The USS Hornet Museum tells the story of America's most famous aircraft carrier and its role in World War II and the Apollo 11 manned space mission. The museum is located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, making it an easy day trip for visitors.
Loved this stop. Such a wonderful time.
There is so much history here, and to be able to literally walk through it and touch it is truly something.
This ship and the items on display here individually have such a rich history to read and go through. Not to mention to see how much times really have changed.
We really enjoyed this stop and hope others will as well.
Larry Missildine — Google review
We decided to visit the Hornet for my husband on our recent bay area trip. To my surprise, my kids (9 and 13) loved it almost as much. There was so much to see and being able to explore so much of the ship at our own pace was great! The docents on board were friendly, hilarious, and full of stories and knowledge. We spoke with several and they engaged our kids in the history of the ship which was really special. We spent almost 3 hours here (we had just flown in and were pretty tired) but could easily spend more time. The views from the top deck are amazing. We also enjoyed the Japanese installation in the front of the ship. Well worth the price and a must visit!
Miranda M — Google review
The crew is doing an outstanding job of restoring this ship. The hangar deck has interesting and well presented artifacts and exhibits. Below decks are restored, and you can self-guide through her berthing spaces, the galley, ready rooms, sick Bay, and so on. It's really extraordinary to see.
The island, engine room, and other spaces are guided only, so I recommend planning to spend extra hours here seeing everything.
Kommando Radio — Google review
Great museum for WW2 and military geeks. 20$ per adult but you need to pay more if you want to go up the captain's deck. There are planes, choppers, jets and even the Apollo 11 shuttle over here. Workers are very nice too. Please come here to support this museum so they can keep it running
Marc Cua — Google review
Great place! My boyfriend and I spent more than 3 hours here exploring all the rooms and exhibits and planes. I wish we had more time that day, we could have easily spent at least another hour looking at everything more closely. Super interesting piece of history that is well worth your time. I want to come back with my parents for a tour, the docent we spoke (thanks Sydney!) to was knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we enjoyed hearing the insights and interesting details he told us, about the small cutout models used to keep track of planes on the two level model deck!
M W — Google review
Excellent place to visit! My boyfriend and I spent nearly 5 hours here to take in everything. Rich history, so much to see from planes on the flight deck and inside, Apollo missions, WWII history, sister ship exhibits, the post office, sick bay, crews quarters and so so much more. Stairs are sometimes steep and narrow and passages are tight but as a larger woman I didn't have too much trouble. We took the island tour and Bruce was amazing! Super knowledgeable, answered all our questions, knew fun facts and had great stories. He took his time showing us around. Highly recommend!!
Aimee Granstrom — Google review
Awesome visit, very educational. The docents that guide the tour are very knowledgeable and very experienced. The engine room tour was amazing, took me back to my days in the Navy. It is also a great destination for private events. I found a schedule board for a D&D Adventurers League. Tons of parking nearby. Plan on going up and down some steep ladder style stairs if you want the full experience.
Skurvyninja — Google review
Really worth the visit!! Experience part of the history and learn how life was on board of the hornet. Priceless the explanations from the volunteers.
Very interesting the relation between the hornet and the Apollo program
Javier Fernandez Hidalgo — Google review
Stayed for one of their overnight programs (Grey Ghost Paranormal Conference), where ghost hunters can bring their tools/tech, hear from keynote speakers, get dinner/breakfast catered, and sleep in your very own bunk. Highly recommend (whether a regular day trip or one of their community programs)... really cool history and fun experience!
Keith Watts — Google review
Did an overnight hunt on October 20th this year and everything was amazing. Faye and Steve were absolutely wonderful and lead us the entire way. We were fed dinner which is pretty unusual for most of the overnight tours I've done and was a welcomed surprise. We were able to sleep in the barracks and had a lot of access. It was an amazing time and we will definitely be back.
Eryn Rybak — Google review
What a beautiful museum. Spent the day with family and the amount of history on this ship is incredible. Would definitely come back and recommend. It’s fun to watch YouTube videos and get some background (it’s a HUGE ship) and then see the place in person. 10/10 price was a steal!
Great photos! You can clearly see SF from the top!
Liliana Gonzalez — Google review
The USS Hornet is an amazing place to visit ! I spent more than 3 hours wandering around all the rooms, the exhibits they have. Everything is super interesting ! I spent more than an hour on the flight deck, one on one with Captain Bill Nelson, a former Navy pilot. He showed me so many things and told me amazing stories during his time in the Navy ! The visit is really worth it and you will definitely have a great time !
(The docent-led tours are suspended which is a bummer but totally understandable considering the sanitary situation.)
Cl?mence-Maureen Feniou — Google review
It was a really amazing expansive place. If you want to read everything it could take days. Ask questions and explore, you can pay extra for a led tour. We spent 3 hours on our own and didn't see everything. I can't wait to go back and do a vip tour.
They offer random tours, some that show you off limits parts, but those are usually run once a month so check their website.
Make sure to visit the special room dedicated to the history of our Japanese soldiers.
You can get on board (with help) in a wheelchair or walker. But you won't get to see much of the ship. It still would be awesome to see the planes in the center hanger. But much of the ship is down narrow corridors with straight vertical staircases. It could be challenging if you have a mobility issue but I'd say don't let that stop you from seeing some of it.
Joshua Odom — Google review
For history and military enthusiasts, the USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum is a must-visit destination. The museum's displays are expertly presented and there's so much to explore that you'll struggle to fit it all into one day. The ship itself is a fascinating labyrinth of passageways and floors, providing hours of engaging exploration. To avoid crowds, it's best to plan your visit on a weekday. You'll also have the opportunity to interact with the friendly and knowledgeable docents, who are always willing to share their insights and stories with those who show an interest.
Les Day — Google review
Fantastic piece of history! So happy that my wife and I were able to freely tour this massive ship. So much information to intake. We spent about 2.5 hours just getting lost in corridors. I wish we could have seen everything, but the tour for upper levels was full and the lower lower levels were closed off. Would definitely do it again
Drew Beckman — Google review
This was fun and interesting to visit. We love learning new things and history. As soon as you walk in you're greeted with a warm welcome. Then you get to watch this short video about the USS Hornet. Once the video is over one of the veterans provides information on where you roam freely and the guided tours. He also gave directions on where the bathrooms were.
Once we left the introduction, we began to explore. You get to walk around the engine room, living quarters, and so much more! Keep in mind this museum is not like others where you can just breathe through. This museum is an event. Also, they do have hot food and snacks if you get hungry. We didn't get any food though. There's a small gift shop and plenty of photo opportunities.
Heads up! If you're not comfortable walking around and/or climbing stairs, this could be a challenge to explore the entire USS Hornet. The host for our introduction made a great point, the vessel is "created for young 19yrs olds".....lol And let me tell you...he wasn't lying 😂😂
E Reed — Google review
My experience here was incredibly interesting and detailed. We browsed ourselves for some time before a volunteer began to tell us some of the most interesting stories of the ship.
I came to see the history of it, being a large part of Apollo 10 and Apollo 11.
The guide took us under his wing and began giving us a private tour into some of the other areas of the ship not normally open without a tour. I don't imagine this is to be expected, as it seemed a very slow day for them. I'm sure it also helped that we were military/responders.
I highly suggest getting a tour as the decoding areas and heart of operations were well preserved and very interesting.
Trulius — Google review
Spent overnight on the ship with our scout pack. It was an amazing experience and a really cool look into such a historic ship. Lou Somontes was our guide/docent and you could tell he truly loved teaching people about the ship and history. His experience in the navy, on this and other ships made for a tour that felt like a VIP tour. Highly recommend.
Wayne Ingraham — Google review
Spent about 3 hours touring the USS Hornet. Recommend taking a guided tour due to the amount of extra information you will receive! We took our 2 teenage boys and they were very interested and engaged throughout the tour.
Crystal Zschirnt — Google review
Pretty cool! I went right at Noon on a Saturday... not busy at all which was great, less people! I enjoyed just walking around the ship checking out everything. Also it was decorated for Halloween which was cool. Recommend
Scott C — Google review
We did an overnight with my son's Cub Scout troop and it was fantastic. Really great, engaging & knowledgeable tour guides (about 2.5 hours). Surprisingly good meals, and an unforgettable experience!
Sean Roland — Google review
It was truly an awe-inspiring experience, seeing and touching a vessel that played such a pivotal role in the Pacific Theater of WWII. I was personally most excited about visiting the USS Hornet CV-12 because of her involvement in Operation Ten-Go, which sunk the massive Japanese battleship Yamato. The static displays of aircraft on the hangar-deck are beautifully maintained and lovingly displayed. I've seen countless documentaries on naval aviation and was completely unaware of the size difference between the FM-2 Wildcat and the TBM-3E Avenger. The Avenger is HUGE!!! I had no idea. I was genuinely impressed. You could walk the fight-deck and see all the aircraft on display on the hangar-deck in about an hour, but if you go below decks and explore the rest of the ship, you could easily spend 3 1/2 to 4 hours exploring everything. Every volunteer we spoke with was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Please make a generous donation to the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space museum. She served her country well. We owe it to the old girl to keep her afloat and looking fierce.
