"The East Bay" is extremely large, so this question cannot be answered. I am raising children in north Oakland, near Berkeley. I think the combination of thos

"The East Bay" is extremely large, so this question cannot be answered. I am raising children in north Oakland, near Berkeley. I think the combination of those two cities offers me what I want: enough interesting urban amenities, sufficient transit system, plenty of other kids for my kids to play with, and enough open space. But as I said the east bay runs practically all the way to Tracy, so no one answer can suffice.