Overlooking the sea, Palmetto Avenue is the hub of all activities in the small beach city of Pacifica. Flanked by vacation resorts, hotels and several other shopping destinations, this beach-side location is full of activity during the annual Pacific Coast Fog Fest. Boasting of a wonderful climate and state-of-the-art facilities in the vicinity, the Palmetto Avenue is a happening haven for several surfers and beach lovers. A visit to the place is a must for the those who love to experience pristine sands.
A walk through the alleys of what is known to be San Francisco's pioneering neighborhood, the Mission District, is where the graffiti movement all began. The Latino community that called this place home back in the 1970s brought along the unique tradition to The City by the Bay. The artistic expressions began as an outrage against human rights violations in Central America and the murals depicted today continue to be inspired by social and political occurrences the world over. Balmy Alley keeps the city's heritage rich and diverse with paintings on building walls, garage doors, fences and facades. Clarion Alley followed suit, thus contributing to the district's epicenter status of the San Franciscan custom.
The Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery is one of the most visited galleries in Oakland, California. This gallery accords a lot of importance to modern and contemporary art and they usually hold a lot of temporary exhibitions all through the year. The gallery does not only consist of works of art by prominent artists but also of new and upcoming talents in and around Oakland. If you are interested in modern art and would like a glimpse of the artistic side of Oakland, do visit the Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery.
Hikers, lovers, and photographers go for the stunning panorama of the Berkeley skyline. Fans of college football go to join the spirited "Tightwad Hill" crowd in their "free seats" overlooking Memorial Stadium. It may not be easy to get here, but once you've made it, you immediately sense the tradition steeped within these grounds. Though it looks more impressive from afar, you can find the giant, block-letter "C" on this hill, where it has received hundreds of coatings of paint since its original construction in 1905. Also, during football games the California Victory Canon fires from Charter Hill after every Cal Bears touchdown and victory. Please note that the hill is steep and un-lit at night.
Sather Tower is most commonly known as "The Campanile" to locals. Easily spotted in the Berkeley skyline, it remains the third tallest bell and clock tower in the world. For a small fee, you can take an elevator ride and a flight of stairs to the eighth floor observation deck. Inside, you'll find a full concert carillon comprised of 61 massive bells. Looking outside you'll find a lovely aerial view of Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay. Except in summer, brief concerts are played regularly, three times a day, with the longest concert played on Sunday afternoons.
As the name suggests, EcoHouse is an environment friendly house. Made out of recycled building materials, the home is equipped with a permaculture garden, photo-voltaic panels, grey water irrigation and rainwater harvesting system, a solar water heating system and many more such features. Classes and workshops are held regularly on the site to educate visitors about how eco-friendly homes can be built. Tours around the house and the garden is also possible. Note that since the EcoHouse is a rental property, checking the event and workshop schedule before visiting is necessary.