• Berkeley - Berkeley gets overshadowed by its bigger neighbors, but a lot of what people love about American food and a fair chunk of modern political life started right here.
• University of California, Berkeley - Founded in 1868, it’s the flagship campus of the University of California system. It has a reputation for being intellectually intense, innovative, diverse, and highly competitive — often described as having “Ivy League-level academics with public school energy.”

• Lunch

• Alcoholic beverages
• Parking
• Gratuities

This walking tour uncovers Berkeley as a hidden gem in American cuisine and contemporary politics.

The journey starts in the Gourmet Ghetto, a renowned area where culinary innovations took place simultaneously. Participants will learn about Alfred Peet’s creation of specialty coffee, the Cheese Board Collective’s role in popularizing the French baguette, and Alice Waters’ introduction of farm-to-table dining at Chez Panisse. The tour includes five unique food stops, featuring the Cheese Board’s beloved vegetarian pizza and Gregoire’s renowned potato puffs.

The next stop is the UC Berkeley campus, where visitors will pass by the world’s largest Blue Gum Eucalyptus grove and the impressive Campanile. The tour will pause at the Mario Savio Steps, the historic center of the 1964 Free Speech Movement.

The tour concludes with a stroll down Telegraph Avenue, a visit to Rasputin’s Records, and ends at People’s Park, the site of the notable “Bloody Thursday” protest of 1969.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.