Oakland in San Francisco Area sits across the bay from downtown San Francisco. Its landscape is a picturesque mix of hillside neighborhoods, exciting and diverse architecture, a bustling waterfront, two shimmering lakes, 19 miles of shoreline along the San Francisco Bay, unparalleled Bay views and more parks and open space per capita than any other city in the Bay Area.

DOWNTOWN- Commercial district.

OLD OAKLAND- Between Broadway and Clay, from Seventh to 10th Streets, historic Old Oakland is lined with elegantly restored Victorian buildings dating back to the 1870s. Shops, galleries, and restaurants, plus Friday farmer's market are highlights to this charming and slightly old-fashioned region.

CHINATOWN- 25-block commercial and cultural district with specialty shops, restaurants, markets, bakeries and Oakland Asian Cultural Center, one of the largest pan-Asian cultural centers in the country.

JACK LONDON SQUARE- Jazz, dining, hotels, shopping
along the water's edge, U.S.S. Potomac, FDR's Floating White House and Heinhold's First & Last Chance Saloon.

LAKE MERRITT- America's oldest national wildlife refuge, Lake Merritt is popular for sailing, boating and gondola rides. The 1926 Grand Lake Theater screens the latest movie releases and even features music played on a vintage Wurlitzer on Friday and Saturday evenings. Lakeshore/ Grand Avenue lined with shops and restaurants.

PIEDMONT AVENUE- At the top of Piedmont Avenue is Julia Morgan's Chapel of the Chimes. Antique and vintage shops, boutiques, jewelry stores, bookstores and a popular
local cinema.

ROCKRIDGE- Extends more than two miles from Oakland to Berkeley, College Avenue.

MONTCLAIR VILLAGE- at the base of the East Bay hills, Chabot Space & Science Center and East Bay parks.

FRUITVALE DISTRICT- Strong Latino identity recognized throughout the Bay Area. Cultural events such as the annual Dia de los Muertos festival attract tens of thousands of people with easy access via Fruitvale BART Station.

Events:

Oakland Lighted Yacht Parade

Oakland Spring Egg Hunt, Oakland CA

Attractions:

Oakland, California Landmarks in Alameda County

Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
chabotspace.org
The 86,000-square-foot center houses the largest public telescope in the United States, a 230-seat planetarium, and the large-screen Tien MegaDome theater. There are also numerous hands-on science and technology exhibits.

Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue Ave.
fairyland.org
Young children will enjoy this enchanting, three-dimensional fantasy world where popular nursery rhymes come to life, set in picturesque Lakeside Park.

Chinatown
Broadway, Alice, 13th, and Seventh Sts.
Experience Asian culture and character by exploring the restaurants, specialty shops, markets, and bakeries in this vibrant neighborhood. Be sure to visit the elegant Chinese Presbyterian Church (265 Eighth St.) and Pacific Renaissance Plaza (388 Ninth St.), which houses shops, restaurants, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

City Center
Broadway and 14th St.
Glimpse a mix of 19th-century buildings standing proud alongside modern skyscrapers and elegant landscaping. Eye-catching buildings of note include Tribune Tower, the art deco financial center building, the federal building, the historic and recently restored City Hall, the Rotunda, and Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. The City Center pedestrian plaza boasts outdoor seating, restaurants, shops, and summer concerts.

Gondola Servizio
568 Bellevue Ave.
gondolaservizio.com

Jack London Square
Broadway and Embarcadero
jacklondonsquare.com

This busy site at the water's edge has dining, entertainment, shopping, and more than a few spots for daydreaming. Take a ferry ride, stroll the scenic boardwalk, catch a movie, or just relax at a sunny sidewalk cafe.

Jack London Water Taxi
Foot of Broadway, Jack London Square
Take a relaxing ride on the estuary on this pontoon boat and see the city from a unique perspective. Enjoy views of the waterfront, harbor facilities, and estuary wildlife.

Lake Merritt/Lakeside Park
Grand and Bellevue Aves.
This large saltwater lake-one of the largest in the country-and the adjoining 122-acre park are home to wildlife, formal gardens, and a children's amusement park, all of which draw scores of walkers, joggers, bikers, rowers, sailors, and windsurfers. See also Children's Fairyland and the Rotary Nature Center.

Morcom Amphitheater of Roses
700 Jean St.
Opened in the late 1920s, this eight-acre municipal rose garden features more than 6,000 rose bushes of all varieties. Bloom season is late April through October.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 Ninth St., Ste. 290
Located in Chinatown's Pacific Renaissance Plaza, this organization is one of the largest pan-Asian cultural centers in the country, offering classes, art and photography exhibits, and cultural events.

Oakland ART Gallery
199 Kahn's Alley (across from City Hall)
oaklandartgallery.org
This recently opened gallery offers a diverse range of contemporary artwork in a range of media.

Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St.
museumca.org
Surrounded by 51/2 acres of landscaped greenery, this museum is devoted to the arts, environment, and history of California. Wed.-Sun. Free second Sunday of the month.

Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd.
oaklandzoo.org
Nestled in the 525-acre Knowland Park in the Oakland Hills, the zoo houses more than 400 native and exotic animals. The exhibits are organized geographically and reflect the ecosystems of the animals' native habitats. Visitors can enjoy rotating cultural exhibits in the education center, and kids will love the new butterfly garden and the "rides area," with a roller coaster, an "endangered species carousel," and a train. Daily.