Summer is Cool Here! Five Ways to Chill in Berkeley

Summer's on full blast across most of the country, while by-the-bay Berkeley is enjoying its cooler climate and wide range of summer activities. From chill college-town vibes to the prevailing Pacific breeze, this is where you want to be. This summer and fall, escape with hot hotel deals and make Berkeley your basecamp!

Eat Gelato: Downtown Berkeley's Almare Gelato is an Italian-owned boutique gelateria that makes fresh gelato daily, with special flavors like Toasted Almond & Carmelized Fig, Brown Butter, and White Chocolate Orange, as well as Italian classics like Nocciola, Gianduja, and Stracciatella.

Outdoor Concerts: Open-air concerts abound in Berkeley, from the Greek Theatre high above the UC Berkeley campus to the UC Botanical Garden's annual Redwood Grove Summer Concert Series. Get in the groove, and don't forget a blanket (Berkeley summer nights come with cool natural air conditioning).

Sip, Swirl, Repeat: Refresh with libations at "counter-culture" restaurants, craft breweries, and natural wineries. West Berkeley’s Gilman District is home to the Berkeley Wine Block, an enclave of a half-dozen wineries and tasting rooms where the common theme is natural wine: Broc Cellars, Donkey & Goat, Lusu Cellars, Hammerling Wines, Tessier Winery, and Covenant Winery. First Fridays are the Wine Block's monthly festivals with wine tasting, DJs, and food pop-ups.

Bay Area Basecamp: Berkeley is set on sparkling S.F Bay, making it the Bay Area's coolest place to go this summer. Berkeley’s location makes the city an ideal basecamp for day trips to San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, and Livermore wine country. That said, with all there's to do right here, you may not want to go anywhere else. Plan to play accordingly!