Great establishment, tours available earlier in the day, but bar offers flight tastings with two options - light or dark, each with their own in house liquor in 3 drinks total. Seasonal menu. We opted for the light and loved all three. Though the favorite was the green chile gimlet. Recipes on their website. Very chill vibes inside and has big windows to take in all the natural light :)
Fei Yu — Google review
Great product- but their opening hours seem to
Be random. It says they are open Saturdays Join -7pm. I drove an hour to pick up product…. But they are closed. Even at the gate it says Noon -7pm. Not even a note that they had to close-
Poor biz practice! And I am left without product. Again, I love the place and the founder. I adore their philosophy and I wish their experience would be better!
Mr. Tom! — Google review
First time back from after the Pandemic. The tours & tastings are back!! The quality of the booze is still through the roof... but i hate to say it... But the cost of the tour & Tasting is not worth it. They are following the rules now so you barely get a sip of each of the 4 tasters...and for 40$ i would rather just buy a bottle.
Brian Hall — Google review
Great place for spirit tasting and very friendly staff! Very unique! And wonderful
mehrdad shadmehr — Google review
What a great experience! We did both the tasting and the tour. We had a fun quirky tour guide who was very knowledgeable in the past and present production of their spirits! The brewery was really nice and the equipment was very interesting!
The spirits were delicious!
Madison Mackenzie — Google review
Loved it. Out by the bay with a great view of SF in the distance. Had the greatest person serve us a flight of tastings she knew so much about the making of the alcohol and all of its sorts. Amazed at how much she taught me. Her name is Sam. I'll definitly return and if I tell anyone about it I'll have them request Sam . A must do if your visiting the bay area.
Jay R. Osborne — Google review
It's an impressive facility with a full view of the Bay. They have various kinds of gin and vodka to try. I'll be honest that I'm not a fan of gin or vodka so this review is only regarding service and overall experience. I just wanted to see what this place is about and it didn't disappoint. The service is excellent here and they even have tours for you. Everyone seems to be extremely knowledgeable about their products and suggested food pairings or cocktails. One thing is for sure is that their product line is quite smooth compared to most of what I've ever tried outside of the distillery. It's a shame I'm not a fan of gin and vodka, I would probably come here more often. Maybe I'll get a taste for it one day. If I had to choose, i think the green chili vodka would be my top choice. Either way cheers
a l — Google review
First time visit here, visited here for tasting, mini cocktail flight. Staff are very welcoming and knowledgeable. Even though there was tour part of this, they allowed us inside the distillery to snap some pictures. Cocktails were pretty good. You need advance reservation for tasting. Tasting area is spacious and looks pretty good. Entrance is on the back of the building facing SF skyline. There is plenty of parking.
Jayasimha Nuggehalli — Google review
Historic old military base location with a modern distillery repurposing an old building. Nice view across the bay of the San Francisco skyline from the parking lot. Paid tasting of some exceptional spirits inside, and a full selection of their products for purchase.
There were 3 of us and the tasting included 6 tastes each - they had 15 spirits available to taste, so we lined up all 15 to share and then selected 3 more samples to revisit - that worked out great!
Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The absinthe is top notch if you're a fan, which many are. We had a great selection of 4 very different gins that pleased our gin lover. And the new winner of the day was the green chili vodka - what a great nose! Well worth the visit!
Jeff Oswald — Google review
Nicki took this tasting experience to the next level. The history and personality of these drinks came through timeless flavors and wonderful stories that inspired each of the libations. St George already speaks for itself with its amazing Gin and beyond but for a deeper treat of an experience book a tasting with Nicki.
Hangar 1 Vodka is a distillery housed in an old airplane hangar that features a tasting room and facility tours. The distillery resides in the Alameda Naval Air Station building, providing couples with a unique industrial space to exchange their vows. Guests will be able to experience delicious beverages made by Hangar 1 Vodka in this amazing venue.
Our first time here and we will be back and bring friends next time! We ended up being the only ones on our tour and it was perfect! Kaitlyn was our tour guide and she is super sweet, friendly, funny, and I'm knowledgeable about all things Hangar! Thank you for being our tour guide!
Hangar Vodka is definitely different than other vodkas. The flavors they market and the selection of other alcohols they make in house are 👍🏼👍🏼 None of the tastings we had disappointed.
We bought the Honeycomb Vodka and wish we would have bought two bottles, it is so good!
If you don't want to do a tour and tasting, they also have a superb outdoor seating area with a view of the city and a cocktail stand to just sit and sip!
Marissa Casey — Google review
My boyfriend and I had the most INCREDIBLE time here! We did the mini cocktail tasting and stayed after to just chat with our new friend Vivian! She made the experience 10/10. The cocktails were great and definitely like nothing I had tasted before, all were unique in their own way. We had no clue there was a bar upstairs and wow were we in for a treat! We each got one drink and it was exceptional. The sunset view was gorgeous and we cannot wait to go again! They have a bottle shop near the tasting room which was very well stocked and I’m ready to go buy some bottles next time! 15/10 experience and we cannot wait to come back with our friends!
Zoe Groff — Google review
We really enjoy our visit to Hangar 1 Vodka. We had a delicious drink up in the bar. I love the old- time Navy aviation feel of the building and the bar.
The service was good and we felt Covid safe. The drink was one of the best we've had and have enjoyed other choices on their menu in the past.
The view of the bay and the SF skyline is a treat.
People were enjoying the tour of the distillery which is also something special they offer.
We saw the new trolley car that now takes people around the different places on Spirit Alley.
Anne Willson — Google review
Kelsey provided so much information during the tasting. I sampled 6 different vodkas. Purchased 2 bottles that are only sold in the store there. And the view, breathtaking!
Kelly Stephens — Google review
I did a tour with Tanya and was absolutely impressed with how informative the tour was and how good the vodka and brandy was. I normally don't enjoy imfused vodka but the buddha finger and hiney vodkas are game changers. I then did a tasting with Wesley Yim and Caitlyn and their professionalism and knowledge of their products was showcased during the tasting. I highly recommend going to hangar 1 for a weekend excursion and once your done they are right next to Runway to get a great cocktail for Joachim.
Brandon Bruce — Google review
Great fun. Tour guide was good, vodka was tasty.
Debbie Pieracci — Google review
Ok, I know, Vodka can't possibly be done in a way that actually leaves you appreciative of the flavor right? Wrong! Hanger 1 Vodka sets an entirely new standard amongst Vodkaseiur's.
Starting with grape wine then further refined into the Vodka you know and will love Hanger 1 takes fermentation to a whole new level. They even have an edition made from Alameda fog.
Take my recommendation ladies and gentlemen and taste the new standard, you dont ever have to look back my friends...
As always drink responsibly...
R. P. (Ohmacide) — Google review
Excellent product
Great tour, when allowed by the county
Wonderful group event with tasting and we enjoyed the explanation of the process and how this vodka is crafted with flavors that aren't additives like other products.
Faction Brewing is a husband and wife owned operation that specializes in brewing different styles of beers. They sometimes use unusual hops in their Pale Ale and IPA, which can give the beers a unique taste. The brewery has an outdoor seating area with views of San Francisco, making it a great spot to enjoy a delicious beer while watching the city go by. The staff is friendly and welcoming, making it easy to relax and enjoy your drink.
Nice selection of beers! Enjoyed the outside space with the view of SF. This place is dog friendly and they also serve food. Today they had tacos and they were delicious! They had an outside bar with limited beers you could order from directly, but you could also order from a QR code for your table and they would bring beers to you. Really good experience!
Sabrina Bird — Google review
Best brewery with sunset views of the city. Large establishment with plenty of outside and indoor seating. Everyone had a great time!
Beers are of course good with wide selection of different styled beers. We always come here when in Alameda. You can’t NOT visit this place!
Tiffany Phu — Google review
A hoppy beer lovers heaven, but sadly, no ciders or sweeter beers. Great views on the outdoor patio. Dog friendly. Always have food trucks on site. Indoor space is huge in the back. I wish they'd have more board games! Flight available - 5 options total, dealers choice or choose your own.
Fei Yu — Google review
Love Faction and the location. It really is hard to beat the view and the vibe. Went this time and had some food from Sip and Slide. The food was good and a nice variety. The only beef that we had was it was very slow to order and get our food. It took about 15 minutes to wait in line and then another 30 minutes for our food to come. It used to be much smoother when you could order food through the Faction App. The pricing was also not clearly marked. I was a little surprised when a chicken slider, falafel plate, and a side came out to $40 not including tip. We will definitely go back, but may try when another truck is there.
Jeff Downing — Google review
The most vibrant location on Alameda’s Spirit Alley. Offers a nice city view on clear weather. Consider taking your suncreen if you’re visiting on a sunny day as there is no shade.
Beer tasting menu is fun to try; comes with five strong and unique flavors. You can order food from the food truck but the service is slow.
Fulya — Google review
Wonderful view of the city across the bay. Solid pale ale too. Plenty of parking and seating areas both indoor and outdoor.
DANNY KidSuper LIN — Google review
What a hidden gem! Faction Brewing may have the best view of the San Francisco skyline, and watching the sun set over the city on a nice day, with music playing, beer flowing, and a friendly neighborhood party vibe, is quite special. Many beer choices and the staff was helpful and friendly. Would love to bring a picnic and stay all afternoon. Pet friendly.
