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09.27.07

Bay Watch

It's been a long week in the cube, and you're hungry for some hassle-free relaxation. We've got the scoop on prime bay-view picnic destinations—so grab your buds (and some suds), throw a shrimp on the barbie, and shoot the Bay-breeze!

Angel Island Sunset Cruise

Picnic at Sea

Every Friday and Saturday evening from May through October, the Angel Island ferry moonlights as an evening cruiser and offers the best sunset picnic on the bay. These cruises are only offered three more weekends this year; so bring a home-packed meal and your favorite companions, and get on board for a floating feast where you're more likely to find locals than tourists. After departing Tiburon at 6:30 p.m., you'll head west toward Sausalito and Richardson Bay for a ninety-minute treat. This excursion is rarely overcrowded, and you're allowed to bring grown-up beverages (martinis can be shaken and stirred at sea). Sip your drink of choice and sniff the cool, salty air as the hues on the horizon change and the lights in the city shine. You can eat, drink, and be merry inside the ferry—but we recommend the stellar 360-degree views from the upstairs deck. That's our idea of a moveable feast!

TIP: Couldn't put together a picnic before you jumped in the car? Grab food supplies in Tiburon at the Boardwalk Market or Bell Markets—both on Tiburon Blvd. on the way into town.

The season's final cruise is Oct. 13! Prices are $20 per adult. For reservations, call 415-435-2131 or click here.

Activity
Water, Relax
Region
North Bay
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park Oakland

Oaktown Confidential

Perhaps you know that the massive white cranes along Oakland's waterfront inspired the "Imperial Walkers" in George Lucas's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. But did you know that there's a pristine park tucked among these behemoths? In the middle of the shipping cranes, hardworking longshoremen, and Pacific-faring freighters, lies Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, one of the East Bay Regional Park System's newest members. The thirty-eight-acre haven remains virtually undiscovered by locals and tourists. Explore the nearly three miles of pedestrian and cycling pathways, spot waterfowl winging above tidal wetlands, and pitch a blanket on the expanses of comfy grass. For gatherings, fire-up a party on Middle Harbor's first-come-first-served barbecue grills and picnic tables, then use the free super-powered binoculars to focus on the bay's bridges and skylines. As Yoda might say, "Treasures unexpected in Oaktown you can find."

BONUS: Make a pit stop at historic G.B. Ratto & Co. International Grocery in Old Oakland. Pick up a hefty deli sandwich and old-world goodies for your picnic on the bay.

For directions and more information to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, visit the Port of Oakland's Web site. G.B. Ratto & Co. International Grocers, 821 Washington St. (at Ninth St.), Oakland; 510-832-6503. Not open on Sundays.

Activity
Relax
Region
East Bay
Treasure Island Picnic and BBQ

Forgotten Treasure

Treasure Island is like the wallflower at the Bay Area prom. Nobody wants to dance with plain old TI. But if you give it a chance, this island will show you things you've never seen before. Stake out one of the barbecue pits located just past the U.S. Naval Station gates. With an expanse of grass and an open waterfront, you'll get an iconic double-bridge view and a panorama of downtown San Francisco. After your cookout, stroll part of the paved multi-use Perimeter Road (starting at the corner of Ninth St. and Ave. Palms) and watch ships pass Alcatraz, bound for distant lands. Linger a little longer to catch the sun setting directly over the Golden Gate Bridge. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Take the Treasure Island exit off of the Bay Bridge and follow the road through the U.S. Naval Station gate. Continue on Ave. Palms through the California Ave. intersection. The barbecue area is on the right, just past building 271 and before the pier. There is no alcohol allowed without a permit. To get a permit call 415-274-0660. The area closes to the public at 5 p.m. Weddings are common on Saturday afternoons at a nearby building. Dog-friendly!

Activity
Relax, Dog-friendly
Region
San Francisco

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