Oakland, CA Road Trips

While Oakland has neither the concentration of tourist amenities present in its western neighbor, San Francisco, nor the suburban sprawl of San Jose to the south, the visitor can easily spend a few pleasant days here. For decades popular media has stoked American racial and class biases to generate negative perceptions about Oakland. Since the late 1990s, however, the actual basis for these often exaggerated portraits of Oakland life have receded, as the city is experiencing an economic and cultural revitalization, as well as the more controversial hyper-gentrification. Oakland is now the Bay Area's most diverse city. Although still an underrated cultural center, its heady arts and culinary scene and ongoing revitalization have generated enthusiastic coverage in the world media of record, including the New York Times, The Guardian (UK), The Independent (UK), NPR, and the Los Angeles Times. The city gets its name because it has an abundance of oak trees. Since the 1960s, Oakland has been a hub of progressive politics and radical, sometimes outlaw organizations. For example, while Oakland gave rise to civil-rights-conscious labor movements in the mid-century, it was also the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and a crucial hub for the early era Hell's Angels, who still maintain a clubhouse in Fruitvale.

Oakland has many attractions to the eye and for the mind. Where some believe that it is a city of run-down Victorian houses or endless stretches of urban blight, this is very far from accurate. Oakland is a city with roots as far back as the earliest years of the admission of the State of California, and as such, it has architecture extant from many different eras. The Victorian architecture preserved and restored in Old Oakland, the Art Deco glory of Uptown, and the history of the Port of Oakland itself are among the many things to see. New York City has Manhattanhenge, towers of glass and steel; Oakland has the valleys of stone. The first place many visitors are likely to visit is Downtown, especially if they are in town on business, or simply do not know where to start. The center of transportation by BART and by bus is there, if you want to branch out. Only a few streets away is Old Oakland, along 10th Street, just west of Broadway. Just east of Broadway and continuing north and south is Oakland's famous Chinatown, where many of the buildings and streets of Chinatown reflect the diverse nature of its history, in architecture and in the bilingual signs seen throughout the neighborhood. The curious traveler can venture to take a bus southwards along Broadway, and come to Jack London Square. The unlikely mixture of warehouses and very expensive restaurants and posh atmosphere alongside some of the landmarks of the city's waterfront makes the Square an interesting place to visit and explore, even for locals.

Oakland is a city of passionate interests - among the strongest of them are the love of the performing arts. Theater, live DJs, nightclubs, concerts, dance and even more unusual avant-garde activities are common sights and experiences in the city. Not just the obvious locations like the convention center or the Oracle Arena are home to the passion of performance. The Fox and Paramount Theaters host live concerts; the Paramount in particular is home to Oakland's East Bay Symphony, but that is by no means the end of the list. The nightlife of Oakland swings to the beat too, with popular spots like the Uptown and Yoshi's (Found in the Bar/Nightclub section under Drink) keep the music moving far into the evening hours. And that is only the beginning. 1 Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave (near Telegraph and 19th, Uptown), ☏ +1 510 302-2250, [email protected]. A former movie theatre, the Fox was built in 1928. It closed its doors in 1970 and stood empty until 2009, when it reopened as a 1,500-2,800 seat music venue, following a two-year, $75-million renovation. One block from the 19th St BART stop, it is in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, which is also being re-named the Arts and Entertainment district. (updated Feb 2020) 2 The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave (at 18th St), ☏ +1 510 444-7474, [email protected]. Live performing artists, DJs and readings abound at this venue a stone's throw away from the Financial District. (updated Feb 2020) 3 The Oakland Symphony, 1440 Broadway, Suite 405 (12th St.