Carrie Bevis — Google review
Good selection of beer and important good beer. Great location with plenty of parking and skyline of the city . Spacious outdoor sitting area. They host food truck , didn’t get the name the food was a-ok. But the brewery is great !!
Nad? Bozhinova — Google review
Came here for an after work holiday party. Great views and lots of seating. Can get chilly in the evening if you’re outside but perfectly toasty indoors. Staff was nice. There was a food truck in the parking lot and we shared some churros!
Jennifer Biggerstaff — Google review
Five stars for location and vibe. The beer was also excellent. Since 2000, the city of Alameda has been planning the redevelopment of the former Naval Air Station, now known as Alameda Point.
Mark Glenesk — Google review
Really great place for beer, food and hanging out. Girl Scouts where there slinging cookies! The music was a great mix of bluegrass covers and original songs. Maybe 200+ seating, they had 3-4 bartenders expediting orders so lines were minimal. Super good beers and a huge selection. In doors the music was more indie rock and tons of seating in there as well (maybe 75-100 seats).
Randal Lane — Google review
Location is kinda remote in old navy garrison in Alameda. Many parking should be available.
There is a large outdoor sitting area with many tables available.
Good for gathering, groups, small parties, kids and dogs.
Many Beer options and there's a Mexican food truck for food. You can bring your own food and just get drinks!
Nice city view over the bay.
Max Kay — Google review
A great asset to our town. Family and dog friendly, even community oriented, not to mention great brews. Got the winter pils and dive bar pils. A little something for everyone. Purchased some girl scout cookies and a growler for the road.
Sharon Ross — Google review
Awesome spot!
Huge seating inside and outside. Awesome view of the city.
Downside for me...no Hazy IPAs :/ still able to find one that was ok to drink.
Doggies allowed. There are also a few food vendors available.
Great spot for big crowds, but also date vibes too.
Parking lot available. Even when it seemed super busy, you should still be able to find a spot in their lot.
Arthur T — Google review
Great outdoor space with killer views of the SF skyline and the beer is good.
Dinging one star because the food trucks are often not so inspiring.
Klaus Schniedergers — Google review
Pretty cool. Large areas inside and out to enjoy your beverage. Good beers and view
Scott C — Google review
This place is WELL worth the trek.
The whole area is ripe for improvement, but Faction has done an incredible job taking the lil slice of Alameda and delivering a view to doe for and delicious beers.
The Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2014. It is a popular stop for tourists who want to learn about marine life and the estuary environment. The center has an 800-gallon aquarium and interactive exhibits about bay flora and fauna. There are also crab yards, a gift shop, picnic areas, and restrooms.
Small but full of engaging exhibit. Marc, the volunteer outside greeting and welcoming guests, was friendly & shared his knowledge of the area & the wildlife that live in it. We visited with our 2 kids on a Saturday afternoon and was able to see the live feeding at 3pm.
Ann Kapalungan — Google review
We found this place while we were in Alameda because we need to use bathrooms badly. All the gas station don't let us the restroom eventhough we pay for the gas. So we google the public restroom in this town, and we found this gem. This is really beautiful cove. The center is nice and informative. The trails are really nice. I like how many big trees and so many beautiful flowers. I also love the picnic and large barbecue grills. There are so many geese though. Their poop are everywhere, especially in the nice yard.
Natenapa Serdynski — Google review
The staff here are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The visitor center has a few small exhibits; nothing very modern or exciting, but provides basic information geared across age levels. I stopped by to get maps and a parks challenge guidebook/T-shirt. The area outside the center leads to a walking area at Crab Cove and connects to the shoreline walk along the beach of Alameda Island.
Christy Baker — Google review
This is a small center, but so cute and educational. I have two small children (4 and 1) who both love it. I especially love the microscope, as my 4-year-old has no trouble operating it on her own. They also often have fun events and activities. Such a gem!
Bryce Harenburg — Google review
Beautiful place to spend the day, walk, etc... Beautiful and calm views!
The 3rd picture is a location very close to Crab Cove.
Angela Barrett — Google review
Crab Cove is a large park looking out over the bay. Beautiful sweeping views of the bay area and some nice trails to walk along. There is a really nice visitor's center with some great displays, old photos, a video and a ton of local history. I had no idea there used to be an amusement park back in the day. There was a docent who was super-friendly and very informative. There are several picnic and barbecue areas with tables and barbecue pits. A few horse shoe pits also. There is a parking lot at each end of the park and currently bathrooms are closed due to covid. There was 1 port a potty in the parking lot next to the visitor center.
Stacy Lee Ferguson — Google review
Place is small but entertaining. However the workers lack of empathy. Over heard a pregnant woman asked for the bathroom inside stating it was an emergency and they shushed her over to the dirty portables. They said if she wanted a flushable one to go all the way across the lawn. The pregnant one looked sad at their response.
Evelyn Salinas — Google review
Totally beautiful and cool aquarium, great info and signs explaining anything. Cool and quiet, highly recommend!
Maria G. Martinez — Google review
Little museum and information center to the national park. Entrance is free. The park is full of birds and squirells and a very fine viewpoint.
Manuel Girisch — Google review
A fun little place to learn a out Bay Area wildlife that lives in a the water
Kimberly Sienkiewicz Dillon — Google review
The Crab cove visitor Center is part of the East Bay Regional Park District, and is located at 1252 McKay Av, Alameda, Ca 94501. The place is a kind place to visit and Discover some history, animals, fishes and plants that lives at the Bay area.
Inside there objects, pictures, videos and a lot of things that shows how rich this place are.
Addictionaly also there are the only one public bathrooms at the Alameda, everything clean and well done. I recommend it a visit there and also enjoy the beautiful view from the Robert W Crown Memorial State Beach.
Joaquim Braz — Google review
6
Alameda Point Antiques Faire 1st Sunday Every Month
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire is a sprawling open-air flea market held on the first Sunday of every month at a former naval base. It boasts stunning views of San Francisco across the bay and features over 800 stalls with vintage and antique items such as home decorations, furniture, jewelry, books, and collectibles. The fair is an art lover's paradise with various options for updating your home decor or adding to your collection.
Great sale to attend get here early and bring alot of cash. Never know what you'll find. Lots of good food and pastrys available here too.
Taylor Posey — Google review
This place is wild. A little planning will go a long way in making your visit as good as possible: buy tickets online, get cash before you go, and wear a hat (there isn't much shade). You can buy tickets and get cash here, you just have to wait in line. Another tip: if you see something you might want as you're walking through, figure out how to get back to it; the fair is well organized and easy to walk but it's hard to find your way back to specific stalls after you've been to so many.
Rhys Charlton — Google review
Entry fee varies based on how early you enter (more for earlier). For a first timer, it was a great experience. Lots to see and buy. Also has food trucks.
TG — Google review
Totally disorganised. 45+ minute car queue with multiple merging streams. Hour long queue for entry tickets. Zero traffic or crowd control. We gave up in the ticket queue. Exhausting and frustrating experience. Best to avoid.
Ian Davidson — Google review
Went there during the first Sunday of June. I must say the traffic situation was exhausting! The reason I will think 100 before I go there again is the traffic.
Also, the fair is quite big - you just have to browse through it quickly to cover all. They have a lot of food trucks at the both side ends but even there it was just very long line for coffee. Overall it’s good if you go there early and you know what you are looking for.
50% of the stalls are clothing stalls and the decent ones have high prices.
Foram Mistry — Google review
Truly a paradise for art lovers, collectors, and those who are looking to update their home, etc.
Set against the beautiful San Francisco skyline, a hidden gem, indeed!
I'd recommend getting here early and make the most of it. Variety crockery, home decor, woodwork, etc. And options to grab a quick bite on the food trucks.
Durga Kale — Google review
Definitely worth the admission fee! I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough vendors but I didn’t even end up seeing everything. This place is HUGE so make sure to wear comfy shoes because you’ll be walking A LOT. Someone made a comment about planning ahead and I couldn’t agree more. Next time I go I will for sure buy the ticket online and bring more cash. Also, you can rent a cart there so you don’t have to bring your own.
SJ I — Google review
This place.... If I tell you it's good, you will want to come buy everything, so stay away...you wont find anything at all at this place....haha! It's all mine, and nothing is for sale. Hahahaha! No, really. It's a pretty special place.
Jacqueline Canterbury — Google review
This event was a fun time! We enjoyed walking around all the stalls and know for certain that anything we were interested was verified antique. The only thing i wasn’t fond of was the food/drink service. For the whole fairy there’s only one stand with $14 cups of wine and the lady running the stand over charged me my mistake I should’ve said something after I found out the real price of the drinks. Drink and eat before you go! Other than that the music was fun a lively and they usually do theme nights. We went on a sleep-ware event. Pretty funny.
Dylan gaw — Google review
Truly exceptional.
Great finds with really cool people that clearly enjoy curating one of a kind antiques for us.
I found 118 things I'd want to get in just one visit.
Holy cow!
We'll be returning often.
