Graveyard Shift

A cemetery might not be the obvious choice for an afternoon stroll, but Mountain View Cemetery isn't any ordinary graveyard. Joggers, dog walkers, bicyclists, and baby strollers all take to this sprawling green space in the Oakland Hills. With lumbering live oaks, acres of grass, winding roads, and elaborate mausoleums, this is one of the finest examples of memorial parks on the West Coast. Designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted—the architect behind New York's Central Park—Mountain View Cemetery can be more, ahem, deeply understood on one of the free bi-monthly docent-led tours: See the final resting place of notable, and infamous, Californians like John C. Hays (aka Devil Jack), Julia Morgan (architect of Hearst Castle), Domingo Ghirardelli (the chocolate king), Samuel Merritt (former mayor of Oakland), and others. "Millionaires' Row"—a tribute to many of the wealthy and historical figures buried at the cemetery—has beautiful views looking out to San Francisco. Dare we say that death becomes it?

Mountain View Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; 510-658-2588. Tours happen on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10 a.m. and last about three hours. The cemetery grounds are open daily without a tour from 7 a.m. to one hour before sunset. Dog-friendly!