San Francisco Bay Area

Saint Mary’s is a small school located in a small town. But we just happen to be across the Bay from one of the most dynamic and exciting cities in the world.

A World-Class City Nearby

At Saint Mary's you’ll definitely see your peers at the dining hall and on the quad, but you never know — you might run into your classmates at Giants games, farmers’ markets, or Mission District art galleries. Jump in a car (or on the BART) and in half an hour you’ll be exploring San Francisco. Suddenly Saint Mary's doesn’t seem so small.

And It's More Than Just San Francisco

Just as there’s more to Saint Mary's than Moraga, there’s more to the Bay Area than San Francisco. Just on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel are Oakland and Berkeley, where you’ll find fantastic parks, restaurants, shops, and cultural experiences. And just up the road from us are Walnut Creek and Concord — places that aren’t necessarily urban hotspots but have their own considerable charms, plus plenty of eating and shopping options.

28 Things to Do in the Bay Area

The College moved from Oakland to Moraga in 1928, which is where the number 28 comes from. As you finish each activity you can get a stamp on your “Beyond Saint Mary’s” card (available in the Student Involvement and Leadership office) by providing a receipt, ticket stub, or photo as proof of your participation. You’ll be invited to an end-of-year celebration and become eligible for prizes. Best of all, you’ll discover the Bay Area and what it has to offer.

28 Things to Do:

1. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge 

2. Tour Alcatraz

3. Eat a deep-dish pizza at Zachary’s Pizza

4. Visit the Marin Headlands and Muir Woods

5. Enjoy a Ferry Boat Ride to Angel Island

6. Visit Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf for shopping, sea lions and clam chowder

7. Walk or bike the Reservoir Trail in Lafayette

8. Attend a San Francisco Symphony, Opera or Orchestra

9. Visit Oakland’s Tilden Park for great views, steam trains, Merry-Go-Rounds and more...

10. Take a Cable Car ride in San Francisco

11. Attend a Saint Mary’s Student Retreat

12. Visit the MOMA, Metreon or MLK Memorial in San Francisco

13. Eat breakfast at Millie’s (Lafayette)

14. Go to Berkeley and experience a new cuisine

15. Take BART and shop in San Francisco’s Union Square

16. Take a trip to Yosemite National Park

17. Volunteer at St. Anthony, St. Boniface or DeMarillac Schools with CILSA

18. Enjoy a cup of coffee and free WiFi at La Scala (Walnut Creek)

19. Attend an outdoor concert at the Greek Theatre (Berkeley)

20. Cheer on the Gaels at a game

21. Go hiking on Mount Diablo

22. Visit the neighborhoods in San Francisco: Haight/Ashbury, The Mission, and more...

23. Get fresh produce at a local farmers market

24. Attend an A’s or Giants game

25. Go on a RecSports Ski Trip

26. Hold a bonfire on Ocean Beach (San Francisco)

27. Ride your bike in Golden Gate Park

28. Participate in a cultural power trip with Delphine Intercultural Center