Raymond Carbonneau Robles — Google review
Get there early to park and leave by noon to avoid traffic on your way out.
Most places take Venmo but bring cash just in case.
Food trucks are just ok and over priced.
Definitely bring your own back pack or bag to carry things you buy.
Bring layers- it can be very chili!
Paula Williams — Google review
Never seen so much clothes in my life. Place is looking like a huge outdoor thrift store. And most of the clothes aren't even vintage. This place used to be a true antique show, now it's just another flea market. Sad 🥺
This public beach is a great place to relax and enjoy the Bay Area scenery. The beach stretches for 2.5 miles, and is perfect for swimming, windsurfing, and picnicking. There are also areas for camping and hiking, making it a popular spot for weekend warriors.
I love this little beach! It’s frequent for walkers and some water goers but for the most part it’s pretty relaxed. The shoreline runs through the park, but you can also park on the road and have easy access to the beach.
For photographers, the beach’s gets direct sun! For sunset photos you want to wait it out, as it takes a long time for light to get soft. But it’s a stunning area and very simple!
Shannon Gaona — Google review
Great beach with shallow water for kids to play in. Clean beach with a good amount of tables and restrooms. The crab museum is great beach area and park seems very safe area for families to play there is also some tennis courts. There was lots of birds only reason I give 4 stars is because of the water not being that clean it could be due to the tied.
Jaime Cortez — Google review
Crown Memorial Beach is a hidden gem! Despite some construction, the charm isn't lost. There's plenty of parking, which is a huge plus. The beach itself is really cute, with soft sand and a relaxing vibe. It's the perfect spot for a peaceful day by the water or a leisurely stroll. The construction is a small compromise for such a beautiful, accessible place. Definitely a five-star beach experience for its serene beauty and convenience.
Wanda Reynolds — Google review
What a great place to take a stroll with the dogs. The views are phenomenal and the park is massive. Plenty of room for all kinds of activities. Paths are nice and flat, the bay air is crisp and refreshing, simply incredible. Parking is plentiful and easy, but bathrooms these days (covid) can prove difficult. I highly recommend you visit and enjoy this beautiful bay area gem.
Stacy Lee Ferguson — Google review
Super fun beach, very safe swimming for the kids. We walked wayyyyyy out there & did not find anywhere we couldn't stand up. If you care about being on the sand, arrive early b/c there isn't that much sand. We didn't care about that though b/c we spend all our time in the water, which is surprisingly clear. Oh & you can check the water quality before going to make sure it's safe. Also would be a great place to kayak or SUP etc.
C W — Google review
Have walked here for 15 years. I'm always excited about the season changes and the chicks hatching around Easter time. So much nature. Beach and the grass areas are clean (but the Geese poop), which can be a lot sometimes. Swimming is mostly Ok, winter or summer, just have look for warning signs, should there be any algae etc.
anna helin — Google review
Nice beach with lots of parking very close to the water. Depending on the tide you may have to walk across shallow pools and mud flats until you reach deeper water. For the kids playing in the tidal pools was a lot of fun.
Guy Nir — Google review
This beach is just in front of my work. It has been a long time since my boyfriend and I have been here because of the weather. Thursday last week, we were able to go back after work, brought dinner, and walked for 30 minutes before heading home. We really love it here.
merlyn mananquil — Google review
I love the low tide because it allows you to actually be able to play and be in the water. Great for kids. Water was at first touch cold, but you get used to it fast. It's not piercing cold. We always find parking in the designated parking lot.
Ana Briones — Google review
The beach is awesome. But, there is only one bathroom at the very end. Not cool! You can ignore the no dogs sign. Pay attention to the no drinking sign!
MX FACT — Google review
Alameda City has many beautiful parks, but Robert Crown Park is really the "crown" of all with the beach all along, the sinuous coast, the abundant fauna and flora, San Francisco skyline and the superb sunsets, a place to enjoy walking and also sitting at the many picnic tables and benches.
OG Paz — Google review
It was a magikal day @ the beach. 💫🌊The water was extremely receded and I was able to walk out a very far distance from the shore. I saw coral reef that was moist & spongy. There were a lot of birds flying around & eating dead crabs. 😔
I absolutely love being at the beach!!! ❣☺
Loba Yates — Google review
Best beach to take your dogs. There are a lot of dogs around for your dog to play with.
Edit- editing to 5 star review. We just went to the east side of the beach last time. When you actually go in from the main parking lot, this beach has a lot to offer. A few hiking trails, bbq spots, plenty of parking spots. The water is calm and best for tubing with less to no waves. We went on a Wednesday afternoon and still this side of the beach was almost at full capacity. Maybe because you normally don’t get close to 90 degrees on late October. We hanged out around for the sunset which was amazing.
Eluv Shrestha — Google review
The best beach in the Bay Area. No rip tide so super safe for kids. Usually very warm water. Pro-tip don’t park in the lot which is typically packed, park on side streets near by. Also check the tides before coming cause some days/times it’s not worth the trek.
Kevin Kunze — Google review
Swim beach. Bbqers. Picnic tables. Actually it gets pretty busy here. So get here early. Parking fills up too. Theres a dog park. Nice paved trails to walk or ride. Accessible up to the sand. Then its sand. You can see big boats. Gets crowded though. Bring sunscreen. Bring towels. Few bathrooms, usually a line. Beach showers. I think you can learn to kite surf and rent the stuff and buy a lesson. Cool
Christina Michaud — Google review
The beach is nice and relatively clean. Can get verycrowded, but that is expected. There is a very close parking lot. Police is patrolling around, both with cars and ATV. The restrooms need a better maintenance - the smell around them is disturbing. Worth visiting the beach and spending a nice day there, and sn't forget the sunscreen protection .
Atanas Dinev — Google review
This is my favorite beach in the Bay Area. During low tide you can pretty much walk into the ocean, kids will have a blast. It’s great place for paddle boarding, especially in the morning when there is no wind. Water is not super cold either, I didn’t need wetsuit in summer!
Rama Ghanta — Google review
Nice to take a stroll there when it is green after the rain and ducks have plenty of water in the pond.
Tyche — Google review
Nice beach. Good place fir family time out for a day. Kids will enjoy most. Shore is good fir sand walk. Huge Parking place. Park has picnic tables for party reservation.
I love being in Alameda. I like the fact that I am surrounded by water when there. The downtown area is very pleasant as well. A nice place to walk around and have lunch or dinner.
COREY WILSON — Google review
Very nice and interesting town with classy beautiful houses
HoneyDew TabbyCatCelebrity — Google review
Nice area for diverse cuisine and outside dinning.
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is a beautiful and tranquil preserve in Oakland that offers stunning views of the Bay Bridge, port cranes, and San Francisco across the Bay. It's perfect for biking, picnicking, and watching the sun set with all of its natural beauty.
Took my wife here to watch the sunrise. Was so beautiful. Best spot from across the water to see SanFran
Ashton Urbex — Google review
Deserted yet beautiful! A stroll or run by the water, with views of San Francisco on one side and the shipping yard on the other. Soothing sounds of water all along. The occasional ships and boats of all sizes are nice to watch. Historical information displayed at multiple places is fascinating. Plenty of parking, picnic areas, and restrooms.
Sneha H S — Google review
It's lovely to stroll along the bay with a view of the SF skyline & Bay Bridge. Hardly anyone there late morning/ early afternoon. Lots of geese & gosslings as well as ground squirrels everywhere. Nice little pier with a couple of people fishing. Has a picnic area, restrooms & plenty of parking. A bit of a hidden gem!
Christine Morgan (IWonderland) — Google review
Bellas vistas, geese con gosling familias, half step warning signals sounding, Puerto actividad, NO (or very few) PEOPLE to have to avoid, bay breezes clearing the air y SPACE, outdoors, en natura, cerca del agua to breathe freely. Bellísima.
Update 022022: Still a lovely, spacious, expansive place for a long walk around the perimeter. Peaceful, refreshing way to take at least 6k steps, with lots to absorb and notice along the way. Late afternoon on a cloudy or partially sunny, cool weekend day sparsely populated.
karolyn van putten — Google review
One of the best parks in the Oakland flats, and a great place to watch ships come, unload at the Port, and leave. Amazing views of the Bay and the city on the other side.
Victor Yee — Google review
It is a beautiful place to visit. Plenty of open space with amazing views of the peninsula. Walking trails with plenty of grass, and there's a tower structure for viewing. It's pretty large so you can walk up a few flights of stairs to a deck with benches and a beautiful view of Treasure Island, San Francisco and much more. There's a pier at the end with a small park and a play structure for children. It even has a small beach if you walk down the center pavement and across the grass, you'll reach a small sandy beach. There's no lifeguards so please be safe. There's always security presence in white trucks during open hours it's generally a safe atmosphere. There's male and female restrooms with changing tables and running water. They're cleaned daily, so besides the occasional vandals that use up all the paper, and try to make a mess, it's pretty clean.
BUBBLE P-BODY — Google review
Fantastic view of the San Francisco skyline. Several lookout points. The park is surrounded by containers. Drive carefully because of those huge trucks. Ample parking lots. Not crowded at all on a Thursday morning. Well maintained restroom. A big BBQ area. Can be windy at times.
