Discover bayside Oakland, home to one of America’s finest theaters and the country’s oldest wildlife refuge. Dine and shop by the picturesque waterfront at Jack London Square before enjoying an evening out at one of the city’s live music bars.
Oakland is the San Francisco Bay area’s third-largest city. The city has shaken its reputation as the Hell’s Angels’ headquarters and reinvented itself as a historic and attractive destination, combining interesting heritage architecture with modern attractions, such as beautiful City Hall and the slick Chabot Space & Science Center.
Find out about the city’s history and Californian ecology at the Oakland Museum, topped with a stunning rooftop sculpture garden. Learn about Oakland’s African American culture at the African American Museum & Library.
Explore the perimeters of scenic Lake Merritt, a saltwater lagoon in the city’s heart. This lake marks the site of the United States’ first nature reserve. Oakland has approximately 260 sunny days per year and Lake Merritt is one of the great places in Oakland to make the most of this climate.
Take the family to Oakland Zoo or enjoy a fun night out at the ornate Paramount Theatre. Visit the saloon where Oakland’s famous novelist once drank in Jack London Square. The waterfront square features a Sunday farmers market and excellent shopping and dining opportunities.
Oakland shows its creative flair at the annual Art + Soul event in August. Visit the city during this festival to experience music performances, arts and crafts and local food. Once a month, join the First Friday Arts Festival, when galleries extend their opening hours and performers and food stalls fill the streets.
Travel around Oakland on the Bay Area Rapid Transportation (BART) rail system and local buses. Some BART stations, such as the one on 16th Street, feature interesting architecture and beautiful façades.
Oakland offers the key ingredients of a contemporary Californian city: warm weather, arts and multiculturalism.
