Orinda, just over the hills from Berkeley and Oakland, isn't the kind of place that travelers tend to end up in on purpose. Sightseers are more likely to whizz past it on Highway 24 on their way to I-5, while riding BART or while coming back to the Bay Area after a trip to Yosemite.

Whether you're an out-of-towner finding yourself in Orinda by chance or a local hoping to get to know your region better, there's actually lots to discover in one of the Bay Area's most picturesque little suburbs. Keep reading for our top picks of things to see, do and eat in Orinda.

Get outside and explore Orinda

Small but mighty, Orinda's biggest strength is its easy access to nature and open space within Orinda and the surrounding towns. Tucked inside a cluster of public lands, Orinda also features some pleasant smaller parks. From the tranquil lawn and farmers market at Orinda Community Center Park to the rugged scenery at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, there's something for everyone.

If you're craving being near the water, head to Briones Overlook Staging Area, which offers views of tranquil Briones Reservoir and walking trails along the water. The adjoining Briones Regional Park, which stretches into the towns of Lafayette and Martinez, is known locally for its vivid and refreshing greenery in springtime and offers ample opportunities for hiking. There's even an archery range.

Nearby, thick oak woodland and dramatic volcanic rock characterize Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. The highlight here is Round Top, the remains of a 10-million-year-old volcano that features lava fields full of volcanic debris. From Skyline Trailhead, which is located in Oakland, a hike around Round Top takes you through basaltic dikes, lava flows and cinder piles. And from Orinda's Old Tunnel Road Staging Area, you can enjoy Sibley's thick forests or wander the Sibley and Mazzariello labyrinths.

Next door, in Siesta Valley Recreation Area, Scotts Peak Trail offers lovely views of the San Francisco Bay. Or try De Laveaga Trail if you're more in the mood for redwoods and banana slugs. (Be careful in the sections that cross near the golf course, you don't want to get hit.) And from the Orinda entry to massive and beloved Tilden Regional Park, the Vollmer Peaks Trail also offers 360-degree views of San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and Mount Diablo.

Ride the train in Orinda

If you find yourself in this corner of Tilden Regional Park, chances are you came for a different purpose. Since the 1940s, the Tilden Park Steam Train at the Redwood Valley Railway has offered brief but exhilarating rides for the young and old alike. Journeys wind through the park's wildflowers and forest groves; a busy Saturday at the Steam Train can bring 2,200 visitors from as far as Sacramento and San Jose. They're charmed by nostalgia that only a steam train can evoke, alongside fresh air and the comforting "chug-a-chug" of the lovingly miniaturized 15-inch gauge track train (the seats are just big enough for two adults to sit side by side — and some do, although it is of course most favored by kids.)

Each ride around the 1.25-mile track lasts 12 minutes. Riders will breeze under tunnels and by diminutive buildings and scaled-down maintenance equipment. Before or after, visitors can stop by a small museum full of other miniature trains, learn about the history of the railroad and buy train-themed goodies like engineers caps and teddy bears from the mini gift shop. Make sure you get tickets from the booth before you get in line for the train.

Find it: Tilden Park Steam Train at the Redwood Valley Railway, 2481 Grizzly Peak Blvd, Orinda, CA; 510-548-6100

Take in a show in Orinda

For a city of just under 20,000 people, Orinda has a remarkable number of world-class theaters: two to be exact. The Orinda Theatre is an old-style movie palace that was built in 1941. It continues to show films, along with a liberal sprinkling of special events that pop up throughout the year. Highlights include a stand-up comedy competition, the "Creatures Con" zombie film festival and a concert series that hosts Broadway stars for cabaret-style performances. Upcoming shows includeTony award-winning legend Donna McKechnie, Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway and internationally-acclaimed singer and actor Vladimir Korneev. 

Tucked nearby in the hills on the way to Berkeley sits the Bruns Amphitheater, better known as "Cal Shakes" (short for California Shakespeare Theater.) The theater has its roots in the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival, an artistic collective and then theater company that began performing in the East Bay in the early 1970s. The company built the amphitheater in Orinda in 1991, and since then it has hosted an abundance of Shakespeare productions and a mix of other live acts, all performed under the stars in a beautiful, open-air amphitheater. Before and after performances, audiences are encouraged to bring picnics to eat at tables set among the towering grove of eucalyptus adjacent to the theater. In 2023, Cal Shakes announced it would be pausing productions for 2023 amidst falling revenue, renting out the Bruns Amphitheater for other events, including live music and weddings. It hopes to return for a partial Shakespeare season, and other events, in 2024. For now, mark your calendar with upcoming shows like "Cymbeline" and Michael Franti. 

Grab a bite to eat in Orinda

When it comes to restaurants, Orinda again punches above its weight: for a small place, the city has a lot to offer.

Orinda is split in two by Highway 24. On the side, near Orinda Center Community Park, drop into Village Inn Café for a down-home diner vibe, or try Siam Orchid Thai for dinner.

Just a hop over the freeway, Casa Orinda has operated as a family-owned restaurant for 89 years. With an Old West vibe inside, guests can expect to dine in the company of mounted taxidermy and an antique gun collection. The restaurant is famous for its southern fried chicken, and serves a great prime rib too, but order the fried chicken because it's that good.

Europa is another a family-owned, old-style cafeteria that roasts its own meats, and is the most economical option around. The Fourth Bore and other modern-inflected brewpubs and restaurants at Orinda Theater Square are a reliable hit, offering fire pits and pleasant outdoor seating for warm summer nights.

If you're hankering for something sweet after dinner, Orinda is home to one of the original Loard's Ice Cream & Candies, which has been serving up succulent scoops in a variety of flavors in this location since the 1950s. With neon pink vinyl booths, checkerboard tiles and old school ice cream sodas and fizzes, guests can take a trip back in time trip back in time as they enjoy one of the shop's delicious ice cream flavors. The new owners even recently added Mr. Dewies to cater to the non-dairy crowd.

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.