Guidebook for San Lorenzo
Entertainment & Activities
Great for families with kids, especially on weekends! Nice sized playground with large fields and multiple picnic areas with BBQ facilities. On weekends, includes reasonably-priced access to train rides, a petting zoo and an old-fashioned carousel! Great weekend activity for families, the rides and petting zoo are open 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends, holidays and school vacations, weather permitting.
Kennedy Park
19501 Hesperian BlvdGreat for families with kids, especially on weekends! Nice sized playground with large fields and multiple picnic areas with BBQ facilities. On weekends, includes reasonably-priced access to train rides, a petting zoo and an old-fashioned carousel! Great weekend activity for families, the rides and petting zoo are open 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends, holidays and school vacations, weather permitting.
Warning - you can't get in without a child! Founded in 1948, this storybook theme park continues to offer play structures, fairy-tale sets, and live entertainment. Remember to bring an extra $3 for your Magic Key to the storybook boxes!
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Dječji Fairyland
699 Bellevue AveWarning - you can't get in without a child! Founded in 1948, this storybook theme park continues to offer play structures, fairy-tale sets, and live entertainment. Remember to bring an extra $3 for your Magic Key to the storybook boxes!
Parks & Nature
Fishing, paddleboat and rowboat rentals, and an AMAZING lakeside path! If you're interested in hiking, this connects with some great hiking trails, including several that circle the lake. If you take the high trail, circling the lake is roughly a half-marathon, great for trail runners! If you take the low trail, it's closer to a 10k, and with less challenging hills. And if you just want to walk and relax, there's a large section of mostly flat, paved, shaded lakeside walking. I personally don't fish, but I LOVE to head out early in the morning with a good book and a picnic lunch - I rent a rowboat, and paddle around the lake, float and read, paddle, float and eat, and just RELAX.
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Regionalni park jezera Chabot
17600 Lake Chabot RdFishing, paddleboat and rowboat rentals, and an AMAZING lakeside path! If you're interested in hiking, this connects with some great hiking trails, including several that circle the lake. If you take the high trail, circling the lake is roughly a half-marathon, great for trail runners! If you take the low trail, it's closer to a 10k, and with less challenging hills. And if you just want to walk and relax, there's a large section of mostly flat, paved, shaded lakeside walking. I personally don't fish, but I LOVE to head out early in the morning with a good book and a picnic lunch - I rent a rowboat, and paddle around the lake, float and read, paddle, float and eat, and just RELAX.
Home to one of the nations first bird sanctuaries, there's also a wonderful trail that wraps around this inner-city lake (really a tidal estuary!). Walk through skyscrapers, past a cathedral, and visit a bonsai garden, a bocce court, a boating center, a fabulous children's park and more! Right in the heart of Oakland, near amazing dining and nightlife.
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Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardHome to one of the nations first bird sanctuaries, there's also a wonderful trail that wraps around this inner-city lake (really a tidal estuary!). Walk through skyscrapers, past a cathedral, and visit a bonsai garden, a bocce court, a boating center, a fabulous children's park and more! Right in the heart of Oakland, near amazing dining and nightlife.
Our closest beach! From the main entry to the park, if you venture to the right, you'll find the Crab Cove Visitor Center, where you can learn all about the many habitats the bay provides. And to the left, you'll find literally MILES of clean, sandy beaches. This is the perfect beach for sunbathing, or visiting with smaller children - tiny waves, and a LONG stretch of shallow water before the dropoff into the actual bay. At the furthest end to the left, you'll find the Elsie B. Romer Bird Sanctuary. And you can walk the entire thing on the Bay Trail (yes, the same Bay Trail that's by our house!). NOTE: Street parking along Shoreline Drive is FREE!
