This year may have seen the closing of the beloved El Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit this East Bay city. The Hillside Nature Area is 80 acres of eucalyptus groves and oak trees with trails for the family to enjoy. On the stretch of San Pablo where the shuttered theater stands, there’s a ton of retail…treasures abound at secondhand kids’ boutique Little Raspberries. Nearby on San Pablo is Yuet Foo Seafood House, a kid-friendly haven of Chinese comfort food. And this weekend, at Cerrito Vista Park, the 4th of July parade and 11th annual WorldOne festival bring gourmet food and beverages and world-famous musicians (like the Turtle Island jazz quartet and the reggae-tinged Dread Daze) to appreciative locals and visitors alike.
More to Explore (with kiddies in tow):
Yerba Buena Gardens and Union Square
Hyde Street Pier and Aquatic Park
Farmer’s Market & China Camp State Park
Mt Tam and the West Point Inn
San Francisco’s Bernal Heights