Need a getaway? Think the three Rs: Renew, Restore, Rejuvenate. Many destinations fill the bill, but few deliver as much as Berkeley. While the city still holds tight to its flower power lineage, it has evolved into a culinary and cultural sanctuary. Many of its most endearing landmarks – ideal for any overnight or weekend retreat – love the three Rs. So come down from the foothills or up from the flats of the valley for a bit of urban renewal.

If your heart’s desire is to live like a king or queen, the Berkeley City Club is your getaway kingdom. Originally a women’s club, it has been lovingly revamped and is part of Historic Hotels of America. Not today’s boutique, it’s all about the quiet elegance of bygone times. A Julia Morgan design, affectionately known as “The Little Castle,” it’s the closest you’ll ever come to a night at her legendary Hearst Castle. Only members and guests indulge in the indoor heated swimming pool, reminiscent of the bigger castle’s famous Roman Pool.

Guest rooms are cozy and TV-free. Common areas beckon you to unwind, and garden courtyards offer meditative space.  Bring a good book.  A good friend.  A lover.  Come solo.  Check online for special events and theatrical productions performed at the City Club.  Kelley, a first-time BCC guest, commented, “I love the history!  It has a wonderful feel.  The bonuses:  the rate includes breakfast, and it’s a great location!”

Yes, a great location with a multitude of diversions. How to decide?  Remember, it’s all about urban renewal. On nearby Addison Street, the Arts District’s innovative tenants include the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and JazzSchool. Famed for traditional music, the 50-plus The Freight is the spirit of renewal.  In 2009, the then Freight & Salvage unveiled a renovated, state-of-the-art, LEED Green venue.  Extensive use of recycled wood and a living roof turned a 70-year-old garage into a work of art.  Built for comfort, the 440-seat F&S features the finest acoustical music more than 300 nights a year.

Blocks away, Hotel Shattuck Plaza is 116 years old and the poster-child for renewal. Berkeley’s original hotel has been brought back to life with the perfect blend of 21st-century meets 1910, offering a comfortable and contemporary experience. Curate a special date night to include a show at The Freight (just steps away) or, seasonally, book The Greek Theatre package.

You won’t starve in Berkeley.  Options on North Shattuck’s Gourmet Ghetto are dizzying.  Saul’s Deli is true New York-style with locavore flair – yes, they buy local!  These gastronomic delights aren’t in the Sierra foothills. A bowl of kosher pickles will satiate until orders arrive.  Ruminate over house-made sodas – celery, lime, ginger, cream, and black cherry – a delightful change from high fructose brands.  Indulge in half a Niman Ranch corned beef on Acme rye bread with a side of potato pancake, and Saul’s Blintz for dessert. OMG! Next door, Masse’s Pastries creations are exquisite.  In a revitalized 1916-era movie theater, Epicurious Garden is the “Rolls-Royce of take-out.”  Chocolate lovers rejoice! Chocolaterie is your new drug of choice.

Take a course in Sake 101.  Inside an unremarkable industrial building (one-time dairy) at the end of Addison Street, Takara Sake’s remarkable tasting room is one-of-a-kind.  The “bar” is constructed of Douglas fir and granite-finished tile. Blue glass-tiled floors symbolize Japan’s rice paddies – the name Takara means “treasure from the rice paddy.”  All wood is reclaimed lumber, while the granite floor tiles contain glass recycled from sake, beer, whiskey, and other bottles. Takara Sake educates both mind and palate.  Sampling courses offer different types vs. different tastes.  The warehouse exterior has been renewed with a series of murals that bring 18th-century sake history to life.

So embrace the counterculture of urban renewal and get away to Berkeley. Peace and love, and VisitBerkeley.com.