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Albany Bulb
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
76 reviews for Albany Bulb
Albany Bulb is quite the hidden treasure. if you didn't know about it, i'm not sure you'd ever find it. it starts off as nice park with a beach area where lots of dogs play. as you wander further it, there are lots of trails and eventually beautiful views of the bay and public art. very cool and imaginative. a samurai made out of scrap metal, a giant concrete tv, artist, dragon, and more. love the eclectic feel of the art. this is why i miss berkeley (and its surrounding areas).
wear good shoes as it is a bit of a trek to the sculptures.
Yes! I love it here. It is not for everyone, but it is for most.
A little bit (or a lotta bit -- however much you want to make it) of walking, public art, water, lots of creativity, good weather.
This place has a way of making you feel invisible. It is so easy to get lost in your thoughts and leave feeling refreshed.
This is probably (so close to saying 'definitely') my favorite place in the East Bay.
I'm glad I decided to check this place out. The Bulb is a great place to take your dog. There's a beach area where your dog can play in the water, a few nice trails that lead to interesting sculptures and artwork made out of old concrete, steel, iron and trash that washed up on the shore.
Some of the trails lead to parts that are difficult for dogs to walk on, so stick to the main paths. The part with the bulk of sculptures is a nice place to sit and relax and enjoy the scenery. Bring a camera because there is plenty of interesting pieces to capture.
Like most reviews have mentioned, be advised that there are people who "live" here. They have encampments in the bushes. I think the general rule is that if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Just stick to the larger trails and you'll be fine. Wear comfortable shoes. Dog owners - please bring your own doggy bags as this is not an official dog park.
This place is a true east bay treasure. It is very futuristic feeling, you are surrounded by sculptures and incredible pieces of artwork, meanwhile walking on terrain that has been built on top of a landfill.
The views are incredible and it is a very neat place to run your dog off leash...there is a little creepy "the hills have eyes" feeling to the place...but its part of the fun of the bulb. It is very reminiscent of the artwork that used to be along highway 80 back in the day when I was a kid...its a creative place to lose your thoughts and embrace your creative side, meanwhile getting you and your four legged friend some exercise!
One of the last unspoiled, undeveloped pieces of land in the East Bay. I love this place, the artwork springs up from the bulb like some bizarre scene from Mad Max.
The bulb was occupied by homeless folks who developed a community, complete with a castle for shelter, made of concrete. The amount of work required to lug and mix all that concrete to the end of the beach is truly impressive. The paint job is something to behold.
The homeless have largely been cleared out of the bulb, but the detrius remains.
If you would like to see a park that has more to offer than benchs and wheel chair ramps, check it out.
This secret little (well, not so little) rock-art acid trip of a place made me feel about twelve years younger in the blink of an eye.
I would have never know about it was it not for my dear friend, and I am very grateful to have such bay area savvy company.
Given the right shoes and the right amount of coffee, this place can be highly enjoyable, even if pooch-free. I'll be sure to bring my camera next time, some of this crazy stuff needs to be filed away for years to come.
An odyssey through oddities. Think junkyard acid trip.
This former landfill has been transformed by a welders torch and cans of spray paint into an artist's jungle of warped rebar, miscellaneous detritus and scattered concrete blocks adorned with stencils and random graffiti. Pieces are hidden under bushes, atop crags and under the canopy of treeclumps; there's always something to be discovered.
The trails are haphazard and ill-maintained, so take the coastal route if you're on bike. With dogs and vagrants running about, the overall effect is more post-apocalyptic than beautiful, but towards the west/north end of the peninsula there are some incredible sculptures: seek out the samurai, contemplative bench sitter, shoveler and dragon. Just around the bend, there's also a vast field of blackberry bushes if ya feel like snacking. I'm sure they absorbed some good nutrients from the soil, eh?
Wear some quality kicks, or get a tetanus shot, and you'll be all set to trek!
