West Berkeley, also known as the Waterfront, has lots to offer. Encompassing the area between Sacramento Street to the east and the Eastshore Highway to the west, the neighborhood is chock full of wonderful restaurants, stores, parks, and more.
Berkeley may be known around the world for its university, but its schools for the younger set are equally impressive: The Walden School, Black Pine Circle, Nia House Learning Center, The Berkeley School, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley (for those who are or want to be Francophones), and Rosa Parks Elementary (known for being one of the first Berkeley public schools to run on energy from solar panels) all live up to the area’s high academic standards.
For lovers of trees and water, Aquatic Park is a gem. Popular with dogs and people alike, the park has an ultimate Frisbee course and Dream Land for Kids playground. An overpass connects pedestrians and bicyclists to the Berkeley Marina, where locals enjoy windsurfing, kayaking, fishing and taking in the beautiful scenery along the water’s edge.
On Fourth Street you’ll find a skate park for kids and a vast amount of restaurants and retail stores. The renowned Zaentz Media Center, as well as other world-famous artists and crafts persons, can be found working in small studios sprinkled throughout the district.
The real estate within West Berkeley’s neighborhoods includes modest single-family homes and even a few Victorian farmhouses, which were the area’s original dwellings.
Whether you want to tackle a fixer-upper, or purchase a smaller home that’s already been expertly remodeled, West Berkeley is a great place to start.
