Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, is an epicenter for visual and performing arts and inspiring views. From being the base of a Native American community surrounding a lake to growing to one of California’s largest cities, Oakland has come a long way. Follow the footsteps of American author Jack London, who grew up in Oakland, through strolling along the waterfront that borders Jack London Square.
The Gold Rush brought residents of all ethnicities, making the city one of the nation’s most diverse. Culinary tourism has always been big in the Bay Area, but Oakland’s population and location make it especially ideal for experiencing cuisines from Japan to Italy: College Avenue and local vineyards provide the start of something delicious.
Districts like Montclair and Piedmont offer scenic alternatives to Oakland’s busy downtown and waterfront areas: Check out Victorian buildings and a Friday farmer’s market in Old Oakland; stop by Chinatown’s annual Streetfest, which attracts 100,000 people; jog along Lake Merritt; or stroll Piedmont Avenue, filled with vintage shops and cafés.
