Top Ten Must-Do Activities for Seniors in the Bay Area

If you are a senior who’s new to the Bay Area or perhaps are just newly retired, you may be looking for things to help you stay active and meet people with interests like yours. There’s no shortage of activities in this buzzing city, but if you’re not sure where to start, here is our list of the top ten must-do activities for seniors in the Bay Area.

1. Admire world-renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy’s art pieces in the Presidio: Wood Line, Spire, Tree Fall, and Earth Wall. The four pieces can be visited together during a three-mile hiking loop, or separately. Guided hikes are scheduled regularly.

• Master culinary skills by enlisting in a themed cooking class through Chef Joe’s Culinary Salon.

• The Berkeley Kite Festival in Cesar Chavez Park is an annual event that includes music, candy drops for the kids, traditional kite making from Japanese experts, and more. This free event is held each July and has been wowing people of all ages since 1986.

• Peruse the shelves at the landmark City Lights Bookstore, founded in 1953 and still owned by Beat Generation poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

• The Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside offers art exhibits, garden tours, a nature preserve, dining, shopping, and more. The 54,256 square foot home was constructed in 1917 and sits on 16 acres. Visit in person or take a virtual tour.

• Visitors of Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands can enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and the San Francisco Bay. Built in 1855, Point Bonita is still active today and is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The Hamon Observation Tower at the de Young art museum offers another opportunity to view these sites, with 360-degree panoramic views of downtown San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Bay and the Marin headlands.

• Dine on oysters in the half shell at the iconic Swan Oyster Depot. Visitors say it’s worth the wait (and there’s always a wait) to sit at one of the 19 counter stools at this oyster bar, which has been a beacon of San Francisco since 1912.

• Visit any of the Bay Area’s Farmer’s Markets, many of which accept senior nutrition coupons.

1. Take a scenic coast drive from San Francisco to Bodega Bay. Enjoy breath-taking views during the hour-plus drive up Coast Highway 1, then explore the fishing village of Bodega Bay, visit the beach at Doran Regional Park, watch the seals play by the bluffs at Bodega Head, and so much more.

As many sites in the Bay Area remain closed or are operating at limited capacity in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, be sure to call ahead before visiting. And you can always take advantage of virtual learning opportunities, including virtual lectures, virtual origami classes, and virtual relaxation classes through Bay Area Older Adults. 

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.