These days, radical politics and working artists are more likely to flourish in Oakland, California, than the city across the bay—and it shows. There’s a creative spirit buoyed by ethnic diversity everywhere. From browsing the city’s museums, including the Oakland Museum of California, to eating your way through Chinatown and Jack London Square, there are plenty of things to do in Oakland. Choose a sunny day (Oakland is warmer and brighter than San Francisco) to walk around Lake Merritt, a lagoon and urban park smack dab in the middle of town, and you might fall in love.
When fog drapes San Francisco, Oakland is usually sunny and warm. It's always a good time to visit, but spring invites locals and visitors to explore the green belt of hilly hiking trails in Redwood Regional and Joaquin Miller parks. Summer brings warm weather and festivals such as Art + Soul Oakland, Chinatown Street Festival, Pridefest Oakland, and Eat Real Festival, a celebration of artisan food held in Jack London Square.
The Oakland-based AC Transit bus system can get you all around the city, the surrounding counties, and across the bay to San Francisco. For straight-line trips near the city center, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains are faster. Bike rentals, ferries, and ride-sharing services are solid options, while a free shuttle runs along Broadway to Jack London Square. If you want to visit the Oakland Zoo and parks in the Oakland Hills, driving makes the most sense.
Travelers interested in hidden gems should visit Oakland’s secret gardens. The Morcom Rose Garden, a 1920s stunner featuring thousands of rose bushes and a cascading fountain, lies north of Lake Merritt off Grand Avenue on Jean Street. Another gem, the Bonsai Garden, is home to dozens of miniature bonsai trees and a Japanese-style garden in the heart of Lake Merritt.
