Hugging the east shore of San Francisco Bay, Emeryville is a small city in the corridor linking Berkeley and Oakland. It was originally inhabited by the Ohlone people before the Spanish arrived in 1776 and later became an important cattle ranching area. Emeryville is now home to one of the world’s most famous animation studios, Pixar.
Things to do in Emeryville
On the north bank of Temescal Creek is the Emeryville Shellmound, an archaeological shell midden and a sacred burial site of the Ohlone people. It is largely composed of shellfish remains gathered on the mudflats by prehistoric residents. At one point in time, it was the largest of the 400+ shellmounds scattered around San Francisco Bay and is now designated as a California Historical Landmark.
Adjacent to the shellmound is Bay Street Emeryville, a bustling shopping mall home to retail stores, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema. You can browse the books at Barnes & Noble, check out the fashions at Gap and Old Navy or get lost in the nearby IKEA store. When it’s time to eat, you can dine at the California Pizza Kitchen or Rubio’s Coastal Grill.
On the bay side of Emeryville is McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, an area of natural and restored wetlands that provide an important refuge for wildlife. It is named after the late Save the Bay founder and extends along one of the most heavily trafficked corridors in the East Bay. Also nearby is the Shorebird Park Nature Center, which features wildlife displays and children’s play areas.
Getting around Emeryville
Emeryville is a 10-minute drive from Oakland and 25 minutes from San Francisco. San Francisco International Airport is 40 minutes’ away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Emeryville railway station and buses travel throughout the city.