Rossmore Retirement Comunity

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Kalyani Y. writes: I would just like to point out before I begin reviewing that, as I am nowhere near 55 years old, I do not actually live here. But my grandparents do, and they love it.

Rossmore is a beautiful, well-maintained gated community nestled in it's own valley…

Bike and Roll
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf

Jefferson at Jones St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Vanessa R. writes: Oh dear, am I the only local person to rent one of these fanny pack clad bikes and ride it around the city? (I think I might be)

My cousin was visiting from out of state, and while taking the requisite walk along Fisherman's Wharf to In-N-Out for some…

San Bruno Recreation Center

251 City Park Way
San Bruno, CA 94066

Cherry M. writes: Summer is here and I'm sure those of you who have kiddies are looking for ways to amuse your little ones.  Check out the San Bruno Rec Center for Summer camps and other enrichment activities available for the kiddies and the oldies.  My son, niece…

Dip Sea Hiking Trail

Old Mill Park
Mill Valley, CA 94942

J-M R. writes: This is a great hike, and one of the best for moderately healthy hikers (11 km each way, so, let's see, carry the one, um, that's 13.6701 miles both ways).

There are mild grades, lots of great views, and you can stop at Stinson beach and grab lunch.

Union Point Park
Neighborhood: East Oakland

Near Coast Guard Island
2311 Embarcadero
Oakland, CA 94620

Jen L. writes: Open since September 2005, this is one of the newer waterfront parks Oakland can really boast about.  Gracious lawns, picnic areas, an unusual spiral hill you can climb for a great vantage point of Oakland, pedestrian & bike paths, and a great marine…

Weight Watchers

20852 Mission Blvd
Hayward, CA 94543

Linda M. writes: Weight Watchers is a great program, which will work if you follow it.  What I love about it is:
1) Flexibility: You CAN eat potato chips and ice cream.  But when you only have a certain number of points per day, you have to limit portions.  Which we…

Sanchez Adobe

1000 Linda Mar Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044

Nivek M. writes: Historic adobe and former residence of San Francisco alcalde (mayor) Don Francisco Sanchez, this reportedly oldest building in San Mateo County (dating from the 1840s) houses a little museum with a friendly volunteer staff and a nice selection of…

Dunes Beach

Young Ave
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Rox M. writes: Nice state beach to visit.  $6.00 parking fee and enough parking spaces in the lot.  It was very windy when I went.  Clean bathrooms in the lot, but no paper towels available.  At the south end of the lot, there is a mildy steep dirt trail that leads…

Berkeley Yacht Club

1 Seawall Dr
Berkeley, CA 94710

Robert H. writes: It's been a while since I've been to BYC.   But when I did, it was always a pleasant experience.  They have a small guest dock tucked inside the harbor well sheltered from the prevailing wind from the "slot".  I used to visit BYC a bit more when my…

Richmond Recreation Center
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

251 18th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94121

Signe N. writes: This is a real neighborhood gem. They offer all sorts of classes and teams - karate, basketball, senior services, aerobics, teen nights, etc. The schedule changes in the fall, spring, and summer so the best way to find out is to call or pick up a…

AMDTrading Company
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill

1968 Powell St
San Francisco, CA 94133

Carla P. writes: Who's up for Table Tennis?!

This place is awesome. It's small and sometimes both their tables are taken. But you can always call ahead to make a reservation.

This place has one ping pong table and a robot table. For the robot, you basically pay by the…

Run to the Lake

20103 Lake Chabot Rd
Castro Valley, CA 94546

Nikki c. writes: Today was the 20th annual running of this event, which supports the hospital's trauma unit.  It's a fairly small race and well organized.  It was nice to see some kids from the local high schools running.  There was a 5k and 10k.  I did the 10.  The…

Merahi O Tehani

Tehani Dance Studio
30987 Watkins St
Union City, CA 94587

pennington n. writes: We have taken kinderhula and yoga at Aunty Julie's studio/halau. She is the best of her teachers, and it's sometimes disappointing when there is a substitute. Julie's yoga instructor, Suzanne, is fabulous. Very patient and flexible (ha). The classes…

Benicia State Park

1 State Park Rd
Benicia, CA 94510

Christine L. writes: My default running spot.  It's a 2 1/2 mile road/path to Dillon's Point (the narrowest part of Carquinez Strait)... double it to get back to your car.  There's a $4 fee to park in the lot, so most folks usually find spots in the adjacent…

Cal Gymnastics Club

University of California Berkeley
25 Sports Ln
Berkeley, CA 94704

One Black Mans POV.. .. writes: Great place to go practice acrobatics without breaking your neck.  

This is the same facilities used by the UC Berkley Gymnastics teams.  The place has plenty of soft mats, a bouncy floor, a couple of foam pits, trampoline, balance beams and other…

Fairmont Ridge Staging Area

Fairmont Dr
100 Yards West of Lake Chabot entrance
Castro Valley, CA 94546

Stacey W. writes: This trail is right over the hill from me, so I go here pretty often. My pack is allowed off-leash, so I love that they can get a good work-out.