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Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Otis DriveOur closest beach! From the main entry to the park, if you venture to the right, you'll find the Crab Cove Visitor Center, where you can learn all about the many habitats the bay provides. And to the left, you'll find literally MILES of clean, sandy beaches. This is the perfect beach for sunbathing, or visiting with smaller children - tiny waves, and a LONG stretch of shallow water before the dropoff into the actual bay. At the furthest end to the left, you'll find the Elsie B. Romer Bird Sanctuary. And you can walk the entire thing on the Bay Trail (yes, the same Bay Trail that's by our house!). NOTE: Street parking along Shoreline Drive is FREE!
Huge pool with an artificial beach, a great summer day trip!
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Don Castro Regional Recreation Area
22400 Woodroe AveHuge pool with an artificial beach, a great summer day trip!
Also called Grand View Park, or Turtle Hill, you climb up what feels like a million steps, and have STUNNING views of San Francisco, and zero tourists.
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16 Avenue Tiled Steps
16th AvenueAlso called Grand View Park, or Turtle Hill, you climb up what feels like a million steps, and have STUNNING views of San Francisco, and zero tourists.
Arts & Culture
Great venue for live shows, I'm also a fan of their classic movie nights. This Art Deco movie palace also offers historic tours.
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Paramount Theatre
2025 BroadwayGreat venue for live shows, I'm also a fan of their classic movie nights. This Art Deco movie palace also offers historic tours.
A slightly smaller Art Deco era movie house, this is now a great place for live shows in downtown Oakland!
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Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph AveA slightly smaller Art Deco era movie house, this is now a great place for live shows in downtown Oakland!
Shopping
NOT the tourist location, this is the actual FACTORY, and includes an outlet store where you can buy Ghirardelli chocolates at 15-20% off retail pricing. For the tourist experience, go to San Francisco, for the local pricing, head here!
Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory Outlet
1111 139th AveNOT the tourist location, this is the actual FACTORY, and includes an outlet store where you can buy Ghirardelli chocolates at 15-20% off retail pricing. For the tourist experience, go to San Francisco, for the local pricing, head here!
Movie theater, and all your basic mall shops (Macy's, Kohls, Old Navy), including a few chain dining options (Chili's, Panda Express, Subway).
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Bayfair Center
15555 E 14th StMovie theater, and all your basic mall shops (Macy's, Kohls, Old Navy), including a few chain dining options (Chili's, Panda Express, Subway).
If you're at the beach in Alameda, this is a great place to stop in for food - Safeway, Panera, Jamba Juice or MacDonalds and more, whatever fits your plan! There are also some great smaller stores, like Modern Mouse, that feature works by local artists. During the summer, there's a free music series, and during the winter, a seasonal outdoor ice rink!
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Alameda South Shore Center
523 Mulberry StIf you're at the beach in Alameda, this is a great place to stop in for food - Safeway, Panera, Jamba Juice or MacDonalds and more, whatever fits your plan! There are also some great smaller stores, like Modern Mouse, that feature works by local artists. During the summer, there's a free music series, and during the winter, a seasonal outdoor ice rink!
Local produce, every Saturday from 9 am - 1 pm! Over 45 local farmers and food producers gather to sell (and many have free samples!) Get corn from Brentwood, Delta asparagus and Watsonville berries.
San Leandro Farmers' Market at Bayfair
15555 E 14th StLocal produce, every Saturday from 9 am - 1 pm! Over 45 local farmers and food producers gather to sell (and many have free samples!) Get corn from Brentwood, Delta asparagus and Watsonville berries.
This is seriously the best farmers market in the East Bay, hands down. A bit more of a drive from our place, but in addition to produce, you can purchase meats, eggs, milk, cheese and more, all from local farms! There's also sections for soaps, crafts and artwork, as well as ready-made food vendors. Do some shopping, get a bite to eat, and enjoy a picnic on the grass at nearby Lake Merritt! Every Saturday, 9 am - 2 pm.