This is an untamed land - a messy mangling, not unlike the haphazard rebar sculptures that randomly adorn it, of underground culture, nature in its estuary form, community friction, trash, and art. It's a not-for-kids park, a not-for-curators art gallery, and a not-for-REI naturescape. The people enjoying the park on Saturday seemed mainly to be hipster dog-walkers, scampersome creative souls and the homeless that live there. I appreciated the opportunity to perambulate through the bramble and scramble up the makeshift trails.
Eyeful after eyeful await those with an unconventional taste in art and expression. Pretty it ain't, but there's much more of intrigue to discover than can be seen in one glance or even one visit. Sit on a slab of decorated concrete, once a piece of a freeway, and wonder about how, through it all, birds and bushes thrive unfazed.
I found this article especially interesting after my visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/...
One of the best kept secrets in the East Bay. Ample parking along the street, paved sidewalks and some well worn trails and trash cans every 25 feet to throw away your bags of poop. I used to come here after a stressful day at work with a beer in hand to watch the dogs frolic and the fog roll in over SF.
If you hike in far enough towards the water, you'll find random structures of rocks, junk and art a la Blair Witch. When Point Isabel is packed end to end with pets, owners and everyone who likes dogs - Albany bulb is where the anti social dogs and owners go. Bottle of wine, cheese and crackers, bring a friend, bring a dog and go to the creepy building at the tip. Just head home before dark.
Before my dog turned into a raging asshole, this was our favorite hangout. Tons to explore with an amazing view.
BUT Beware the creepy people living in bushes. Really.
This place is such a weird mix I don't know how to begin.
There are trails yet the place seems very wild. The landscape is not groomed and you can go off the main trail into small sidetrails that go into the woods/bushes.
Underneath all the plants are the remains of an industrial wasteland. Don't worry, nothing toxic. Just broken up concrete and rebar. Be careful with your kids.
And in the midst of all this are various homeless camps. A free library. Really stunning sculptures made from reclaimed metal (at the end of the peninsulas). And just random junk. Some may or may not be art depending on how generous you feel.
It was fun to go explore but I don't think I would come here regularly unless I lived in the area.
I think I have a tiny rusty splinter still embedded into my finger, which I don't know how to remove unless I jab it with a needle that requires it to be burnt over flames. I think I'll wait and see what happens with the former scenario.
I got this potential toxic shard while climbing around the Albany Bulb. We saw a few sculptures made of old bicycle wheels and streamers over the path and wanted to see if there were more hidden pieces. All we found was more of tetanus city and 2 empty 40 bottles.
I highly recommend not climbing on any path that requires you to brace yourself. Hiking trails you can grasp a jutting root or a steady rock... the AB offers copper rebar and broken glass! Sneakers are almost a must... it's a landfill with surprisingly difficult terrains in some parts... well, at least the cool parts. The best pieces are in the beaten paths.
Best way to describe the Bulb... creepy-cool. Very dirty looking, but you cant resist staring at certain objects for a few seconds. Many of the large rocks become canvasses, which in turn may become part of a sculpture. Great stencil work here... also graffiti work (not tagging per se), and regular painted pieces.
Some parts you think you've run into a large art piece, only to realize it's someone's makeshift home. There were many instances I could imagine a dead body part underneath the numerous tarps and rags. Gutted teddy bears rest on planks. There's a section where you hear an ominous slow creak... it turns out its coming from an intricate windmill. Found a paper mache cow made from a shopping cart in the middle of a clear field. The bigger pieces are those made out of floating scrap wood. Amazing how the artists were able to make a large female figure look flowing and mobile out of such dense pieces as sheet metal and wood.
This place is ever changing... old "murals" are painted over, vandalized, only to be coated with a new expression. Shockingly huge... I don't believe we covered even half in our 1 1/2 hrs there. Impress friends with this grimey find.
