ParkPaid
📍 Walnut Creek / Clayton · Tri-Valley & Contra Costa
State park centered on 3,849-foot Mount Diablo with summit observation deck, historic stone visitor center, Rock City formations, Mitchell Canyon trails, and extensive hiking, cycling, and equestrian routes. Famous long-distance summit views when conditions are clear.
💵 Vehicle day use peak $10; vehicle day use $6 (Macedo Ranch staging $6 cash/check). Gates open 8:00 a.m. and close at sunset. Summit Visitor Center open daily 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Elevator at Summit Visitor Center out of service until further notice.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗GardenPaid
📍 Berkeley · Oakland & Berkeley
Living museum with more than 34 acres, nine geographic plant regions, and over 10,000 kinds of plants. Weekend drop-in docent tours at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Redwood Grove and glass houses close earlier than the main garden.
💵 Adult $18; seniors 65+ $12; non-UCB students $12; youth 5–17 $8; children 4 and under free; Museums for All (EBT+ID) $3 (up to 4 per card). Free for current UCB faculty/staff/students and garden members. Closed Tuesdays. General admission 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.); members hour 9:00–10:00 a.m. Reservations recommended.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗MuseumPaid
📍 Mountain View · Silicon Valley North
Mountain View museum covering computing history from ancient calculation through modern AI and software, with interactive exhibits and CHM Live events. Average exhibit visit about 2.5 hours.
💵 Paid exhibit admission: adults 18+ $21.50; ages 8–10 $6; children under 7 free; discounted $16.50 for seniors 65+, students 11+, active military with ID, and educators with ID. Open Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Mon–Tue. Free parking. Lobby, store, café, and outdoor patio accessible without an exhibit ticket. Cash not accepted at ticket desk or store.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗ParkPaid
📍 San Rafael · Marin & North Bay
1,514-acre park on San Pablo Bay with oak woodlands, over 100 acres of protected tidal salt marsh, fifteen miles of trails, historic China Camp Village museum, swimming, and picnic sites. Operated with Friends of China Camp support.
💵 Vehicle day use $5.00. Park hours 8:00 a.m. to sunset daily. Campground gate 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Museum and beach access at China Camp Village; dogs not permitted on trails or beach.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗ParkPaid
📍 Mill Valley · Marin & North Bay
National monument of old-growth coast redwoods in Marin County. Entrance fee plus required parking or shuttle reservation. America the Beautiful and other federal passes accepted for entrance; parking/shuttle reservation still required.
💵 Standard entrance pass $15 per person ages 16+ (under 16 free). Parking/shuttle reservations required separately via GoMuirWoods.com; reservation fees are separate from entrance fees. Annual Muir Woods pass $45.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗ParkPaid
📍 Pleasanton · Tri-Valley & Contra Costa
Former gravel quarry turned 266-acre EBRPD park with an 80-acre lake, picnic grounds, fishing, electric-motor boating, interpretive pavilion (2022), and trails. Lake Trail partially closed due to terrain damage (notice dated November 3, 2026).
💵 Parking $5 per vehicle; $5 trailered vehicle; $25 bus. District fishing permit $5/day (state license also required ages 16+). Boating launch/inspection fees apply. Swim facility closed until 2027. November–February park hours 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Blue-green algae caution advisory noted on park page as of fetch.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗ParkPaid
📍 San Mateo · Peninsula
San Mateo County regional recreation area with picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, bicycling, jogging, fishing, boating, Magic Mountain Playground, beach promenade, marina, and saltwater marsh for shorebird viewing near SFO flight paths.
💵 San Mateo County Parks $6 vehicle entry fee applies at Coyote Point (waivers for veterans with proof, disability placard/plate, and seniors 62+ Mon–Fri non-holidays). Park open daily including holidays from 8:00 a.m.; closing Nov 2–Feb 2027 at 5:00 p.m. CuriOdyssey museum on site charges separate admission.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗GardenPaid
📍 Woodside · Peninsula
Historic house and garden estate in Woodside about 25–30 minutes from San Francisco and San Jose. Self-guided visits typically about two hours; trails close 30 minutes before estate closing.
💵 Paid admission; tickets from $39 (official visit page). Nov 2–Nov 13 daytime hours 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily, last entry 3 p.m. Free parking with visit. Advance tickets recommended. Museums for All and Discover & Go programs listed on site.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗Historic SitePaid
📍 Glen Ellen · Sonoma & Napa
1,400-acre historic park telling Jack London's Sonoma Valley story with Beauty Ranch, Wolf House ruins, House of Happy Walls Museum, cottage, and more than 26 miles of trails. Operated with Valley of the Moon Natural History Association.
💵 Park entrance fee $10 per vehicle; museum and cottage admission included. Park hours 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily except Dec 25. House of Happy Walls Museum 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; London Cottage noon–4 p.m.
🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page
✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026
Details Official site ↗
