Bay Area things to do for fun off the beaten path

Click through this slideshow to see some of our favorite things to do for fun that are off the beaten path in the Bay Area. Click through this slideshow to see some of our favorite things to do for fun that are off the beaten path in the Bay Area. Photo: Chris Stewart, SFC Photo: Chris Stewart, SFC Image 1 of / 58 Caption Close Bay Area things to do for fun off the beaten path 1 / 58 Back to Gallery

One of our favorite things about living in the Bay Area is, no matter how long you've lived here, there are always new things to discover. You could live here for decades and still have never visited Berkeley's secret hot tub, the brewery with the best views of San Francisco, or the East Bay building with a light bulb that has been burning since 1901.

And even as SF's popularity continues to surge (along with our ridiculous high cost of living) it's still possible to find affordable and convenient hidden gems throughout the Bay Area - especially spots where we can unwind and escape from the daily grind.

We asked our SFGATE and Chronicle colleagues for their favorite things to do for fun that are far off the beaten path. The round-up includes something for everyone, no matter if you'd rather spend your weekend chilling at the lesser-known SF library with the best views, find a tranquil nature setting minutes from a lively city or low-key SF spot to listen to a quirky show.

Some of these things to do are surprisingly close to areas regularly frequentled by tourists, while others are on the outskirts of the Bay Area, in much more remote areas.

And if you're looking for places to escape within a 1-to-3 hour drive of the Bay Area, check out our favorite Bay Area day trips for locals.

If you're willing to share you favorite off-the-beaten-path spot with us, tell us what it is in the comments!