Just saying the name "Berkeley" conjures up different responses from people. It has a history of being a very liberal and outspoken city. People relate it to the 60s with the free speech movement and such. A lot of people also think about the University of California at Berkeley, but I think it's the people who live here who really make us unique. We're very laid back, eclectic, compact, educated, and into that organic type of healthy lifestyle. We're all for independent retailers and "the little guy." A lot of people tell us we have a European feel to the city because we prefer low-rise buildings.
We have a website, www.visitberkeley.com, which lists all of our lodging facilities with links to their individual sites. It also gives information about each of the facilities with toll free numbers for reservations. Our site also has a calendar of events, cultural activities, restaurants, and things to do, so you can peruse through and get a feel for all the different types of things there are to see and do in Berkeley. It is a cultural destination with a lot of bookstores, and little neighborhood shopping pockets. We don't have any big retail stores. Berkeley has about six different shopping districts, and each one is very different from the next. For example, Telegraph Avenue has funky, eclectic shopping with village clothing, pubs, and things like that while Fourth Street in West Berkeley has outdoor cafes, peak style shops, and smaller shops where you can find original items. You can request a map of all our streets and attractions from the visitor's center.