The third great passion after art and music that is shared by residents and visitors to Oakland alike is food. Oakland is foodie country. No matter what your budget is - if you want to find something to eat from classic burgers to elaborate, innovative cuisine, you're going to find both and just about everything in between. Vegan and vegetarian options are widespread, and Oakland's exceptional ethnic diversity means you can find food from almost any corner of the globe. 1 Ahn's Quarter Pound Burger, 439 Grand Ave (corner of Bellevue and Grand), ☏ +1 510 763-4328. Daily 8AM-9PM. Very no-frills burger stop that has all the basics and its own parking lot. Under $10. (updated Sep 2024) 2 Enssaro, 357A Grand Ave (between Elita and Perkins), ☏ +1 510 238-9050, [email protected]. M W Th Su 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM. Come for the Wot and Ye Tibs, stay for the honey wine. Try the combo platters. Vegetarian-friendly. Online ordering. Delivery available. $10-20. (updated Sep 2024) 3 Jong Ga House, 372 Grand Ave (north of junction with Elita Ave), ☏ +1 510 444-7658, fax: +1 510 444-5274, [email protected]. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-11PM. A large menu of Korean delights and excellent service, good if you want noodles or marinated meat or want to do all you can eat. Online reservations. Local parking problematic. Cheaper lunch specials. $15-30. (updated Sep 2024) 4 Golden Lotus Vegan Restaurant, 1301 Franklin St (corner of 13th St. and Franklin St.), ☏ +1 510 893-0383, [email protected]. Tu-Su 11AM-8PM.

1 Ben and Nick's Bar & Grill, 5612 College Ave (between Keith Ave & Ocean View Dr), ☏ +1 510 923-0327. M-W 11AM-10PM, Th-F 11AM-midnight, Sa 10AM-midnight, Su 10AM-10PM. Often-visited for their considerable beer list and well-stocked menu. $15-30. (updated Feb 2022) 2 Cato's Ale House, 3891 Piedmont Ave (near Montel St), ☏ +1 510 655-3349. Bar: Su-Th 11:30AM-9PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10PM; kitchen: Su-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11:30AM-midnight. A local pub that would look at home in nearly any century, with a long list of both local brews and quality imports. Regular live music events. Online ordering for food pickup. $10-30. (updated Mar 2022) 3 The District, 827 Washington St (between 8th Street and 9th Street), ☏ +1 510 272-9110, [email protected]. M-F 4PM-close, Sa 5PM-close; brunch: Su 11AM-2:30PM. A friendly pub that serves brunch and dinner, in addition to cheese, wine and whiskey. $20-40. (updated Mar 2022) 4 McNally's Irish Pub, 5352 College Ave (between Bryant Ave & Manila Ave), ☏ +1 510 655-3929. Su-Tu 2PM-2AM, W-Sa noon-2AM. A standard Irish Pub in Rockridge. Under $15. (updated Mar 2022) Popular nightlife districts include Temescal/Telegraph (Telegraph Avenue between 40th St and 51st St) and Piedmont Avenue (north of MacArthur Blvd). 5 The Alley, 3325 Grand Ave (between Lake Park Ave & Santa Clara Ave), ☏ +1 510 444-8505. Daily 6PM-2AM (Check website for specific services). Sing along with pianist Rod Dibble as he plays the oldies. One of the last piano bars in town. Also has decent steaks.

1 Bay Breeze Inn, 4919 Coliseum Way (near 50th Ave.), ☏ +1 510 536-5972, fax: +1 510 536-0107, [email protected]. No frills. Around $80/night. (updated Jun 2022) 2 Airport Inn and Suites, 170 Hegenberger Loop (near Edgewater Dr.), ☏ +1 510 633-0500, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234, fax: +1 510 633-1040. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. In an industrial neighborhood. Free breakfasts. Very clean and professional. $120-170. 3 Garden Inn & Suites Oakland Airport, 10 Hegenberger Rd (near Doolittle Dr.), ☏ +1 510 635-1892, fax: +1 510 635-1292. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. High-speed Internet and pool on a budget. Free shuttle to and from Oakland Airport. $80-120. 4 Motel 6 - Embarcadero, 1801 Embarcadero (near 16th Ave.), ☏ +1 510 436-0103, fax: +1 510 436-7428. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Surprisingly pricey for a budget motel chain. $80-130. (updated Jun 2022) 5 Courtyard Oakland Airport, 350 Hegenberger Rd, ☏ +1-510 568-7600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The hotel offers airport shuttle service for easy access to and from the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. Full fitness center. Outdoor pool. Free Internet available throughout the lobby and in all guest rooms. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, cocktails and Starbucks coffee. $220-260/night. (updated Jun 2022) 6 Courtyard Oakland Downtown, 998 Broadway (at 9th St.), ☏ +1 510 625-8282. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Steps from BART subway, traveling to San Fran in minutes. Property offers: outdoor pool, fitness center, & 3 meeting rooms. $200-250.

