See

Tilden Park

Offers several inexpensive activities for families with children. Many kilometers of hiking trails of various difficulties are available for free hiking, and include vistas of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Home to a scale, narrow-gauge working steam train. $8 gets five rides through the woods atop the Berkeley hills, including a tunnel and trestle bridge. Right next door is the Golden Gate Live Steamers Club, maintained and operated by 275 members. This is an entire miniature railroad for hand-built steam engines. Bus 67 from Berkeley BART goes through the park on weekends. Also in the park, Lake Anza is a popular swimming destination for families and summer camps. There is a wonderful Botanical Garden with a very diverse terrain and a great collection of manzanitas and other California native plants. Be sure to check website for updates concerning weather effects, construction and so on. Check website for amenities and trail closures as well.

Getting there: Check website for directions
Hours: Daily 5AM-10PM, unless otherwise posted
Price: See website for specific attraction fees
Website: ebparks.org (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Berkeley, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Do
Golfing at Tilden
Enjoy the 3-level driving range and rolling 18-hole public course.
Open daily: call for hoursCall for fees
See
The Lawrence Hall of Science
The Lawrence
Offers many hands-on science exhibits, especially good for children. Since 1968, the Lawrence has been dedicated to creating innovative science learning experiences. The outdoor plaza (free) is popular for its whale and DNA sculptures to climb on, and features a panoramic view of the Bay Area: San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland and the Bay Bridge. The science center includes a planetarium, a 3D theater, an Animal Discovery Zone, Outdoor Nature Lab, and an area for young explorers.
Wed-Sun 10AM–5PM$25, Kids under 3, members free
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Berkeley Rose Garden
A half-hour's walk north of the UC Berkeley campus. Especially nice for watching the sunset, with a view of the bay.
Daily 6AM - 10PM, Unless otherwise posted
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University of California Botanical Garden
Part outdoor museum, park, and biological research facility for the University of California, the garden hosts over 12,000 different species of plant life.
Daily 9AM-10AM (members only) 10AM-5PM, closed first TuesdaysAdmission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and non-UCB students, $7 children 7-17. Children 6 and under, NARM/ROAM/ARM Reciprocal members with card, UCB faculty and students, LBNL, UCOP staff and UCBG members free. (Reservations required.)