Nestled against the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay, Berkeley Marina offers visitors miles of walking and bike paths, water sports facilities, fine dinning, lodging, and spectacular views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Berkeley Marina is a lesser known but unique part of the Bay Area waterfront, offering something for every traveler.
How to get to Berkeley Marina
Berkeley Marina sits at the end of University Avenue and is easily accessible via car, public transportation, or one of the abundant bike paths funneling to from all parts of the city. But the University section of I-80 is notorious for traffic jams - when driving, consider using West Frontage Road to avoid congestion. For local bus service, take AC Transit, where route 51B arrives at Berkeley Marina about every 30 minutes. A car or bike is best at the Marina as the area is expansive. Parking is plentiful, though the weekends can be busy.
Best and worst time to go
Summer is the busiest time of year, as high winds mean good sailing, windsurfing, and kite flying. Weekends are always busier and the traffic and sparser parking show it. While the sun might be shinning, the wind is often strong and cold. The best weather at Berkeley marina can be found in late October and early November, when the wind is calm and winter storms are still a few months away.
Admission to Berkeley Marina
Admission to Berkeley Marina is free, and the peninsula is open all times of day. A few special events, such as fourth of July and the kite festival, are the only periods of restricted access — parking is still available, but limited.
Must see/do at Berkeley Marina
The must see at Berkeley Marina is the landscape itself. Berkeley offers a spectacularly unique view of the San Francisco skyline and its surrounding bay and bridges. And because it's facing west, the marina offers fantastic views during sunset. Also consider a stroll down the University Pier, which extends over a half mile directly into San Francisco Bay.
Other places to visit near Berkley Marina
Berkeley Marina is part of the Eastshore State Park system which encompasses the wetland territories of Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland. The park is connected with paved walking and biking trails. Berkeley Marina is just miles from downtown, which offers some of the best restaurants in the world, not to mention the spectacular UC Berkeley campus.
Insider tips for visitors to Berkeley Marina
When visiting Berkeley Marina, remember to bring layers. In the summer, the Marina can be a full ten degrees cooler than the downtown area just two miles away. It is best not to leave valuables in the car when visiting Berkeley Marina. While the overall area is very safe, there have been rashes of petty theft.
Author's bio: Timothy Henry has been windsurfing, hiking and visiting Berkeley Marina for the last ten years. He's a freelance journalist.