Bruce Liu — Google review
Good place to see the city skyline. I’m docking a star since the upkeep is not the best. People should also learn to pick up after themselves and help keep a public park clean.
Ton T — Google review
My grandfather served on the USS Oakland during WWII. He's since passed, but the mast is a reminder of his sacrifice and heroism. They truly were the Greatest Generation.
Jake De — Google review
a review from amom2kidsandapark.com
Located on the tip of the Oakland shipping area, between the Bay Bridge and Alameda, is a large open area with trails, coves, wild animals (lots of geese!), picnic spots, an observation tower for even better elevated views (stairs. no elevator), and a “ghost building”.
The land is the site of the previous Oakland Naval Supply Depot which was an important supply center for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet during WWII through 1998. The “ghost building” can be seen by the varying cement “paths” throughout the land (and even in the parking lot), out of place walls, and zig zag paths.
Swimming is not allowed especially because the drop off from the shore is very sudden and very deep. It was previously dredged to allow room for naval ships.
Don’t miss the white dolphin sculpture on the shoreline near the platform path. If you come during lunch you may get to see some sea birds finding their meal via some unlucky mussels.
While the view of the city is amazing, a take minute to observe the massive shipping containers and cranes in action or the various types of boats heading into the bay from Jack London.
Fishing is allowed.
There is plenty of parking. The parking closest to the observation tower is handicap only. There are bathrooms at the observation tower and near the parking lot.
Alameda Island Brewing Company is a brewery on the island of Alameda. It is one of the best places to stop for a beer in San Francisco, and they have an excellent selection of beers. The staff is friendly and knowledgable about the beers, and they also sell growler fills.
Alameda Island Brewery is a great place to hang out with friends or socialize. They have a big dining area with lots of space and one big screen TV to watch the game. The dining area was nice and open due to all the big open windows. They also have a large selection of draft beers to choose from which I like. They brew their own beer as well which I have yet to try. They have some flights they can offer. I did try a sampler of a unique beer that was 5% called 'Sarap' meaning good in Tagalog. It was on draft. It's a hint of calamansi in it. It was actually good! I will have to get that again next time. The guy at the counter was cool and friendly.
Looks like they share the space with the Fikscue Craft BBQ next door as long as you buy their beers. Which we did! Prices are decent as well. Not a bad place to hang out, and just drink and chill. I know I will be back here again!
Edna G — Google review
Not our first time here, and not our last! Love this brewery, even have a place to order food on the other side! Monkey Kings, Definitely I should try.
Dannielle Guerrero — Google review
This microbrewery has delicious craft beer with Alameda-themed names and occasionally a few non-alcoholic options like root beer and kombucha on tap.
Their motto is “something for everyone” in the hopes that they can make beer more accessible. I’d say they’ve definitely made it more accessible to parents! The kid-friendly space has big tables inside, an arcade game, clean bathrooms, and lots of seats outside.
The outdoor space is shared with the neighboring restaurant, Monkey King at the Brewery, which is an island-favorite that sells delicious wings, fries, kimchi rice, and shares space with Alameda Scoop, a local ice cream shop. Customers at all three establishments can eat on the patio or even inside the brewery. So, get yourself a pint, and your kids a cone of ice cream, and call it a day!
Angel & Angelica Beautiful Brown Adventures — Google review
Good atmosphere and great service. They have a good selection of beers. The location is dog friendly.
Raymond Sarabia — Google review
Alameda Island Brewing Company has a good rotating variety of beers (and a barley wine) on tap. Personally, my favorite (which isn't always on tap, but always available canned) is Sea Haggis, a Scottish Ale. It's a spacious space, so good for larger groups as well as individuals or small gatherings of friends. The brewing process and tanks are clearly visible through large glass windows from the sitting area. They take cash or cards and their bathrooms are impeccably clean (and even have fold out changing tables in the stalls if you bring the little ones). Staff is courteous and friendly and able to answer any questions you may have about their brews. Taste flights are also offered in case you can't immediately make up your mind about what you might want to drink. And...they're right next door to a good food place and allow you to have the food delivered to the brewery. Bonus! Internet is available and free, so you can bring your work if you want to sit at a table with your laptop/tablet/phone. There's always some background music playing over the speakers, and it's never too loud to overpower your own conversations. My recommendation: come down and check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed. (Mask is required to enter and order... and they clean tables after anyone leaves. )
Thomas Schumann — Google review
Great beer and awesome to have Monkey King for food right next door. I got the imperial IPA and the Hazy IPA, both were delicious! I’ll definitely be back here again.
Steven Denke — Google review
A great beer selection and a broad number of IPAs. It was recommended that I try the Island Haze, a NEIPA, and the recommendation was on point. Place is comfortable with a good vibe and it's easy to hang out here with a big group of people, with food just across the way. You should stop by if you're in Alameda.
William Davis — Google review
Fun place to stop for a beer. The staff is friendly and knowledgable about the beer. Be sure to take their advice. The scotch ale and the paddle pilsner are great.
The indoor seating in simple and the outdoor seating is a shared space between three different restaurants. They also sell growler fills.
I'd definitely recommend stopping stopping by.
Bartholomew Roland — Google review
Very cool atmosphere, great beers! Friendly staff
Scott C — Google review
This place has a great selection of beers. They also have about 10 rotational beers on draft. There's also a restaurant next door you can get food from. The staff was very helpful in helping me pick out a flight of beers. It was very delicious and I will definitely come back here again
Rustian Dunn — Google review
What a cool and chilled out place this is! We were in Alameda and before heading back to Oakland decided to stop by so hubby could get his IPA.
Place is quite big and spacious with plenty of seating options for small and large groups. And may i sat it was quite happening on a Tuesday night - woohoo!
Staff is friendly and place is clean and neat
Prices are fantastic at about 5-6$ for beers and they also hook you up with finger food from the place nextdoor serving fries, chicken wings, noodles etc.
They also had plenty of boardgames so we ended up playing scrabble and having a great time.
Would love to be back when around the neighborhood!
Heliana Mano — Google review
Be sure to check out this Filipino-owned Brewery the next time you're in Alameda! They brew all of their beers in house and the varieties range from Light to Dark to even Fruity. I loooved their Calamansi Pilsner and ended up taking some cans home. If you're unsure what to get or want to do a sample of beers, try out one of their Flights or build your own!
* Alameda Genuine Draft
* Tell Me When to Mango
* Sarap! Pilsner w/ Calamansi
* Mutiny on the Bay
* Ube Area
* Sea Haggis
* Sop 'N' Go
If you have a dog, bring them along because this place is dog friendly, even indoors!
This place makes a great hang out spot and you can even grab food from the neighboring restaurants to eat with your beers or take your beers over to the restaurants. It's nice seeing a community of businesses supporting one another.
Marissa Chinn — Google review
They do not respect their employees and recently fired the head brewer and general manager for just speaking up for the staff. Please Boycott AIBC there are plenty of other owners around worthy of your money.
The Alameda Naval Air Museum is an independent museum showcasing the history of the now-defunct Alameda Naval Air Station through exhibits and documents. The museum features extensive collections related to World War I, World War II, and the naval air station's history. It is run by a group of knowledgeable senior volunteers who previously worked at the naval air station. Although admission is now free, donations and volunteers are appreciated as they are short-staffed with numerous exhibits to maintain.
A really nice museum about WWI, WWII, and history of the Alameda Naval Air Station. This museum has many nice collections.
This museum is independently run by a group of senior volunteers who previously worked at the Navel Air Station. The volunteers are really nice and knowledgeable. The museum is short-staffed compared with how many exhibits it has. Admission is now free of charge, but donations and volunteers are much appreciated 👍
JunWoo Kim — Google review
Great place, easily overlooked, but great place of history. Nice WW1 exhibit as well. Main focus is the China Clipper with some Hornet and Macon as well.
Michael Siu — Google review
Very nice museum and well worth the visit. Work in process at it is staffed entirely by volunteers. Includes memorabilia from PanAm Airline which was based there originally. Lots of models of ships, planes, etc. Enjoyed our time there immensely. Plenty of things that have been saved from the various war periods. They must have close to 1,000 models
Rowland Hetrick — Google review
3/18/2023 While visiting the Hornet. Visit this museum. 3 floors. 3rd floor has trains. Only open on weekends. 10am to 3pm.
Vincent Tang — Google review
Huge area, countess planes. Unfortunately no WWII piston fighters, but many bombers, and early jets.
The inside part of the museum is small, but crammed with interesting items and photos.
Dániel Varga — Google review
Definitely worth a visit. The museum is ran by a group of volunteers, who were quite knowledgeable and very nice. Has 3 floors and a large collection of model airplanes, aircraft carriers and memorabilia donated from people who used to work at the base.
In close distance as well to the USS Hornet.
Rafail Giavrimis — Google review
Great museum, people there were very friendly and welcoming.
Nick Mount — Google review
I get that a lot of locals have significant sympathy for this museum and its vet volunteers but it is, at best, an inconsistent hodge-podge of small displays and a big model train diorama on the 3rd floor. One will not, for instance, find any airplanes here. Out-of-towners with limited time will find the nearby USS Hornet much more rewarding.
