I actually liked living in the Bay Area better than I did studying at CAL. CAL (and Berkeley) is worth a visit, I guess, if you’re going to be around the San Francisco Bay. The 60-ish atmosphere seems a little commercialized and tired at times, perhaps, but its still quite a different scene from anywhere else you’ll go. I think Berkeley is better as a place to live/experience over a longer period than as a “must-see” sight to be covered in a day tour.