The parking area can accommodate about 8 cars, and there's street parking, so there's never really an…

Friends of Esprit Park
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill, Dogpatch

970 Tennessee St
San Francisco, CA 94107

Adrienne P. writes: this park was redone last year and is a nice spot to hang with your dog. plenty of other pups around. its not officially off leash but most go off leash and the crowd is easy going.

lots of lawn, a few picnic tables. a lot of huge redwoods surround…

Lagunitas Country Club

205 Lagunitas Rd
Ross, CA 94957

Ann P. writes: This is an Old Ross club right before Phoenix Lake. You can play tennis there and swim. Oh yes and I think there are paddle tennis courts. It's a very difficult club to get into. It's like getting a Manhattan rent-control apartment. Somebody has to…

Peoples Park
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area, Telegraph Ave

2556 Haste St
Berkeley, CA 94704

James J. writes: Been a while since I set foot in this park. The atmosphere of it was rather colorful. The park was created during the radical political activism of the late 1960s. Today it serves mainly as a daytime sanctuary for Berkeley's large homeless…

Davies Tennis Stadium

198 Oak Rd
Oakland, CA 94612

Richard R. writes: There are many facets to a good tennis center.  The condition of the courts, the hours that the pro shop is open, the fee structure for court time and the charges for racquet stringing just to name a few.  

The condition of the courts is excellent,…

Mad Science Workshops

Godfrey Center
Alameda, CA 94501

Jen W. writes: The teachers are very enthusiastic but stay in touch with the kids.  They keep up a high level of interest and engagment in scientific inquiry through play and experimentation.  The workshops are mainly classroom activities and crafts,  two outdoor…

Littlejohn Park

1401 Pacific Ave
Alameda, CA 94501

Andi T. writes: This park features a big grassy field here and some nice picnic areas.  The playground is best suited for pre-schoolers and below.  There are swings, a sandbox, and 2 structures for climbing and sliding.  It's fenced-in and features woodchips/sand…

Grove Park
Neighborhood: South Berkeley

1730 Oregon St
Between Oregon & Russel, Grant & MLK
Berkeley, CA 94703

Aaron M. writes: I love this park because it has helped me meet might neighbors, building a sense of community for this newbie Berkeley resident.

The park is large, with basketball courts, tennis courts a baseball field, playground, etc.  I go almost everyday after…

Lakeridge Athletic Club

6350 San Pablo Dam Rd
El Sobrante, CA 94820

Stephanie W. writes: When I moved to the East Bay, I had a really hard time trying to find a gym where I felt safe and where I was getting the most for my money.  Yeah, there is 24 hr and the YMCA on Hilltop.  You try and get a piece of equipment during primetime.  

I…

Millenium Sports Club

124 Lincoln Rd E
Vallejo, CA 94590

Aqua R. writes: If you want a not very crowded sports club to go to, this is the place.  The reason I picked this place is because I do not have to fight for a machine and wait around for it.  I can get into the eliptical machine as soon as I step in the place. I…

Walden Park

2698 Oak Rd
Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Steven G. writes: Before I got Maggie (my dog for those of you that don't know already) I always overlooked the parks that surround my quiet little neighborhood but now that I have a little diva with fur, we MUST go for walks, play in the park, etc.

Walden Park is…

Carlos Bee Park

1905 Grove Way
Castro Valley, CA 94546

L.A. W. writes: My arms and back hurt.  And I'm itchy.  But I'm a happy camper. Except I didn't go camping.

I wanted to go outside yesterday and get some fresh air.  I went over to my friend's house, we grabbed some fast food and headed to this park.

The entrance is…

Black Sand Beach

Marin Headlands
San Francisco, CA 94199

Scott P. writes: There are so many beaches close by San Francisco but sometimes you have to hike a bit to get there.  Black Sand is just one of them.

Take the road up into the Marin Headlands and as you start going down the one way hill you will see a small lot to…

Sequoia YMCA

1445 Hudson St
Redwood City, CA 94061

David B. writes: Pool - 3
Indoor basketball court - 4
cardio - 4
weights - 4
Staff - 4
locker room - 3
towels - 4

Sequoia Yacht Club

441 Seaport Ct
Redwood City, CA 94063

Private I. writes: Sitting by the fireplace with a Shirley Temple while I was bundled in blankets and soaking wet is how I remember my first visit here.  I had just fallen in the space between a dock and a boat outside and this is where we came to warm my little bones!…

Spinnaker Sailing School

451 Seaport Blvd
Redwood City, CA 94063

Yan M. writes: A friend had chartered here before and invited us for sailing. Unfortunately, the facility was little obscure by the Redwood City Port area and the boats that were chartered out here were also a lil under used/not maintained so well? They were all…

Bair Island Aquatic Center

1450 Maple Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

Henry Y. writes: I joined a dragon boat team and we practice here.  There's not much to it but they have everything we need except for a snack machine.

Oakland Yacht Club

1101 Pacific Marina
Alameda, CA 94501

Robert H. writes: Been to Oakland YC when they were actually on the Oakland side as well as it's present location.  Because OYC doesn't have a proper guest dock (you have to reserve a berth), we often tie up to Encinal YC instead.  From a visiting sailor's…

Alameda Yoga Station

1347 Park St
Apt B
Alameda, CA 94501

msbeesknees x. writes: My BFF and I went here for classes from both Betsy Weiss and Ada Shedlock. Both teach Iyengar-style yoga. Both have very different styles... both are amazing! Honestly, if it weren't for the steep price of $16 A CLASS [!] -which is unfortunately the…