Get Off Here

Located less than 30 minutes from San Francisco, Lafayette is a sunny, suburb with rolling hills and endearing shops. The town’s heart, Mt. Diablo Boulevard, is just a few blocks from the BART station. Here are six things to do in Lafayette: 1. Start the day off right with a “guilty pleasure” breakfast at Millie’s Kitchen. (1018 Oak Hill Road) 2. Walk off breakfast along the Lafayette Reservoir. (Mt. Diablo

Flanked by the ritzier Rockridge and Temescal regions of Oakland, lovely Lake Merritt still has a slightly rough edge, and some major authenticity appeal. Here are four things to do in Lake Merritt, Oakland: 1. Start with the obvious: Walk Lake Merritt. Clocking in at 3.4 miles, the perimeter is flat all the way around, making for a gorgeous stroll. (oaklandnet.com) 2. Lunch with a view at Lake Chalet. A

Named for the leopard sharks that swim along its shorelines (“tiburon” is Spanish for “shark”), the the tiny, well-to-do hamlet of Tiburon is located just a short ferry ride across the Bay from San Francisco and offers a myriad of relaxing things to do

“Quaint” and “residential” definitely describe Burlingame. “Boring,” however, does not. Located just a 20-minute train or bus ride from San Francisco, downtown Burlingame, with its sundry restaurants, shops, and beautiful parks along the water, has the trendy feel of Cow Hollow, but with nicer weather and a friendlier atmosphere. Here, five things to do in Burlingame

Angel Island is often considered the “less famous” Alcatraz, but this simply means that it’s less crowded and less expensive than its Bay Island counterpart. It’s also the “one-stop-shop” of day trip getaways. Historical tours, hiking, biking, and a cute café by the water… This island’s got it all, and it’s easy to do most of it in a single day. I took the 9:45 a.m. ferry one recent morning

Nestled at the base of the Oakland Hills, sleepy Rockridge is a sunny, leafy subset just 20 minutes and a world away from the city. This wealthy residential Oakland neighborhood is full of pretty streets lined with homes, bungalows and some impressive gardens. Along the main drag, College Avenue, you’ll find plenty of shopping and tasty eateries. Here, five things to do in Rockridge, Oakland. 1. Explore the stacks at