Berkeley: A Bustling University Town in the Hills of California
Situated just a few miles from San Francisco in the east and Oakland in the north is Berkeley, CA - home to the UC Berkeley, the oldest in the University of California system. This city in the hills was named after the philosopher George Berkeley who was originally from Ireland. Touted as one of the most socially liberal cities in the United States, Berkeley is also home to the Graduate Theological Union, one of the largest religious studies organizations in the world. Today, the city has several distinct neighborhoods that comprise its diverse community. Downtown Berkeley, the city's traditional commercial core boasts of hip restaurants, opulent hotels, and high-end shops. To get to Berkeley, visitors can either fly via Oakland International Airport with just 15 miles away or San Francisco International Airport which is just 30 minutes away.
Best Time to Visit
Berkeley, California usually gets the most influx of tourists in the late spring/summer for Graduation week scheduled between the 1st and 3rd week of May, so hotel rates are expected to be expensive. Christmas week all throughout New Years are also peak seasons, so visitors looking to avoid the crowd and expensive room rates should consider re-scheduling travels in mid-spring when temperatures are in the low 60s and accommodations are less expensive. Visitors opting to head on to Berkeley in the winter are advised to pack an umbrella as this is the rainiest period in the area.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Travelers wanting to see Berkeley's art scene should head on to Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, or the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art & Life. The city is also starting a budding food movement, so visit Shattuck and Vine Avenues to get an authentic “Gourmet Ghetto” experience, and be sure to drop by Peet's for a quick caffeine fix. Deluxe accommodations are not a shortage in Berkeley, but Hotel Shattuck Plaza and Graduate Berkeley come highly recommended.