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Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveThis is seriously the best farmers market in the East Bay, hands down. A bit more of a drive from our place, but in addition to produce, you can purchase meats, eggs, milk, cheese and more, all from local farms! There's also sections for soaps, crafts and artwork, as well as ready-made food vendors. Do some shopping, get a bite to eat, and enjoy a picnic on the grass at nearby Lake Merritt! Every Saturday, 9 am - 2 pm.
Oldest reptile specialty shop in the country! Great place to see / learn about snakes, lizards, turtles and more, and AMAZING knowledgeable staff. I know it's a little odd to add what seems to be a pet store to the list of things to see, but this is more like visiting a reptile zoo - so many species, and so much information!
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East Bay Vivarium
1827 Fifth StOldest reptile specialty shop in the country! Great place to see / learn about snakes, lizards, turtles and more, and AMAZING knowledgeable staff. I know it's a little odd to add what seems to be a pet store to the list of things to see, but this is more like visiting a reptile zoo - so many species, and so much information!
Asian market with to-go food options. If you're heading out along 580, this is a great place to stop for cheap dim sum and duck!
99 Ranch Market
7333 Regional StAsian market with to-go food options. If you're heading out along 580, this is a great place to stop for cheap dim sum and duck!
Getting Around
PERFECT if you're heading into San Francisco - take BART into the city, and avoid all the traffic and parking hassles (and fees!). Many SF tourist destinations are accessible within a short walk from BART. You can also use 511.org to plan a public transportation trip further into SF using their bus/rail system (MUNI).
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Bay Fair Bart station
PERFECT if you're heading into San Francisco - take BART into the city, and avoid all the traffic and parking hassles (and fees!). Many SF tourist destinations are accessible within a short walk from BART. You can also use 511.org to plan a public transportation trip further into SF using their bus/rail system (MUNI).
Sightseeing
Welcome to the oldest women's college west of the Mississippi! Educating and empowering students since 1852, this beautiful campus is open to the public, and offers free campus tours every Monday-Friday at 2 pm. Tours are geared towards prospective students, but include information about the history of the college and many historic buildings on campus. Simply check in at the front gate for a free guest parking permit, and ask for directions to the admission office! There is also a very nice fitness trail that runs the perimeter of the campus, and a dining option (the Tea Shop) at the center of campus if you'd like to stop for lunch or a snack!
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Mills College
5000 MacArthur BlvdWelcome to the oldest women's college west of the Mississippi! Educating and empowering students since 1852, this beautiful campus is open to the public, and offers free campus tours every Monday-Friday at 2 pm. Tours are geared towards prospective students, but include information about the history of the college and many historic buildings on campus. Simply check in at the front gate for a free guest parking permit, and ask for directions to the admission office! There is also a very nice fitness trail that runs the perimeter of the campus, and a dining option (the Tea Shop) at the center of campus if you'd like to stop for lunch or a snack!
Over three acres, these are the oldest Japanese gardens in California designed along traditional lines. Visit on the first Saturday of the month for free presentations from the designer of the Japanese Gardens, Kimio Kimura of Kimurascaping, on how to design, construct, manage, and appreciate a dynamic art where the garden is complimenting the structure to create a harmonious relationship.
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Japanski vrtovi Hayward
22373 N 3rd StOver three acres, these are the oldest Japanese gardens in California designed along traditional lines. Visit on the first Saturday of the month for free presentations from the designer of the Japanese Gardens, Kimio Kimura of Kimurascaping, on how to design, construct, manage, and appreciate a dynamic art where the garden is complimenting the structure to create a harmonious relationship.
The Mission District in San Francisco is known for having the largest concentration of murals. Check out Clarion Alley, and also head a little further south to Balmy Street, for some great examples of eclectic artwork, often focusing on themes of cultural representation or political statements. Best seen while walking!
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Ulica umjetnosti Clarion Alley
90 Clarion AlleyThe Mission District in San Francisco is known for having the largest concentration of murals. Check out Clarion Alley, and also head a little further south to Balmy Street, for some great examples of eclectic artwork, often focusing on themes of cultural representation or political statements. Best seen while walking!