This place is looks like someone's tripped-out dream. Has a cute little beach that is great for my dog (during lower tide) and abundant trails for walking. My corgi and his friend had a great time here. While I appreciate the creativity of the shabby-chic sculptures, there are some areas that are frankly, just garbage heaps. Just make sure to wear shoes so you don't cut yourself on a piece of metal and get tetanus!
I love the Albany Bulb. It's like a magical place of mystery. Sometimes it can be startling to wander off on one of the little side paths and find yourself in someone's front yard but I've never had any trouble from it. We used to go here all the time with our dog but then we had a baby and just stopped going. But we went again for the first time since she was born, took her and the dog and had a blast!
The 'baby' is now 3 and she had a fun time running around the castle. She also wandered off the path a few times which I admit made me nervous because of all the random metal objects poking up off the ground. I had a few episodes of paranoia where I just imagined her impaling herself on a rusty spike. But I digress.
The Albany bulb is just so much fun. We see new stuff every time we come here. The only warning I have is for those with small children do keep them on the path as there are metal objects poking up from the ground all over the place. Also mind the tides! We got stuck on the West side of the bulb once when we took too long meandering along and the tide came in. we had to blaze our own trail and received scratches and cuts to prove it.
This place is an artist wonderland! All that is missing is rides!
P.S. I had to minus one star because of the dangerous metal objects that might kill my child. But if I didn't have her I'd give it a 5!
I effing love this place. It's definitely in my top 5 favorite places in the Bay Area.
Where do I start. Well, how about at the entrance. I have never had an issue parking. The small parking lot always looks full, but there are people coming and going which opens up a spot to park every couple seconds it seems.
I love walking up and seeing anywhere from 15-30 dogs running freely on a beach having a marvelous time. I think I'm the only person wh keeps my dog on a leash and that's because the poor little guy thinks he's a pit. He challenges any and every dog he doesn't know and he only weighs 15 lbs. If you have an agressive dog, be cautious. Many dogs (friendly) will run up to your dog. The only reason I gave this place four stars is because I'm easily intimidated by large dogs, especially if they're charging at me... friendly or not.
The hiking trails are fantastic there are many different ways to get to all the places on the bulb. It's kinda like a "choose your story" book. If you want a nice easy stroll, you go one way. If you want to work up a sweat, you just go another way. I love some of the rollercoaster like up-and-down hills.
The Bulb is a penninsula and has absolutely stunning, picture perfect views of the Bay. There is art everywhere. And I seriously mean.... everywhere. You can't escape it and nor do you want to while you're there. I love taking pictures at the Bulb. I average around 150 every time I go. I have spent hours there taking my time, walking around and observing everything there is to take in... and I still have not hiked every path or seen all of it's hidden treasures. You could go once a week and each time you'll see something you didn't see the previous week. It's constantly changing and I love every inch of it. My favorite things are the all of the many stencils you see painted on rock, concrete, plastic, hubcaps.... I am in love with cupcake stencils.
They recently tore out the skate bowl, which really made me sad. It was an excellent BBQ place. It still is, but the bowl was really fun.
Most of the people you encounter are friendly. I haven't met or encountered a person I didn't like. There are plenty of families and it's a great place to bring children. You could spend an hour or a day here.
THis placeis the shiz.
this place is a trip. I heard about it from some arty friends but never went out there. Then some skater friends and I treked out there to find this DIY skate spot that was featured in a skateboard magazine. It was a tight little bowl, we fell a lot but got the hang of it.
I've heard they've since torn out the skate bowl and some other "safety hazards" lame.
it was a cool spot.
Albany Bulb is the dividing line where Art meets Industry. Nature has retaken the sight of this former landfill and industrious people who visit have used the debris to express themselves in the form of chrome dragons and statues akin to those found at Burning Man and the strangest acid induced fantasies.
It's the perfect mixture of beach and trees. There are areas for hiking, areas for building, and always new things to explore. It's a very dog-friendly environment (and though I am not exactly a fan of dogs, I appreciate it from an objective viewpoint). It's the perfect place to bring a picnic, have a fire, build a sculpture, explore the castle, and have an overall lazy day.
