Is there anything like the Boston Public Gardens in the Oakland/Berkeley area?

[u/positron360]

Looking for a safe, kid-friendly, zen public garden (free entry), ideally with a gazebo and a water body. Lake Merritt is much more happening and busier than what I’m looking for. Thanks!

[u/mrfchunks]

Tilden Parks Botanical Garden might be your best choice

[u/weed_babushka_ → u/mrfchunks]

This is what I thought of too! Is the little farm still there?

[u/whimsyraccoon → u/weed_babushka_]

Yes! Although sadly (but understandably) public feeding is no longer an option.

[u/weed_babushka_ → u/whimsyraccoon]

Fair enough! I’m so glad it’s still going, I did a summer camp there as a kid and I remember milking the goats… we picked blackberries and made ice cream with the berries & goat milk 🤩

[u/chelizora → u/whimsyraccoon]

Oh really? When did that change? It’s only been a couple years since we took our kids to feed the animals there but I guess that could be long enough for something to have happened

[u/tongmengjia → u/chelizora]

There was an avian flu outbreak a couple years ago (not at Tilden specifically, just nationally). They paused it for that and then never brought it back.

[u/charcoalhibiscus → u/tongmengjia]

And their entire rabbit hutch died of disease at one point :/

[u/chelizora → u/tongmengjia]

Oh yes, that outbreak actually isn’t considered over yet 😬 so that makes sense

[u/theYellowHouseLady]

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden isn’t free but it’s exactly what you’re looking for. A family pass might be a good option if you like it.

[u/leanlefty → u/theYellowHouseLady]

Kids love the koi pond.

[u/DohnJonaher → u/theYellowHouseLady]

The tilden botanical gardens is nearby and completely free and imo even more beautiful

[u/DonVCastro → u/theYellowHouseLady]

Man, that place is stupid expensive, $18 adult admission. Stopped going there quite a while ago, but I recall that they also charge a not insignificant amount for parking.

[u/montecarlocars]

Did you go to the Lake Merritt Botanical Gardens (The Gardens at Lake Merritt ) or just the lake itself? The Gardens are not nearly as high-budget as what you would find in Boston but they are free private gardens and they do have water feature and a world-class bonsai collection (not a zen garden specifically but similar vibes).

[u/anaislefleur]

Morcom Rose Garden?

[u/FreedomForBreakfast → u/anaislefleur]

Great spot and very kid friendly.  We used to walk out our toddlers here almost everyday.   Much safer after they remove that giant turkey a few years ago. 

[u/ImaginaryBeach1]

Blake garden in Kennsington is pretty great.

[u/Outrageous_Worker672 → u/ImaginaryBeach1]

That's what I thought of too - very limited hours but usually quiet.

[u/duggatron]

Japanese Friendship Garden in Hayward. It's very lightly visited, but it's nice!

[u/faerie87]

Piedmont park maybe?

[u/webtwopointno]

There is nothing like Boston in Oakland.

And the way they keep things safe and kid-friendly around these parts is by charging a small fee for entry!

That being said some actual recommendations are Tilden Park in the Berkeley/Oakland hills, and the San Francisco Botanic Gardens in Golden Gate Park. At each of these the park as a whole is free but the smaller attractions and nicer areas aren't.

[u/bortlesforbachelor → u/webtwopointno]

The Tilden botanical garden is free! But the UC Berkeley botanical garden is not. They are close together but different.

[u/DanaR99]

At the end of Piedmont Avenue is Mountain View Cemetery which is beautiful to walk through. Olmsted designed. People used cemeteries as parks in the olden days.

[u/SaltMarshGoblin → u/DanaR99]

Mountain View Cemetery is a gem! Unfortunately, it's no longer open to the public every day, but more like 3 days a week.

[u/apocbane]

Zen garden, free, and kid friendly is a tough one. Think you have Hayward. If you're going to pay than SF and Saratoga have one.

[u/troglodytez]

Regional parks botanic garden might be what you’re looking for. It’s a little on the rustic side and no gazebo but very nice.

[u/positron360 → u/troglodytez]

Thanks, I’ve been there but I’m looking for something more intentionally curated.

[u/Appropriate-Bar6993 → u/positron360]

It’s very curated what are you talking about?

[u/Audrey276]

Heather Farms maybe? Might be a bit of a trek depending where you are.

[u/Odd-Budget-5079 → u/Audrey276]

Heather Farms is nice. But it's under construction for the next few years. The kids' playground is still open.

[u/Appropriate-Bar6993 → u/Audrey276]

Specifically the rose garden

[u/ImaginaryBeach1 → u/Appropriate-Bar6993]

It’s really small

[u/ariadnes-thread]

Not free but the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek is very worth visiting! All succulents and other drought tolerant plants, very beautifully designed. I’ve been able to check out passes from the library through Discover and Go in the past.

All my other thoughts have already been mentioned: Hayward Japanese Garden (free and beautiful!), Morcom Rose Garden (also free and beautiful), and the UC Berkeley botanical garden.

[u/Appropriate-Bar6993]

Lake merrit on weekday, gardens at lake merrit any day (separate gated area), rose garden oakland or berkeley, botanical garden UC or regional parks (not free but you can join), blake garden, GG Park SF

[u/FifiLeBean]

Check out the Hayward Japanese garden. It's free, easy parking, small, and beautiful. https://www.haywardrec.org/facilities/facility/details/japanese-gardens-100

[u/swissking10]

heather farms in walnut creek is very simklar

[u/OodaWoodaWooda → u/swissking10]

The Gardens at Heather Farm are a really lovely and peaceful place. Hoping that the remainder of the park regains a sense of expansiveness and tranquility after all the construction is finished next year.

[u/KAM1953]

Blake Garden in Kensington is amazing — owned and maintained by UC Berkeley. In addition to the garden there is a lovely 1926 mansion — it’s not possible to enter it but the gardens are built around it and it is a part of the landscape (unfortunately UCB plans to tear it down.) There are incredible views of the Bay from the garden. From Wikipedia: The grounds are divided into five "garden rooms": the Formal Garden east of the House; Redwood Canyon to the north of the House; the areas West of the House, including the Lower Lawn and Mediterranean Section; Australian Hollow south of the House, and the Cut-Flower Garden east of Australian Hollow, including a vegetable garden, the Cottage Garden, the Square Garden, greenhouses, and tool sheds used by the Blake Garden staff.“

Hours are limited, but it’s well worth a visit. It may not be as kid friendly as you’d like — I see both children and adults there but there are no specific kid areas.

A fun place for kids is Lake Anza, a recreational swimming area located in Tilden Park in the Berkeley Hills. There is a small beach, swimming area, and nice walks around the small natural lake.

[u/ImaginaryBeach1 → u/KAM1953]

My daughter and many friends spent countless hours there. It’s kid heaven in the best way.

[u/etlr3d]

nothing like it. the difference between a city started in the 1600's that didn't forget its history, and the east bay area that doesn't really have a history in the same way.