiting Berkeley’s Habitot Children’s Museum is one of the best ways to spend a day with your kids!

Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley is where you’ll find it.

When Gina Moreland sought unique educational venues for her 18-month-old child, she found that her choices were practically restricted to Chuck E. Cheese.

So she decided to build a museum for toddlers.

It is her hope that the museum she created would aid in the use of play as a medium for education, socialization, and connection among parents and caregivers.

The Art Studio, Infant-Toddler Garden, Little Town Grocery and Cafe, and Clay Play are just a few things to do here.

Additionally, there are a variety of seasonal activities, including classes, camps, and seminars.

The Habitot Children’s Museum in Berkeley, California, is a must-see for any family with small children.

Address:2065 Kittredge St, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States

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Indian Rock Park

Indian Rock Park, Berkeley, California
Indian Rock Park, Berkeley, California / John Fowler / Flickr

Feeling adventurous? Test your rock climbing skills at this park!

The Berkeley Hills’ Indian Rock Park, a 1.18-acre public park in Berkeley, California, is located on the park’s southern slope.

At the intersection of Indian Rock Avenue and Arlington/Marin Circle, it is situated in a northeastern area of the city.

People from the Ohlone culture placed holes and stairs in the rocks to designate their territory, which may still be seen today.

In addition to its fascinating past, the park is well-known for its stunning vistas of the San Francisco Bay and its diverse network of rocky pathways.

If you’re new to rock climbing, one of the best activities to do in Berkeley for a modest challenge is to scale the stones by their holes and stairs.

Climbing legends David Bower and Dick Leonard are rumored to have learned their craft here.

This place is a good start if you want to consider rock climbing as a hobby.

Address: 950 Indian Rock Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, United States

Lawrence Hall of Science

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, California
Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, California / Michael Sheehan / Flickr

You don’t have to be an astronaut to see the solar system.

In Lawrence Hall of Science, you get to see the universe’s wonders!

Ernest Orlando Lawrence is the first Nobel Prize recipient of the University of California and he was the inspiration for the 1968 opening of the Lawrence Hall of Science.

The Botanical Garden is nearby, as is the center, positioned high above the university.

Students of all ages may participate in hands-on scientific displays and instructional events at the museum.

Also, younger children will enjoy the Young Explorers Experience.

At the same time, engineers will like the Ingenuity Lab, and animal enthusiasts will delight in the Animal Discovery Room.

Moreover, you can never get bored in Berkeley because of the rotating exhibitions that offer fresh experiences every time you visit.

Built in 1973, the planetarium at Lawrence Hall of Science features a digital display system that allows visitors to get an up-close look at the universe and its constellations.

Suppose you’re searching for things to do in Berkeley with kids. In that case, this is a terrific spot to take the whole family.

Address: 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States

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Sather Tower

Sather Tower, Berkeley, California
Sather Tower, Berkeley, California / Alejandro Mallea / Flickr

Don’t miss out on seeing the third-tallest bell and clock tower in California!

The Sather Tower is a bell and clock tower on the University of California, Berkeley’s grounds.

It is recognized as the Campanile because of its resemblance to Venice’s Campanile of San Marco.

Moreover, the tower was constructed in 1914 and has served as one of the university’s most recognizable landmarks.

More than 2,800 blocks of Raymond granite were used in its construction, all sourced from the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Well over 500 tons of construction steel are used as well as Alaskan marble.

Also, gothic architecture and Neo-Classical design combine to create this bell tower’s unique look.

Furthermore, there are seven stories and an observation deck on the eighth level of the university’s most prominent tower.

Since its inception, the carillon has grown from 12 to 48 bells and 61 bells.

Additionally, the fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits Park in Los Angeles can be seen inside the tower.

Architecture enthusiasts will surely be amused by this place.

Address: S Hall Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States

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Takara Sake Museum

Takara Sake Museum, Berkeley, California
Takara Sake Museum, Berkeley, California / Mark / Flickr

Do you know about a Japanese museum here in the United States? Takara Sake Museum is the place to see and taste it all!

Still, Berkeley, California, has the only one of its kind in the United States.

While it may seem strange that a sake business would be located in California, Japanese rice growing has been practiced in the state for more than a century.

Moreover, Takara Sake Company was founded in Kyoto, Japan, in 1842 and relocated to Berkeley, California, in 1982.

In fact, Takara was the largest sake manufacturer in the United States by 1990.

As an evidence of the firm’s heritage, the museum was inaugurated in 1998. In 2000, the company launched an organic sake line.

A magnificent kinetic sculpture and repurposed wood and glass make the sake tastings here even more fascinating.

Make sure not to miss this unique place!

Address: 708 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

Telegraph Avenue

Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California
Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California / Daniel Ramirez / Flickr

Shopping? Eating? Music? Telegraph Avenue will not disappoint you!