Make sure you also bring a book you no longer want to trade at the barter library. It may look like an unassuming shack and homeless man from the outside, but the inside is full of well organized treasures.
Simply the best 'dog park.' in the East Bay. Got a get-up-and-go dog? The (mostly) sand beach will tire them out with its non-stop off-leash action. Got a got-up-and-left pup? There are plenty of easy-going paths that lead out into the bulb.
The outdoor folk art is an added bonus, with some fine paintings, sculptures, and urban art formations that make it as interesting a walk for humans as for K-9.
Watch out for the police on the upper mesa, where dogs need to be on-leash. They'll fine you if they catch you without one.
Urban Wilderness at its best. There's the bay, of course, which looks different every time you come here. Some days it's blue and glassy and the place feels like Hawaii; other times it's windy and brisk, with white caps and the zesty energy of the ocean, but mostly it's full of surprises. People with all kinds of dogs come here, so if you're like me, and love dogs but don't have time to pick up their poop a couple of times a day, you can pet til your heart's content. On a weekday, you can often have the place mostly to yourself, as you stroll along the water, hike up into the trails through weeds, um, native plants, to a bunker-type castle or strange and wonderful urban art creations.
There is a fairly significant homeless population living here, and I can't say that I blame them. One of my friends invited a few of the local residents to a birthday party he was having years ago, and they were articulate and well-mannered, which went a long way toward feeling fearless as I explored the nooks and crannies of the place. (If you are very squeamish, however, I advise sticking to the larger trails.) There is wildlife of other types in abundance, however, and children love it.
Bring sunscreen and water, and a little knapsack full of food, and you'll have a glorious day.
Odd to find The Bulb on Yelp. Ooh well.
http://artslant.com/sf...
Boyfriend's punkish friend had a wedding of sorts here at "the castle" during last Labor Day weekend. This is one of the coolest places in the Bay Area that I think everyone should visit. I think the beautiful vistas + rubbish + graffiti + artwork + hiking paths sum up the Bay Area for me pretty well.
Then go to Elephant Pharm in Berkeley and rent the documentary about this place and the people who used to live here.
Oh yeah, and if the parking at Buchanan exit is full, go through the racetrack's parking lot (be nice to the guard person, smile a lot and tell them you're just going to the park), stay on the left, and find yourself on the opposite side of that fence for more parking. It seemed legit, but Boyfriend has awesome parking luck, so take that for what it is. (Other people were parked there, too.)
I can't believe it took me nearly two years living in Oakland to find this place.
And the only reason I did was on the recommendation of a friend.
I went scouting out for the *perfect* bonfire/picnic area.... and ended up losing nearly 3 hours here.
It's an old dump. Cool. It's been long enough that vegetation has grown back and the entire place feels like a fort/playground for grownups.
Each twisty little trail leads to a new and beautiful discovery.
I would highly recommend starting on the left, and working your way clockwise around the bulb. Every thing you see is better than the last.
The heart shaped castle, that gives you the feeling of nostalgia for the dystopian future, the small fire pit in a grove of trees, with dadaist found art hanging from the trees... the huge winged human figure sculpture watching over the most perfect place for a party.... the row of recycled art sculpture, and painted art that makes you feel grateful that someone (a group of someones) put so much time and effort into repurposing materials specifically for the intent of providing something beautiful.
A few minutes walk from the parking lot, and you can almost not hear the freeway... and the panoramic bay views of both bridges and all of east bay is breathtaking.
This place is definately not for everyone. It's an off-leash dog park by day, and year-round shanty town... I would absolutely be sure you're up on your tetanus shots before coming out here to play.
But for me, its one of the most perfect places I've ever been... and one with only one visit, its already on my list of top 5 places in the east bay.
amazing.
God, I love the Bulb. I pray every night that the City of Albany evildoers who want to turn it into a sanitized art-free park will find some other project to direct their attention to, like the bus stop near my house (In Oakland, natch).