1 San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK IATA) (Airport Rd off of Doolittle (SR-61); from Nimitz Freeway (I-880) the airport can be accessed from 98th Ave (Exit #36) or Hegenberger Rd (becomes Airport Rd) (Exit #35)). It is served by many domestic and international carriers. Domestic non-stop air service is available from Southern California, Hawaii, most other cities on the West Coast, and a few flights to the East Coast. There are international flights from the Azores, El Salvador and Mexico. The main carriers that serve OAK are Spirit and Southwest Airlines: Terminal 1 (Gates 1-17):Alaska, Allegiant, Avianca El Salvador, Azores, Contour (from Crescent City); Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, Spirit, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Volaris El Salvador Terminal 2 (Gates 20-32): Southwest. JSX have their own separate terminal at 9351 Earhart Rd at the North Field (General Aviation/VIP Airport). There is private shuttle service ($10–25) to hotels in Oakland and San Francisco. The airport is also served by the "BART to OAK" people mover to the Oakland Coliseum BART Station, from where you can continue onward to central Oakland or San Francisco, or transfer to the similarly named Amtrak Capitol Corridor station. The people mover runs every 5 minutes during the day, and ticket pricing is integrated, e.g. $7.85 to central Oakland or $10.05 to central San Francisco. This replaces the earlier AirBART buses, which have now been retired.

Oakland is a good-sized city, with attractions more than a fair distance from the center of town. Car rentals tend to be more expensive than other locations in the country, and streets are frequently lined with meters, unless they're in completely residential zones. Some of the larger attractions have their own parking of course, and some of the more visitor-friendly neighborhoods have sizable parking lots - some paid and some not. Most residential areas allow parking for only a limited time for non-residents, so the wise traveler is best-advised to use public transit of some kind. The frequent and long-term visitor to the area may be best-advised to acquire a Clipper card, which is touted as an 'all-in-one' transit electronic flash pass. It allows much easier use of almost all of the entire Bay Area's public transit agencies, allowing the user to use simple cash value or a specific transit agency's monthly pass. Clipper cards can be purchased and topped-up digitally, directly in apps such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on modern phones with NFC (contactless payment) technology built in. Alternatively, physical Clipper cards can be purchased and topped-up with cash value at any of BART's stations, as well as a certain stores in Oakland or throughout the Bay Area. Oakland has a wide and increasing infrastructure of bicycle lanes. If you need a bike, rental shops are close to nonexistent. Oakland enjoys a pumping bike culture, with lots of bike parking, and especially at some "parklets" at many of the city's coffee shops.

Oakland has some problems with both property and violent crime. Smash-and-grab attacks on parked cars are common, so do not leave anything visible in your car, not even cell phone mounts or bags that might look like they could contain valuables. Lock your bicycle with a U-lock or a chain, not a flexible cable lock, and make sure you secure the front wheel. The parts of the city with the most serious crime problems are unlikely to be interesting to tourists, but be careful when you venture into areas where there are not many people on the streets, keep your wits about yourself, and be aware of where you are at all times. The hills of Oakland are safe when it comes to violent crime but there is still property crime there. Think twice about going to West Oakland (south of 580 and west of 980) or East Oakland (southeast of Lake Merritt), especially at night. The number of reckless drivers in Oakland seems to be higher than in the average US city. As a pedestrian, pay attention when crossing the street, even if you have the right of way; as a driver, drive defensively; and as a cyclist, stay alert and don't rely on cars to accommodate you. International Boulevard in particular is notorious for traffic fatalities and speeding. The quality of Oakland's roads is relatively poor. Residents complain bitterly about persistent potholes, and if you're driving or biking, you should take that as a warning.