Along the San Andreas fault, nestled between the Berkeley hills and the San Francisco bay, is a city that was once at the centre of the 60s counterculture movement and is now a hippie enclave within a thriving metropolis. Though the city is a haven for tree-huggers, granola-lovers, and radical leftists, Berkeley's charm, character, and natural beauty offer something for everyone. No trip to Northern California is complete without at least a day in the home of the Free Speech Movement, the place that Jack Kerouac wrote of seeking spiritual transcendence in The Dharma Bums, and a city which still stands as an epicenter of bohemian culture.
Located east of San Francisco and just over the Bay Bridge, Berkeley is easily accessible by car, the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train, or bus. For a memorable meal, stop at the near-legendary Chez Panisse. The restaurant's philosophy of providing "ecologically sound" dining is right at home in Berkeley, which is one of the greenest cities in the U.S. Owned by University of California at Berkeley alumna and international food guru Alice Waters, Chez Panisse provides a unique culinary experience which places emphasis on locally grown, seasonal, organic ingredients. The restaurant works with local farmers and ranchers to assure that only high quality ingredients are used in the making of each dish. However, quality doesn't come cheap-be prepared to make reservations in advance and pay upwards of $60 per person for the fixed-price dinner menu, which consists of three to four courses. For a more affordable option, try the café upstairs which features a more moderately priced à la carte lunch and a dinner menu that changes daily based on the offerings of the local farmers' markets.
For great shopping, casual dining, and people-watching, head to Telegraph Avenue-once a hippie centre, and still a bustling pedestrian street which runs south from the beautiful UC Berkeley campus all the way to the neighbouring city of Oakland. Expect to see a good amount of tie dye and hemp products, smoke shops, and independent bookstores nestled between chains like American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and Ben and Jerry's. Then go on a self-guided walking tour around the campus of the oldest and most prestigious school in the UC system-just make sure you're not wearing a Stanford sweatshirt, or dirty looks and snide comments will inevitably ensue. Afterwards, head over to the grassy lawns of People's Park, a public park created by political activists in the 60s.
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