But I digress. The Bulb is one of those places that I take more adventurous out-of-towners and revel in the "oohs" and "aahs." I took my conservative, old-world father for a walk there the other day, a little apprehensive of what he might think of all the sexy art, but he just marveled over the concrete heart house and the view.
The Bulb could only happen in an urban setting--it's the perfect mix of industrial detritus, tweaker art, and nature taking back what's hers. It should be preserved as an urban historical landmark, if you ask me.
If that weren't enough, I found my cat at the Bulb. I even named her Albany!
This is a very useless review of a mildly useless place. Minus one star for what time takes away, but plus one star for what time had made it into back when I loved it. My first real boyfriend, or I should say my first real boyfriend who wasn't schizophrenic and unfaithful, gave me my first real kiss, or I should say my first real kiss that didn't involve passing gum from one mouth to another or hallucinations of grandeur, at the Albany Bulb. This place deserves a much more unusual name. Less a name, more a series of disconnected sounds. Not everyone is going to feel this way about it. For the love of God, people, I swam in the water here. Can you imagine? You know how they hold a child's head under the water at a baptism? Well, I haven't been baptized, but I imagine it felt like that; compelled by a hand from above into what seems like ultimate peril, and for what reason? None that you understand at the time. Nothing between us and the polluted bay waters but t-shirts and shorts. We had to do it. All the rocks and rusty rebar and broken concrete and bum piss and dog piss and no living fish I could see, and more broken glass turned to rock and sand than anything else. I am probably sterile now. I wouldn't recommend that, really. Later, drying off in the shanty castle, we felt like decrepit kings somewhere in the british isles on some windy coastal cliffside away from everything important and relevant. At least I did, that time. I knew those homeless hippie kids were good for something; namely building a town out of trash on top of more trash, only to be redeemed by the wild dry grasses, unstoppable flowers, and cold bleak lovely water of the Northern California coast. And then to have the town partially destroyed by the same. Where did they all go off to after that? But this was all years ago.
I suppose I could be more melodramatic, but really I do have my limits.
Incredible, beautiful place to take a little hike, with the dogs in tow. The beach is a dog's heaven, with wind, water, and sometimes yucky dead things to roll in. It can be a little on the funky/dirty side as there are a lot of people who oblivously ignore their dog poop and there is more than a fair share of complete assholes who think they're dog's obsession with "their" ball is cute. To whit: "Oh, he just loves his ball!" said after the dog ripped my dog's ear to shreds. "he just doesn't want to share, can you stop your dog from trying to play with mine?" Oh yea.... I get it, you bring a ball-obsessed dog the DOG beach with his favorite unsharable toy and it's okay that he just shredded my dog and that's somehow okay? Puh-leeze.
Or here's one, after Humpy McHumperton has made my (spayed) bitch miserable by humping her nonstop for 1/2 an hour, "Oh, dogs like that! Look he LIKES her!" Uhm, no bitch. Your dog is being socially retarded and my dog is clearly not enjoying it, could you please get your fucking dog under control?
Then there's the tundra -- beautiful, windy, a lovely place to work at training exercises or just throwing a ball or frisby around. You may find the lady with 10 tiny yappy dogs that are most definitely not under her control will will hinder your ability to train your dog, but at least she's harmless.
The bulb itself -- a marvel of trash or found art, made by people who genuinely put their souls into artwork that will never be publicaly appreciated (except by those of us who really walk around and enjoy it). Be forewarned that there can be some real assholes, like the guy with the unneutered pitbull (complete with doggie diaper on) that chased my terrified dog like a greyhound on a rabbit. The guy got mad when I asked him to please recall his dog so I could get mine. Ended up he offered to punch me in the face. I almost took him up on it, but then just went off to find my dog.