Altarena Playhouse is a small theater that features a diverse lineup of plays and musicals, both classic and contemporary. The venue offers an intimate setting for audiences to enjoy high-quality productions with talented casts. It requires proof of vaccination and masks are mandatory, ensuring a safe environment for all attendees. Altarena Playhouse is an excellent choice for those looking to support community theater while receiving outstanding entertainment in Alameda.
Excellent production in an intimate venue. Every seat is the best in the house. Supporting local community theater and receiving outstanding entertainment is one of Alameda's hidden gems.
Michael Tarelka — Google review
This is the oldest (1928), continuously running neighborhood theater in California. Plays are done in the round. They put on very professional performances at a very reasonable price.
Sally McKinney — Google review
Great little treasure in Alameda
We love going to the Theater play. The performance is stellar. And you cannot get a bass seat anywhere in this little theater.
Annalisa Noonan — Google review
The theatre is cozy and friendly. Good view from every seat. Acting was mediocre.
Randi Schalet — Google review
Lovely establishment and the shows are really fun. Small theater vibes and I am in love
Elyssa Katz — Google review
La Cage au folles is a funny, human level, tearjerker, REAL story. At Altarena there was a superb cast and the closeness to the stage made the emotions absolutely real. Don't miss it. Also note that you must prove vaccination to come in and masks are required. A safe and truly worthwhile night out.
Elizabeth McGaffey — Google review
An incredible intimate theater experience with cookies and beverages to satiate ones appetite, paired with a vastly diverse talented crew on and off the stage. 10/10
Trista Giese — Google review
Cozy, intimate space steeped in 85+ years of theatrical history. Originally a grocery store, this long-time gem of a venue consistently provides a top level community theatre experience. Support the arts! Support the Altarena.
Tekvald Sumthingr (Techno) — Google review
My first time there and it was amazing!! I truly appreciated the wonderful and extremely helpful audio description.
Sabrina B — Google review
Went to see the opening night performance of A Soldier's Play.
From the reception of the audience to the performance, I could not have been more impressed. The theatre had an easy flow from entry, to purchase of beverage and snack to timing for seating. My mother in law uses a walker and the staff was attentive about assisting her seating, stowing the walker and having it miraculously re-appear during intermission without inquiry!
The production of the show was notable. Comfortable seating, easy to see and hear the wonderful performers. It's a sweet intimate theater. Support their work!
Melissa Archie — Google review
Love this place! Great local intimiate theatre.
Ian McKellar — Google review
I saw and loved the incredible cast of 'It's Only a Play' at Altarena and since learning more about this theatre, and the experiences of my peers through the years and today, I support Altarena to become a place with integrity someday, and I am following their growth closely. This is an organization that still harms actors and directors, but I'm an optimist and I believe the voices in our community with courage and privilege can come together to rally for a healthy change to stop harm, retroactively address it, and begin a new season of true care and humanity here. I will be delighted and happy to edit this review if I see meaningful and non performative improvement here.
Katherine Park — Google review
An enjoyable venue; good singing by the performers, cute skits and laughter filled the arena! Towards the end, we all joined in singing popular Christmas Carole's; Jingle Bells etc. Only downside is if you are large bodied or tall, that seats are small and not much leg room if you have a 33" or longer inseam . Some chairs in the first row, but haven't investigated how you reserve those. I'm sure you can though.
J. R. — Google review
I had forgotten how much I missed live theater until my recent visit to Altarena. "It's Only a Play" has closed already but if the rest of the season maintains the same quality of acting and directing, I'll definitely be back. Complimentary cookies and coffee was a nice touch, especially for a matinee. The new seats are comfortable but I wish they had left more keg room between the isles.
Marlene Dines — Google review
The best local yet long history playhouse which gives imitate stage setting. Worthy to yearly subscription.
Alameda Museum, a historical society, houses an extensive collection of artifacts, vintage furnishings and photographs that depict the rich history of Alameda. The knowledgeable staff offers lectures to visitors who want to learn more about the city's past. In addition to its educational value, the museum also has a gift shop with antique items for sale at reasonable prices. The displays cover Alameda's history from its native American origins up through modern times, making it a quaint and informative destination for anyone interested in local history.
That place was so cool!
I was born in Alameda and I go there pretty frequently to escape the crazy Tenderloin District of San Francisco for a minute!
And I never knew Alameda had its own museum of its own personal history either!
I was just absolutely amazed, fascinated, and impressed by it and by all of it, too!
That place will always have 5 stars from me!😉👍👍😊
Angelina Pryor — Google review
This is a very quaint, clean and pleasant museum. Great displays of alameda's past reaching back all the way to native Americans. Cute little gift shop in the front that helps support the museum.
Michael Collier — Google review
Small but packed with the city of Alameda history. Free. Gift shop has great bargains.
Debra Hilding — Google review
This is probably the coolest place in Alameda. The staff are very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. The Museum is much bigger on the inside than you would think. They have lots of vintage and antique things for sale, including a madeleine baking tray that was in great condition! The prices are very reasonable for this area. If you're looking for vintage jewelry, dolls, furniture, or just a cool place to learn about the rich history of Alameda, this is it!
Yoshino Rosalia — Google review
Went to look for an queen Elizabeth lighter and they were out. They get bought so fast but it's definitely a place to visit.
Clive Cussler — Google review
Awesome museum dedicated to Alameda. They have a ton of historical items there. Highly recommended!
Jeff Silva — Google review
Come and learn the history of Alameda from Alameda population of people who have seen it all. Kind of a museum /little ole' lady store, with postcards old books and books about various significant building types in Alameda.
mikey m — Google review
A great 30 mins
Adrian Merry — Google review
I take the precious items that are hard to part with to them for donation. They have a sweet gift shop and the museum is really well done!! Worth a visit!!
Five stars because I love libraries and Im a regular here because I love it as a lovely and convenient resource!!! :) The only problem is there is a significant amount of noisy conversations here for a library. The amount of librarians who don't whisper at Alameda Free Library makes me sad. Like they talk over eachother and everything. The atmosphere is great outside of this. I come here to study and read. We all know that people have a hard time focusing nowadays due to social media brain rot, so the whole whisper in the library thing should be more respected in my opinion. I guess times have changed. Maybe I'm being entitled, but I did just see a man walk out because it was too loud which prompted me to write this.
Wilo •̀ᴗ•́و — Google review
This library is a nice modern facility. Computer labs, fun activities, community programs, and of course, books. Plenty of computer work stations with power outlets. Comfy chairs for relaxed reading. Study rooms for multiple people working in projects, Community Rooms for special events.
It's a nice place !
There is a cafe but I've not bought anything from it..yet.
Bathrooms, copiers, printers, all the things you would expect to find in a large library.
Just 2 short blocks away from the very reasonably priced Municipal parking garage.
There are car charging stations located in the garage .
When the weather is nice, I usually walk the 1.2 miles each way.
Check their website for hours and upcoming events.
chanel divine — Google review
Great library but the people (including staff) talk WAY TOO LOUDLY! I have never been to a more noisy, chatty library. It’s honestly really hard to concentrate when studying. Other then that its a nice library.
Laura Hughes — Google review
They will allow Trannnys to twerk in front of your 6 year old. But won’t let them hear a bible verse
Thomas Waite — Google review
I used to cherish this library for its peace and tranquility. Up up until a few months ago I was going multiple times a week. Not sure why it changed so much but it is insanely loud considering its a library.
I also don't feel totally safe there at times. And why is there never paper towels in the restrooms? The air hand dryers are gross.
Sam — Google review
This is a great library! Someone on here mentioned it was smaller than the Oakland branch, like HOW? Being from Oakland I was always amused that a big city like that doesn't have a sufficient sized library like SF. I've seen prisons(in movies) that look better than that main branch! And prob louder than a homeless shelter. I came from Oakland to this library while finishing my degree and still come here to do work. The mask police is annoying sometimes, but understood. Very clean, from the sitting areas to the restrooms...
Patrick T — Google review
Disappointing experience. They sent our overdue balance from children's books to a collection agency. The "free library" policy is incredibly misleading.
Jeremiah Bonsmith — Google review
Literally the best library I've been to, no exaggerations. The children section is my daughter's favorite place in the world, we love to come to the story times through out the week and the librarians are so nice and always helpful and warm! The rest of the library is great, clean and tidy, quiet and lots of space to just sit, read and relax or work. The Cafe is also a nice little added bonus, the volunteers are always cheery and the drinks are small but it's only a dollar and I love supporting our local library! Sometimes it's hard to find parking but still a wonderful place!
jojo s — Google review
I recently visited the Alameda Free Library, hoping to enjoy a peaceful and productive time with my books and studies. Unfortunately, my experience was far from what I had anticipated.
One of the primary issues I encountered was the incessant chatter among the staff. It seemed as though they were engaged in nonstop conversations with each other and with patrons, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a bustling coffee shop rather than a library. This constant noise made it extremely difficult for those who came to the library to work and study in a quiet environment.
To add to the disruption, some library-goers had little regard for maintaining a serene atmosphere. I observed individuals listening to loud music, even from their earphones, which only added to the overall noise level. This disregard for the need for silence, which is often the primary reason people visit libraries, was disappointing.
