Albany Bulb — Attraction in Albany

Beautiful experience! Incredible views of the SF bay, buildings, bridges, skyline,fog banks, and shorelines. A wide variety of plants and wildlife inhabit, and visit this park. This island spit, or Bulb, is a perfect example of what kind of creative solutions can be thought of and brought to life in order to resolve the issue of "what to do with all the debris from a natural disaster"...in this case, the massive bay area earthquake of 1989. The Albany Bulb is a mostly cement, pieces of roads, and solid metal debris landfill from the '89 earthquake. Dogs, families, walkers, wagons, bicycles, and indie film stars all welcome here, even off leash. There are incredible works of art made from debris, driftwood, and natural surroundings along the trails, and hidden amongst the trees. An off leash nirvana for your wave loving, ball chasing, outdoor canine enthusiast. Your teens and toddlers will love the soft sandy shore area. Wear layers, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a good brim hat to avoid feeling uncomfortable on your adventure. Be sure to...

I read about this place In a weekend magazine and was intrigued by the sculpture of the yearning woman. I had been around here before but until now, never ventured out thru the land to the waters edge. I was astounded at the amount of local art that was on display throughout what must have been 10 to15 acres. Paintings, sculptures, installations, poetry, "found" art. A treasure of creativity and expression ranging from meditating with nature to Black Lives Matter. The place pulsed with energy that drew you from one piece to another. Climbing the uneven concrete slabs painted to look like stars to a relaxing beach walk on the "yellow brick road", I lost myself for more than 2 hours in the magic of this place. There is no admission but the works on display rival any curated gallery. Do yourself a favor and take a stroll through the Albany Bulb and let yourself connect with the artistry and imagination you won't find anywhere...

Weird, quirky, locally significant site. You'll find a small but quiet beach with good waves, and some rambling trails dotted with interesting graffiti, random art, and evidence of architectural elements discarded after the earthquake. This former landfill was once home to an encampment whose occupants built a somewhat primitive (but very artistic) community of houses, prior to shutdown by local authorities. A few of these small, colorful buildings are still standing, and you'll stumble across remnants of various unsanctioned artworks if you wander around for a bit.

Awesome for a laid-back day hike, though it's been a bit crowded since COVID lockdown began. Parking is very limited - carpool if possible, and be prepared to walk a ways to get to the shoreline. Wear good closed-toe shoes, as there is rubble and rebar everywhere - and bring a jacket. It's very windy, even...