So you see, because of these few and far between incidents, I unfortunately do not frequent the bulb very often. At least not without pepper spray or a large guy to be my body guard. But it is beautiful and a nice piece of the Bay Area you rarely hear about. Enjoy it while it lasts; there are some serious money people who are bound and determined to create a lovely waterfront strip mall for high-end stores and restaurants. It will happen, so enjoy it now.
this is THE swim spot for my Ninja. the sandy beach is relatively clean and has plenty of accessible water front. poopy bags are provided, and there are nice trails to walk after to dry him off. the trails are lined with art/graffiti/sculptures that keep the walk interesting.
but, there are no fresh water fountains.
This is a great place for a good bike ride, walk or excursion with your pup!
I went with a friend, we rode our bikes from El Cerrito. The ride was great, both to and fro. There are loads of tracks and trails for bikers and hikers alike. She was all about the jumps, I was totally content with the ride.
The views of the bay are of course wonderful! I definitely appreciated the art and the overall feel of this area. I think anyone can enjoy time here whether you're with a companion or even just roaming alone.
We also flew a kite while we were there. It was my first time. And I was scared shitless. What a ninny!
How can something so wonderful that it brings a tear of joyfulness to my eye spook me the eff out of me so much?
Part dog park, part art installation, part scrap yard, part high-end-homeless-encampment, part post-apocalyptic movie set. All Awesome.
I took the doggies here after droppin the Hyphy Wifey off at a bridal shower up near "The Circle".
The plan was an hour there, then putter around Solano Ave 'til the wifey wanted to be picked up.
The reality was I got sucked into one of those weird time warp things, of creative energy, awe, and wonder. I think if I was in Sedona Arizona it would of been called a vortex. Two and a half hours of my life poofed away and I never walked through the middle. I circumnavigated the park and every ten feet or so the was something pause-worthy.
My favorites:
The Sago Palm house that will be my new home, when the end of days are here.
The mini-Mediterranean villa with a roof deck.
The lil lagoon with the mostly water covered stones across one end. They are below the surface, but barely, enabling you to pull a walk-on-water trick that is sure to impress your friends.
Scrap Metal Woman.
Yellow fishies painting.
The ghosts of the two lil boys picking blackberries on a steep hillside. Their pails were full, yet I saw no ripe berries on the bushes. Spooky. Even spookier, my houseguest took the dogs there two days later and saw the boys in the exact same spot.
If you have doggies or not, get to this place. The combination of eerie and awe is unduplicatable.
Probably one of the coolest things I've seen in the east bay in recent memory. On a Sunday afternoon with nothing else to do, my girlfriend suggested we check this place out and it would up being the highlight of the day.
If it was an only landfill with nothing extra too it, I'd of been happy crawling over debris to get to one of the best views of San Francisco. The park, however, offers so much more than that. Art of all kinds can be found throughout the island, as people have taken garbage and turned it into integral parts of the area. on the north western side of the park you can find a small shanty library dedicated to the memory of hobos who've passed. We even stumbled across a group of teens skating in a cement bowl and a group of kids who schlepped a bunch of instruments and amps over some treacherous paths to play a gig at the side of said skate bowl.
the fact that you have to walk through a mile or more of uneven cement and jagged metal only makes the pay off that much better. Truly a treasure of the east bay.
Great place to stroll and admire people's random outlets, whether it be an actual art piece built on high, or some xmas lights wrapped around a tree branch, this is a great place to take it easy.
Lots of dogs running around, so watch your step!
Absolutely magical. Makes me feel like a kid again, re-visiting the days of exploring sewers and tearing through homeless camps.
Bring a picnic, bring a camera, bring a friend that can be a child again with you. Ponder your existence and feel inspired to make something with your hands.
One of the best afternoons ever.
Dog owner's and art lovers.....you will enjoy Albany Bulb! There is a mini beach for the dogs to play off leash (weekends there are more dogs for your dogs to play with). There are many off leash trails...some big, some little....and many odd art installations made from random recycled bits. Hard to give directions about sites within....but people are friendly and will give you directions once you're there. Don't miss the bicycle graveyard and the giant Jesus (no way to really miss that one!) Treasures are hidden all over the place there...kind of like a twisted easter egg hunt!
