Berkeley

Although Berkeley has experienced public unrest in the past, especially during the '60s, the city as a whole has redirected its energies and experienced a flowering of late. Today, Berkeley offers a variety of cultural opportunities: a flourishing music scene, innovative art galleries and several theater companies. Dining in Berkeley is also a unique experience. The presence and success of businesses like Chez Panisse and the Cheese Board have given rise to a number of specialty food shops, cafes and restaurants along Shattuck Avenue, now known as the Gourmet Ghetto. The town's main attraction, though, is still the university. UC's Berkeley campus has an enrollment of some 30,000 students and is recognized around the globe as a center of academic excellence.