I had previously voiced my concerns about the noise issue, hoping for some improvement during my subsequent visit. However, it was disheartening to find that nothing had changed. In particular, the lady with blue hair upstairs seemed to be a major source of the noise problem. Despite being informed in writing that she had been warned, it appeared that she continued to disrupt the tranquility of the library.
Regrettably, I must caution others to consider alternatives when looking for a quiet and focused study environment. The Alameda Free Library, with its ongoing noise issues, falls short of providing the conducive atmosphere that one expects from a library. To put it plainly, even a hotel lobby tends to be quieter in comparison.
In conclusion, my recent experiences at the Alameda Free Library have left me disappointed and frustrated. I hope that in the future, the library staff will take the necessary steps to address these noise concerns and ensure that the library can once again become a place where people can truly immerse themselves in the world of books and knowledge.
Ilgass Q — Google review
Lobe this library the staff is very polite ND very accessible
Hector M Camarena — Google review
This library never cleans tables,computer's,floor,stairs,railings,it’s very disgusting .I had so much filth coming out of the keyboard and the mouse ,homeless use the restroom to bathe in and the chairs hold the odors of the homeless at the computer section .
the doors ,floors are never mopped
When I asked if they ever clean the computers they told me I’m free to clean myself the lousy cleaner they give u doesn’t even work to properly disinfect.i have to bring in my own wipes each time to clean and it’s always nasty wherever i sit . Also it’s very loud for a library . Wear a mask I swear the entire time there ppl are sick and coughing, if you have young ones don’t leave them unattended in the restrooms lots of homeless in the restrooms doing sketchy things
KC KC — Google review
Been going there ever since I was like 7 years old. Now I'm 24. It has been my place to study for school, socialize friends, and just to sit down relax and think. 10/10, a favorite library with many, many great books and forms of media
Brandon Delosreyes-Mills — Google review
Very nice, modern library with great selection of books, magazines and newspapers (international ones too) and great staff but... not quiet. Lots of people talking on their phones, others doing Zoom calls and homeless people taking naps on the arm chairs. I actually use my headphones for white noise when I visit. If not for that, it's a five-star library all the way.
Michel D — Google review
Rich collection of books, CD, DVD etc. Quiet, nice and clean environment. Love it. With books in other languages, make it turely international and global friendly library.
Alameda Beach, located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, offers a long sandy stretch with volleyball courts and ends in a bird sanctuary. The city of Alameda has a small-town feel with rich history and various attractions to explore. Once a quiet town, it now boasts bars, restaurants, shopping options, and the beach. It's an ideal place for families as it provides opportunities for walking, swimming, and observing tidal changes.
Alameda Beach is still the go to beach for local and people looking for a quick getaway. Although it's windy out the air is fresh the dogs are cute everything's perfect..
Wanda Reynolds — Google review
Always a great place to walk and swim with kids. Gives a great understanding of tidal changes and they always discover something new.
Bbq, areas to sit in the sun, I see swimmers, people watching birds, kids playing. One of the better family beaches I can recommend. I've been going for 6 years straight.
Near stores, a park, residential and a commercial outdoor mall with anything you could want.
Do yourself a favor and spend a day here.
Martin Bagnyuk — Google review
I would say the best warm beach in the Bay Area, wasn’t aware of this beach at all and while browsing accidentally got to know about it and now this has become a defacto beach for us
There is plenty of free parking and huge shore line
Naveen Nagaraja — Google review
Wonderful place to visit. Was a clear sunny day. High tides, lot of people walking, biking, kayaking. Good birdwatching ☺️👍👍
Steve Witt — Google review
Beautiful beach to visit during heat wave as this beach become warm and water temperature get perfect. If you visit on regular day it will be cold . It is clean and awesome view of SF skyline with bay bridge. Lots of parking but need to go early to find. Just in from there is big mall which has lots of food trucks and Mac'd with extra parking space.
Anjal Patel — Google review
Beautiful social spot. My relative has owned the green house and the one next to it, so my some great grandparent can be born. The landscape to San Francisco was carefully designed for a human experience.
Mavis Lin — Google review
Went to Albany beach, don't do it. My son found this beach, we loved it. Restaurants and shopping across the street. Bathrooms & showers to wash off are provided. It was a great day, definitely will visit this beach again.
jermaine ward — Google review
Great beach for strolling, running, and enjoying the SF skyline views. It's about 2 miles long and usually clean.
No dogs allowed on the beach due to rare birds breeding.
Lots of bird watching. It really only gets busy on hot summer weekends.
The sand is very coarse and was filled up from the bay, so there's lots of erosion.
Klaus Schniedergers — Google review
No dogs allowed on the beach, which is ridiculous but their choice. we left our dog while we went out on the beach. While out there we watched a guy walk his dog out towards the water, he then let his dog poop and just walked off without picking it up. While walking the hundred or so feet to the water there were glass bottles, plastic cups, trash galore everywhere. It was a nice day out there but the trash and overall disgusting state of the sand was enough that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Jess V — Google review
There were caution signs on every entry port of the beach and I couldn't understand why. So I just went somewhere where there were many people at the beach. Visited this place cause it had a tesla supercharger!
Long beach, majestic views of the SF skyline, lots of volleyball courts and Lots of seagulls. Had fun clicking pics with my phone!
Rated 4 cause I was confused about the warning signs.
Akshaya Kumar — Google review
This is a great beach, easy location to get to, plenty of parking and gorgeous views of San Francisco and the rest of the bay area.
Ikenna Okoye — Google review
If you need a beautiful view you will find one here for sure! This is a very peaceful location for a walk with the family. Our doggo has fun bumping into other furry friends on the side path (not allowed on the beach). It's spacious enough to find a spot to relax. There's plenty of parking available, and public restrooms if needed.
Visited the photo exhibition at Frank Bette Center for the Arts, where the photos were exceptionally impressive in terms of their quality and ingenuity. One particular piece named Leaving Alameda at Dawn stood out with its vibrant colors and a stark ambiance reminiscent of a Hopper painting. Another work cleverly captured a fire hydrant from an angle that created an illusion of a dog. The experience was captivating, and it provided a delightful opportunity to connect with others on the patio.
Went to the photo exhibit. The quality and creativity of the photos is amazing. One called Leaving Alameda at Dawn has brilliant colors and the stark feel it's Hopper painting. And another cleverly shows a fire hydrant from an angle that makes it look like a dog. Fascinating to see - and a lovely way to meet people on the patio.
Elizabeth McGaffey — Google review
What a great community arts center
Charles Udell — Google review
The Frank Bette Center for the Arts has such a variety of art throughout the year. And the special exhibits of Alameda on Camera and Plein Air Paintout are the best!
cyandesign303 — Google review
It’s a gem in Alameda for all level of artists. They have a very wide range of classes and very talented teachers.
Lori H — Google review
Frank Betts Center deserves credit for bringing art and civility to the Island. Betts Center feeds our souls.
justmiming — Google review
One of the best art centers for shows and classes in the bay
Steven McDonald — Google review
A center for the arts in the East Bay. Supports community artists and provides a beautiful friendly venue for events and activities
Kathleen Campbell — Google review
Great place to see local artists displays. Their displays are often for sale.
Urban Legend is a small, boutique winery located in Healdsburg, California that specializes in food-friendly wines from the best of California grapes. The winery's wine list is composed of multi-layered and flavorful wines that are perfect for pairing with spicy foods. With a casual and friendly atmosphere, Urban Legend is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some great wine.
I REALLY enjoyed Urban Legend, it offers wine tasting, crafted on sight. During harvest you might see trucks pulling up with bins of grapes that immediately start getting processed by the owners Steve, Marilee, and their knowledge staff. If the weather is nice you can sit outside and look at the spectacular skyline of San Francisco and the Bay (photos below). We had Stella as our hostess. She was very knowledgeable and engaging. She listened to your feedback on the wine, and we had great discussions about it. I can’t wait to come back next year! 🍇🍷
Darlene Benigno — Google review
Fantastic experience at the tasting room with Cia & TC! I love coming here with my mom. We are always welcomed with a positive environment. They were busy, but made an effort to give us a great tasting experience sitting away from the tasting counter. I highly recommend Urban Legend over other tasting rooms due to the personal touch & the best wine on the island.
Update: Having a fantastic wine tasting with delicious snacks
Meg Spicer — Google review
The Old lady who answered the phone was extremely rude & very presumptuous. Winner of the Most Non Helpful Human 2023 Award. Since I can't reply. I'll just clearly explain that I wasn't selling a line of credit. I don't even sell that nor did I even have more than 10 seconds to give you any idea of what the call was about. I'm sure you get calls daily of people trying to sell you products or services but you must have me mistaken for a different Mike. I simply asked for the owner & the lady puffed up like the magic dragon. I'm sure your winery is beautiful & I wish you the best.
