6 WAYS TO GET OUTSIDE DURING THE WEST COAST WINTER

By Stephanie Tsai, Berkeley Brand Ambassador

With the temperature dropping, it may be tempting to stay indoors and snuggle up by the fireplace. But if you’re lucky enough to live on the West coast, the milder winter lends itself to a whole list of outdoor activities that you can still enjoy without freezing your toes off!

1) Ice Skating at Union Square
While ice skating is a low impact activity, it utilizes muscles that are not typically used in your day to day routine. One of our favorite places to skate is Union Square in San Francisco, where you can enjoy the holiday music and festive lights while getting your skate on.

2) Take a Walk Along the Illuminate SF displays
Now in its fifth year, Illuminate SF offers 38 eco-friendly displays that are all accessible by public transportation within San Francisco's 49 square miles. Pick a neighborhood to explore and take the free guided tour to learn more about the artists that have brought these installations to life.

3) Skiing or Snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain or Tahoe
The best part about winter is snow! And snow means its official ski and snowboarding season! Whether you’re a pro on the slopes, or cruising down those bunny hills, it’s worth making the trip to Mammoth Mountain or Tahoe.

4) Sled or Snow Tube at Big Bear or Tahoe
Take a break from the slopes with some good old fashioned sledding or snow tubing. You can find lots of great sledding and tubing areas in both Northern and Southern California. Sledding down may not require lots of energy, but walking back up that hill is a great calf workout.

5) Hiking at Grizzly Peak
If you’re already checked the Land’s End hike off your bucket list, head over to to Grizzly Peak in Berkeley for an aerial outlook of the bay. This is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise or sunset, so the views definitely justify the rigorous hike up.

6) Bike Along the Beach
Sunbathing at the beach may not be practical this season, but you can still enjoy the stunning ocean views (and stay warm!) by renting bikes at one of the many bike shops in North Beach. We recommend cruising past the Marina Green to Baker’s Beach and back!