Places of interest

Berkeley:
UC Berkeley:  Various tours of UC Berkeley are available, including self-guided tours. Also available are 1.5 hour guided tours, which require reservations 1 week in advance. Go to the reservation pages for groups of fewer than 9 people, or for groups of ten and greater. 
The Campanile is the 3rd tallest bell-tower in the world, and it provides a wonderful view of Berkeley and the San Francisco bay.

The Gourmet Ghetto:  This is a region of North Berkeley (along Shattuck avenue) famous for its culinary scene.  Events include a gourmet food truck gathering and culinary tours. 

Telegraph Avenue:  Numerous eclectic shops and restaurants line this Avenue, which is situated close to the southern region of campus.  

Berkeley Rose Garden:  "The Berkeley Rose Garden is considered by many to be the finest rose garden in northern California. The roses are pruned in January in preparation for mid-May, when the garden is in its most spectacular state."

Tilden Park:  "From a carousel ride and a picnic to a swim at Lake Anza and a stroll through the Botanic Garden, Tilden has variety to delight everyone.  Yet there are plenty of quiet places in Tilden's 2,079 acres to shelter the wildlife and preserve natural beauty."

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden:  "The UC Botanical Garden is a non-profit research garden and museum for the University of California at Berkeley, having a notably diverse plant collection including many rare and endangered plants. Established in 1890, the Garden, which is open to the public year round, has over 13,000 different kinds of plants from around the world, cultivated by region in naturalistic landscapes over its 34 acres."

Berkeley Marina: Beautiful waterfront marina and park offering many walking trails and views of the Bay.  Accesible by the AC Transit bus #51B from Downtown Berkeley.


Oakland:
Lake Merritt:  A lake and park area near downtown Oakland.  Accesible by BART.  

Jack London Square:  A waterfront district with shops and restaurants.  Ferries to San Francisco are accesible here.


  
San Francisco:
Union Square:  Famous tourist destination that includes numerous shops and restaurants.  Catch a cable car at Powell.  Accesible by BART.  

Fisherman's Wharf:  Tourist attraction with numerous shops, restaurants, and sea lions!

North Beach: San Francisco's Little Italy, and has historically been home to a large Italian American population. It still holds many Italian restaurants today, though many other ethnic groups currently live in the neighborhood.

The Castro:  "One of the United States' first and best-known gay neighborhoods, and it is currently its largest. Having transformed from a working-class neighborhood through the 1960s and 1970s, the Castro remains one of the most prominent symbols of lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activism and events."  Landmarks include the Castro Theatre and the historic F streetcar line.

SFMoMA:  Contemporary art museum close to public transportation and downtown San Francisco.

Asian Art museum:  Accesible by BART.

Chinatown: "largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco."

Golden Gate Park:  Famous park in the city.  Many attractions are located here, amongst them are the California Academy of Sciences,  DeYoung museum, Japanese tea gardens, and Conservatory of Flowers to name a few.

Haight/Ashbury:  Most well known fir the "hippie era", Haight Street is aligned with numerous shops and restaurants.  

Alcatraz:  Buy ferry tickets in advance as tours to this popular tourist attraction sell out early. 

The Mission District:  Great place in the city to visit if you are looking to go somewhere off of the beaten path.