Mike Whitehead — Google review
A casual tasting room nestled in industrial oakland with friendly, knowledgeable staff and delicious wine makes this the perfect stop for an afternoon with friends. The corner commercial location is filled with light thanks to floor to ceiling windows. Concrete floors, cork tables, and wooden chairs give the space a natural feel and helps the environment maintain a casual atmosphere. There are plenty of tasting options from a daily flight of 5 wines to many prefix flights with 3 wines and a larger pour. We found all of the pours to be generous and we were even offered an extra at no charge! The service was prompt and the glasses never sat empty but we were not rushed in the slightest. We purchased 6 bottles and all 3 daily tasting fees were completely waived. I highly recommend this if you are anywhere close to Jack London Square, it is worth the walk!
Insider tip: grab some lunch by the water, then walk up to this wine bar for a flight followed by a glass of the Vermentino; an award winning white that is both light on the palate while emphasizing fresh flavors of minerals and delicate fruits.
Brendan — Google review
The November 2022 Members Pickout Party was a great opportunity to taste the new offerings and stock up for the festive season.
Teresa Davis — Google review
Headed to Urban Legend Cellars this Sunday to enjoy the lobster truck and wine. We arrived early 11:30 to an empty restaurant. When we asked for a menu we were informed we needed to check in inside. We were told they would try to find room for us. When we went inside (also empty) and requested a table we were told to wait, they were busy and they would try to find room for us. We were subsequently handed off to two other employees, all the the explanation, they are mostly here for the food truck. I felt so uncomfortable that we changed our order to a to go order. I’m not sure why I wasn’t allowed to be served, but with this type of service I doubt Urban Legend Cellars will continue to be successful. 10/10 do not recommend.
Reyna Miller — Google review
Amazing experience here, Spanish wines were great! All of staff were sweet and attentive, will definitely be coming back!
Crystal Ruiz — Google review
I remember when Urban Legend was back on 4th street in Oakland. At the time, I didn't care for wine at all, but I loved stopping by to chat with Steve and Marilee when taking the dogs out for their walk. One of those days, I finally decided to do a wine tasting already with the assumption I was going to hate everything. Marilee asked me a few questions about food I liked and disliked and then brought out a wine for me to try. I surprisingly loved it and instantly thought Marilee was magic. :)
Over the years, my palette for wine has evolved and Urban Legend has been with me every step of the way. They are kind, passionate, and truly care about creating the best possible experience for their customers.
I recently ordered two cases of wine and a few bottles were missing. The order was corrected the very same day with a little extra gift. PLUS, I got to see TC twice in one day. TC is amazing and probably one of the coolest humans you'll ever meet.
Basically, I love Urban Legend. Thank you to Steve and Marilee for contributing such a wonderful business to our community.
Chad Blackwell — Google review
Every time I visit Urban Legend Cellars, it is just a wonderful experience. The service is always on point (Jean and Marilee are awesome!). The staff is very knowledgeable and attentive. They won't ever let you have an empty glass ;) Not only does this place have such tasty wines at an affordable price point (The leggera and the vermentino are my personal faves) the location of Urban Legend is in a cool location. It's a little secluded - tucked away in Alameda by the naval base and Bay Trail. It's the perfect place to visit after skating or biking in the area. It's right on the water overlooking the San Francisco skyline.
If you're looking for somewhere to celebrate something special and have a large party, I highly recommend Urban Legend. Marilee is pleasant to work with and was extremely helpful in planning a surprise going away party. She was super responsive and answered all my questions up until the day before. We had a large party of ~20 and she was able to accommodate us just perfectly! While they do not have a full kitchen (nuts, olives, and crackers available) there are food trucks there every weekend so you and your guests will not go hungry. Our party was so impressed by the venue and service. They all mentioned they will be returning. Thank you Marilee and team for an amazing experience for our guests!
Dashe Cellars is a Sonoma County winery that crafts wines with unique character and complexity, focusing on producing wines from single vineyards. The winery is located near the Naval Yard, where the USS Hornet is located. Dashe Cellars' style of Zinfandel leans brighter and crisper than Lodi's Zinfandel offerings, making it a good choice for steak/stew enthusiasts who want to explore outside of Bordeaux blends/varietals.
Excellent! Scott took such great care of me and ensured I had a memorable experience! The wines were superb and the location is unique, too, right next to the Naval Yard where the USS Hornet is located. Their style of Zins is brighter and crisper than their Lodi counterparts so if you’re a steak/stew person and want to venture outside of Bordeaux blends/varietals, give Dashe a try!
Tibor — Google review
Pretty disappointing. We went there on what happened to be mother's day, but it was a cold windy day so it was pretty empty. Asked to do a tasting, they seated us. Asked about tastings, they gave us the menu. On noticing no tastings on the menu asked again, and got told they don't do them on holidays because it gets "too crazy". Note, the entire outside was completely empty, far from crazy.
Annoyingly, since we were seated, it felt awkward to leave. So we order a glass each and then notice all the people around us are actually doing tastings. Possibly members, but honestly, it was so empty, they could have just offered the tasting anyway, or at least, told us upfront they weren't doing tastings so we could make the decision at the door and simply find another place. Like next door... which had a wonderful wine tasting.
Other wineries we went to told us upfront if they weren't doing tastings and even pointed us to other spots to try.
Shimona Carvalho — Google review
Enjoyed a smooth cab, the unique atmosphere within the production warehouse added to the overall experience. Scott provided thorough explanations, going above and beyond by recommending other fantastic wineries and delightful food options to explore in the East Bay.
DanielIvan GarciaBenitez — Google review
Really like its crispy and fruity wine. Watching the sunset around the abandoned airport whilst drinking alcohol is reminiscent of the old days.
Raymond Fei — Google review
What’s not to love about excellent wines with amazing views?
Zer Oine — Google review
The Wine Host Pam W was excellent - knowledgable (of both Dashe Cellers and the wine industry) and friendly - one of our best wine tasting experiences. Great location in Alameda - we have visited Napa and Sonoma many times - this winery and tasting experience was on par with our favorite visits to the North. If you live in the Bay Area, save the drive and taste local!
Marc Evans — Google review
This place is great for a date night or to just hangout with friends. Service is solid. The wines are good (IMO) and the views are amazing! The outdoor setup and scenery are the main draws of this place for me, but that bay area weather can sometimes make it less enjoyable, especially once the sun starts to set and the wind-chill kicks up. The only reason I'm holding it at four stars is because they don't have a consistent food menu to pair with the wines. They have pop-up food trucks that can vary. It can make it tough for folks with allergies or dietary restrictions depending on who's there on the day you go.
Ambiance: 5/5
Food: N/A
Drinks: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Overall: 4.3/5
Khalid — Google review
The reason for the 2 stars is food. They told us up front it would be food trucks (plural). They mentioned Mexican. Ok, they're not a restaurant, that makes sense. But when we got there for a family birthday celebration, there was ONE truck. A lobster truck. Touting Maine lobsters. You could have lobster tots as an appetizer, lobster sandwiches or lobster soup, lobster tacos... Everything lobster. Main courses ONLY (3 soup, 3 sandwiches) for six people was $142. And the sandwiches were made with nice thick bread. One slice, cut in half to make a "sandwich". Soaked in butter, so much so that it tasted like a butter sandwich, yuck. Their wines were good, as was the service. But at the end of the day, a disappointing experience.
John Parker — Google review
We visited Dashe Cellars with the whole family and 2 pups and had the most relaxing, enjoyable and delicious time. The Cousins Lobster truck was the food option for the day and it did not disappoint.
The venue is wonderful! The covered seating is perfect for a sunny day; the view of SF was awesome; the tables are set apart enough from one another; and furry family members are welcomed!
The real draw aside from the view, the venue and the barrel room is their wine. We were so pleasantly surprised at how delicious each of the offerings were on the flight and for a warm summer day, we ordered a bottle of rosé which was also so delicious. We're going back again next month so I hope they also have the dry Riesling available then. It was perfection!
Now aside from the view, the other major draw is the friendly, courteous and knowledgable staff...they're a fun group too!
So overall, we loved everything about our visit (as we did from a previous visit) and we'll be returning again next month.
Olivia Bautista — Google review
I visited this place with my aunt and cousin. They are members. I don't believe you have to be a wine drinker to visit this place because I'm definitely not, but the wine is good. The view and your company is what makes this place great!!!!
Latisha Wallace — Google review
A true hidden gem in Alameda! A great way to enjoy good wine made on location here in the Bay while enjoying a phenomenal view of San Francisco and the water. I have visited 4 times now and I'm coming back for more.
Their wine is great! I have done 2 tastings and have bought multiple bottles of reds and whites to take home and have loved each one! My personal surprise favorite this summer was their 2018 Grenache but they have so much good variety.
You can do a tasting for about $25 each person OR for a $10 corkage fee per visit, you can totally have them open up a bottle or more for you on the spot, enjoy them at your leisure and take the rest home.
The staff team is wonderful. I have now spoken with at least 6 staff members in my visits and they have all been kind, knowledgeable and very attentive to their guests. I am not a wine club member and they make me feel like I am.
The location is gorgeous inside and out. Theres no bad seat in the house. Outside is a beautiful patio with shaded tables and plenty of space. Inside is the wine bar with the great open view of all the wine barrels resting while you sip. The outdoor area is a great space if you have kids and it is also pet friendly. We brought our kids and our dog on a Sunday and were able to enjoy without worrying about making arrangements for them. You can bring outside food or you can order from different vendors they have on Saturdays and Sundays.