Based in Oakland, California, Brenda Roberts most recently served as a city auditor for 3 years. Prior to that she served as director of internal audit for AAA Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. In her free time, Brenda Roberts enjoys cooking and hiking around her Oakland home.

Oakland offers some of the best hikes near the Bay Area. One such hike is the Stream Trail, which is part of the famed Redwood Regional Park. This stretch of trail runs along Redwood Creek and connects to many other trails throughout the park. The mostly flat Stream Trail is a great shorter option, while hikers looking for a longer day should begin at the Skyline Gate Staging Area and go down the Stream Trail, then make a loop back on the French Trail.

For a great view of Contra Costa County and San Francisco Bay, visit the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, which was once an active volcano 10 million years ago. This is a short hike, only 2.5 miles, but in addition to the aforementioned views, hikers can witness a variety of colorful wildflowers.

Finally, there is the Sequoia-Bayview Trail, which is found in Joaquin Miller Park. This is a great trail for runners, as there are few elevation shifts. There are also great views of San Francisco Bay and the redwood forests.