Weekend and free time opportunities

SF MOMA - San Francisco

The museum itself is a work of art that houses traveling shows and a strong permanent collection - including works by Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, and much more.

City Lights Booksellers - San Francisco

Famous bookstore founded and still owned by Beat Generation poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Fisherman's Wharf & Alcatraz - San Francisco

All San Franciscans love to hate Fisherman's Wharf. But secretly, everyone likes it a little. Of course, there is one attraction -- drawing more than 1 million visitors per year -- that remains an authentic experience. Alcatraz, the home away from home for some infamous gangsters like Al Capone, Robert "the Birdman", and others.

Chinatown - San Francisco

This electric neighborhood of 100,000 people is not to be missed, and it's not hard to find: listen for the clack of mahjongg tiles and nose out the salty spicy squid.

Lombard Street - San Francisco

Known as the "crookedest" street in the world, the steep hills and sharp curves of this one-way road pass by grand Victorian mansions and attract millions of tourists each year.

Cody's Books - Berkeley

This famously independent bookstore has been an intellectual and cultural touchstone in Berkeley for nearly five decades, hosting readings by world-renowned writers and carrying academic tomes not typically found in other bookstores.

Moe's Books - Berkeley

Moe's has an inventory of more than 100,000 volumes, and hundreds of used and out-of-print books are added to their inventory every day. You could spend days here just wandering the aisles. If you do not find what you are looking for, which is nearly impossible since Moe's has just about everything ever printed, you are sure to find something to inspire you.

The original Peet's Coffee shop - Berkeley

Known as the "grandfather of specialty coffee," Peet's Coffee & Tea has been a Berkeley institution since they started more than four decades ago. Peet's was the inspiration for Starbucks, and launched the specialty coffee movement. Their first store opened in 1966 - with a roasting machine on the premises - and can still be found at 2124 Vine Street.

The Cheese Board - Berkeley

Together with Chez Panisse this tiny restaurant launched an artisan revolution in American cuisine. They are famous for their pizza and they only bake one kind per day. Any time spent in the line that ineveitably forms around mealtime will only heighten your expectations as you listen to bustle of the Berkeley streets and soak in the aroma of their freshly baking pies.

Berkeley City Club - Berkeley

This beautiful building was designed and built in 1929 by architect Julia Morgan. Morgan used the considerable skills she had developed built Heart Castle at San Simeon to design this building as both a club house and a hotel. The City Club originally functioned as a woman's club.

Kayaking in Monterey Bay - Monterrey

Many students enjoy renting sea kayaks in this pristine sea area. In between giant kelp forests, and secluded coves, sea otters like to hang out (literally) and hunt for food. Many parts of Monterey Bay are part of a national marine sanctuary which protects this unique habitat.