National Happiness Day

The BARTmobile always puts a smile on our faces. Image courtesy of BART.

In a recent ranking of the “Happiest Cities in America,” three of the top five cities are located in the Bay Area. Might there be something in the water that makes us so joyful or maybe because all three of those cities (Fremont, San Jose and San Francisco) are accessible by BART.

While we at BARTable don’t have the answer, we are undeniably experts in uncovering and highlighting the best of what the Bay has to offer. With International Day of Happiness on March 20, it’s the perfect excuse to get out in the region and find a new reason to smile.

Keep reading…

Image courtesy of La Peña Cultural Center.

Looking to dance it out? There’s no better place to dust of your groove shoes than La Peña Cultural Center (3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley). Since 1975, the center has promoted “social justice and intercultural understanding” through the arts. Inspired by the Chilean peñas– community gatherings centered around music, food, and culture – the space hosts more than 100 events a year, all of which are listed on its website. First timer? Don’t miss the popular salsa, bachata, and merengue dance classes, where you’ll learn all the basics. The center is just five minutes from Ashby Station.

Image courtesy of the Ferry Building.

Drop by the Ferry Building plaza (1 Ferry Building, San Francisco) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, and you can catch the impressive Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, home of a delicious bounty of local farm products and artisan treats (find a list of vendors on foodwise.org). If you visit when the market isn’t active, there are more than 30 vendors in the building itself, slinging everything from gourmet caviar to mushrooms. The plaza is about a seven-minute walk from Embarcadero Station.

Image courtesy of Rich U. on Yelp.

Eastern Bakery (720 Grant Ave, San Francisco) is the spot for mooncakes and coffee crunch cake in San Francisco. The oldest bakery in Chinatown, Eastern Bakery has been serving up its fresh desserts and snacks for nearly 100 years. The bakery is about a 12-minute walk from Montgomery St Station.

Image courtesy of Children’s Creativity Museum.

For just $5 a person, you can take a spin on the Leroy King Carousel at the Children’s Creativity Museum (221 4th St, San Francisco). A seven-minute walk from Powell St Station, the carousel has been twirling San Franciscans since the early 1900s, where it was stationed at Playland-by-the-Beach. The carousel runs Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30am to 4:30pm.

Image courtesy of Fox Theater.

The Fox Theater (1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland) hosts dozens of musical acts each year that are sure to get you singing – all in the heart of Uptown Oakland. The theatre is considered an architectural masterpiece, with the capacity to host up to 2,800 people. The Fox is just a two-minute walk from 19th St/Oakland Station.

Image courtesy of Richmond Art Center.

Just a 12-minute walk from Richmond Station, the Richmond Art Center is home to an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and more. The center also has an array of affordable class offerings for youth and adults, including jewelry making, bookbinding, drawing, and even blacksmithing. Check out all their upcoming classes on their website.

Image courtesy of BARTable staff.

This happiness jaunt requires a bike! Lake Chabot (Lake Chabot Rd, San Leandro) is a jewel of San Leandro with its gorgeous walking and biking paths that surround a reservoir that supplies emergency drinking water. The lake opened for recreation in the 1960s and has been a family destination since. We’ve made it easy to figure out your route with this BARTable by bike guide. To learn about taking bikes on BART, visit bart.gov/bikes.

Image courtesy of Pixieland Amusement Park.

Pixieland Amusement Park (2740 E Olivera Rd, Concord) is as whimsical as its name sounds. An outdoor fun park, Pixieland has a handful of themed rides – including the Pixieland Express Train that zips around the park. There is no admission fee to enter the small amusement park (parking is free, too), but every ride requires a $2.95 ticket. The park is open “weather permitting.” Pixieland is a 26-minute walk from North Concord/Martinez Station.

Image courtesy of lakemerritt.org.

Though you’re likely familiar with Lake Merritt in Oakland, did you know there’s a resplendent garden nestled along the lake path? The Gardens at Lake Merritt (666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland) are a 16-minute walk from 19th St/Oakland Station, and they will transport you to a world that feels far beyond city lines. Within the gardens’ seven acres, you will find a series of themed gardens – including a famed bonsai collection. The gardens are open Monday thru Friday 7:30am to 3pm and weekends from 8am to 4pm.

How do you put some pep in your step around the Bay Area? Let us know via social media, @SFBARTable #SFBARTable! Keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and have fun around the Bay.