12 Places to Enjoy on Foot This Spring
The Bay Area is blooming, and it’s a fabulous time to slow down, take a walk, and smell the (metaphorical) roses. Here are some of Transform staffers’ favorite places to explore on foot, plus a bonus list of fun events where you can also volunteer to collect signatures for the regional transit measure — double the fun!
Birds and play structures
Berkeley’s Aquatic Park has 2.3 miles of accessible trails that circle two lagoons that are home to a variety of seasonal and year-round birdlife. Watch Caspian terns dive for fish in the lagoon, play a round of disc golf, or let the kids loose on the extensive play structure. The paths are bikeable as well as walkable.
Temescal at night
Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal is great to visit on foot. It’s a quick walk from Macarthur BART with so much to do and amazing places to eat. Staff favorite spots include Pizzaiolo, Tall Boy, Curbside Creamery, and Temescal Ally.
Family-friendly redwood forest
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park offers a mile of paved, flat trail through a redwood forest, without leaving Oakland. The Stream Trail is a 2-mile round-trip that’s a great place to spend a hot day under the cool redwoods. The trail is bike-friendly for all ages.
Precita Eyes murals
San Francisco’s Mission District is home to many beautiful murals. Some are easy to find, and some are tucked away down alleys, painted across homes and garage doors. Take a walking tour with the Precita Eyes Muralists and discover San Francisco’s outdoor art museum.
Volcanoes in Oakland
You may need a car to get to Sibley Volcanic Regional Reserve on Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, but you’ll find many lovely hiking trails to explore Oakland’s own extinct volcanoes. The park contains a hidden gem for mindful walkers: a labyrinth.
San Pedro Square in San Jose
Downtown San Jose has a growing number of inviting, walkable spaces — all easily accessible by bus or light rail. Stroll the pedestrianized block of San Pedro Street next to the market to explore colorful murals, outdoor dining, and a wide variety of nightlife. Visit the Gonzales/Peralta Adobe, the oldest building in the city, or walk a few blocks to the SAP Center to take in some Sharks hockey.
One park; many attractions
Golden Gate Park has museums, botanical gardens, a Japanese tea house, a windmill, and bison, as well as ponds, meadows, and many miles of walking trails. Most destinations are easily accessible by public transit. The park’s central roadway, JFK Promenade, is car-free every day, providing walking and rolling access the length of the park.
History by the lake
The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is free and open to the public every day but Monday. The garden, which calls itself a “living art museum,” has nearly 200 bonsai trees and suiseki viewing stones. The garden is home to the oldest known bonsai in the U.S., the Daimyo oak tree, which was a gift from the Japanese government during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. Redwoods aren’t the only historic trees you can see in the Bay Area!
Stretch your legs and save transit at the same time!
Connect Bay Area and our allied organizations are coordinating signature gathering to put the Regional Transit Measure on the November ballot at a host of fun locations. They’ll be collecting signatures at farmers markets around the Bay as well as these fun events.
Friday Nights at OMCA
OMCA Friday Nights are back, with food trucks, music, performances, and half-price admission to the museum. Easily accessible by BART and bus, the Oakland Museum of California offers eclectic art, history, and special exhibits. Make it a date and gather signatures for the regional transit measure.
415 Day
On April 15, explore a night market in downtown San Francisco to celebrate 415 Day in honor of the city’s area code. Enjoy food, music, and vendors at the Crossing at East Cut in SoMa — and help save transit by joining the fun group gathering signatures for the ballot measure!
Earth Day at Ocean Beach
People will gather at Ocean Beach in San Francisco around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, to form a human banner celebrating Earth Day. Meet up with the San Francisco Transit Riders at the event and collect signatures for the Regional Transit Measure while you take part in the banner.
Of course, this just scratches the surface. There are beautiful places to walk in all corners of the Bay Area — maybe right around the corner from where you live. We hope you’ll get out and enjoy the art, nature, and fun your community has to offer on foot. And let us know your favorite places to walk.