Albany Bulb impresses out of town guests...without exception! Here is the website for the regional park: http://www.ebparks.org...
Great place for the little doggins. It had all the pluses of Point Isabelle, but without the worry about the lack of responsibility of the dog owners that could lead to my little one getting munched.
We didnt manage to see the artwork so it must be down the on leash path. Now that I know its there, we will definitely check it out!!!
My favorite dog beach in Berkeley. My dog's favorite beach in Berkeley too.
There is about 200 yards of beach, and only dogs roam the shores. The waves aren't too big, although sometimes the tide brings in a ton of algae or other debris. Parking is relatively easy and the sandy beach is easy on my pooches' joints.
But man oh man, no matter what the weather is like, this is the windiest place on earth. Bring layers of clothes and bricks to weigh you down.
This place is awesome. There really isn't any place like this out there and I believe it really embodies the spirit of the area. Yes, it is/was a garbage dump, but there are art pieces located as you walk through it.
Best thing about it is there really aren't any tourists here so you really get a sense of solitary discovery as you turn around that corner and see the urban jungle. An extra star of the nice view of the bay area. Do yourself a favor and haul your ass over here!
What a great place to take your adventurous little kids. See the pics I posted of my 3-year-old exploring the castle -- or what he calls the "ghost house."
I never knew the proper name. Always called this place the Albany Landfill. Well, now I know.
This public art site, once a landfill and encampment for homeless folk, is a gem of a find -- something out of an adventure/children's book yet it actually exists. Reminds you what it's like to be a child enchanted: to follow the bend around the corner, to let your curiosity and imagination lead you into mazes of creativity realized.
I actually filmed a dance piece here: in the bicycle graveyard and by the little yellow house and nearby the washed up steamer trunk. This was many many years ago. It was rough terrain for such a piece but I have memories tied to this wild spot. I suggest to all and any of you to make time on a sunny weekend afternoon, take a drive over the Bay Bridge to the Albany exit, head towards the water, park your car, and start to walk. The larger than life Thinker (made of styrofoam) will signal you are on the right path. Take any turns. Go off path!! You won't REALLY be off path. Just another gem to discover.
The Albany Bulb is one of those rare unregulated open public spaces. It's really just gorgeous. Right on the edge of a flatish peninsula that looks out to the city, a nice overgrown feel, and many twisty turny wonders. Look for the castle, mount the turret, raise your own flag. Besides individual wanderlust, it's also good for firepit gatherings at night as long as you are absolutely open to strangers joining your party - because they will. Can make for unexpected good times.
I should note that the Albany Bulb is also something of a haven for homeless folks - I don't mean this in way of a warning, but just a heads up to be respectful of the various shelters and homes that people have erected. Junk-turned-art is all around the place, and often pretty interactive. Definitely bring your camera.
Words cannot explain how beautiful this place is.
Go. Be amazed. Be enthralled. Take some mushies and wander around in awe at the unique art all around you.
Yes, it's a lot of junk...a lot of junk molded into something beautiful.
Try and find the Hermitage Calderarium. It's worth it. (Think hammock overlooking the Bay with an intense view of the Golden Gate Bridge.)
Another entry in my incredibly sporadic East Bay list.
I was invited to a picnic out on the bulb. I knew East Bay = more heat and more sun, so I actually put shorts on, and it's a good thing I did. What I didn't reckon on was how blindingly bright the sun was here. Especially as the picnic was held at the little bunker thing which is painted bright white. Some of the party wound up retiring to inside the bunker, but I think that kind of defeats the purpose of a picnic. The more sun-tolerant folks went down to the rocky strand for some extreme croquet.
I didn't realize till I read the Yelp reviews that this place is famous for its trash-art. Guess I wasn't looking around enough. Even without that, though, it's still a great park with beautiful views of the city and the golden gate.
