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1. The Cheese Board
- This shop ranks among the great cheeseries in the United States. It is a fairly large space, but not a square inch of it is wasted in piling up... read more
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2. 4th Street
- 4th street in Berkeley is a great little stretch of shops and restaurants; scrapbooking stores, a Sur La Table, an Anthropologie and lots of smaller... read more
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3. Telegraph Avenue Street Vendors
- Since the 1960s, the street vendors of Telegraph Avenue have been fixtures here. It began as a few students and artists trying to earn a buck selling... read more
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4. University of California, Berkeley
- Perennially ranked among the top universities in the country, the 1,365-acre, 465-building campus offer visitors as well as students museums, libraries,... read more
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5. Pegasus Books
- Berkeley's famous independent bookstores tend to occupy the most unlikely of places, and Pegasus, in the former home of a car dealership, is no... read more
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6. Lawrence Hall of Science
- This is a hands-on science museum. Walk in past a full-scale fiberglass model of a fin whale and indulge in earthquake simulations, dice-rolling... read more
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- Museums
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7. Tilden Regional Park
- This popular park is a 2,077-acre wilderness wonderland with a variety of attractions for the sports enthusiast or naturalist, or anyone in need... read more
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8. Whelan's Smoke Shop
- Come here for your tobacco fix. Find a nice selection of chewing tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and pipe supplies. The odor of fresh tobacco is heady... read more
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9. Greek Theater
- Built at the turn of the 20th century, this theater has played host not only to the University's graduation ceremonies, but has also been one of... read more
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The Best of NileGuide
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It's not all studying and scurrying to lecture in Berkeley. While the university sets the tone of life in Berkeley, there's plenty more than classes and keggers in this forward-thinking Bay Area city. Indulging in world-class eating, browsing for unique goods and taking advantage of the spectacular natural setting are just some of the oh-so Berkeley activities on the top of everyone's agenda. Berkeley's things to do are all about culture, consciousness and uber-healthy living. How Northern California is that?
Start in the center of it all: UC Berkeley. But skip class and head to Telegraph Avenue, epitomizing Berkeley since its raucous, radical protest days in the 1960s. Chock full of progressive history, Telegraph Avenue is lined with stores and shops that capture the eccentric soul of the city. Headshop Annapurna, music mecca Amoeba and used book superstore Moe's are among the long-standing businesses that provide everything you need to truly experience Berkeley. On weekends, independent local vendors line the sidewalks, selling everything from beads to bumper stickers. Telegraph Avenue offers some of the best people watching on the planet, and no trip to Berkeley is complete without a stroll down its sidewalks.
Berkeley's mild climate and natural setting provide the next slew of local activities, all centered around enjoying the great outdoors. Sure, the skyscrapers of San Francisco may be a short train ride away, but a trip back to nature is just a short jaunt up the hill. Tilden Regional Park offers all the hiking trails, scenic cycling, swimming lakes and petting zoo farms for a perfect Northern California day. The smaller Claremont Canyon Regional Reserve and Wildcat Canyon Regional Park get you even further off the grid and away from it all.
Another serious activity in Berkeley is eating. As the birthplace of California cuisine, food plays a central role in Berkeley life. Make your sweep through the famous Gourmet Ghetto, making stops at Cheeseboard and Chez Panisse, but don't stop at the restaurants. Year-around farmers markets and independent grocers like Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market have played just as big a role in shaping California cuisine, and warrant a visit as well.
And when all else fails, do as the locals do: grab a spot at a cafe and spend the afternoon soaking in the Berkeley vibe. And some heady literature too.
