Five places in the Bay Area to visit this summer

by Ruhi Sayana, Winged Post Copy Editor

From mountains to beaches to bustling cities, the Bay Area is filled with a plethora of activities to do this summer. Try to hit up some of these spots this break!

Ruhi Sayana

Mission Peak

As the most popular attraction in Fremont, this dog-friendly, six mile long trail is a popular hiking spot in the East Bay. The steep trail is located off of Stanford Avenue. The “Mission Peeker” pole, a popular photo spot, stands at the summit of the hike. The summit also features a broad view of Silicon Valley and occasionally on clear days, other Bay Area peaks including Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo can be seen. Due to the intensity of the hike, it is important to bring water and keep oneself hydrated.

Ruhi Sayana

Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a beautiful beach as well as a variety of rides, treats, and other types of amusement on the beachfront. Right off Highway 17, visiting the Boardwalk is a great way to cool off this summer. The Boardwalk features the Giant Dipper, a historical rollercoaster that was declared a National Historic Landmark. With a laser tag center, multiple roller coasters, a drop tower and an arcade, the Boardwalk has activities for people from every age groups.

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Ghirardelli Square

Located in the Fisherman’s Wharf part of San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square is the home of all things chocolate in the Bay. Although the square features a number of shops including a bakery, a juice shop and a winery, it is best known for its ice cream shop. The two-leveled store has a display on the first floor that shows how chocolate is made. The square is adjacent to the waterfront and has a small beach. Visitors can take a short walk along the oceanside to reach the famous Pier 39. With vibrant street performers, delicious seafood stalls and diverse stores, the waterfront walk from the Square to Pier 39 is an enjoyable experience.

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The Dish Trail

The Stanford Dish Trail surrounds the Dish, an active radio telescope that is used by SRI International and owned by the U.S. Government. This 3.5 mile long hike in the foothills around the Dish welcomes all pedestrians but prohibits dogs and bikes. Cows are often seen grazing on the land nearby, and occasionally mountain lions are spotted. The trail opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 7:30 p.m. during the summer.

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Angel Island

In the San Francisco Bay, this historic island was once used as an immigration checkpoint. The island Immigration Station is known for the carved poetry from Chinese immigrants detained there which used to cover the walls before a fire destroyed the original building. Now, the Angel Island State Park. It is accessible by ferry from San Francisco, Vallejo and Tiburon. A number of hikes, some bike-friendly, are available for tourists visiting the island.The common perimeter trail is a six mile walk or bike around the island, while the Mount Livermore trail offers hikers expansive sights of the San Francisco Bay.