BERKELEY – If you are looking for a low-key day trip to the Bay Area, one that boasts a buffet of low- and no-cost activities for adults and children alike, consider following the locals' lead and going to Tilden Park.
Spread over 2,077 acres of hills adjoining Berkeley's northeastern edge, Tilden is a dream come true for parents who have young children and also holds great promise for picnickers, plant lovers, hikers and swimmers.
Oakland resident Sylvia Colt, who has a 7-month-old son, takes full advantage of the park's proximity and attractions.
"I jump into my car and within five minutes I am at the park, which is full of trails for any type of hike you want," says Colt, who teaches math at Bancroft Middle School in San Leandro. "There are overlooks with incredible views of the bay, open areas where cattle roam, and moments surrounded by trees as if in a dense forest."
Kathryn Wilson, also of Oakland, takes her children to Tilden several times a year. Her son, 5-year-old Augustine, and daughter, 2-year-old Kalilla, like to ride the miniature train and pet farm animals.
"I'm always excited that Tilden Park has so many resources that are made free to the public, and I really appreciate that," Wilson says.
Sacramentans can get there within two hours, via Interstate 80 and the streets of Berkeley or by taking Highway 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel. Entering Tilden from the east, they immediately encounter a turnoff for steam-train excursions that operate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends year-round (and on weekdays from mid-June through Labor Day), weather permitting. Rides on open-air benches and in miniature boxcars last about 15 minutes and cost $2, which as my wife pointed out "is cheaper than some of the coffees the parents are carrying."
Even if the trains are not running, pull into the parking lot and grab a free map of the park, which will prove especially helpful to hikers.
Down the road, past entry points for some of Tilden's trails and at least a half-dozen pleasant spots for picnicking, the Botanic Garden showcases some of the state's rare and endangered plants. Pick up a free pamphlet outside the garden's visitor center to help you navigate the garden's 10 sections, which segregate California's native plants into coastal, desert and mountain regions – there is even a section devoted to the Channel Islands. The pamphlet also clues you in on seasonal changes: This month and next, for example, chaparral currants bloom and dogwood trees' leaves change color.
Turn right at the garden to access Inspiration Point, a couple of miles up Wildcat Canyon Road. It looks down on undeveloped hillsides and San Pablo Reservoir and is also a launching point for mountain bikers in search of a strenuous workout. The wheelchair-accessible Nimitz Way, a paved path for pedestrians and bicyclists, heads west from the Inspiration Point parking lot and continues for several miles.
Back near the Botanic Garden, the Brazil Building is used for receptions and other special occasions.
Why Brazil, you ask? The building's interior was part of the South American country's exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair in New York.
A bit beyond the Brazil Building, Lake Anza's broad, sandy beach greets swimmers and sunbathers on weekends only through October. Admission is $3.50 general and $2.50 for ages 16 and younger and 62-plus. Swimming starts up again in mid-March on a weekend-only schedule, then expands to daily during the summer.
A short drive or hike away, you come upon the Tilden Carousel, another children's favorite that won't break the piggy bank: $2 per 3 1/4-minute ride, or $10 for seven rides. The merry-go-round, which operates 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends year-round and daily in summer, reopened Oct. 1 after a renovation project. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26, kids can have a frightfully good time when the carousel becomes the "Scary-Go-Round." "Christmas Fantasy" rides will run at the same times and same days, Nov. 28 through Dec. 21. For more information, call (510) 524-6773.
A gorgeous setting has the potential to compensate for hackers' poor play at Tilden Park Golf Course, which charges $34 to $57 for 18 holes. Make reservations a week in advance by phoning (510) 848-7373 or visiting www.tildenparkgc.american-golf.com.
The park also has equestrian trails, an environmental education center that includes interactive exhibits and six nature trails, and four campgrounds on the west side. Many of its facilities are handicap accessible.
IF YOU GO
• Tilden, one of 65 parks in the East Bay Regional Park District, is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.It's about 85 miles from Sacramento.
• Take Interstate 80 to the Ashby Avenue exit, turn left and past the central business area turn left on Claremont Avenue. You also can reach the park via Walnut Creek, heading west on Highway 24 and taking the Orinda exit. Follow signs from there.
• For more information about Tilden Park, which is named after the local park district board's first president, Charles Lee Tilden, call (510) 843-2137 or visit www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden.htm.
