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East Bay

Lake Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley…excellent bike trails, hiking, campgrounds for both tents and RVs…the surprise that will realign your brain gears is the giant bass. I've fished here in my canoe and had a kick catching small trout, bluegill, catfish and bass, depending on the time of the year, then looked down into the water and seen 10-pound bass swim right under us. Every once in awhile, someone catches one; the lake record is 17 pounds, 10 ounces, and biggest this year is a 12-pounder…

Berkeley Marina… try walking to the end of the 3,000-foot Berkeley Pier. It provides a unique perspective on San Francisco Bay

Black Diamond Regional Preserve, Antioch foothills… take the underground tour of a section of the old mines, where countless tons of coal and sand was excavated. The surprise comes on a 6-mile round trip to Jim's Place, where you can find a historic rock/cave dwelling and nearby 100-foot air shaft.

Marin is beautiful...went a few years ago and was just amazed at the view....