Like many others, I do not always enjoy going to the gym. I find it easier to enjoy myself when exercising outdoors. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, I am excited to share some ways to exercise outdoors while exploring the Bay Area.
Lake Merritt in Oakland
For a taste of nature in the middle of Oakland, the loop around Lake Merritt is lovely for a walk or run. Lake Merritt is accessible by riding the Mills Shuttle to Lakeshore and walking a few blocks or by riding AC Transit using either the 57 or the NL lines. The loop is about 3 miles long with gorgeous views of the lake and Oakland. When the weather is nice, check out kayaking in the lake.
Berkeley’s Tilden Park
If you are looking to get away from the big city feeling, Tilden Park is hidden in the Bay Area hills. The park is most easily accessible by car; but you could also take the Mills Shuttle to UC Berkeley and then take AC Transit using the 52 and transferring to the 65. AC Transit will require roughly three quarters of a mile walk to reach the park. Once you arrive at the park, you will have many options for the day. From Tilden Park, you will have access to almost 40 miles of hiking or biking trails. In addition, Tilden Park is home to Lake Anza, the Tilden Little Farm, the Botanic Garden and a merry go round.
Baker Beach across the Bay
If you are interested in exploring fitness options across the Bay, Baker Beach in San Francisco is a beach over three miles long for a run or walk. Baker Beach also allows access to hiking trails in San Francisco. To access the beach, you could take the Mills Shuttle or AC Transit to the MacArthur BART Station and ride the Pittsburg/Baypoint line towards Millbrae to Powell Station. From Powell, you could catch the 7 on Muni then transfer to the 29. Once you get off Muni at Lincoln and Bowley, you will only have a 5 to 10 minute walk to the beach.
We encourage you to check current transportation routes and print maps to your destination prior to traveling. Happy exploring!