It’s not uncommon for communities to have one or more famous streets that symbolize the city’s history, present, and future.

Approximately 4.5 miles (7 kilometers) of creativity, beauty, craziness, and joy may be found on the famous avenue between Berkeley and Oakland, Telegraph Avenue.

It is located just beyond the University of California, Berkeley walls.

While the avenue is popular with cool young people, it’s also a great place to come for tourists.

Currently, you’ll find yourself surrounded by restaurants, bookshops, boutiques, and street sellers abound in Berkeley’s Telegraph District.

Furthermore, Berkeley’s most renowned bookshop, Moe’s Books, is here, and its shelves are lined with free speech and flower power.

On Telegraph Avenue, you’ll also find a wide variety of establishments, including apparel boutiques, hairdressers, computer stores, specialized shops, and more.

Why not spend some time exploring this weekend? You never know what you’ll discover!

Address: Telegraph Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704.

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Tilden Regional Park

Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, California
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, California / John Rusk / Flickr

Classic parks are always a pretty good bet.

Visit Tilden Regional Park and enjoy different kinds of activities! It is located on Grizzly Peak Boulevard in the east bay.

In fact, Tilden Regional Park has become a favorite East Bay destination.

The park’s name took inspiration from Charles Lee Tilden, a wealthy businessman.

He is the one who purchased much of the land to maintain the wilderness region for public utility and enjoyment.

As one of the few parks in the city with such spectacular geography and scenic views of the city and the bay, Golden Gate Park is unique.

Furthermore, routes are open to cyclists, hikers, horse riders, and runners.

Anza Lake, a golf course, a mini steam railway, and a slew of other attractions can also be found inside the park.

Not to mention, there is a 1913 Merry-Go-Round that plays upbeat and endearing music while riding on the animals.

If your children are fond of farming or gardening, take them to Children’s Garden and the Tilden Little Farm.

Address: 2501 Grizzly Peak Blvd, Orinda, CA 94563, United States

UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall

UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall, Berkeley, California
UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall is one of the best places to go in Berkeley, California

Discover your taste in music in The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall! 

The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall features a Meyer Leopard audio system and an on-site bar and restaurant.

A movie theater with a seating capacity of 2,000 when it first opened in 1917, the UC Theatre was considered spacious.

From 1974 until its collapse in 2001, it specialized in arthouse, grindhouse, and revival house films until it ran into financial difficulties.

However, a short time later, the facility was acquired and transformed into a live music venue.

The facility is now called UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall after one of the greatest benefactors.

In addition to its historic charm, the venue’s newly renovated stage and on-site dining and drinking establishments make it an ideal setting for some of Berkeley’s best musical events.

Finally, you can catch concerts at the UC Theatre provide a wide range of genres, from indie to jazz to R&B to electronica to hip-hop to EDM to world music to comedy.

Check this place out if you’re a massive fan of music! 

Address: 2036 University Avenue, Berkeley, 94704

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University of California Botanical Garden

Allergic to pollen? Hope not! This garden in Berkeley is a must-visit!

The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley is located at Centennial Drive.

It is renowned for its wide range of plants and is a top Berkeley attraction.

On the University of California campus in Strawberry Canyon, there is a 34-acre botanical garden with numerous protected and uncommon plant species.

Moreover, plants from more than 300 different plant families may be found in this historic garden, first planted in 1890.

You’ll be able to view different sections of the garden based on continents and countries.

Cacti, ferns, carnivorous plants like Venus Flytrap, and other unusual species may be found in the greenhouses.

The Amphitheater and Mather Redwood Grove, and the Julia Morgan Hall make the place an ideal location for nature tours, picnics, and even events.

Don’t forget to buy seeds or plants in their flower shop.

Nature and plant enthusiasts should not miss this place.

Address: 200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States

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Urban Ore

Urban Ore, Berkeley, California
Urban Ore, Berkeley, California / beeveephoto / Flickr

Helping the environment by purchasing goods? You can do just that in Urban Ore!

Berkeley’s most popular retail outlet for reusing and discarding unwanted products is Urban Ore, a three-acre warehouse.

With the goal of “Ending the Age of Waste,” Dan Knapp founded this company in California in 1980.

His wife Mary Lou Van Deventer is now a co-owner.

There’s a good possibility that Urban Ore has what you’re looking for if it’s reusable or recyclable.

On any given day, the firm collects and recycles up to six tons of reclaimed construction materials and appliances and other valuable home products, electronics, and antiques.

Moreover, the majority of its gifts come from donations made by members of the community in the area.

All in all, it is a one-of-a-kind thrift and antique shop with a strong environmental statement and a vast selection to match.

Look around Urban Ore and see what you can take home with you!

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Are you still on the fence about visiting Berkeley, California? Check out reasons to visit Berkeley, California, at least once in your lifetime here.

Address: 900 Murray St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States

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