Berkeley

There’s no place on earth quite like Berkeley (except maybe Santa Cruz [1]). While the Haight in San Francisco [2] nurtured the creative side of the 1960s flower children, Berkeley brought out their fire. The town has long been known for its radical, liberal, progressive activism.

No matter what you’re doing, someone, somewhere in Berkeley is probably protesting against it right now.

The youthful urban culture tends to revolve around the University of California [3]. Yet well-heeled foodies also flock to town to sample some of the finest cuisine on earth, served only a block or two from the homeless people panhandling at the BART station.

Getting There

The closest airport to Berkeley is Oakland International. From the Oakland airport, rent a car, catch a cab, or take BART to the Colesium/Airport stop and then catch the AirBART shuttle to the terminals. If you’re flying into San Francisco [4], you can take BART across the Bay to Berkeley.

As a matter of fact, BART (www.bart.gov [5]) is a major form of transit in and around Berkeley. The Downtown Berkeley station underneath Shattuck Avenue is a major structure, with six exits that can create confusion for unfamiliar riders. Other stops include North Berkeley, Ashby, and Rockridge. See BART’s website for schedules and tickets.

Berkeley sits to the north of Oakland [6] and Alameda [6] along the east side of the San Francisco Bay. If you’re driving into Berkeley, take the Bay Bridge from San Francisco [4], then turn north onto Highway 580/80. Major roads in town include San Pablo, Ashby, Shattuck, Telegraph, and University.

Parking in Berkeley can be a bona fide nightmare. The town can be actively hostile to the notion of new parking lots and structures. Expect to pay for the privilege of parking here, and to walk a few blocks to your destination. If you’re visiting Berkeley for the day or in for an evening show, consider taking BART in and out of the town to avoid the parking hassle.