10 Fun Things To Do Before You Graduate
Welcome to a non-exhaustive list of things you absolutely should do before you graduate from UC Berkeley! I’m Jolie, a fourth-year student who is on a mission to knock things off my Berkeley Bucket List before graduation. Here are a few things on my list for senior year:
1. Visit the Starry Plough Pub
Located on Shattuck Avenue at Prince Street, this iconic Irish pub has community events for all ages, including live band nights, open mics, Irish traditional music, and Irish dancing.
Image of the Starry Plough’s stage.
2. Go to a UCBSO Concert
UC Berkeley’s Symphony Orchestra (UCBSO) is incredible, and the view in Hertz Hall is gorgeous. Tickets are typically five dollars for students!
Image of ensemble performing in Hertz Hall.
3. Go to Salsa @ Cal’s Office Hours
On Tuesday evenings, the Salsa club at UC Berkeley opens up beginner, intermediate, and advanced dance classes for salsa lessons. Bring a friend and get dancing!
4. Hike the Clark Kerr Fire Trails
Take a friend and go on a hike! These trails have the best views and are easy to access from campus. Walk up to the Clark Kerr campus and continue straight on Dwight until you reach the top of the hill and see the stairs that start the hike.
An image of the Clark Kerr Fire Trail steps.
Photo by Rachel Holmes
5. Explore the Bancroft Library
The Bancroft Library has so many cool artifacts, including bits of papyrus from Egypt and a gold nugget from the Gold Rush.
Early music manuscripts from the Medieval time period from the Bancroft collection.
6. Take a Trip into SF
Pick a neighborhood and visit the museums and parks that are scattered throughout San Francisco (SF). There are always activities and events happening, such as SF’s First Thursdays in Downtown, a free block party with DJs, disco, and street performances. Or, check out live music venues and local concerts, and look around for your new favorite restaurant. It’s always a fun experience to explore the hustle and bustle of the city.
View of Golden Gate Bridge.
7. Try a New Restaurant
Some notable restaurants in Berkeley include: Top Dog, Cheese Board, Zachary’s Pizza, Vik’s Chaat, and Berkeley Social Club.
8. Get into Nature – Explore Tilden & Surrounding Areas
Take a break from school and visit Tilden. One of my favorite spots there is Lake Anza, which is so fun to hike around.
View of Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park.
9. Get Curious at the Curiosity Shop
Walk down Martin Luther King Jr. Way in between Allston Way and Bancroft Way until you reach the small, green house. Walk inside and discover treasures and knick-knacks galore.
Photo of the side of the Curiosity Shop.
10. Visit Campus Landmarks
Go up the Campanile one more time! Visit the Lawrence Hall of Science for a stunning view of the Bay, explore the UC Botanical Gardens, or catch the sounds of a concert at the Greek Theatre by hiking up to the hills behind it.
Image of the Campanile in the distance from a hill behind the Greek Theatre.
These are just a few of the things to explore around Berkeley before graduating! Happy bucket listing!
Jolie Abdelmalk, Class of 2025, is majoring in political science and music and minoring in public policy.
Want More?
- Discover more things you can add to your Berkeley Bucket List.
- Explore Berkeley and the surrounding Bay Area.
- Learn more about what makes Berkeley unique.