No time to drive to the Pacific, the Delta or Tahoe? All you need for a scenic waterfront meal is a nearby lake or reservoir with picnic tables or grassy seating. And there are options tucked into even the most urban Bay Area settings. Here are five lovely ones:
Sandy Wool Lake, Ed Levin County Park, Milpitas
Take commuter-heavy Calaveras Boulevard east from 680 and keep heading in that direction until the road narrows and winds around to this sweet spot. This small, scenic lake (named after a longtime rancher and county supervisor) and its environs (the park encompasses 1,550 acres) offer nature trails, bird watching, trout fishing from November to May — and picnic tables. Enjoy your respite, then check out the view from the other side of the lake, especially toward dusk, when the setting sun casts stunning shadows on the East Bay hills.
Bonus: There’s an off-leash dog park not far from the picnic grounds.
Details: Open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. From Calaveras, turn left on Downing Road to reach Sandy Wool Lake. 3100 Calaveras Road, Milpitas; www.sccgov.org/sites/parks
Lafayette Reservoir, Lafayette
You’ve seen those photos of celebrities’ chic vacation spots. Very exclusive. Here, you can get that feeling — with a right-on-the-water view — if you set up your feast at one of the picnic tables situated on small docks that jut out into the reservoir. (Although, truth be told, you might be sharing your space with a few recreational fishers.) Want a view of the whole 126-acre reservoir? The unpaved Rim Trail is challenging, hikers say, but rewarding.
Bonus: Families will find a children’s playground on the east lawn.
Details: Open from 6 a.m. until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the month. 3849 Mt. Diablo Road, Lafayette; www.ebmud.com/recreation
Shoreline Lake, Mountain View
Smack in the middle of urban Silicon Valley is Shoreline Lake, 50 saltwater acres where you can enjoy a chicken-and-brie panini and a passionfruit panna cotta while watching the windsurfers, kayakers and maybe a paddle-board yoga practitioner. Dine lakeside at Shoreline’s chef-driven cafe, the American Bistro, or bring your own picnic and grab a table or grassy spot nearby. You can even rent a paddleboat, order from the cafe and head out on the water for your alfresco meal.
Bonus: A popular Kite Flying Park is situated near the entrance, and fans say the wind is just right at this spot to achieve lift. It’s a BYOK affair.
Details: The boathouse is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends. The bistro has more limited hours, serving from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends. 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. www.shorelinelake.com
Shadow Cliffs Lake, Pleasanton
Decades ago, this former gravel quarry, like so many others, was turned into recreational fun — 266 acres’ worth, including the 80-acre lake, just a mile from downtown Pleasanton. After enjoying your picnic, consider buying a day permit to go fishing. The lake is stocked weekly with trout and catfish, and there’s an accessible fishing pier. Beach wheelchairs are also available for traversing the sand.
Bonus: Solar panels in the parking lot provide much-needed shade for cars while also generating energy for the park. Arrive early to nab one of these spaces.
Details: Open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Labor Day. 2500 Stanley Blvd., Pleasanton. www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow_cliffs/
Almaden Lake Park, San Jose
Hear that honking? It’s not coming from cars but from the flocks of geese that make this nature area their home. After lunching at one of the many picnic areas surrounding this 32-acre lake, take some time to walk the perimeter and check out the adorable goslings and ducklings and their small human fans. The west side of this park is a protected wildlife sanctuary, but we found the birds hanging out at the water’s edge on the east.
Bonus: If you’ve gotten rusty with that bocce set just sitting in the garage, haul it out and head for the courts here.
Details: Open from 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset. 6099 Winfield Blvd, San Jose. Picnic reservations: www.sanjoseca.gov
