Monday: a bay trail in Alameda or Emeryville. Wednesday: redwoods above Oakland. Saturday: Diablo or Briones. Sunday: a shoreline, a reservoir, or Del Valle if you are already in the valley. The region is dense with regional parks. The East Bay Regional Park District is the operating system.
Adventure here is usually a trailhead twenty minutes away, not a flight. That is the luxury.
Towns
Inner East Bay
Oakland
The bridge lands here, and so does dinner.
OpenBerkeley & the north hills
Berkeley
Campus, canyons, and a food culture that predates the trend.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Clayton
A small town at the foot of Mount Diablo.
OpenTri-Valley
Livermore
Wine country, a science town, and a downtown coming into its own.
OpenWest Contra Costa
Richmond
A working waterfront with a village hiding at Point Richmond.
OpenInner East Bay
Alameda
An island of Victorians, beaches, and a main street that still works.
Open