Orinda Attractions. Orinda Tourism and kids attractions

Baker Beach: Surf, sand and scenery It’s the views that make Baker Beach the best in the city. From anywhere on the beach, look to your right and there’s the entire Golden Gate Bridge, one mile away, and the Marin Headlands. Look to the left and there are the mansions of Seacliff, some clinging to cliffs directly over the beach. Look straight ahead and there are big waves pounding the sand and bigger ships muscling their way in and out of the Gate. Read More >>

Contemporary Jewish Museum: Old meets new at this hub of Jewish culture You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the Contemporary Jewish Museum, although it helps to have some interest in the religion or culture. Admirers of architecture should plan a visit, too, because the CJM is one of the city’s most architecturally significant and unique buildings to open in the last decade. Read More >>

Habitot Children’s Museum: Time to get messy! Parents love it when their kids can get their creative energies flowing, whether it’s with watercolors or simply water. Sometimes, they just wish it wasn’t on their living room carpet. That’s where a place like Habitot saves the day. Read More >>

Union Square: Shopping paradise for locals and tourists alike Officially it’s Union Square Park, a city-block-sized square with only two small buildings: the café and Tix Bay Area, where discounted tickets for theatre, dance and music performances are sold. Otherwise it’s a place to sit on a bench or repose on a patch of lawn while admiring the mix of modern and century-old buildings that surround the Square. Read More >>

Castello di Amorosa: Castle in the Wine Country No, it’s not a real castle, but it sure looks like one. That’s exactly what Dario Sattui wants you to think when Castello di Amorosa comes into view above the vineyards on the long driveway to this magnet for Napa Valley tourists. Oh, it was only finished in 2007, but it’s as castle-like as you’ll find in North America. Read More >>

Walt Disney Family Museum: An entertaining tribute to Walt's legacy Hundreds of buildings on the grounds of the Presidio, the Army base-turned-national park at the northern tip of San Francisco, have been converted to civilian uses—from private homes to restaurants and a spa. But none has been more handsomely converted for the public’s benefit than this building on the Main Post that now pays homage to Walt Disney. It opened in October 2009. Read More >>

Lake Anza: A Tilden Park Haven The Bay is too cold and rough for swimming, but you won’t miss the ocean at all when you visit Lake Anza in the Berkeley Hills. Tucked away in the trees, Lake Anza is nestled in the 2,079 acres that make up Tilden Park. One of this park’s many draws is a swimming beach, open in the late spring and summer, with lifeguard service in the summer months. Here, you’ll enjoy lots of sun and protection from the wind, thanks to all the beautiful vegetation that thrives around the lake. Read More >>

Coyote Hills: A bird-lover’s paradise The scenic entrance to Coyote Hills Regional Park seeps you into nature from the get-go. As you drive towards one of two parking lots, passing acres upon acres of wetlands on the way, the beauty and tranquility of the area is quickly apparent. Imagine golden hills in the distance, with raptors flying low overhead, and miles of grass-covered marshes hiding shorebirds of every size and stripe. Read More >>

Ferry Building Marketplace: History, bay views and artisan cheeses Like the Empire State Building in that other great U.S. city, the 1898 Ferry Building is an iconic and comforting point of reference for San Franciscans. Commuters still rush to catch their ferries, docked behind the building, while glancing up at the building’s 245-foot-high clock tower to see if they’ll make it. And if they don’t, there’s a consolation prize. While waiting for the next ferry, they can enjoy dinner or shop for dinner ingredients at the gastronomic paradise found within. Read More >>

Berkeley Rose Garden: Stop to smell the roses They’re bright yellow and pure white, soft purple and classic red. Roses of every color grace the Berkeley Rose Garden – 250 varieties of them, to be precise. In bloom from spring to summer, the 3,000 rose bushes are a sight to behold on the terraced garden, built like an amphitheater facing a view of the Bay. Read More >>