Berkeley is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in the United States. Famous for its liberal politics, Berkeley is home to the University of California Berkeley, an ethnically diverse community, and numerous cultural and culinary attractions. You'll still see more tie-dye per capita in Berkeley, but a deeper look reveals a dynamic city filled with superb theaters, restaurants, and shops. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

Lying across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, the East Bay consists primarily of Contra Costa County and Alameda County. It has a unique culture that's more laid back and uncomplicated than its Western neighbors. Oakland, the area's largest city, is famous for its somewhat smaller Chinatown and its beautiful waterfront Jack London Square, as well as its large port and eucalyptus-spotted hills. Berkeley, just north of Oakland, is home to the University of California and tens of thousands of students. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

Mountain View in California is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley and is one of its major cities. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

Half Moon Bay is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The Half Moon Bay Coastside is a rural seaside community about 30 miles (45 km) south of San Francisco, and only an hour's drive from virtually anywhere in the Bay Area. Almost all of the beaches are on or off of California State Highway 1 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway). Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

East of the Oakland Hills that border the East Bay, Contra Costa County maintains a very separate culture and lifestyle than its Bay Area neighbors. The area is mostly residential--although many San Francisco businesses have moved here to avoid high city taxes--and affluent, and consequently considerably more conservative (by Bay Area standards). The same hills that keep Contra Costa culturally isolated also keep it protected climatically; the area is usually 10-20°F warmer than the Bay in summer. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.

Santa Clara is a town in the South Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California. Specialty markets offer native ingredients from around the world, and the Indian and East Asian restaurants are some of the best in the Bay Area Dozens of 19th-century homes are well-maintained by their 21st-century owners in the "old quad," the earliest residential area, adjacent to the university. Wink Travel Guides introduce you to the best world travel destinations, in a clear and concise way, illustrated by photos.