UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

When you have lived somewhere long enough, it's almost inevitable that you start taking for granted the beautiful scenery that surrounds your everyday life (I wonder if Parisians even notice the Eiffel Tower?). While I am certainly not immune to this, there is one view that always manages to take my breath away. Whether I'm driving on Highway 24, or along the scenic ridge-line of Grizzly Peak, the views of the Bay Area from the Berkeley hills are spectacular. On a clear warm day, the view of the Bay, sprinkled with sail boats and sparkling in the sun, is hard to beat. Pair the beautiful views with a serene garden setting, and you will find yourself in the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens.

Day trip to Lake Merritt

One of the best parts of living in Northern California is the availability of fresh, locally grown produce. It seems like you can't find a city in the Bay Area that doesn't have at least one Farmer's Market (if not multiple markets held several days a week). Much like the neighborhoods they are held in, each market has it's own unique vibe and variety of vendors, which makes visiting each market a special treat. The Grand Lake Farmer's Market has been on my list for a while, and with so much to do in the area, it is easy to make a day trip out of the visit.

Discover and Go!

I was SO excited when my little sister told me about Discover & Go. It is a program offered by most Bay Area libraries, which allows library cardholders access to free or discounted passes at a number of Bay Area museums and venues.